My Aunt Betty passed away the end of May. She was actually my mother's aunt, but we always called her Aunt Betty. My mother has actually been Betty's caretaker for at least 4 years because Mom decided she wanted to make sure Betty was taken care of. It was really hard on my Mom. She was very close to Betty, and Betty was such a big part of Mom's days. Mom would go check on her almost every day.
After Betty died, but before the funeral, Katie and I had this conversation. She had heard me tell other people about Betty, so she had an idea that she was gone.
Katie-When will we see Betty?
Me- What do you mean? (wondering how best to explain that Betty has passed away)
Katie- You know, that place where your Mom's Mom and Dad are? (cemetery)
In June, Katie and Elayna were discussing how Annalisa had gotten into my tummy. Ryan said, "I put the baby in Mommy's tummy." Both girls just stared at him, and I said, "are you sure you want to bring that up?" Then Ryan and I laughed, and Katie said, "Dad! You are just teasing us."
June 4. I thought the girls were dressed so cute for church, I just had to take pictures of them.
Ryan was laying on the couch, and had taken off his glasses. This is not an uncommon event. But Elayna, when she saw him, said "Daddy, you silly. you take your glasses off, you silly."
We were sitting at the table eating dinner, and Ryan said he would feed Annalisa so I could finish eating dinner. Elayna said, "Daddy can't feed the baby! You don't have...(pointing to her chest)...shoulders!"
Irma lets the girls wear her shirts when I forget to bring jackets for them. This was the beginning of May, and it was still a little chilly outside.
I think this has to be my favorite picture of Elayna. It captures her so perfectly. Her smile, her love to get dirty, her love to work, everything is just perfect.
Annalisa started smiling May 31, 2011-3 weeks old
Annalisa is holding her head up so well. She is sleeping well also. She slept from 10pm to 5 am on June 2. She is recognizing faces, and staying awake longer during the day.
The other day she grabbed my arm with both her arms, and held it tight to her chest. She was hungry and excited to see me.
When I'm burping or holding Annalisa, I can tell she is hungry because she bobs her head up and down like a chicken pecking for food. It is cute.
Elayna likes me to sing her 2 songs before she goes to bed. "walk in light and... other song is?" (Teach Me to Walk in the Light and I Am A Child Of God)
When I tell Elayna to stop doing something or say she isn't supposed to be doing whatever it is, she emphatically says, "I know!" and.... continues to do whatever she was doing.
These girls sure love to dig and play outside:
Isn't this the saddest face you've ever seen?! Elayna was sick one day, and just wanted to sit on the couch.
Elayna says "work" when she wants you to look at something. I didn't even realize it until Irma and Ryan pointed it out to me. I just figured, that is how she says "look".
I went in to check on the girls June 28. Elayna had taken off her pillowcase, and was sleeping inside the pillowcase. Such a funny girl.
Katie is taking gymnastics for the summer. We aren't sure if it we will keep her in it during school, but she is having so much fun! This is her starting to do a cartwheel. She says they are easy, and so are handstands, but she has someone spotting her when she does them, so of course they are easy. She is picking up on the moves and positions pretty well though. Abby is in her class too, so Amanda and I carpool, which works out well.
My crop of strawberries was amazing this year. We picked 3 bowls this full. And they were big perfect looking berries, and they tasted wonderful.
Katie was so happy and excited that we had strawberries in our yard.
Elayna thought the bowl was "too heavy Mom"
I have some butcher paper from a Young Women's project that I hung on our wall in the hall. The girls really like to draw on it. The bad part is, Elayna starting drawing on the opposite wall, which doesn't have paper on it.
Ryan got a raise from work. He provides so well for our family. I'm so grateful that he works hard, that he enjoys what he does, that his work appreciates him, that I get to stay home with the girls instead of working outside the home, and that we are so blessed.
Elayna was getting dressed to go swimming at my parent's house. Mom was helping her go to the bathroom first, and as Elayna walked past Mom's full length mirror, she paused (naked) and said, while doing a little shake, "I looking good!" I'm positive she never learned that from me.
Speaking of swimming, Katie can now swim without water wings. She swims in the deep end, and she is fine. Maybe a little unsure still, but my father had her tread water for 10 seconds, and made sure she could swim to the sides from anywhere in the pool without help.
