Mia Surfing and Singing Class

 We finally got Mia a wetsuit so she could  really brave the ocean and a couple of weeks ago Lance took her out on his surfboard to give it a try when we were at the beach. She had a blast!

 Another passion for Mia these days is Singing...so when a friend of hers told us about a little singing class she was taking through the parks and rec for 6 weeks we decided to sign her up and let her give it a try. She had a lot of fun and learned some new things. We enjoyed getting to watch the little recital they put on.

Sewing

The girls always have fun trying out little sewing projects when Grandma visits. This time they were doing line stitching using cross stitch fabric and they made bookmarks with their name stitched on them. Very fun. :)

Mischievous

This whole last year has been one of ups and downs for Maddi and Ella as they have worked on developing their own little bond with Mia being gone all day and Ella becoming old enough to want to be a part of things. I remember this a bit with Mia and Maddi so I've tried to take a deep breath during the down moments and remind myself that once they work out the kinks (which may not be until they are grown and out of the house!) :) they will be BEST FRIENDS and it will all be worth it. In the last month though I've started to see the lights go on for the two of them and I'm finally seeing more Up moments than down which means longer periods of playing together without fighting or at least with disagreements they are able to work through on their own!

How does this relate to REALLY WHITE/POWDERY FACES?!!!

Well one day during quiet time they had gone into the garage to play and were playing so well and quietly that I didn't want to stop the flow. Finally I decided it was almost too quiet and so after and hour or so I peeked in to find the two of them covered in Baby Powder! Most people that live near a beach know that baby powder is a staple (for anyone that hasn't tried it...baby powder is WONDERFUL for getting sand off your feet and legs)...and we always have a bottle in our car for those frequent beach trips. I walked in right as they were ADDING WATER to the baby powder...not a good combo...so the fun had to end but I think they felt like it was all worth it. :)

Happy Easter

 So fun to have Grandma Tresa with us!

Maddi's 5th Birthday

 

 Like her sister Maddi has been saving her money to buy an American Girl Doll. She got a book about the doll she is saving for on her Birthday to keep her working towards her goal!

 It's hard to believe that Maddi is 5 now! Starting Kindergarten this coming year and becoming such good older sister. :)

 Breakfast Date with Daddy. :) Totally worth waking up early!!!!

Maddi and Ella had a joint Birthday Party so we went all out rented a huge Bounce House. Lots of fun!



 Maddi and Ella's Birthdays are fun because they are so close to Easter so we almost always have an Easter Egg Hunt during the party!

Ella's 3rd Birthday

Candles on a brownie! Ella had to wait a week until she and Maddi had their combined party to get her real cake. :)

 Ella wanted to have a "Breakfast Dinner" for her Birthday Dinner. And Lance walking in the door with this balloon was the highlight of the day!

It took the girls all day to teach Ella how to hold up her three fingers but she was so proud when she figured it out.

Thank you Aunt Karen and Uncle Layne!!!

Our cute little Ella is 3! It's hard to believe she is this old. :) One of my favorite memories from her actual Birthday is when we visited a Farm to pick strawberries with some friends. The farm had a few "rides" or extra attractions that of course cost extra money (outside of the fee to get in) and we usually by-pass them however the girls were talking about wanting to buy a gift for Ella so I made the suggestion that they could use their money to buy her a pony ride. I wasn't sure they would go for this seeing as how they wouldn't have enough money left to go for a ride themselves, but once we got there they only hesitated a moment and then excitedly bought her a pony ride ticket and watched like proud parents while she had her first pony ride! :) I have to remember these "Shining Moments" for the times when we aren't so Shiny!