I am so glad to be the Primary Secretary because I get to see Nicole interact and grow in Primary. Yesterday we had Primary Survivor and basically did a bunch of field day type games. Nicole kept putting the necklaces on when the team leader wasn't watching.
The sponge game was hilarious to watch because Nicole could not get the concept of standing in a line waiting for the sponge to come to her. She followed it down the line until she was helped back into her place. Again and again. She was so happy though and when she saw me told me to wait in the car because she thought I was coming to take her home :-)
Each group of kids was a tribe and Nicole was in Helaman's army. I told them to show me their warrior muscles.
Nicole's headband had the hardest time staying on. She moves way too much! :-) I had such a fun time watching her in between everything else I had to do. It was my job to take pics so I was able to snag these of Nicole while doing the rest of my jobs :-)
This is Michael's 2 yr old pic. Authentic bruises and scrapes acquired the day before falling headfirst TWICE onto some concrete. Having gone through so much trouble to find a time we could go, I figured he could have this "real life" shot to remember the reality of what this time was like. He also had a growth spurt from his last appointment to a higher growth curve. He weighs 27lbs (40%), is 37" long (97%) and his head diameter is 18.25" (10%).
In preschool we talked about Enos and prayer. Nicole painted this beautiful picture with watercolor and I was so impressed with all of the time she took! We talked about prayer and how we can pray for daddy's work. Some of the sweetest things in the world are what our children teach us - ever since our little lesson Nicole prays that "the doctors will listen to daddy" and that "they will send people to daddy's office." She corrects me when I pray if I forget to pray for Daniel on his mission in the "new crane." For a while she was praying "please bless Enos praying for the Lamanites." What a gift to see her develop better prayers and share with her the blessings that have come because of her prayers for daddy. And on that subject, this week Jim got his first leg! Prosthetic patient, that is. :-)
Our little man Michael is turning TWO on the 24th! I can't believe how grown up and cute he is! I am grateful for his example of determination and sweetness and hope to keep up with his energy!
Nicole had her fourth birthday photo shoot and she was so silly the whole time! She would obey and stand in the perfect pose but then start sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth or give a silly grin. I have no idea why she decided to do that (maybe it was the photographer making ridiculous noises trying to make her smile) but at least she wasn't crying like in her first several birthday photo shoots. We finally caught some good pictures in between her silly faces!
For Michael's bday I made Cookie Monster cupcakes! Marshmallows cut in half with reeses pieces stuck on for the eyes, coconut dyed blue for the fur, and chips ahoy cut in half fit in the mouth. Michael had a fascination with pulling the eyes off.
We've found several frogs around (Someone put a big one even in the mailbox! That scared me to death!) and the kids don't want to hold them, but they love chasing them and getting them to hop.
We did a slip n slide for Michael's party and it took a long long time for anyone to actually slide. The kids loved playing in the water though.
Michael loves jumping! Splashing in water is just an added treat!
Here comes Michael! It was SOOOO hilarious to watch his big grin while he tried to stay above the water.
Jacob being introduced to electronics by his cousin Megan. Lake is home from BYU Idaho getting ready for his mission!
I could hear Jacob laughing while his cousins played with him, they are so good with him!
Nicole was dying to eat a cupcake all day long and was SO happy to finally get a bite!
We love having family nearby to visit and my kids LOVE them so much!
The kids had a hard time sitting at the table because they were so wet. Michael kept slipping under the table!
Yes he liked eating the eyes! Michael is not as much of a sweets lover as Nicole and me. He at the toppings -including the frosting- and then went back to playing.
Opening his big Tonka truck that he hasn't stopped playing with since he laid eyes on it!
Checking out the capabilities of his dump truck. Life could not be better.
Josh really wanted to hold Jacob- I thought it was sweet how on his own he wanted to sit there and hold a baby. Jacob LOVED all of the attention!
Last night Jim and Mark went to a Jack Johnson concert and had a blast! Rebecca and I had fun with the kids and she was so helpful with reading to Nicole and playing Nicole's version of hide and seek where she tells you where to hide and then goes around pretending she doesn't know where you are hiding ("is she in the fireplace? No...") until she finally decides to "find" you. Nicole has come a long way- the first time she had a babysitter was when Mark and Rebecca watched her and she screamed like the world was dying for a LONG time which must have been torture for them. It is so nice that Nicole is friendly and talkative now and would probably love it if they babysat her.