Big accomplishments

Mariana started writing the letter A today! Wow! We were making cards for a sweet friend of mine whose birthday is today (yes, the card will be late, but Happy Birthday, Laine!). She says she is writing "M for Allia." It's so cute. I tried to explain that it is an A for Allia and showed her M for Mariana, but she just kept saying her own version.


And here is our big almost 6 month old sitting up. She occasionally tips over reaching for toys, but she can sit for a while by herself!

Horsey

Another fun pic from the weekend...Paw paw is such a good entertainer!



...and I couldn't let that last post be at the top of the blog for long...today is going a little better. Praise God!

Broken

Me. Today.

Yep. It was one of those days. We all have them...some of us more than others these days (you know who you are!). Every plan I made, thwarted. Every moment of peace I tried to steal, interrupted. Every situation I entered with patience, I left with frustration. And just when I thought my tasks were complete, I turn around to find rest and instead find another task awaiting my attention.

These kinds of days, though painful, are necessary. What better reminder that we are pilgrims on a journey and that the real destination is eternal life, not this one. Jesus is the one we really need, not material goods or comforts that so often tempt us away from him. So, I may be broken, but I am not without hope or joy, and hopefully today I have gained a little treasure in heaven for myself and my family. What better way to spend my life?

Fun weekend pictures

She swims!

Allia, that is.

Everyone was up from naps at the same time this afternoon, so we made a mad dash for the swimming pool before Gloria's next nap. It was well worth the effort because Allia jumped in and started trying to swim under water. She can only go for about 4 1/2 seconds, but she is really doing it...swimming under the water! I am SO proud.

Mariana was so moved by my reaction to Allia that she asked me to take her floaties off and then proceeded to jump off the bottom step to where she cannot touch. Ahem, then Allia and I made a quick rescue. She did a good job holding her breath though...I was expecting some choking/coughing when we pulled her up, but she was fine! ;-)

No photos...I had my hands full!

Family fun

We had the blessing of hosting Austin's family for Fathers' Day weekend. It was so great to have everyone here including both of his sisters. We all had a great time, especially Gloria. I am so glad she is getting over her little bout of stranger anxiety and instead enjoying "new" faces! She especially enjoyed Lita's lap...where she spent a lot of time while I was busy cooking, etc. (Austin is usually the "weekend chef" here but I wanted to give him some time off!) Thanks, Lita!

Lunchtime conversation

Allia: Mommy, Jesus has to eat all that food in my tummy.

Mommy: No, sweetie. Jesus is in your heart, not your tummy.

Allia: Well can he be in my tummy?

Mommy: Um, no I think he likes to live in your heart.

Allia: Well, then after that he will move to my tummy and eat all my food.

Ready to go

to the swimming pool. She was so cute and exicted, complete with her backpack containing the essentials...floaties, a towel, and a juice box.

Gloria talking again

She always stops when she sees me with the camera!

A divine prayer

Allia, as she finishes her *long* list of bedtime prayer intentions:

...and for God....that nothing bad will happen to him. Amen.

First bites

Gloria had her first bites of baby cereal Sunday. She really liked it, and so did her sisters!

5 months old!

Gloria is 5 months old...as of Friday, but I didn't have my act together enough to do the post then. So here is her photo with big sister. What a sweetie and a joy...I just wish she would sleep better!

Oh, and I don't have any pictures (no grandparents there this time), but Gloria had her third trip to the pool this weekend and decided she really likes it after all. Whew!

Happy Birthday

to Manah!

Gloria talking

if you can hear her over her sisters! She is talking to her little bug friend in the Butterfly gym.

Block Party

Just in case you were wondering what a "block party" looks like...here is Allia's version. The main guests are the trains with the special guest, "Rasco" the cow in the middle there. Supposedly there is even music. Where did she get this?

Just for fun

It worked!

The 100 Easy Lessons that is. We only made it to lesson 80 (which is a lot farther than most it seems!), and Allia decided school was out for summer since all of her friends are finished. But the most amazing thing happened...she has started reading books like crazy! Here she is reading her Faith and Freedom reader (pardon the unladylike posture!). She read over half of it the other day on her own! I just went over the words that I was not sure she could figure out with her. She only missed one...blue! What a girl!

Another first

Gloria's first trip to the pool! She loved it until the actual getting in the water part!



At least the big girls had fun! You can see part of Allia on the right side of the picture. She is much more comfortable in the water than last year!

Thanks Pawpaw and Manah for making a family trip to the pool possible for us...otherwise I don't think we would have all made it!

Yay!

Baby William is home and doing ok...with some very tired parents. Praise God and may they all get some much needed rest!