Still Here!

Well, it's been a while since the last post, but things have been busy! A trip to Colorado, planning for Vacation Bible School, the end of Gracie's school year, starting swimming lessons, beginning demo of our master bathroom, ... and the list goes on and on!

Here are a few pictures of some of what we have been up to since returning from Colorado. The trip pictures will have to come later!!!

This will have to be short & sweet for now. I've still got VBS things to do before our meeting tomorrow morning & (probably more importantly) we're having a big lightning/thunder storm right now!!


Gracie's Promotion Day - 2 days after we got back from our big trip. They received a "diploma" at the ceremony. When we got to the car, she wanted to know where her roll was - they had told her they were sending it home. But of course, what was in her backpack was a flat piece of paper, not the exciting scroll they used in the ceremony. She was disappointed!


Besides walking (yes - he is a big walker these days!), this is one of JM's favorite things. Driving in his car (and Mike thought I was crazy to bring it in the house!) He can honk the horn and has started putting things in the small holder in the back. He also likes to sit in it holding a book (haven't figured out why on that one yet).


Our 1st harvest - Beans! They were mighty tasty. We've also eaten more beans since then and some swiss chard. We are all anxious for the tomatoes to ripen!!


Keeping cool in TX - she picked out that decoration for her face on her own! We went to Costco on a Saturday (crazy, I know) and they were raising $$ for the Children's Miracle Network. So the girls got to get their faces painted, see an ambulance, and watch a helicopter land!! It was pretty neat, especially the helicopter part. It was a medical helicopter for the local children's hospital. Once it had landed, both the girls got to sit in it. I got a picture, but it's on my cell phone & I haven't figured out how to get those off yet!!


First time in the wading pool & he loved it!!


We took a trip to the National Cowgirl Museum one day. They are redoing the Children's museum and the Cowgirl museum has some of the exhibits right now. The girls really liked the fountain out front. John Michael had fun, but didn't think he should be required to share anything with any other child ... the trials of being 1!


Aww - so cute. Notice that he's figured out how to climb onto the girls' chairs?? That's in case we don't set out food & get him in his chair quickly enough. He can just climb up and help himself to whatever is on the table. Notice the marker at his feet? He's also figured out where the girls' art supplies are...and he can get the caps off! Take note of the outfit - I love it, but every male who has seen it has said - yuck! Will John Michael hate this picture in later years???


Stir, stir, stir. Gracie made some delicious chocolate pudding one night. Of course, she didn't really like it, but that was not a problem - Mike & I managed to get it down. Clara has been really excited about cooking lately, but I guess I have been negligent in my picture taking. We made smoothies the other day & she knows that the button to push is FRA-PAY!! (frappe) I'm sure some of you can just imagine her saying that with her usual "exuberance" (as Mimi so aptly used when describing her the other day)


2nd time in the pool - the hose was a big fascination. Do you think he took a drink from it?? I don't think I really have to answer that, do I???


And a sweet picture of our Elvis. She's 8-ish years old already. She's such a good, patient, happy dog! John Michael decided she was a step stool the other day. Clara was sitting on our green chair and Elvis was sprawled out below. Clara apparently had something that JM found *irresistible*. So he decided to climb up. Now, I'm sure Elvis didn't really enjoy 22lbs suddenly stepping on her, but she just calmly raised her head and rolled up a little (she was still lying down). This left JM lying on her back like a rug, which was pretty funny. I rescued him, but I was amazed afterward that Elvis had laid there so calmly and not flung JM off!!

That's all for now. I guess it wasn't such a short post after all. Oh well, I know that being brief isn't my forte (is that an understatement??). I'll be back again soon with more news about the little bears!!