A fabulous time in Spokane with Bella, Josh, and Brady

Josh 360

Brady Diving

Brady dunk

Josh dunk

aliens

Grandma's pool

Bella found the pool toys and Grandma Jerry helped her put on these goggles.

Sporting the goggles.

Splits?...YOU CAN DO IT!

She didn't like not being able to touch the bottom and wanted to cling to me for dear life.  When I got out to get the camera she got scared.  She loves the water and loves to hold onto someone when she can't touch the bottom herself.  I can't blame her.   So we swam as a connected duo:)  

food/funny face

Brady rock climbing the tough route.

Still on the tough route

climbing buddies

Bella found a chalk board at her level so we drew lots of pictures and practiced writing our names.

She loves organization.  She had to get every piece of chalk and line it up perfectly in one spot.

Swimming beauty.  She loved the YMCA pool because she could touch all by herself.

This slide was SO SO much fun.  They allowed me to hold Bella so we would get our pretend steering wheels out and drive down the slide at a high speed.  After we flew into the pool she would say, "AGAIN, AGAIN!!!"  I had just as much fun as she did.

A little too far for comfort, she wanted me to hold her.

While in the locker room at YMCA she asked if I wanted to, "come visit her in her house."  I had to let her know I was too big, but if she ever moved, I would be there:)

The way home.  Horse monument. Gorgeous.  Near the Gorge in George.

Princess Party 2013

Knight (aka servant).  He passed up playing with his boy cousins so he could serve the princesses....still young at heart.

The pre party

Games

Coloring

Gifts

stories

August 9, 2013:  I went shopping with Emily, Jennifer, and a four of their girls.  We left at 8am and got back at 9pm  with a nice late lunch at the cheesecake factory.  Our shopping trip started at the goodwill and then southcenter, nordstrom rack, then Alderwood mall.  It was WAY too successful (found things that I didn't need of course), but a blast.  I have never shopped like that before.  A few hours is the norm, but by the end of the day I was completely exhausted.   A great time though.

My mom watched the kids in the morning, then Brien woke up and I think helped out. They went and rode motorcycles and played with cousins.  When I called to find out where the kids were in the evening, Spencer had Josh and Brien had taken Bella home to give her a late nap.  I get a call from my Dad at 8:30 saying, "Bella's been busy"(he is laughing).  He said he was not going to clean up what she had done because he wanted me to see it for myself.  I got really worried.  They had just gotten home which means Bella must have woken up and quietly got out of bed without waking up Brien.  Probably a child's dream to be able to do whatever you wanted (that made me worried).  She heard my parents get home and that is when she went downstairs with a guilty look and says, "I made a mess."  They said she was super stinky and it finally all made sense once they saw what she was in to.  She had dumped out the costco size full bottle of Parmesan cheese in the bathroom and was making, "sand castles."  At lake Chelan her great uncle taught her how to make sand castles.  I guess she really loved it and wanted to do it at home:)  I have to say I was a little relieved that was all she got in to.  She was quite proud of what she had built, yet felt so guilty at the same time.  Wish they had taken  a picture.  When Bella was saying her prayers this morning she was telling Heavenly Father all about her sand castles.  Children make our lives fun and eventful.

Another moment that has been great was at girls camp.  On the day we had the boys helping rock climb we had a break to eat lunch with all the other people  in camp.  Josh was sitting at a picnic table and noticed there wasn't room for a lady to sit down.  On his own he then says, "here you can have my spot."  he got up and went and sat on some stairs.  I was super happy because he did this on his own without me being there, it was purely him:)

Spray Park

I love that we live so close to everything.  We are able to walk to anywhere we need to go.  Josh rides his bike and usually Bella ends up walking most of the way.   I realized Bella could walk about 3 miles when we went hiking up little mountain and she refused to ride in the backpack.  She has tons of energy and will fight sleep.  

We have definitely hit the 2 era that everyone talks about.  She wants her independence yet wants you at the same time and it is very frustrating for her (and us:))  I remember this phase with Josh.  As long as we can keep her busy and distracted she stays nice and usually cooperates.  She wants everything everybody else has and if she doesn't get her way then she doesn't like you.   Sound like a 2 year old?....but no matter what she is still completely wonderful and is so sweet.  At church in her nursery class she shares toys, helps the other kids that are crying, and likes to help the teacher.  That makes me very happy.

It looks like so much fun...

figuring it out and blocking the water

Getting the feet wet

Josh helping Bella get used to the water

chick on a bike.

super hero

getting along.

still getting along.

enjoying each other.

 Caring for each other:)

Happiness.

where did the water go?

A great day.