Spring into Summer!

WHEW!  Where has the time gone? I've had many "reminders" from friends and family that it's been ... ahem...awhile since I've posted a real update so without further delay, here it is.


We've had a very busy but very wonderful spring and summer.  Can you believe that summer is half over already? 


I'll start where I left off, right about Easter time, April.  We stayed home this year and went to our own church for Easter.  The girls had an Easter Egg hunt and they really enjoyed it.  Sienna is fast but not quite as fast as some of the older kids so she was feeling a little sad that she did not "score" one of the bigger eggs that was filled with 4-5 pieces of candy.  She was pretty sad but I was trying to explain to her that we don't always get the biggest prize and sometimes we have to be happy with what we get.  She did a good job of accepting the disappointment.  After church we were heading out to the front doors when Sienna said, "what's that?!".  We walked into the church library and up in one of the fake trees there a large plastic egg shaped like a carrot and it was FILLED with candy.  Sienna let out a squeal, clapped her hands and proclaimed, "It's a miracle!" (so much for the speech on handling disappointment).

In May we spent Mother’s Day in Iowa at Grandma and Grandpa Pattycakes “Big House”.  The girls absolutely love it there and especially enjoy Grandma’s delicious “rezerts” (desserts) and “helping” Grandpa in his workshop with all his tools.  This last visit they discovered Grandpa’s plastic gloves he uses when he stains and paints…I think he’s gonna need a new box : ).

We also had swimming lessons in May and Mama took the girls to the play Pinkalicious and they LOVED it.  They are still talking about how Pinkalicious didn’t listen to her mom and dad and ate all pink food until she turned pink. 

The girls and their friends and teachers hosted a Mother’s Day tea at school and sang songs and served sandwiches and iced tea and lemonade.  It is always a very special event that we enjoy together. 

We were blessed to meet fellow adoptive parents and “blog friends” the Morris family at Mall Of America to share a meal together and some great conversation meeting friends we’ve “known” for years but only online. 

June  brought “Dream Night at the Zoo” for patients of the Gillette Children’s Hospital and their families.  This was a very special family night, the zoo remained open after hours and we were served dinner, had faces painted, monorail rides and up close meetings with some of the animals.  At the end of the night each child received a special stuffed penguin, a great family night together.

We enjoyed driving to Kansas City with Uncle Dean to see the girls’ cousin (my niece) Kendra get married.  Both girls loved seeing her pretty “big white dress” and when we got home Danika brought in a book of photos to show her school friends.  We also celebrated Grandma and Grandpa’s 50^th anniversary in June and had cake and balloons.  The girls enjoyed being with them on their special day.  I explained to Danika that 50 is one half of 100!

Sienna graduated to her "big girl" bed in June and is learning to sleep in a toddler bed.  She sadly said goodbye to her beloved crib and is doing very well in her toddler bed.  She likes to have her picture taken every night when she gets in bed.

Como Town was another fun June event.  Grandma and Grandpa China sent the girls tickets to ride the rides for the day.  Of course they loved every minute of the whirling tea cups, race cars, swings and the train.  We also went to the zoo to see the animals and had a carousel ride.  You are never too old to ride the carousel!

The girls got to have breakfast with Daddy at school for Father’s Day.  They treated him to songs and had a breakfast of eggs and sausage and juice.  I know Daddy loves breakfast with the girls as much as Mommy enjoys tea with the girls.  They work hard practicing songs to make the day special.

Daddy celebrated a birthday in June and the girls helped to make a cake.  A few days before our celebration Sienna came home from preschool with a note that said, “Sienna didn’t nap today, she was too excited about baking a cake for her Daddy’s birthday”.  Of course we saved that note…too cute!

Daddy also spent his first nights away from the girls in June when he flew to California for a long weekend to visit his brother and family.  The girls and Mama had fun doing some special events and play times, but we really missed Daddy and were so happy when he came home.

That brings us up to July and July 4^th.  We had a low key celebration at home because the weather was so hot but we were able to see fireworks in the evening since the girls both took long naps during the day and were rested up.  This was the first time for either one of the girls to see our local fireworks and they approved.

This last week was spent at Bible School at our church.  Sienna’s first year!  She enjoyed gym time and story time the best.  She listened intently and chimed in during story time when questions were asked.  Danika enjoyed the music time and crafts and was even thoughtful enough to make a bead bracelet for her little sister, knowing that her class probably wasn’t doing that activity.  Mommy and Daddy helped in the girls’ classes so it was a busy week filled with late nights and lots of fun as a family.

That brings us to the current time!  Plans for this weekend include the beach. Here's the part you really want...photos!

Danika and the neighbor girls having fun.

Daddy teaching Sienna how to back float

Olympics 2016 Here I come!

Sienna wanted to try Danika's nebulizer

Danika practicing her "lady face" at our pretend "high tea"

Sienna enjoying her tea and cookies.

Time for a refill!

Sienna slurping to show her appreciation

Meeting our "blog friends" Miss M and Mr. V

Look, I've got raspberries growing on my finger tips!

Sienna learning how to fly her kite.

Posing for a "good morning" photo for Daddy when he was in California.

Popcicles in the Pool!

Enjoying movies around our "campfire"



So DONE with posing for photos with birthday friends



Ummm Mom, I have a bloody nose.

Red, White and Blue girls celebrating July 4

Danika enjoying a Princess birthday party with her school friends.

Sienna's first night in her big girl toddler bed.

Danika and her school friends enjoying a party

Riding the monorail at the zoo

Deciding to have her "face painting" on her arm.

Danika getting a penguin painted on her face.

The Eagle Has Landed...

Enjoying "Dream Night" for patients of Gillette Children's Hospital.  Note...the "special needs" child is the one running along side the stroller and the "healthy" child is sitting in the stroller.

Danika fishing for the first time.

Sienna practicing her casting skills

A fisherwoman is born.

Resting on the way to cousin Kendra's wedding in Kansas City.

Posing with friends at a birthday party

Rockin' Mama's sunglasses

Helping Grandma and Grandpa Pattycakes celebrate 50 years.

Enjoying a picnic lunch at Como Town.

Sienna enjoying sitting in the Caboose on the train.

Ready to watch the ball game

Danika's favorite ride - the swings

Sienna enjoying the swings for the first time, finally tall enough!

Mama and Sienna swirling around in the tea cups.

Sienna saying goodbye from the caboose.

Mama and Danika enjoy the swings together

Soaking up the sunshine.

Our newest driver.

Enjoying the splash zone with Daddy

Princesses ready for the wedding

Attempting a family photo

Cake for Grandma and Grandpa

Helping Daddy with his Father's Day Card

Presents for Daddy

More presents

This is what 50 years together looks like!

The bride!

Mother's Tea

Ready to sing for Mama

Sienna Ready to sing

Look! Mama's Here!

Sienna's class sings

Tea for Mama

Did I mention there was CAKE!!

The group of Moms enjoying tea

Breakfast with Daddy for Father's day

Hunting down eggs

Success!  Egg spotted!

Getting the hang of Egg Hunts

Hunting at Grandma and Grandpa's

Grandpa giving away the secret location

Jelly beans and money!

Stealing Grandpa China's chair, aren't I funny?

Easter Beauties

The best find at Bible School!

Danika singing the Bible School Songs

It's hard to get good photos in a bouncy house.

Danika helping Daddy round up the class

How to survive the heat...Icee

times two!