A Glimpse

A glimpse into how Staley's mind works:

Last night at dinner, Staley was eating some Ritz crackers.  I had left the box on the table.

Staley:  "Box.  Haveit."

Me:  "No, you can't have the box right now.  You are still eating dinner."

Staley:  "Back of it."

Me:  "Okay, I'll turn it around so you can see the back of it."

Staley:  "Flower.  Polka dots on it."

All I've ever seen is a cracker, but Staley is totally right.  I love seeing the world through Staley's eyes.

Pentwater

Pentwater is my happy place.  I love everything about our annual week of family vacation.  Not many people can say that they look forward to spending a week living with their brothers and families while spending all day, every day with aunts and uncles and cousins and cousins' kids.  But I do.  There are no surprises in Pentwater.  Year in and year out, Pentwater is more about tradition than novelty.  Our cabins and houses may change to accomodate our growing families, but the vacation blueprint remains the same.  Lazy days on the beach.  Friendly competition to see who will dive into the frigid Lake Michigan water first.  Building sand castles.  Spaghetti night.  Smores night.  Going into town for ice cream.  Pudding pops.  Late night game playing.  Not much has changed in the 30-some years that we have been going to Pentwater.  And I love that.  Same town.  Same beach.  Same feeling of happiness, made all the more pronounced by the years of memories that Pentwater holds.  I love Pentwater.  And now Staley does too.

Every morning, the first words that Staley would say:

"Play cousins."

"Go beach."

Bedtime stories with Grandpa

Playing in the sand provided hours of enjoyment.

Walking on the beach with Grammie

A perfect family vacation

Good-bye Pentwater.  See you next year!!

Staley Doing?

What is Staley doing these days?  Asking questions.  Lots and lots of questions.  Well, not lots and lots of different questions.  She is asking the same question lots and lots of times.  Staley is inquisitive...about what other people are doing.  All the time.

Mommy doing?
Daddy doing?
Liam doing?
Uncle Ethan doing?

Often the question is about someone who is right there with her.

Staley:  "Mommy doing?"
Me:  "Just sitting here, watching you eat your lunch."

And it generally isn't an isolated question.  She may need to ask what Mommy is doing or Daddy is doing 4 or 5 times in a row before she is satisfied with the answer.  But if the question is turned back to her, she generally has an answer for it.  Driving back from the beach for lunch today, this was part of our conversation.

Staley:  "Liam doing?"
Me:  "I don't know.  What do you think Liam is doing?"
Staley:  "Eating."
Me:  "Maybe so.  What do you think Liam is eating for lunch?"
Staley:  "Eating pork chops."

Granted, we haven't had pork chops since we've been on vacation.  We probably haven't had pork chops in several weeks.  But apparently Staley thought Aunt Melissa had whipped up some lunchtime pork chops for Liam to enjoy.

It's so fun to watch how Staley's mind works.  I love how she is trying to figure out her world.  Staley is bright and inquisitive and so much fun to be around.  Staley doing?

Filling my life with joy.  That's what Staley is doing.

Her Powers of Observation

When Staley woke up from her nap today, we heard her talking through the monitor.  Then we heard some rustling and crinkling, and Staley said, "Mommy going potty with this."  Very confused, I went upstairs to the room we are sharing here on vacation.  Staley was standing in her pack and play, holding a tampon she had grabbed from the dresser next to her pack and play.  Her powers of observation are keen...and now hold the potential to embarrass.

My Beach Baby

Beach Baby (def.)  noun.  Loves the sand.  Loves the water.  Loves the seagulls.  Loves buckets and shovels and balls and floaties.  Basks in the sun, plays in the sand, and is never ready to leave.

You can never be too careful.

Looking at the 'BIG water.'

My beach baby



Things that Make Me Sad

1.  Staley being sick...again.
2.  High fevers.
3.  My hungry and thirsty child who doesn't want to eat or drink.
4.  My tired child who can't sleep.
5.  Staley tears.  Heartbreaking Staley tears.
6.  My playful little girl who doesn't have the energy to play.
7.  Staley being sick...on the day we are supposed to leave for vacation.

Staley is sick.  I'm sad.  Not a stellar day for the Sanckens.

Holy Molars!

They're in!!  Staley finally cut her top and bottom molar on the right side.  With her 12 teeth, she's over halfway done...with this first round.  Seems unfair to work so hard on something that's just going to fall out in a few years.