Yesterday evening...

Jill stood up for the first time on a surfboard. This afternoon she asked if we could go surfing again.

I do apologize for the yelping. It's ridiculous.

Mia's verse

A few weeks ago the verse we learned for the week was short enough that Mia learned to say it all by herself. She was very pleased with herself. She could even say it with her eyes closed!

School Days

And just like that they are back in. Lucas steadfastly refused to say he was excited for school but his smile and eagerness Tuesday morning betrayed him. Jill gave no pretense about the way she felt. She was up, dressed and had her bed made before I was up. She has the same kindergarten teacher as Lucas, in the same classroom and with many of the younger sibling of Lucas's classmates. When I picked her up the first day the first thing she said with disappointment in her voice, "She didn't give me any homework!"
I took the above shot and we all started to the car and then Lucas turned around and "Oh, I forgot. Come here Jill, we should put our arms around each other."

Big kids

And Mia? She and her imagination seem to be doing just fine. We are having fun together my baby and I.

What our August looked like...

It seemed the kids were in water more than out of it this summer. The amount of towels we went through in August was shocking! I should have kept track. Both Jill and Mia made big strides in swimming this summer. Jill went from barely wanting to put her face in to swimming all over the "big" pool. She also discovered boogie boarding and is getting braver every time we go to the beach. Mia is not quite swimming everywhere by herself but she can swim out to me and back to the side again. Last night Lucas coaxed Mia into jumping in off the "high dive". At first she would have none of it even though he offered her several pennies and a trip to the yogurt shack. Finally he asked what she would want if she could have anything in the world. Without hesitation she said she would like pink. So he told her he would give her two pinks if she would jump off and so of course she did.

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Idaho Trip

We had so much fun on our summer trip this year. Instead of heading directly to Idaho we decided to take a round-about way so we could see some new countryside and visit friends. First stop was Phoenix. We had such a good time despite the 500 degree weather (I jest- I'm just a wimp). A & J took us to see a little bull-riding Sat. eve. Sunday was fellowship day so we got to spend time with other friends too. Sunday evening we headed up to Flagstaff and A & J joined us which made that leg of our trip extra special. Monday after the boys were done working, we went for a hike at the site of some cliff-dwelling ruins. It was very cool to see. Let us all be appreciative that we don't live on the side of a cliff. Tuesday we left Flagstaff, went to Bearizona and then on to the Grand Canyon. Did you know that the Grand Canyon is huge, indeed grand? That it is amazing? Pass the word along. We finished off Tuesday by traveling to Bryce Canyon. We drove through some surprisingly beautiful country before the sun went down. Wednesday we went into Bryce Canyon, drank in the beauty and then went on a little hike up the "mossy cave trail." There are no pictures of Mossy cave because, unlike everything else we saw, it was unimpressive. Regardless, we had the best time playing along the river. It was an afternoon we will not soon forget. Enjoying nature with the family is the best.

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Eventually we did make it to Idaho and of course enjoyed ourselves immensely!

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June

June found us saying good-bye to the school year and gearing up for an almost month long trip up North. But before I get to that boat-load of pictures here are some from the beginning of summer.

Lucas with his dear Mrs. Carlson. "She's the best teacher EVER!"

Preschool Graduation

On Jill's last day of school I wanted to get a photograph of her and Mia like the one I had taken on her first day of school but her mood was contrary as you can see...

So this is as close as I got.

As you can see Mia is almost where she was.

Summer found us swimmin'

Campin'

and man-handlin' the visitors.

A week after school let out Lucas went to a surf camp with his buddy. One of the nights his buddy slept over and this is how they came down ready for bed. Surfin' twins!

Lucas with his counsellor

That's the two Daddy's paddling out on the horizon.

Now where was I?...

Oh yes, I was just about to start with May pictures when I got bogged down with a case of too many other things I'd rather be doing than blogging. I would have forgotten May and June altogether and just picked up with the present but May was my Jilly's birthday and I could just let that pass without notice! Some May highlights...

Jill with Ms. Julie at the Mother's Day Luncheon

Awana awards night

Friends!

Birch Aquarium

And then dinner at the beach with friends.

They eventually stripped down to not much and had a blast.

Play-dates make you do strange things

A new/used bike for the 5 year old.

As we sang happy birthday, Jill sat there with a smile planted firmly in place while she fought back the tears.

To celebrate 5 years of our Jilly we went to Disneyland! Since Jill has always had a thing for hotels we went up the afternoon before we hit the park. As we walked in the hotel, Jill skipping by my side she says, "Oh Mommy, I just love the smell of hotels!"

Crazy driver

It's a Small World

Is it just me or is that ride is too long and a little bit creepy.

Daddy's treat/ Mommy's horror

Sleepover in Lucas's room.

At one point I had a list that I had been keeping of all the little things that make Jill our Jilly. I can't seem to find it but I'll try to remember a few of them.

*When playing with Mia or anyone substantially younger than her, she refers to herself in the third person.

*She loves to make and eat fruit salad. I've heard her say things like "Instead of bread and jam can I have more fruit?", at which point I question if she can actually be my child.

*On that same vane, often juice and candy will be too sweet for her. "I think I better stop eating this. It's too sweet." (What!?)

*Most people say "I didn't know she could talk so much" when they get to know her. We nod and say that we already knew that.

*Jill is a pleaser. "Oh that's o.k, he can have mine." "I'll move. She can sit here."

*If in doubt, Jill smiles, a big cheesy I'm-not-sure-what-to-do-so-I'll-just-smile smile.

*She has captured her Daddy and Mommy's heart through and through.

Luncheon

The ladies and I have preferred to take our lunch in the garden (hah!) of late, so we can take full advantage of the warming weather. These are usually sophisticated affairs
complete with toothpicks,and amazing manners.

Full cooperation with the resident photographer

is always practiced.

We discuss important and pressing matters,

rarely giggle,

and always keep ourselves from silliness.

The resident photographer loves these luncheons,

trying to soak up more than just the sunshine.

Also in attendance is this hairy beast, constantly dropping his soccer ball at your feet with pleading eyes... "She kicked it! She kicked it!"

He is getting pretty good at catching it mid-air.

Sweet (but oh so hairy) dog.