Perseverance

Have you ever tried something and you are just not very good at it? You just want to quit? Hide? Never talk about it again? Well, that would be gymnastics for Sarah. She is not a very physical girl. She is tall for her age, she is skin and bones, seriously, she has no muscles, and she is just awkward sometimes. Well, she started gymnastics for the first time three weeks ago. She was in tears after just 15 minutes! My heart was breaking for her. She can't do a cartwheel, she can't touch her toes, she can't do splits. We talked about it and she agreed to keep trying and that there are other things she is good at, but that doesn't mean she can't learn to be good at this too. She has had the best attitude!! She still can't cartwheel or hand stand, but she keeps trying. She went home the first day worked and worked until she could do a backbend (a bridge is the current lingo). She knows she will never excel at this, but she keeps trying. At the end of the first day the lady at the desk who had been watching her, asked if we still wanted to sign up. She said we could just have that day be a "free trial" if Sarah had changed her mind but I was so proud of her to say "no, she is going to keep trying!". Above is a series of pictures of her on the bar, the thing she feels the best about! So proud of you, Sarah!

Miss Elizabeth is 21 months old already. She is so beautiful, and so fun. She talks a ton now and mimics everything we say. She is quite the singer and can at least get the tune to most of her nursery songs. She knows the hand motions for them too. She hums "The Death March" from Star Wars because Sarah and Joshua do all the time. One of my favorite things she does is say "coming" when I call her. Then she comes running out. She still screams. A lot. She goes to time out for it and I don't even have to take her there, she will go when I tell her to and come out when she is calm and then say "sorry" and give a hug. She thinks she is bigger than she is and she doesn't want to wear a bib, sit in a high chair or use a sippy cup! She is doing great at swim lessons and will put her face in and she can walk along the side with her hands saying "chugga, chugga choo choo". she still sticks out her bottom lip far more than she smiles, but I don't think she is unhappy or melancholy.  It is just the way she greets anything she is unsure of.  She has a great laugh if you get to hear it and she gives the best kisses!  Sometimes we will be walking holding hands and she will bring my hand to her mouth and kiss it!  She hates shoes, so I don't even put them on her until we get to our destination.  Her hair is gorgeous.  It is down past her shoulders when it is wet, but as soon as it starts to dry, the back springs up into ringlets.  Will they go away when we cut it?  I hate to find out!  She is such a joy to our family and we all think that life would be simply dull with out her!

I realized a few pictures got left off the last post!

The kids enjoying Donald's new projector and screen he got for his birthday.

When your mom doesn't let you have your pacificer, you have to improvise with Mr Potato Head pieces!

Back yard cam out.  They chose the perfect night, no wind and not too hot!

Now that it is hot, we are swimming like fish!

Summer!!!
Summer got off to a slow start with 50 degree days and lots of rain. We have still had a good time and now it has turned into a beautiful Chico summer with plentiful sunshine and 100 degree temperatures! The pool is nice and warm, but still refreshing and the kids are busy with activities. We have had a lot of play dates and are packing up getting ready for our family vacation. Here is a peek at how we have been spending our days!

Elizabeth helping me bake Donald's cake.

The girls snuggling together and hiding from the vacuum monster!

All three kids are taking swim lessons. Sarah and Joshua are making major progress, Elizabeth is having fun!

Because you never know how dangerous a movie will be!

Summer's bounty!

We spent a cold weekend in Sacramento at the train museum!

We had Snowy for the first few weeks of summer. It was a sad day for Sarah when we took her to her new home.

Sarah is really wanting to learn to sew. I helped her make a nine patch. I need to call about getting her a real sewing teacher!

We were running late for swimming lessons so Sarah decided to help Elizabeth into her swim suit. she found a poopy diaper though. I was super impressed because she cleaned her all up!

Elizabeth is a helper too! She likes to clean the table off after we eat! She gets really into her work.

The kids got to visit the fire truck and ambulance at the Enloe Family Picnic. It is a favorite summer event.

Joshua enjoying both popcorn and a snow cone!

Elizabeth has him beat though. She is putting a piece of popcorn in her mouth while still sucking on her lollipop! I am holding her snow cone for her!

Next week is Disneyland, then a week with family in Southern CA.  What a great start to summer

 


Donald turned 38 yesterday! I hope he had a good day. The kids were really excited for his birthday this year and made him a bunch of cards. We got him a projections system thingy, but I don't know if he will be able to get it to work like he wants, so we will see if he keeps it or not. he sure is handsome, isn't he?

Family bike rides

We have been enjoying almost daily family bike rides. Now that Joshua is on two wheels, it is easy to put Elizabeth in the bike trailer and go. We only go a mile or two around the neighborhood, but it is great family time. We have special names for each route and love deciding which way to go. Here we are out for a ride to the "dead end". After that, we went on "Sarah's Wild Ride", which is a favorite route for everyone. I can just feel the memories being created.

Ahh, the fruits of summer.

This summer is off to a slow start, weather wise. We have had cool temperatures and lots of rain, including thunderstorms and a tornado touching down south of town! We have not been in our pool at all and have been doing things like having hot chocolate for a snack and building forts to keep ourselves entertained. I have admit, the yard looks good! The sprinklers have been shut off and everything is growing! I feel like I am back in Michigan! We have blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Elizabeth loves all three and doesn't care if they are completely ripe, she just stuffs them in her mouth! This is all three kids picking flowers (they decorated the table for dinner for me) and picking blueberries.

My first Video with iMovie on the iPad!  Yeah!  What a fun time we had!