A Day in the Life...

It has been so nice getting to settle into a routine here in Delaware. After a year of teaching I really appreciate getting to slow down and spend time with Vince!

We are out here for Dillon's job which we did last summer as well. There are some big changes this summer from last year but for the most part it has been good. We are in a different apartment. It's much smaller, but it has a pool and is in a better area for long walks (safer and more residential). The team this year is much bigger too. Dillon is the program director so has more responsibility, but loves getting to train and encourage the team, and is doing great (the guy should be a teacher or something huh?). A bigger team means two other moms with sons close to Vince's age to play with! The job is harder this year with more competition but Dillon is our hero managing to work it out day after day.

Yep, he's that guy. Hey- he has a solicitor's license!

Dillon is at work from 8:20am until 1:10pm, then home for a quick lunch before going back out from 3:30 until just after 9pm Mondays through Fridays. He also works 8-2 on Saturdays. He's a rockstar!

I am taking full advantage of my new-found down time to focus on that pesky baby weight. In addition to my diet (which has been refined by many temptations conquered- see below), Vince and I are super active. We found an amazing state park 2 miles (up a killer hill) that we walk to everyday. The park is a dream with a 1.2 mile track, a historic mansion/museum, 3 playgrounds, and many trails. We walk from about 9am until just after noon (7-8 miles a morning). Depending on the day I will also do some "Tapout" (think insanity but MMA style) or go to our complex's little gym over Dillon's lunch break. I am hopeful to have good progress pictures to post later in the summer.

Vince is a champ on the walk eating some snacks, looking around, trying to reach for everything. He loves to wave at everyone too! He'll usually let me get about 1.5 to 2 hours in before demanding to get out. Then he'll run around and explore for a bit. He also chases anyone walking a dog to pet it, and yells "dad!?" at any man and will run towards him until he realizes it's not Dillon, then he'll totter away.

Running as far and as fast as he can

He loves sticks, he always has one in his hand

The cute lake in the middle of the walking track at our park.

Love our little park!

Eventually he'll fall asleep for about 45 minutes for his morning nap and I'll walk some more

*Lots of pictures of Vince at the park below.

Our walk takes us past my favorite thing from Delaware last year: Rita's. They serve "water ice" think sonic slushes, but thick (eaten with a spoon) and 1,000x better. Proud to report I have only had it once (before my diet started) even though our freezer is loaded with it.

Kyle was out here last year, and when we talked this week one of the first things he asked about was this dream in a cup!

After we get home I make Dillon lunch and Vince eats too. Lately he is obsessed with Macaroni & Cheese, strawberries, watermelon, and bananas. In addition to knowing dad is "dad", a month of talking to dad on the phone has left him thinking "phone" is dad too. A handful of times a day he'll randomly put something to his head and exclaim "dad!?"

While he loves to play with dad, whenever he is sad or wants to be held he says "ma ma ma ma" or "mommy". He also says "yeah" and loves to give high fives. In fact, at the park he'll follow kids around with his hand up until I explain he wants them to high five him. After he gets one he goes to find someone else.

This time his graham cracker is the phone. 

I sure do love my silly boy.

Vince also has the funniest giggle these days. He scrunches his face up and... we can't think of how to describe it, it's very unique. We'll post a video at some point, because it has to be experienced.

Around 3pm Vince crashes for a 2-3 hour long afternoon nap, and I am able to do some cleaning and school work. Even though I am done teaching, my distance students (those who watch my class online) still have until June 15th to email their work in, which needs to get graded and entered in the grade book.

Passed out on the floor. He's clutching a remote, which along with phones, he loves these days

At night we often go out as a team and do some things. It makes for a late night for Vince, but he sleeps around 9:45pm anyways and loves the chance to hang with the boys.

Vince and Tad at dinner, the are the same age and love to play

Vince and Dad walking around waiting for our food to come at a team dinner.

Some of the team eating that monstrosity known as the Kitchen Sink at the Charcoal Pit

EWWW! Hayes drinking the melted kitchen sink after the group worked on it.

More of the team working on another Kitchen Sink

Last weekend the singles from the team (about 12 people) went on a road-trip, but the couples decided to take a break and stay in Wilmington. Dillon had the idea of using our complex's grill and got everything for a bar-b-Que with the 3 couples and little boys by the pool. 

The 3 couples by the pool eating our BBQ

The playground for toddlers at the state park we walk to. This is Vince's favorite!

Vince has 3 new teeth up top! Close to cutting a fourth too

The toddler train playground Vince loves

He loves the tunnel, because his "singing" echos and he can play peek-a-boo with me

He loves the slide!

He makes lots of friends, because he always walks up and hugs them- then they are hooked and follow him around. This day all his friends called him super-baby or super-Vince.

The park also hosts music in the park picnics we like to go to.