Happy April everyone!
The weather has gotten the kids outside tons these past few weeks. Fun for them -we've gotten quite a few new toys including a croquet set! Ellie took right to it!
And April brought a long anticipated trip to a certain city where a certain golf tournament is played and we were blessed to be invited by a friend.
The "men" of the family had a wonderful time - spiritual you could say, as they were so thankful and appreciative of God's beauty while there.
Meanwhile, the "ladies" of the family were on our own and we too were thankful for our time together! We started out with a big outing on our first day of just us. For fun we went into a toy store and took our time looking around. As I stood there watching the girls play with the items - a "wave" came over me. Approximately 6 years ago I'd often stand in stores similar to this one with two little boys. We'd go shopping and they'd play with things and then be satisfied enough to not leave with anything (thankfully). Then our family grew, and grew. And things got complicated and busy. And we stopped "shopping" in general. So, in this toy shop I realized - here I am with just two again. And they are simple, sweet, happy little children who aren't asking to buy anything. They are just playing. And things aren't complicated and busy. Things are simple and slow in this exact moment. But this time, they are my girls and not my boys! I got to "recreate" something I'd lost for several years by taking my two girls out for plain old browsing. I felt for a second like I only had two children and for a moment was able to fantasize what it would be like if the girls were my first two and the boys came later. It was a neat moment and I got a good picture of how happy they were busying themselves with the lower shelf. How I loved seeing Julia kneel down in fascination and Ellie had something in her hand at all times.
Next after shopping it was ice cream time!!! Ellie had never really held a cone so this was a huge step for her! I had the girl give her soft serve out of the machine versus a scoop and that worked great! She loved it from the first second!
Big lick!!
She then got the rest of her face involved but, most of it still went in her mouth.
Yummm!!
Then, because things are infinitely easier with two young children than four in the mix, we went to play miniature golf! Another first for Ellie! She did so awesome and her favorite part was putting the ball right outside the hole and "tapping it in" as they say on television :). She even started this thing were she dropped her club (threw it really) when the ball went it and she put her hands up in the air to celebrate it! It was pretty funny - she entertained Julia and I through all 18 holes.
The girls played golf while the boys watched the pros in person!
A few memories I wanted to note here as this is an easy place for me to journal some special things: Julia slept with me the night the guys were gone and we fell asleep holding hands. I wanted to remember her squeezing my hand then her grip getting lighter and lighter until I felt that "twitch" I've come to recognize over the past 11 years of a child falling asleep on/near me. The house was quiet and clean for two days straight. Meal preparation took only a few minutes with just the three of us. Julia did cry the night Jeff was gone but talking to him on the phone to say goodnight calmed her down. It was wonderful to see them back home and hear all their adventures.
All back together now I got brave and took them to a fabric shop to buy something I need for a current project. Luckily they had toys and my helpers kept Ellie busy. This is a sight I almost never see as I mentioned above we really don't go out shopping any more. It was fun and I'm glad we did it. The clerks were just delighted to meet the children.
Here's one example of how I've been getting Geometry taught to Jacob. Interior angles of a triangle don't necessarily come easily to me so I constantly suggest creativity on mornings like today when it's raining and I have to really concentrate.
The rain stopped and snack was served outside. Here the youngest and the oldest share a moment. Ellie was really into whatever Jacob was saying to her.
"Hmmmm...you don't say?"
