When You Can't Do Handstands, You...

...do the splits!

A miniseries featuring Lorelai Leigh and her injured arm.

Part 1

Golden Girl

Yesterday morning, I walked into my room...

and lo and behold... 

 I found Alexandra painting Elisabeth's nails while she slept! 

 

Fortunately, Elisabeth kept sleeping long enough for them to dry. 

Gold is quite the color on her!

Meet Brigitta

We adopted a little puppy this weekend.

Her name is Brigitta.

  

She is calm, house broken, and fits into Amercian Girl Doll clothes 

(which we have an abundance of). 

Pretty much she's perfect.

Father's Day 2013

 

Happy Father's Day, Donald! 

Our daughters are blessed to have you as a dad!

When You Can't Do Handstands, You...

...play 

the 

organ.

  

A new miniseries featuring Lorelai Leigh and her injured arm. 

Stay tuned for more...

Why Did Elisabeth Cross the Road?

To get to the E.R.! 

 

[A picture from Tuesday's visit]

  
Last week a brand new Emergency Room opened in my town. And it's just minutes from my house. This is big news - exciting news - for a family like ours that frequents ER's. I mean, I've already been there each of the last 3 days. One doctor joked that we need a punch card. I think that's a dandy idea. 

Anyways, aside from the fact that it's close to my home and brand new, I am excited because the ER is directly across the street from Elisabeth's elementary school. How perfect, right?! 

Yesterday afternoon, Elisabeth's school nurse called to discuss items pertaining to her health plan for next year. At one point in the conversation I mentioned the new ER, 

"It's so wonderful! If you need to, you can just run her across the street!" 

"Oh, no, we couldn't do that, we would have to call an ambulance to take her." 

Say what?! 

I then proceeded to tell her all the reasons why I thought that was ridiculous. I have a child who stops breathing during seizures. That child has seizures all day long. You're telling me that they would just sit around and wait for an ambulance to arrive....to load her in and drive out of one parking lot and into another? The nurse insisted that's the way it is. She then suggested that I talk to the ER about making a specialized plan for Elisabeth (since I was on my way there anyways) (3 times this week, remember?).

So I went to the ER with Elisabeth (she was having trouble with a sky-high white blood count), and I brought up the topic of the elementary school. Unfortunately, they said that the school was right. An ambulance would have to bring her over for fear something might happen as they crossed the street. 

Ugh. 

Sometimes rules and regulations completely get in the way of common sense.

 

 

[Elisabeth and I, snuggling after arriving home from the ER. 
Hopefully we are done there for the week. Fingers crossed.]

The Ballet Recital

In Spring of 2002 I was pregnant with Alexandra. The day of the ultrasound was met with great excitement and anticipation. I distinctly remember thinking, "This day is going to tell me what the future holds, baseball games or ballet recitals." 

I was told I was having a little girl. 

And...my prediction was right, ballet recitals were in our future. 

   

[Alexandra Louise, June 8, 2013]

 

 Oh, how I love watching her grow and learn!

Bummer Summer

Yesterday we had big plans. 

The first day of the first week of summer vacation was going to be spent at the water park, soaking in the sunshine and splashing in the water. 

Unfortunately, we never made it to the water park. 

At about 10:30 Lorelai was busy doing flips (that's all she ever does). That's when I heard it, 'I think I broke my arm!'. I turned and looked as she walked towards me. I started screaming. Literally. I can handle seizures. I can handle brain injuries and brain surgery. I cannot handle arms that look like they are all bent in the wrong direction.

 

Fortunately, it was not broken, just dislocated. However, Lorelai still shed a lot of tears yesterday. First when she found out that she can't do gymnastics for two months. And then again when she learned that she has to leave her splint on for a month and isn't allowed to swim. That's harsh news for an athletic 8-year-old to get on the first day of the first week of summer vacation. 

Looks like handstands on the beam will have to wait...

Camping

After school let out on Thursday we packed up the van and headed to a nearby campground. We stayed close to home in case Elisabeth needed care. But...her first campout was a success! She loved it!

Scarlett.

 

I went to peek at Elisabeth through the top of the tent and found her all curled up.

 

 Roasting.

 

Hash browns for breakfast.

This little girl is adored by her big sister.

Scarlett doubles as a footrest.

   

A ten-year-old, a park bench, and a willow tree. 

It's Monday. 

It feels like Summer break officially starts today! 

Farewell, 2nd and 4th Grades!

Farewell, Ms. C...

  

Farewell, Crossing Guard Duty...  

 Farewell, Ms. R...

  

 Farewell, Mr. J...  

Farewell, Classroom...

  

 [This was Alexandra's English classroom the past two years 

and will be Lorelai's English class room for the next two years.] 

Farewell, Playground...  

See you all 

in the Fall!

Get to the Point, Part II

In May of last year I wrote a post about our inadequate electric pencil sharpener and the new hand-cranked one we got to replace it.

It worked great...for a while.

But we soon came to realize that they just don't make things like they used to. Before long the new hand-cranked sharpener failed to work properly.

So, we were left with one option. Since they don't make things like they used to, we bought a vintage sharpener! And...it's yellow!

I love yellow!

 

 [It has a new home in our kitchen right next to our vintage bottle opener.]

 

A finely sharpened pencil is definitely one of the simple joys in life. 

As is apparent from the look on Alexadra's face!

The Last Day of School

It's hard to believe that this is my 5th year straight doing a last-day-school post.
These little videos of Alexandra and Lorelai speaking Spanish have quickly become a favorite tradition of mine.

Lorelai Leigh ~ Second Grade

Alexandra Louise ~ 4th Grade

[Elisabeth sounds like a little cow mooing in the background.]

I'm looking forward to the the next few months. Summer always seems a little slower and there seems to be more time. Time to play with the girls, time to get wet in the sprinklers, time to make crafts, time to blow bubbles. Time to enjoy simple childhood joys right along side them, because I know they won't be these ages for long. I need to cherish this time while it's here. 

Welcome, Summer!

A Preschool Graduate!

It seems like yesterday that Elisabeth left for her first day of preschool...

[September, 2010]

 

Since then, she has grown...

   

 [Her legs go on for-evah!]

Next stop, Kindergarten!

 

In other news...

Yoga Hut will be hosting yoga in the park this Sunday. All proceeds will be donated to our adoption fund! So if you are interested, class starts at 10:00 am, Sunday the 9th. Meet at the fingernail in Howard Amon Park, Richland, WA.

 

Bring your yoga mat and be prepared for an amazing workout!

Thank you, 
Yoga Hut!