Enjoying the Great Outdoors

We spent alot of time outside this past weekend. This is a picture of Hallie at the zoo. We went first thing Saturday morning. It was great...the sun was shining, the girls were happy, and the animals were all out and moving around. Hal's favorite was the gorillas. We bought an annual pass again which pays for itself if you go 3 times. We traditionally go there for a picnic on Fathers Day and Mothers Day after church.



We took Hallie on her first bike ride on Sunday. She did really well. I can't remember learning how to ride a bike....thankfully! It's painful to watch. She made alot of progress within the hour. I was amazed at the amount of patience she has (which she certainly didn't get from me). I would have given up within the first 5 minutes....and I tried...but she wanted to keep going. She has almost figured out the peddling and then we will work on steering. She had so much fun learning something new. Chris and I took turns helping her and Raya was happy to just watch from her stroller.



On Sunday afternoon, we spent some time in the backyard. We are looking forward to enjoying our backyard this summer after last years renovations. It's flat back there now and has new grass etc. Still a bit of work to be done but it's useable. This is Raya enjoying her first swing ride (other than the indoor baby swing). She is so smiley most of the time. She has two teeth now and I think more are going to follow right away. She can pull herself up to the standing position and walk along furniture now. I keep telling her to stop growing but she isn't listening to me. I'm not ready for her not to be a baby anymore.


This coming weekend Barb, Chris's sister, is getting married. Hallie is the flower girl and is REALLY excited about it....stay tuned for pics from that next week!!!

She was as proud as I was!

Raya is changing so quickly that I can hardly keep up. This morning I came into the living room and found her looking out the window. Apparently she can pull herself up onto things...who knew. I got the camara and took a picture really quickly and then once she saw me she was so proud...

She got her first tooth on Sunday!!! and thankfully started taking a bottle on Thursday. She has been quite picky when it comes to nursing vs a bottle but we have finally found a bottle that she will take and have now begun the weening process. About a week and a half ago she started sitting by herself (for more than a minute) without falling over and is quite enjoying this new freedom. If I can't seem to find her, I have learned that she is most likely in the bathroom pulling on the toilet paper roll and proceeding to shove it in her mouth. She is a little turkey and is offened being referred to as "Little Miss Trouble" around here. This morning at Mom and Tots she was found eating sand a few times and wasn't happy when she was moved away. I promise I feed her...ALOT.

Hallie is full of words and wisdom these days... She is quite proud to recite her 1st memory verse that Daddy taught her. It's John 3:16 and she can say the whole thing. It's so cute! She wanted her picture taken this morning with Raya so here it is...

it's great to be loved

I often wonder when the day will come when I will have some personal space. I enjoy the moments like the picture, it's the times when I can't go to the washroom alone or leave a room without being followed that makes me crave some time alone, oh and I don't dare take a bath unless I want some company (and not from Chris, although I'm sure he wouldn't complain if he was invited!). A few weeks ago, Chris took both the girls somewhere and it was the weirdest feeling being ALONE in the house. I think that since Hallie was born I could count on one hand how many times I've been alone in my house. Sure, there are times when they are sleeping and I am left alone and have some quiet time but I had forgotten what it felt like to actually be ALONE. There is actually a feeling that comes with being alone. As I write this I am glad that I am seldom alone and fearfully dread the day when I am alone more permanently. As much as I long for space sometimes, I am really grateful to be so wanted and loved by my family.