Isn't this sweet? Grace and Lily are becoming little friends. They love to play tea party and grocery store together. Often they end up in the same bed by morning. I don't think Gracie just wanders into Lily's bed during the night unaware. Her pillow and blanket are there with her. I think she wants to be close to her sister.
Here's a recap of my day:
Left the house at 7:15 to drive down to San Francisco for two of Phil's doctor appointments
Got stuck in horrible traffic
Golden Gate Bridge toll--$5.00
Arrived for second appointment on time (1:30), and weren't seen until 4:15
Doctor's visit was only 20 min. long
Parking garage attendant says, "$17.00, please."
Hit the Golden Gate Bridge at exactly 5:00 p.m.--lovely time to head home
More traffic
Good news: Starbucks in now serving Pumpkin Spice Lattes...ahhhhh!
My little sis is 27 today. She was due a day before my birthday in July, but she was born one month late. I guess that was okay back in the '80's. I remember how excited I was when I found out that I had a new baby sister! Love you, Emy!
"Get a Clue" is this year's theme for the Summer Reading Program at our library. We attended the awards party this morning. The boys earned certificates, book bags, pencils, bookmarks and free pizza for their efforts.
We drove down to Santa Rosa today for Phil's doctor appointment. We made our usual stop at the mall so the kids could visit the Disney Store. As we walked by The Children's Place, Gracie got very excited. I was actually going to stop in there, because I received some coupons from them in the mail. Phil took Lily, Jared and Caleb into the Disney Store, and Gracie and I did some clothes shopping. She used to sit in the stroller and clap when we approached the girls' clothes section of any store. As we walked into the store, she squealed! I grabbed a little shopping bag, handed it to her, and she started shoveling clothes into it. I told her that Mommy needed to say "yes" first.
We looked around the store and found some really good deals. I let her look at the T-shirts and pick out her favorite one. She picked out a shirt with a sparkly pink dress on it, and then got very excited when I told her, "One for Lily, too." She also loved these little skirts. When I was looking through the clearance rack, I spotted her on the floor taking off her shoes and trying on a pair of new shoes with pink hearts. I'm not much of a clothes shopper, so I don't know why she enjoys this so much!
So glad to have Phil home again!
The girls enjoyed their hot dogs in the shade
Caleb is waiting for everyone to finish lunch so he can ride the yellow train
Jared on the giant shark slide
Phil made it home safely! He arrived home Thursday night around 9:30. James and Mariann just happened to be in Sacramento on Thursday and offered to pick Phil up at the airport. Becky, Morgan and Lindsay also flew in on Thursday night. Originally, we were going to make one trip to the airport and have one big happy reunion. It was nice that James could help me out, because Becky's flight was delayed 2 hours, and they didn't get home until 3:00 a.m.
We took the kids to the park this morning. There were free train rides, bounce houses and overcooked hot dogs--they weren't burnt, just shriveled up and a little dehydrated. The event was sponsored by several churches in the area. We stopped by the pet store on the way home to buy crickets to feed the alligator lizard, and then we spotted a yard sale down the street at a friend's house. Caleb came home with 2 new paint sets, Morgan found LOTS of chapter books, and Jared found a Disney Sing-a-Long video. I hesitate to stop at yard sales since we're moving in 3 weeks, but as we drove by, I saw lots of pink stuff! Gracie loved playing with the doll house that was there, but Phil wants to make one for her. I think a daddy should make his daughter her first doll house if he's able. It's so nice to have Phil home again!
Phil comes home tonight! The kids want to have a surprise welcome home party for him. They've asked me to make cream puffs, so I should get moving before nap time is over.
Look at my sweet girls! I swiped this picture from my mom's blog today. It was taken when they were about 4 months old. I loved these little ballerina slipper tights. I think my dad bought the dresses for them.
Now they're sleeping in toddler beds, wanting to sit on the potty, coloring pictures, eating Cheerios and milk for breakfast "by self" and having tea parties.
