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Joel is just shy of six months so we have starting feeding him some rice cereal. He was super eager to grab the bowl and spoon.

I don’t think he is too crazy about actually eating it. I tried a little bit and I don’t blame him.

Leah had her first day of preschool last Thursday. Her preschool does gradually entry so her first class was only an hour. She did great and seemed to really enjoy it. Leah didn’t want us to leave but didn’t put up a fuss when we left. When I peeked in the window, she was playing with ponies happily with one of her teachers. Morgan was able to walk to preschool with us to see Leah off to her first day.

When I came to pick her up, her face lit up and ran over to give me a great, big hug. So precious!

We went to Oroville for the long weekend and had a blast. The long car ride can frustrate Leah but this time she did awesome. She consumed Cheetos happily for at least an hour as I praised my purchases of junk food for helping the time fly by. It also helped that Morgan traveled with us this time and could walk around with Leah when we stopped to feed Joel along the way.

My aunt and uncle were up with their kids along with some of their extended family. One of the moms brought some paint for rock painting. It brought out the artist in all of us.

Joel tried out a cowboy hat but decided it looked too much like a sombrero on his head. Give it a few years buddy and it will fit you just fine.

Leah had fun hanging out with everyone and had a lot of fun with my cousin. She played with Leah for quite awhile in the water and got her prepped for a tube ride behind the boat. Here they are relaxing at the end of the dock.

There was no hesitation this time around the water. She copied the boys who were a few years older than her, running off the dock and jumping onto the tube. Leah had to start right at the beginning of the dock though and would always come to a complete stop before she jumped.

All of that fun led to this:

That’s Leah sitting in front of Morgan with me next to her going for a tube ride behind the boat. She screamed just like she heard her cousins do while going tubing because that is what you do when you are having fun. We were at an almost idle for the first minute or two but gradually brought up the speed and even went out of the wake a few times to Leah’s delight. An eight year old boy came along with us on the tube as well which helped Leah’s confidence. After a rather sharp turn he said, “That was awesome” which Leah promptly echoed with the same amount of enthusiasm. When he fell off, Leah was so eager to make sure we went back and picked him up.

She didn’t want to go for a boat ride this time around but I was a proud mom riding along beside her as we went tubing. Grandpa is going to be so proud.

On Wednesday, we went to Vancouver International Airport to pick up Grandma and Granddad. There were many, many questions leading up to this adventure. Leah wondered why couldn’t the plane just come to our house. She checked for the plane looking out the front window several times that morning. After we drove, parked and found a great look out, we saw the plane Grandma and Granddad were on.

There was so much to see while we ate our lunch and lots of explaining. Leah kept asking if Grandma was on the planes she saw taking off. She also wondered if she would be able to go on a plane.

While Leah watched and ate, Joel had fun playing with Sophie the giraffe on a bench.

I promised Leah one day we would take her on a plane. Probably not anytime in the near future and that it might not be as exciting as she was hoping for. For now, just visiting the airport is exciting enough for me.

Morgan had talked about wanting to go camping with Leah in the backyard. I thought it was a great idea for them to do something special together so I reminded Morgan right before I went out for a run with two friends of mine.

Morgan was still enthusiastic about it and wanted to do it that night even though nothing was set up, it was already past seven o’clock and for the next forty five minutes he would be on his own with both kids and when I would get home, I would need him to look after both of them while I had a shower.

I was surprised to when I got home from my run to see this.

When I got closer, I heard some voices.

Morgan had set up the tent, brought out everything necessary for the evening and then hung out with the kids in the tent till I got home and showered. They lasted the whole night and Leah thought is was great. What a great way to make happy childhood memories.

In other news, while celebrating a birthday with our neighbour’s Joel figured out to sit up all by himself. He can last for quite a while and even reach for toys and not fall over sometimes.

He doesn’t mind the grass on his feet at all. Joel is one easygoing fellow.

Leah and I made some chocolate chip cookies for Daddy. She loved it when I let her loose with the dough and the cookie sheets. Leah did a great job scooping the dough and placing them though I did have to do some rearranging so we didn’t end up with one huge L shaped cookie.

One future baker coming right up.

Up in Oroville, we found some great water toys left from my brother and his friends. We picked out a dingy and an air mattress type floatie to blow up. Then off to the lake with Leah wearing her life jacket. Her excitement waned quickly as we approached the water and turned into fear. I talked her into getting into the dingy with me when she was standing in about half a foot of water. We rowed about the swimming area with Leah shaking because she was so scared as I was desperately trying to distract her from her fear by pointing out boats on the water and the landscape.

Every day we went in the water, she made great strides. Leah was only happy in the dingy the first day but then moved on to the other floatie where she was closer to the water. Then she would put her feet in the water and kick while holding on. On the last day, Grandma was able to hold her in the water. Doesn’t seem like much but it was a long way from where we had started and I was so proud.

After the lake experience, I decided to really try to get Leah more comfortable in the water. I would need Morgan’s help and indoor pools didn’t seem appealing in the summer. I heard of an outdoor pool near our house that was free but heard it was packed like sardines in the summer. We decided to try it out. I made some pizza, called up some friends, had a lovely picnic at the park where the pool was and went swimming. There was hardly anyone there and Leah did great.

We have gone twice now and Leah is doing awesome. I’m not sure if she will be as comfortable in the lake as in the pool but it shouldn’t take her long. I want to bring her a life jacket down from Oroville so she can try ’swimming’ on her own.

I’m loving these summer Saturday evenings, spent with friends outdoors, enjoying each other’s company while having fun with our kids.

Leah Quotes

“I’m done swimming now so we can drain the lake”
“Can you turn on the toasters?” (air vents in the car)
“How do birds stop?”

Joel’s turn first to hang out with Grandpa in the dune buggy.

Leah got to go for an actual ride around the property.

At first she was hesitant and sat on my lap but after a couple minutes, she was okay on her own.

My dad took me into town in the buggy and let me drive home and we both got to relive some of my first driving experiences.

We’ve been up to Oroville a few times this year already and have enjoyed the change of pace. Leah loves to play with the water in the kiddie pool for hours each day. She enjoyed the addition of a few water bottles to her few water toys.

Here’s Joel hanging out in the stroller. He loves to be able to sit up now so her can see what is going on around him. Morgan had to go home early to work but it was great to still talk and see him through the computer.

At the cabin there is always lots of Grandma (and Grandpa) time.

Leah got her nails painted for the first time and loved it. She picked bright blue for her toe nails.

A few pictures from home as well. Leah loves to be in pictures with Joel.

There is lots of time to try get a few nice pictures.

A little Joel update:
He weighed 15lbs3oz and was 25″ long at his four month dr’s appointment. His hand-eye coordination has really progressed. He is getting really good at seeing a toy held in front of him, grabbing it, and holding onto it for a good time while stuffing at far into his mouth as it will go. Joel loves to stand up with underarm support. He lifts his head up and looks around during tummy time. He likes to sleep on his side and kicks his blankets off. Joel is now in 9 month sleepers. My kids outgrow sleepers because of their feet. I’ve never thought my kids had big feet but maybe they do.

Thanks to Aunt Andrea for the pictures.

Her spunk. Her humor. Her smile.

His giggles. His smile. His snuggles.

I can’t express how much I love these kids. I feel so incredibly blessed. So inadequate.

Thanks to Aunt Andrea for the pictures.