Started in May and Now it's July! Ahhh

Hawaiian Dresses straight from Hawaii

Ready for the Father/Daughter Dance

We are quickly moving through my favorite time of year ... Summer!!! The girls had to finish school a little early as Shane's dad passed away and we started summer with the funeral. Bella  had a wonderful teacher and class for third grade.

She has grown so much in reading and writing. Her teacher put together two talent shows for just their class. The first time I couldn't get her to do it. The second time she sang Amazing Grace with our worship pastor accompanying on guitar. She did awesome and we were so proud of her strength to put herself out there. She has made some wonderful friends and is sad to say goodbye for the summer.


Anjie has had two years with an amazing group of teachers (6). She has grown soooo much. She says finish school (however much time is left), summer then KINDERGARTEN!!! She can't wait. Slow down girl😊 




Bella taught Anjie how to ride a two wheel bike with no training wheels! They came running in from playing outside to tell me. Anjie had been asking Shane to take the training wheels off her bike, but we already had a slightly bigger bike all ready for her and they just used that. She started off slow, but by day two was zipping up and down the sidewalk in front of our house.
 
 

Despite the fact that our trip to California was for a funeral and a memorial service, we did have a wonderful time connecting with family. We were able to see David and Morgan. We even got to visit Legoland with our cousins for Rex's 5th birthday. Being together in and of itself has some healing to it. We sure miss grandpa, but he continues to have quite a legacy. Praise God.

BEACH DAY!!

 

















 







 They both tried out for a local show and spent two weeks working being the cutest little monsters ever. Anjie was a dragon and Bella a vampire that loved lettuce. They had so much fun and were sad to see it end.

The summer days are long but filled with so much fun. Bella is continuing to swim on the swim team through the summer while Anjie hangs out in the shallow area while mom works and Bella swims. She has learned so much there and now just jumps in to kick a few lengths of the pool or show how she has also learned dolphin kick. We have also spent a few days at the waterpark with our season passes. The girls enjoyed sleeping on the trampoline with their sisters. They are also having a great time with the new neighbors. They are often making fairy forts with leaves and flowers. They are growing their own starter gardens. Bella's is a pizza garden while Anjie's is a taco garden. I will encourage them to make them fairy gardens. The days keep flying by and sad to say I begin this post in May and can't believe we are now in July.

Snuggle Queen: Charlie

Selfie Bella

Selfie Anjie (Oh teen sisters)

March Madness Moves into APRIL!

March always happens in a blur of fun. As usual we had 4 BIRTHDAYS. David and Morgan turned 21. Rachel 19 and Hannah Marched 4th at 16.

Birthday Breakfast Muffin for special 19 year old!

Surprise, Hannah! We love you!

 We had the added the fun of St Patrick's Day and EASTER as well as several visitors: Dylan: Rachel's boyfriend visit, Grandma Sharon and 3 friends of Rachel's surprised her with a road trip to Heber. They've been friends since Rachel had a tea party birthday when she was four. Of course Easter was a highlight with dying Easter Eggs and finding them all over the house and yard. Most importantly celebrating the most amazing sacrifice ever given. That of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I can't imagine this world with out His Love and Grace.

                                                                                                                                                                                      

 

I love a small town where Hot Air Balloons land in the parking lot on Easter. Fun to see up close.  

Bella had her Third grade performance: Celebrating Heroes. (I"m still working on how to get it on here.)

Just today Anjie created her own dance to perform at our friend Nathaniel's Birthday. Oh to not be afraid to dance in front of a crowd. (I"m still working on how to get it on here.)

SPRING BREAK was somewhat low key after all the birthdays, holidays and visits. We stayed in town and just did Star Wars and a fun center. The girls are enjoying our new neighbors and the warmer weather. Of course today they went out while it was sunny and came back in when they got rained/snowed on. They were back out on the trampoline, playing tether-ball and neighborhood games within the hour

 

 

All this FUN can wear one out. Though they are growing so big they still are so sweet!

THANK YOU for the LITTLE gifts sent. The small things are nice and the girls feel loved. We know that you miss them and they do miss you. Please know that we will continue to keep you posted on how they are doing. Since they are continuing to grow, here are their current sizes:

Anjie: Clothes are 5 or xs

Shoes are 10-10.5

Bella: Clothes are 8-10 med

Shoes are 1-1.5

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A Whole Lot of Love

Time is flying by so quickly and I just can't believe that in a few days the girls will have been with us for two years. They are such a blessing to our lives and we find we do things with them that we would not have gotten to enjoy without little kids. This has included a trip to Marvel Universe Live (even with Hannah being such a nerd) and the Jordan Circus that came through town. The joy of these events is not the entertainment but the reaction of the girls to the entertainment. The joy on their faces when they see a camel or super heroes battling villains on motorcycles.

  One of the most marvelous events of this season was going to Zion National Park with the girls. Bella just kept thanking us for taking her there. To see such beauty and not believe in God is just amazing to me. The girls had a great time hiking and of course getting their Jr Ranger badges. 

 Another fun thing this season has been Anjie learning to ice skate and try out skiing. Bella had a full day of skiing and says she enjoys it more than ice skating. She is taking a break from the guitar, but  back swimming and enjoying that also. We did some more swimming while we were down in the Zion area. (Southern Utah). It was nice to come back home with much of the snow melted and the harsh cold gone. I'm sure we will still get some snow, but hopefully the true cold is gone.

 

The girls are excited to have some new neighbor friends from our church move in this weekend. They are currently riding bikes and scooters as well as enjoying otter pops, orange and apple slices out front. Though they have friends in the neighborhood they have been mostly boys and not from the church so it is fun to have both church friends and some girls. 

Anjie learning to make homemade salsa.