summer 2011

We can measure our growth these days by what we are able to do each summer. Gretchen used to be able to walk under these bike racks with quite a bit of room. Last year she kept bonking her head on the rack and this year she can hang on them like a monkey. So we've been busy busy doing all sorts of summer things this year. We go to the library for storytimes or shows and the girls get princess books and movies to make us proud of them. We take our little red wagon up to Union Park a few times a week. Fina will stand under the sprayer of water just drinking it or letting it get right into her eyes. She runs all over the wading pool and Gretchen jumps repeatedly into the deep end screaming 'watch me' Although Fina says quite a few words these days 'mine, no, milk, shoes, cat, dada, mama..' Gretchen is her number one translator. Of course she's not really translating, but asking for things for herself through Fina. "Fina really wants to eat ice cream in the front yard" "Fina wants to dance around naked" Gretchen also says 'whatever' a lot, which made me realize how much I say it. Her phrase just forget it, whatever is completely from me. She did create 'holy gosh' as a slightly more appropriate form of cussing then what I do. They are starting to play more and more with each other, which I think is partially from having no other kids here this summer and also from Fina just getting bigger. I have such fond memories of crazy things my siblings and I did over the summer time and I'm glad they will have it also. Last week taking the wagon to the park they were cracking each other up making 'fart mouth' noises. Fun times.

measuring up

G is done with her first year of preschool. She had a very easy time with it from the beginning. No tears once she realized how much fun it was. Miss LeAnn and Miss Laurie made those 2 1/2 hours every Wednesday something she would talk about the whole week. Of course one of her favorite parts of school was getting dressed. Eric and I had no say in these choices. Bright pink polka dot tights with a red plaid silky skirt and a t shirt covered with butterflies was the usual outfit. I could get her to wear reasonable shoes by saying that the teachers had a rule about that. Although she doesn't understand the concept of summer vacation the way that most schoolchildren do, it is that time now which means swimming, parks, and all sorts of fun. Here G is with Nana at the last day of school picnic. The children came in wearing sunglasses and sang "Mr Golden Sun" for all the parents or just sat there with shocked looks on their faces while the teachers sang. She came home with all sorts of crazy artwork and stories about the 'boys crying' and Isaac and his baba. Next year she will go for 2 days a week and then...oh don't even want to think about that yet. Just trying to enjoy now.