Fatherly Love and Forgiving

Since my parents bought season tickets in LA, we have been lucky to see them quite often. Though the time was short, we had a great day hanging out with them. Ryan and Jena have been going on special daddy daughter hikes in the hills near our house. This week Grandpa went with them. They were gone for almost two hours and Jena hiked the whole way. She's our little trooper!

James decided to not go to the play and stayed with us instead. The girls and Cody love their uncle James.

As to the forgiving part of this post...

Today, Ryan decided to take Jena home teaching with him. The family he was visiting have an 8 year old daughter and a 10 year old son. They are always very sweet to Jena and she loves going to their house. Before Ryan left to go he told Jena that they were only staying a short time and that she shouldn't cry or throw a fit when they needed to leave. Well, they had their visit, but of course, Jena was not ready to leave when it was time. As the tantrum was being thrown Ryan took her to the car. On the way home he was explaining to her how she should act, why she shouldn't cry and that he was a little disappointed in her for acting that way. She replied, that Sister Nichol told her in church today that if she did something wrong, she just needed to say sorry and you (daddy) needed to forgive her.

She definitely understands the concept of forgiving... I wonder if the behaving lesson sunk in as deep :)

First Day of PreSchool

Today, Jena had her first day of Preschool. Ever since Joy School ended she has been very excited to start a new school. She headed off with her backpack and snack inside. We can hardly believe how big she is getting...

But before we could get to her classroom, she had to try out the playground...

After meeting her teacher, the first thing she wanted to do was play with the blocks.

Three hours later, Jena and I had a conversation in the car that went something like this...

Mommy - So how was your day at Preschool?
Jena - We got to put marbles in the marble jar.
Mommy - Was that if you were good today?
Jena - Yeah.
Mommy - What else did you do?
Jena - I drewded a dinosaur. Look Mommy look. Then I drewded a snowman and I drewded a butterfly.
Mommy - Did you get to paint?
Jena - Yeah, I got my hands really dirty.
Mommy - Did you eat all your snack?
Jena - No, I got full. I did eat the cheese and crackers. I dipped the crackers in the water and it was really good. I like water with crackers, I love it.
Mommy - Did you get to play on the playground?
Jena - The merry-go-round?
Mommy - No, the slides and swings.
Jena - Yeah, we went outside and I rode a bike. There was a bike that was mine and I rode it. Mommy, I'm hungry. I have a snack here in my backpack. Oh, carrots, I like carrots.
Mommy - Did you like your teacher?
Jena - Yeah, she's a good one. She let me play and eat my snack.
Mommy - What was your favorite part about preschool?
Jena - Going outside.
Mommy - Do you want to go again?
Jena - Yeah I do, when it's Monday again.

What and exciting day and what a cute little girl!

Summer Fun

Ryan was out of town for a few days and luckily Jeanette came to safe me from madness. It was great to spend a week together and to find out we are more similar than we knew. It is an interesting thing to have your little sister of 12 years become a friend instead of a little girl that use to flirt with my friends :) One day while she was here we let the girls play with bubbles. Then the bubbles turned into a sticky mess and we needed to wash off. Usually the girls play around the water, but today Jeanette convinced them to run through it. Jena loved it, but Taylor needed a little more encouragement.

Jena thrilled to challenge the water

Taylor still not convinced to try by herself

All three girls in the sprinkler

Mommy and Cody hung out in the shade watching the girls in the water. The crazy thing is that he's going to be running with them before we know it.

3 1/2 Men and 2 Little Ladies

Grandpa, Jeffrey and Jonny stopped by last weekend. We all stayed up way to late playing games, telling jokes and making cookies. I love these guys and girls and especially this picture.

Bubbly Toes

We finally got out the baby tub and Cody had a proper bath. He seemed to love the water and smelled even more wonderful than he normally does...

and nothing could be cuter than a dinosaur hooded towel.