Field Day

Mid May Beacon Christian had their annual field day. The week before the temperatures had been soaring into the 90s and I was a bit nervous about having Mae & Russell outside from 11:00-3:00. Thankfully, it cooled off and was a bit overcast. Perfect field day weather.

Warming up before running the mile. I just love Etta's hair in these pics.

She's been practicing her jumping jacks all year.

Stretching. She was a bit confused about what she was supposed to do . . . 

. . . But from the look on her face I think that she got my lack of flexibility.

Lining up for the mile run. The tall boy in the blue shirt behind the girls is Zach. The girls love him. He helped Mae run her "mile". (Which turned out to be one lap.)

Just love how she mimics the older kids - as if she knows exactly what's going on.

On a side note, today Etta got her medal for walking/running 220.75 miles over the course of the school year. The most of any student in the school - and she's the youngest student there! The principal did walk 709.5 miles though, so he was the big winner. I am so proud of her!

Three Month Annibirthery

Before we left for Silverwood I got Russell's 3-month pics. I had Mae as a helper this time!

There really love each other already!

Here is Etta at three months

and 

here is Mae at three months.

I personally think that he and Etta look a lot alike. Bob stands by his opinion that they all look like their own little people. We hear a lot of people say, "They all look so much alike - yet so different!" God's paint brush is truly amazing.

And I wanted a pic of Mae stretched out to compare to Etta when Mae was three months. Such different little monkeys! And the jeans that Etta has on in that pic? Mae is wearing them these days. Love hand-me-downs!

Play Ball!

 This past weekend has been the NAIA World Series here in Lewiston. On Thursday the teams go to all of the elementary schools to interact with the kids. The Sterling Warriors from Kansas visited Beacon. While the bbq lunch was being prepared the PreK-third graders got to play baseball. It was so much fun!

Brenna and Etta waiting to bat.

Mae was a HAM! She is so funny anyway and was in fine form this day. All of the ball players loved her and were high-fiving her and helping her out. While Etta is shy and introverted Mae is absolutely not. I am not good enough with words to describe just how funny she was being. She was also a natural at baseball and did better than most of the bigger kids. When it was time to eat the entire school got lined up by grade. They allowed the ball players to go first. Mae attached herself to the crew and jaunted in like she was part of the team.

After a hit, heading to first base. She was was doing a high step run which one of the ball players commented that looked like she was having to climb over each grass blade.

She didn't find it necessary to stay on the baseline was was kind of running around sporadically.

She took the long way but made it to third base.

Running home. 

Excited to be back in the batting line up.

Then it was Etta's turn at bat.

Swing and a miss!

On her third try she smacked a good hit. Unfortunately it was a pop fly and the pitcher caught it in his hat. [Note her right leg action. We may need to work on that a bit.]

Lovie

This is Russell's Lion Lovie from Aunt Molly. He doesn't hug it yet, but he sleeps with it every time he's in the crib.

Kind of like Etta's kitty (4th pic down) and Mae's Minnie (2nd pic). The picture of Minnie isn't great, but it's there. Having that special "someone" is so important! 

Portrait

Bob has been fairly obsessed with taking pictures of me lately. And I have been trying hard not to delete them due to this article about how precious memories are for your friends and family and this article about leaving memories for your kids. So even though I feel this pic makes it look like I am still pregnant, I'm posting it for posterity.

S'mores!

To finish off a happy Mother's Day we toasted up some s'mores.

Cheers!

Yum!

Showing Bob her messy hands. It was a jumbo marshmallow and he told her not to squeeze it. Right.

Mother's Day 2013

Backyard dinner with my kids. That's all that I needed.

Sleeper

Russell is a good sleeper. 

(But that statement is a bit ironic right now because he is currently crying and not sleeping in his bed.) 

But overall he is a very good sleeper. Just before he turned 10 weeks old, about 10 days ago, he started sleeping through the night. 10:30 p.m. to about 4:45 a.m. But then I would just bring him into our bed, snuggle up and he would sleep for a couple of more hours. Now he is sleeping from about 10:30 p.m. - 6:30 a.m. every night. Which I probably just jinxed. Oh well.

Science Fair

At the end of April there was a science fair at Beacon. My Etta's project was osmosis. We soaked carnations and celery in colored water. It was pretty fun. I think that I had more fun than she did. It was a good time.

These are her "dress up" clothes for the science fair. And Russell was in his seat under the table.

He's My Brother and I Love Him

Said with a cute lisp.

Mae has been way more interested in Russell than Etta ever was with Mae. And sometimes she just likes to hold him. Now that he's bigger I don't mind as much.

Cheese!

Pals!

Riding Double

Sisterly love.

She has on her safety goggles. Look close. Do you see them?

And then a fight broke out...

Asotin County Fair Parade

Pictures that you get when Bob is in charge of the camera. 

Dress Up

I wanted to get a shot of Etta in her fire hat & safety goggles from the recycling center.

Side note: In this pic Etta bears a striking resemblance to my 5th grade self. Big glasses and crimped hair. If I had the picture - and a working scanner - I would show you. You'll just have to take my word for it.

And since the camera was out, Mae needed in on the action. With her fire fighter's flashlight,

Pause for a sneeze - eew!

And success! Loving sisters.