The Dust

And another one bit the dust.  Last week I discovered that my new expensive charger for the Ipad had gotten broken.  Grabbed the other new charger that was normally priced and it, too, was broken.  When they get just pulled out without thought the little end can get pulled off the cord.  Yay! So I decided to wait until I went to work and get another normal priced one.
Inventory is coming up and there are no chargers on the shelf for I-pads.  If there are any they are already pre-counted and can't be touched until after inventory.  Oy.  So I go home and find one of the old chargers that don't work right but can slowly slowly slowly charge.  The I-pad ended up on the floor and then lo and behold it got stepped on.  Yay!  Major cracks all over the screen.
Audrie made it work.  The cracks didn't lift up so you couldn't feel them so she wasn't getting cut.  Then someone who shall remain nameless, but he is of the male persuasion pulled the usb end off that one slow charger.  Well I'm not buying a new charger for a broken Ipad. And so it finally bit the dust.
I'm not completely heartbroken.  This Ipad was one of the ones Papa bought that was refurbished to begin with.  It has had its screen replaced once already.  And every once in awhile it would work really slow.  We have had it for a couple of years so we did good with that one.
So I have been debating about whether it is going to be replaced or not.  I'm not sure why I'm debating because I know I will replace.  The questions seem to be whether I get another Ipad and the big pro there is all the apps that I have paid for and can just put on a new one.  Or whether I want to get them a kid one because they are designed for kids.  The big pro there is they are cheaper.
In the meantime I am using it all as a learning tool.  Audrie is using the old gen one Ipad that Papa gave us as a back up.  A lot of stuff won't work on it anymore because the operating system is so outdated.  The biggest thing being the YouTube app.  Oh my gosh.  "But Nana, I NEED YouTube."  Well sorry kid if you would have been paying attention to what you were doing you might not have broken the mini one and would have the normal YouTube experience.  I set her up with YouTube on the browser but it isn't as easy for her to use since she can't spell.  

A Groove

Apparently we have found a groove.  I'm not sure when it happened but our mornings and evenings are much smoother.  We used to have some epic meltdowns during those two times.  While we are still not always happy we are much better.  We must have found a good routine that we all can live with. So we get out the door when we are suppose to and we go to bed when we need to.
I'm really happy that we seem to have missed the night terrors with the little man.  They are pretty tough to deal with.  Especially the first one when I had no clue as to what it was. Feeling blessed that the little woman only had about five of them.  And hers lasted a good 45 minutes each time.
I'm not sure if we found a groove or if the littles are just getting older and used to how things need to be.  Either way I am happy that our days are a little easier in this way.

Fourth of July

The Fourth of July included playing in the river and with a dog named Romeo. He loved having his ball thrown in the water and then chasing it.  They got to float on Uncle Pat's floatation device with him and without him.  Audrie loved riding in the bucket of the tractor.  She said is was so much fun and so scary at the same time.  Connor said he wasn't scared at all.  And then there was the Safari Ride right before the sun went down.  It was a short ride due to the number of people on the island for the fireworks.  Somehow Audrie managed to ride twice.  She is a girl who knows what she wants and sometimes how to get it.  Then we got to watch a most spectacular display of fireworks.  My understanding is this guy usually fires them off somewhere else, but was told not to this year so he came to the island.  And we were glad he did.  Sat with Mom and Pat and watched them.  Audrie started off with a friend and then came and joined us.  Connor fell asleep and missed most of it.
It was another great camping trip with Uncle Pat.  Creating memories.

Camping Back At the Island

We went back to the island to camp over the holiday weekend.  The littles love camping.  It is about the only time they get soda.  Connor tried flying a kite.  Audrie and Connor both got to get in the water this time as it was so hot.  You can walk about about 50 yards and it only comes up to their waist.  They started off close to shore and when they were ready to venture further they got to wear life vests.  They liked that.

Jeremy

My best friend's son and his family took a road trip in this direction.  We met up with them for lunch.  He had never been up our way even though he has lived in CA for quite awhile.  We both thought it was very cool that my grandchildren were playing with her grandchild.
I hadn't seen Jeremy since he was ten years-old.  He has grown up into quite the man.  You can tell some things from facebook, but not even the tip of an iceberg.  He is extremely intelligent and has some clear concrete thoughts.  I enjoyed my time with him.
We made plans to meet up again when the littles and I take a road trip down there.  Maybe we will have more time to visit and let the kids play.  There is only so much playing that can take place in a restaurant.  ;p  If I procrastinate long enough it could be for a wedding.

Camping

Getting things ready for our weekend camping trip for the fourth of July.  Mom is going this time.  I think I have it arranged for Pat to take her out there.  My car will be pretty full.  I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also apprehensive.  It is suppose to be hot and Mom doesn't do hot well.  And we already know she doesn't do 24/7 littles well.  We will just see how it goes.

Natalie

I had time before work to take a walk.  Walking past the VA and this man and his dog were walking towards me.  She stopped, I stopped....I said what do you want to meet me?  The man told me her name is Natalie.  Cool.  And she is a love bug.  She stood up on her back legs and just cuddled in to my shoulder while I was stooped down to pet her.  No licking, just cuddling.  She reminded me of my Mishka.  The man and I both agreed that we all three needed to get our walks in before it got too warm.