Rock and Roll

Sarah and I finished the Rock and Roll Portland Half Marathon on Sunday, May 19.  We had a lot of fun training together and running together, but we are certainly glad it is over!  I enjoy running a lot, but I like running 4, 5, or even 6 miles.  13.1 is a long time to be running.  And my body is still a little sore from it!  Mainly my back and ankles are taking the brunt of the pain.  But we did it and are very proud of ourselves!  After running my first half-marathon last year, I vowed not to run another one.  After this one, however, I am already planning another 13.1 mile fun run next year!  Huzzah!

 

Swimming

The girls have been in swimming lessons for the past two weeks.  They are in the same class....I wasn't sure Laurel would like it if she wasn't with her sister.  They are both doing great!  I love watching them and seeing how excited they are to get in the water.  I can't wait for this summer when we can go swimming!

 

Butterflies

Erika asked Grandma and Grandpa Hammar for a butterfly net for her birthday.  And they delivered!  It was one of her very favorite presents!

 

 

She tried it out right after she opened it.  But quickly got distracted after waiting 90 seconds to catch a butterfly with no luck. 

 

We put it away and brought it back out a few days later when it seemed there were tons of butterflies in our yard.  And we caught one!  The girls were so excited and loved looking at it in their net.  I am excited to catch more butterflies too!

Photo Dump

Here are some random pictures from my phone.

 

The kids are having so much fun outside!  And, every day Matt makes the yard a little bigger by getting rid  of the three stumps in our yard left over from taking the trees down.  We can't wait to start landscaping and making the yard what we really want it to be.  But, we also realistically know that it won't be complete until next year.  We still enjoy our outdoor space, though!

Laurel loves this area because there are a bunch of ants that she makes homes for.

Erika made a stage out of the wood from the deck we removed so she and her sister can perform for us.

 

Playing in the mounds of saw dust from the stump removal.

 

Erika found this beginning of an oak tree in the backyard.  We hope to actually plant it and watch it grow! 

 

Laurel spilled water all over her dress the other day while at Grandma Parnell's house.  So Grandma fashioned her a new outfit out of dish rags.  My mom, the fashion designer!

 

This was most likely how Laurel's dress got wet.  Levi likes washing his sister's feet...but often gets carried away with the washing!

 

National Bike to School Day was last week.  Erika's favorite day of the school year I think!

 

My little weirdos.

Party Time

 The Event: Erika's 6th Birthday "Spa"rty

 The Décor: Green and Blue calming spa colors



 

 

The Food:

 

Flip Flop cookies 

M&Ms, candy, pretzel rods 

 

Sandwiches, Pirates Booty, veggies, apples

Cake! 

 

The Fun: Presents and Cake

 

 

The Activities: Making shrinky dink bracelets and manicures and pedicures.

 

 

Fun day for a 6 year old and her friends!

Sprinkler Fun

What a beautiful May we have had so far!  80+ degree weather is completely uncommon so we celebrated with a few pre-summer sprinkler days.  If you really concentrate on some of these photos, I am pretty sure you can actually hear the kids screaming with joy!

 

 

Big black bar in all the photos?  Who knows!  Blogger is crazy!

6 Years Old

Our tiny baby turns six today.  And I am absolutely loving every moment of her growing up years.  Although I probably say this every birthday, she seems to have grown so much (physically, emotionally, socially, etc.) between five and six years old than any other year!  She is so much fun to be around!  Erika is the perfect blend of child-like curiosity and trusting and naivety with the grown-up attitudes of independence and maturity and excitement about what exactly growing up really means.  She has so much insight into her world, and as it gets bigger with school and friends and activities, we have been blessed to witness how she processes and examines all the information she is learning.  But, there are times when I still see my sweet, tiny, new baby.  She continues to have a soft heart and makes sure that everything and everyone around her is included and fair and just.  She still loves to have her daddy carry her and swing her into bed.  She still gets extremely excited about seemingly small privileges, such as playing in the sprinkler or chewing gum.  Our conversations are deeper with more descriptions of why things are the way they are; everything from why birds make nests in buildings to why some of her classmates do/say/think things that are different from what she has learned.  Erika has thrived in kindergarten this year!  Not only in math and reading, but in making friends and being a gentle and humble leader.  She has such confidence in herself, but amazingly does not act haughty; she just likes what she likes and believes what she believes!  We could not be more proud of the little girl that she is.  We thank God for blessing us with a daughter who challenges us to be the parents we need to be for her and with one who loves her family so dearly.  Happy 6th birthday to our precious Erika Lynn!

 

1. What is your favorite color?  Purple
2. What is your favorite toy?  Lalaloopsy
3. What is your favorite fruit?  Grapes
4. What is your favorite TV show? Fresh Beat Band
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Hamburgers
6. What is your favorite outfit? Shorts
7. What is your favorite game?  Math games
8. What is your favorite snack?  Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
9. What is your favorite animal?  Dog
10. What is your favorite song?  Our God is an Awesome God
11. What is your favorite book?  Nancy Clancy
12. Who is your best friend?  Clara and Gracie
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride bikes
15. What is your favorite drink?  Blue lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  My unicorn
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Cereal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Dominoes bread sticks
20. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Song writer