Swimming Lessons

This is one of the highlights of the week. It is a good bargaining chip, and a great way for the girls to get a little exercise on these cold and gray days. They love swimming!!! Amelia is actually moving through the water on her own. I am so impressed with her and how far she has come in these couple of weeks. She had a little setback being sick this last week, and missing two lessons, but she has the confidence now that she needs to continue to do well. Emma, not so much. But, she is getting more brave, and she enjoys it. That's a good place to start. Of course it helps a ton that Kamrie is there. Anything done with Kamrie is better than doing it alone.

Brenner also joined with Emma and Kamrie and they had a good time together.

Boon

I needed a high chair. So, I did my research and determined that this had everything I was looking for. Easy to clean, easily to move, moves up and down {fitting at the table or countertop}, and no legs to trip over. It is much better than I had even hoped. And doesn't Henry look so cute in it?

New Skirts

Last spring I bought these fabrics in a bundle of fat quarters. I bought them for the darling blue and pink cherry fabric. Then we decided that we needed to make skirts and I let the girls pick four of the fabrics to put together. Of course neither of them picked the cherries. They needed a little direction, but overall, I think they turned out pretty cute. Not bad for guessing my own pattern with strips not long enough to even go around. Emma's turned out better because I stopped worrying about how many seams there were in a row. Emma absolutely loves her skirt. I think she actually wore it for three days in a row. I'm not even exaggerating. Then she put on the camera case and I think she looks like a little fancy granola girl.

He's Home

Nate had the opportunity to go to Guatemala again this year. It sure makes for a long 10 days for us at home, but what a wonderful way to give back, reach out, and share his talents. He's crashed in the chair with Mia, so I'm loading a couple pictures while he tries to catch up a little from an exhausting trip.

Here is Nate at work. Along with extractions he did many composite restorations on the four front teeth. It is very common to find people with these teeth rotting out because they often suck on sugar cane.
Here is Andy at work. {Nate's 2nd cousin} We can't wait to see what he puts together from his 9 hours of video footage & tons of photos. It really will be an amazing Senior project.

Nate giving instructions to the hoards of people. And below are the lines.


Nate and Kathy were fighting over who would adopt this beautiful girl from the orphanage where they did work on Friday. Isn't she a doll?

After the extractions she wanted Andy to hold her.

Nate did something else a little different this year. Before they got to work they took some gifts to a couple of the families close by. They went into their homes and saw how they lived. They offered them blankets, hats, toys...

I hope to never complain about my kitchen again.

Or my cupboard space.Not even my bed.
We are so blessed and fortunate. The pictures are certainly eye-opening and humbling. I'm glad Nate was able to and have such a wonderful experience.

Pot Luck Bar-B-Que

Last Saturday Clay had this idea that he wanted to have a Pot Luck Bar-b-que. He had mentioned it a couple of weeks ago, a couple of times, but since I don't really know what that is, I couldn't commit to such a thing. When the boys decided that that is what they wanted to do that night, I let them go for it. They made a guest list, and planned a menu. I did their shopping while they cleaned things up a bit. {since the house was a mess like it always is} Of course, the girls had Kaylon at the top of their list of invitees. He's such a good sport to be so nice to them. All through the day, they were coming up with more people to invite. I think it is a bit of a good thing that so many people had different things to do that night....{this is where I fell asleep while waiting for the picture to upload}

We had a fun night with great company and good food.

Trying

Babies do not stay babies for long enough. Every day they are discovering something new, doing something more, and developing their minds and bodies. Henry has recently taken an interest in things. He likes to look at things and wants to hold them and taste them. It's so fun. What follows is the moving. He'll turn himself in circles on a blanket. He's been rolling over from front to back since he was very little, and now he's trying so hard to get from his back to his front. He arches his back, rocks, kicks his legs, and then...sister can't help but help. Someday soon he'll do it on his own.

Look, Grandma!

Grandma got this for me for Christmas, but gave it to me at Thanksgiving when they were here. I put it in the cupboard to get it out of the way, and forgot to plant it until Christmas. But look what beauty has come my way now. I'd say it's much more welcome on my cold, grey, February day than when all the excitement of Christmas is still fresh. I think I have never seen a more beautiful amaryllis ever. FOUR blossoms....it got a little too heavy just two days ago and I had to stake it, but it is still gorgeous.

{Thank You, Grandma}