She catches on...

Does your youngest child catch on quickly too?  When each of our older children were turning two we didn't have things like helmets and scooters for them to play with.  Infact they were three and five when they got their first scooters.  But, now that we've had some time to play outside Sara has gravitated to what her sister does.

And that's, you guessed it.  Ride the scooter.

I mean, look at her go!  I have to say she's pretty good at it too.  Yes, it does have three wheels and all, it's not like she's having to balance but there is not an ounce of tentativeness in her.  It's just go with gusto. 

Way to go girlie.  So proud of you.

We had some fun this weekend...

Jim had the students on a weekend leadership retreat, so what did we do?  We packed up and joined him of course.  This is the first time we've been able to do this and the kids had a fabulous time.  I did too.  Lots of outside fresh air time and the kids got to eat hot dogs and hamburgers and share a bedroom, with a sink in it; boy did they think that was cool.

Jim and I went on plenty retreats when we were in college and our campus ministry director's wife (whew!) would usually bring her family of three little kids and pal up with other wives in the ministry.  There are no other wives here for me to pal up with like that but I love that we are sort of reliving our college years in some way by bringing our kids to these types of functions.

I could stare at these pictures all day.  I absolutely love them.  The one of Sara's hand on the swing is one I took of Ella Jane when she was just about the same age.  We have it hanging in our entryway but when I went to look for the file of it, I was out of luck.  I have no idea why I can't find that but if I do, I'll post 'em side by side.  So cute.

And Matthew on the turn thingy?  It has a name but it escapes me at the moment.  He loved this thing and was on it every chance he got.  Never photographed it but he was often times laying down in the middle, hands behind his head, eyes closed, smile on his face.  This boy can make me crazy sometimes but when I see him like that, I think I'm getting a peek into that sweet sweet spirit of his.  So thankful for the glimpse.

"Run Mama!"...

These are words I am hearing a lot these days.  Now that the weather has turned we are doing a lot of walking to and from preschool, and pushing the stroller to and from preschool, and running with the stroller to and from preschool.

Soooo.......

I am hearing a lot of "Run mama!, Run!" from Sara.

And...

"C'mon mom!, Run!" from Ella Jane.

I can't help but oblige.

At the end of the day, this mama is plain worn out.  That and taking care of our family for the past two weeks while a stomach bug has worked its way through all of the kids and hubby too.  But, in his defense, he took care of himself.

We're back to health now (thank goodness) and back to enjoying popscicles on the deck and tempted to let the kids stay up way past their bedtimes now that it's light out so late.  When we're all sleeping past 7:00am we know we're tired!  Loving school days but looking forward to having kids home for the summer.