June 2013

June has been a very busy month! We have stayed busy with swimming lessons each week day. Each one of the kids has progressed. Eve strengthened each of her strokes, increased her endurance, refined her diving and learned flip turns. Sterling has been swimming in the water with all his effort. Last year he didn't want to put his face in the water and so, I am very proud of how hard he has tried. He is just fine with putting his face in the water and can swim short lengths independently. Next year I think he will really advance, when his coordination comes together. Sheri began in the pre-K class and enjoyed the water games. For the second session she moved into level 1/2 and enjoyed more freedom to swim in the water. She is learning to swim independently for short lengths. On the last day of each session the kids get "family swim" time. Christian was able to experience swimming for the first time! He was a very good sport especially since the water wasn't as warm as I like it to be. I LOVE swimming lessons! They are such great exercise, a fun outing, and we were able to have "learning time" whenever the kids were waiting for their session to begin. Oh, and they loved playing in the lockers after showering.



Sterling's Birthday - Sterling turned 7. 7 !?! How has time flown so fast? He is such a joy! He is a great brother, friend, and loving son! He has lost all 4 of his front teeth. We celebrated his birthday by taking the kids to Chuck E Cheese and having friends over for cake. He was so excited about his new Pharoah's Quest Legos, that he put them all together and wanted them all on top of his cake. I appreciate that Sterling tries to do what is right and is a great helper!


This last image is one of the paintings that Eve made for Sterling.


Sterling participated in baseball again this season. Instead of T-ball, it was coach pitch this year. He enjoyed it and it was nice to get out and enjoy the sunshine, now that the weather has finally been nice.


Eve played in her semi-annual piano recital and did a great job!


Eve also had her annual dance recital.



Christian turned 9 months old and has learned to do so many things! He is sitting, crawling, pulling up to stand and cruising along furniture, eating crackers, getting into things, is saying "Da da" and other sounds, and is so much fun to interact with! At his 9 month check up he was in the 19% for weight, 90% for height, and 68% for head circumference. He has chubby little legs and is smooch-a-licious, I say.


He is really starting to look like Sterling as a baby.

Eve has been quite active with all her activities, so when her friend decided to do a triathalon I thought that might be a neat experience for Eve. I asked her if she wanted to enter and she did. She had been running in soccer, biking with the family and swimming everyday during lessons. I gave her an idea of how long the race would be and checked into the particulars. The race day was cool and a bit rainy. Perfect!

She had such a great experience! It was a grand event! It was such a poignant moment for me, watching her wait to begin her race. She seemed so small and young, and yet so strong, courageous, and able. She is growing into a young lady and I give her more independence and responsibility each day. It felt like watching my little bird take flight.

She was able to finish the race without any trouble and is anxious to do it again. I celebrate when I see my kids active and succeeding. I think health and activity is such a beautiful thing! Sterling and Sheri hope to be able to do it too someday. For now, we will just enjoy being active.




Here are some other fun pictures from the month of June:

Water fun with the Bacon, Dorius, Johnson, and Jorgensen Families.



Sheri dolled up (thanks Daddy for painting her nails).


Finding a turtle laying eggs on our bike riding path.


Father's Day - We gave him breakfast in bed (he bought the sugar cereal) but . . .the real effort was made for dinner. We enjoyed BBQ ribs, corn on the cob and green salad.


This last photo was Eve's creation with Play Dough. She is very creative. Oh, and I forgot to add that Eve and Sterling were able to take 5 drawing lessons from a friend that is an art teacher in June.

As for me . . .I am enjoying the time I have with my family, setting goals, and enjoying summer. We have planted a few vegetables, a few flowers, and we are growing like weeds!

May 2013

May was very busy! Here are a few highlights:

Sterling started baseball again. Here are my boys, each so lucky to have a brother!



Mother's Day.
Who couldn't be happy with these cuties? And this amazing and beautiful breakfast in bed?


Preschool Graduation. Sheri is so grown up! Sniff sniff, I will be sending her off to kindergarten in a few short months!
She LOVED preschool! Miss Em was THE BEST! Sheri loves her so much! She had such wonderful experiences and fun times with great friends! Here she is on the last day and at graduation.


School wraps up. Here are pictures from the awards day and field day.
Eve got the peacemaker award "Dove" and Sterling got the joyful learner award "Almond Joy." The other two just needed their picture taken for being so cute!



Soccer finished for Sterling and Eve. Eve's team was able to play in the Kohls Tournament this year. It was a fun and energetic atmosphere! I think she enjoyed spending the day with her team but was wiped by the end of the day! Her coach has been so positive and motivating. He does his best to develop, stretch, and inspire the girls!
Sterling really seems to have a better sense of where he needs to be on the field and is developing more coordination. It is exciting to see the kids grow!
Here are some soccer pics.


The Father/Sons campout.


Memorial Day with the Johnsons - The Johnsons have been great friends of ours here in Omaha. Sherrie and I serve in the Relief Society Presidency together which is a priviledge! We are sad that they will be moving to D.C. but happy for their great opportunity there. They invited us to spend Memorial Day with them and their family. It is always nice to get such an invitation especially when your own family is not close by! We will surely miss them!



Sheri's Birthday was actually on Memorial Day but we celebrated the next day so friends could attend her princess party. She is 5 years old! What a sweet princess she is! And of course every princess needs a knight in shining armor. See if you spot Sheri's.



Her darling friends!


And now, Summertime!
Hanging out downtown near Matt's work.


Fun at the Children's Museum



And finally, here are a few random fun times.


Happy Summer!