I think Caleb is really starting to favor his left hand! Here he is painting a picture for me while I cooked dinner tonight. Is three years old too young to tell? Should I know this, since I'm teacher?
Other "lefties" in our family: Phil's dad and my sister Lizzie. Am I forgetting anyone?
Corinne helped me take the girls and their dollies grocery shopping this morning. They picked out bakery cookies, frosted animal cookies, BBQ chips and grapes. They brought their purses along and each girl gave the clerk $1 from her purse.
We're borrowing Lily's white toddler bed from a friend. Since we're moving in a month, we'll need to return it soon. Grampa made this beautiful bed for her! The darker sections on the headboard and footboard are cedar.
Lily helped me fold laundry this morning. Was it cruel of me to leave her in her struggle because I wanted to run and get my camera?
Free at last!
Here's Gracie filling out her "library card."
We played library this afternoon before nap time. I probably had more rules than most in my library. For instance, no screaming, no hitting, no whining, no pulling on the librarian's clothes, etc. We had library cards, stamps, stickers, a reading corner with a rug and their pillows and, of course, story time. Jared took a turn as the librarian--not so many rules with him--and for his activity, instead of story time, he chose Freeze Tag! When I checked out my books, he said, "So, only three books today? You did a great job staying quiet."
Here are some of our favorite books! Jared and Caleb just finished the Summer Reading program at the library. They're anxiously awaiting the awards party at the end of the month where they will receive new book bags!
This picture was taken in the upstairs reading room of the library. Can you imagine studying in here?
It's good to be home again; although, I wish Phil could have come with me. These pictures were taken in front of one of the libraries on campus. Isn't it beautiful?
Isn't modern technology great? I can see what my kids are up to even when I am 2 states away! Here are my sweet girls picking apples. Thanks for the cute pictures, Corinne.
I'm enjoying my time in Seattle with Phil. It's overcast this morning, but hopefully the fog will lift by noon. Corinne sent me this picture of the kids eating pancakes and watching Curious George at Gramma's house.
Mommy misses you, Jared, Caleb, Gracie and Lily! I'll be home tomorrow.
This summer has been somewhat long and tiring for me. The heat doesn't help matters. One thing I've experienced is a state of complete helplessness as a mother! How does a mom make her child do something he simply does not want to do? (I was only partially kidding about the bribes, by the way!) If you stop by for a visit, you might hear me ranting, "Eat your dinner; swallow your dinner; stay in your bed; get back on your bed; don't punch your brother; say my name only once."
Often times I've asked God for wisdom in such matters, and He has always provided an answer. Awhile ago, someone told me that God led His people into the wilderness so that only He could provide for their needs. How true this has been for me! He carries me through the rough days with my kids. He is close to me and gives me peace in my heart when I'm lonely for Phil. Only He could be the source of such strength and peace. He sustains me and comforts me because He loves me. I've been loved as a daughter, a sister, a friend, a bride and a mommy, but none of these is quite like His love for me. Would I have learned this any other way? I don't think I would have.
This morning Lily climbed up onto her headboard, pushed through the screen, and poked her little head out the window to say "hello" to me as I was working outside. YIKES! Time to move her bed. Grace is a little bothered by the new room arrangement. She's trying very hard--grunting included--to move Lily's bed back to where it was.
I like to measure my kids once a month. Yesterday I noticed that Grace is remarkably taller than her counterpart, so I brought out the growth chart. OOPS! The last time I measured them was on May 10. So much for once a month. Here are the results:
Jared grew only 1/4 of an inch
Caleb grew 2 1/2 inches
Gracie grew 2 inches
Lily grew 1 inch
Yes, I sometimes bribe my children when I want them to cooperate with me--like with haircuts, for instance. Today's bribe was popcorn. Lily only needed her bangs trimmed, but she sat in her chair with hands folded and a big smile on her face awaiting her turn. Gracie didn't need her haircut this time around, but I snipped a few hairs anyway because she was feeling left out. Speaking of Gracie, she doing well on the potty! She's able to tell me when she has to go--only one accident so far today.
