How to mess up TOAST

This morning Taylor came to me with a sad look on her face wondering why she hadn't been fed yet. I asked her if she wanted waffles, toast, eggs... TOAST! Okay, in the toaster goes the bread. The toaster finishes, add some butter, cut off the crust, fold it in half (just the way Ryan told me she likes it) and off she goes with the toast on a plate to watch some cartoons. A minute later she comes back and hands me the toast. A few minutes after that she convinces Ryan to help her. I hear, "You want some toast" from the other room. The toaster sounds, Ryan butters it, cuts the crust off, folds it in half and... she eats the entire thing. Really? I still don't know what exactly I did wrong, but then I decided I could take it two ways. I could be hurt that she doesn't like how I fix toast or I can realize that I now have one less thing "I" am in charge of in the mornings :)

Splash Pad

We were very excited when we heard that there now is a water pad at one of our favorite local parks. So far we have spend three afternoons there and will have to go many more times before it closes for the season. Jena LOVES the water and Taylor is a little more timid. Jena runs right in the center, while Taylor circles around to find a "safer" path. There are spinning pinwheels, water guns, pouring buckets... spraying water everywhere. Then if they get tired of the water they can play on the playground and we barely have to adjust our seats to keep an eye on them. It could only be better if it was in our own backyard :)

Hopefully the water won't get me here :)

Family Hike

Ryan has really enjoyed taking Jena hiking lately. So this morning (since it was before 7 a.m. and everyone was already awake) we decided to take the whole family. I had Cody in the sling and within 100 steps Taylor was on Ryan's shoulders. We were quite the sight for the serious runners, mountain bikers and horseback riders also on the trail. We didn't get as far as they normally go, but there were enough birds, horses and dogs to keep the girls happy.

but of course, even the dirt...

and sticks make them happy too!

So, lets go that way!

Just a few new PICs...

Our little kids!

Mommy and Cody

Almost got the smile...

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.