Sarahisms

Like most kids mastering language skills, Sarah said some really cute things between the ages of 3-5. The funny sayings faded away for a few years, but this summer we have been delighted by more "Sarahisms". These gems had me rolling....

Sarah and Ella were playing with blocks one afternoon. Ella believes her job is to knock down any and all construction and Sarah was getting frustrated. Mitch explained that this is how Ella plays blocks and that Sarah would have to be the more mature one and deal with it. Sarah mutters under her breath, "But I don't want to be the mature one."

One evening Mitch was going over Sarah's final school grades with her. His concern is the inconsistency in her grades -- one assignment she'll score a 97 and the next one will be a 65. His point was that she obviously can score high grades and wondered what happened with the low grades. Her response: "Well, those final grades aren't TERRIBLE." His response: the goal is much higher than terrible!

We were teaching Sarah to play UNO Hearts and I commented how much fun it will be when Sarah is about 16-17 and the other 2 kids will be old enough so we can all play cards together. Sarah said, "Well I'm almost 13. Kinda. You know... 13... ish...." (She's 8!)

Out for a Walk

We took a walk around the development on our last morning and got some pictures around the beautiful grounds.

The Cousins

We were very lucky to have one day overlap with Mitch's sister and her family. We haven't seen them in almost two years so this was a rare treat!

Ella fell in love with Dani and wouldn't leave her side.


Sarah and Lissy are 1 week apart in age, but Sarah is at least a head taller (Lissy is older)!




We also celebrated Ella's birthday a little early with her cousins.

The 4th

Our 4th of July was pretty low key. We avoided the crowded beach and played at the mall in the morning for a while instead. The afternoon and evening brought in rain so plans to hit the fireworks were canceled.

We did manage to blow some bubbles.




And light some very smoky sparklers.



And just hang out with grandpa.

Hanging at Grandpa's

After hitting the beach every morning, we made it home just in time for a thunder storm to roll in. The rain was fine with Daddy and I, but the kids got a little cabin fever by the evening.

They did a lot of coloring.



And watched Veggie Tales on a TV so big that Bob was bigger than Ella.


Sarah cleaned shells we collected at the beach during nap time.

The Beach

We are safely back from Florida, the fridge is re-stocked, and I am sorting through the hundreds of photos I took. This is our first trip to the beach (in Del Ray). We had intended to go to a strawberry patch, but they were closed thus the lack of bathing suits. We headed straight home and in to our beach gear and back to the beach that evening! I took the rest of our beach pictures with a water-proof instant camera (I was scared of getting sand in the good camera). I have to scan those in....

Ella is not a fan of the beach -- it was too "ucky" for her. All that sand just got everywhere. She had fun in the water for a while, but refused to walk in or out on her own because she didn't like the wet sand in her toes. Not much to do when you just sit in someone's arms and bob around. Ella is definitely a pool baby. Unfortunately, grandpa's pool doesn't allow kids in diapers. Apparently no one has heard of swim diapers in his "adult" community. Oh well. Maybe in 3 or 4 years we can go back and enjoy the pool when all the kids are out of diapers. For now, it's the beach for us!

Greetings from Florida!

We have been here for almost a week now and I have enjoyed every single minute. Yes, it is humid, but it feels more tolerable to me than the 100+ weather Vegas is having right now. Ugh. We can sit out on the screened in porch, turn on the fans and it is comfortable. I am ready to pack my bags and move down here!

We have been to the beach almost every single day. Having grown up with the fresh water of Lake Michigan, I am not a fan of salt water, but I am loving being in and near the water! Yesterday it was super calm (no waves) and we could see the bottom of the ocean enough to dive for shells. Sarah and I hung out around a reef and spotted a school of these cool white fish and some random turquoise ones. It was so cool (you don't see fish in Lake Michigan)! This is Ella's first trip to the beach and after some hesitation with the "ucky" sand, she is now a champion sand castle builder and shell collector.

We have also been busy helping grandpa learn to do laundry and use the computer (after getting rid of 283 viruses!!!). I am on edge because the house is full of crystal, porcelian, and gorgeous picture frames all at a 2 year old level. Add to that a gorgeous tile floor...so far only a plant pot (with the plant in it) has been broken.

The camera cord is at home, but some pics Mitch took with the phone are on Grandpa's computer....




Hoping your 4th of July was drier than ours!