New Undertakings!

Claire and Chloe have entered a new phase of their lives and joined the cross country track team at their school. Actually we were a bit surprised that cross country would be an option for 1st graders, but any physical exercise and outdoor air that is available to kids now days is good from my perspective. The first track meet was full of the unknown for them but they both survived it and they seemed to enjoy it. Here are a couple of pictures of them warming up with their friend Ada.

 

 

And they are off..... the 1st and 2nd grade girls and then boys, compete together and make one circle around the park on a cement pathway. In the first picture Claire is the person in front, in the second picture is Chloe towards the end of the race.

 

 

 

Claire is all smiles after finishing first for the 1st graders. The second picture is for Aunt NJ, she is showing off her Iowa Hawkeye running shorts.

 

 

 

 

Another event on the day or two before the girls' track meet Claire lost one of her top front teeth and a day later lost the other one. She was quite proud!

 

 

 

This week the family got together to celebrate Mike and Uncle Eric's birthdays. We did it a couple of days early in order to accommodate everyone's schedule and it was an enjoyable evening at one of the family's favorite restaurants.

 

Chloe is all smiles..... showing off her somewhat new haircut....

 

 

Chris didn't waste much time getting on Aunt Suzie's lap. He had told Mike before they came that he was going to "climb all over Aunt Suzie when he sees her".

 

 

 



 

The kids pile on Daddy for a picture....

 

 

Uncle Eric, Aunt Suzie and the three C's!

 

 

Mike, Paula, and Claire. We told the girls to load up on carbs for the cross country meet the following day. 

 

 

The second track event was much more relaxed. The girls knew what to expect and were happy and confident when they arrived.

 

 

 

Claire, Chloe, and their friend Alexa.

 

 

Time to run.....

 

 

Claire.....

 

 

Chloe near the end of the race.... still smiling.....

 

 

 

Chris' news for the week came on Thursday when Mike went to pick him up from pre-school. One of the teachers asked Mike if he knew Chris was riding a two wheel bike now. Apparently with a bit of encouragement from a teacher, he basically taught himself. Pretty good for a three year old.

 



 

The activities discussed above remind me, once again, how thankful I am for healthy grandchildren. What a blessing!

Focus on Christopher!!!

Now that school has started and life for the three C's gets even busier, Chris wanted to come to Papa and Grandma's without any "gurls" (translated: girls). We had talked about it for a couple of weeks and so after church last Sunday Chris came home with us for a couple of days minus the girls. I reminded him that I was a girl too, but he responded that it was just fine if I were there. Good thing, or else he would have starved. :) After church we made a quick stop at Costco. Chris asked if he could climb on the ATV  car that was there and I told him it was fine. After he was settled in the seat and I had snapped a couple of pictures I saw the sign. Yikes, the sign clearly said "Do not sit". I showed Chris the sign and he quickly scrambled out, but it was a few moments of fun anyway! Grandma needs to be more careful!

 

Below Chris models an over sized t-shirt that is a creation from the collection of our friend TJ. He raises lizards, exotic plants, and has a business selling his art work as well. He is quite the artist! Check out his website by clicking on "TJ" above in this paragraph.

 

 

Our time with Chris wasn't full of anything spectacular, just some everyday tasks that he assisted with and seemed to enjoy while being the center of our attention. We dead-headed some plants....

 

 

Made some tomato sauce.....

 

 

Enjoyed snack time....boy can he put away the berries....

 

 

Actually had a little nap on one of the days..... (me too, I loved it)......

 

 

 

Spent some time in the pool although he discovered it is more fun to have the girls here when swimming.....

 

 

 

 

And read lots and lots of books....

 

 

 

We enjoyed him so much and hope to have him again before too long.

 

Other news of the week is that Chloe was chosen 'Student of the Week' for first grade after exhibiting great enthusiasm, which was the emphasis for that week. Not surprising at all, she is very enthusiastic about school and whatever she is involved in. Claire and Chloe both joined the cross country team so we are anxious to attend a track meet to see how they do. I believe their first meet is this upcoming week.  In addition, I am looking forward to beginning my Thursdays in the classroom again. I really enjoyed each visit last year and I am hoping this year will go as well.

 

This weekend the three C's and Mike and Paula are attending a family camp out with a large group of people from their adult class at church. Can't wait to hear all the details and hoping for some pictures too.

 

Until next time......



 











1st Grade? Can't Be Possible!

When school started this past week, two precious little girls entered first grade. We, as grandparents, couldn't believe how fast the time has gone. Here are Chloe and Claire at about 19 months and looking through some old pictures today really brought back such sweet and sometimes hilarious moments we spent with them as toddlers.

They were both so excited about school and we are praying that this will be another wonderful year of growth and discovery for them. On Tuesday, their last unscheduled day for a while, Papa and I took all three C's out for lunch and ice cream. We had a great time and came away feeling blessed and refreshed from our time with them. Before we left for lunch all three did some activity to show us their latest interests and skills. I held my breath several times as they flew around on their scooters. Chris was there too but somehow escaped the camera. Claire, bottom photo, wanted us to see the tip-toe version of using her scooter. Chloe did some dare-devil tricks too. Yikes!

 

Inside the house we saw some recent pictures of the girls that were taken at the music camp they attended this past summer. Their beautiful frames were created by each of them and they are very proud of what they accomplished.

 

 

Below are some before pictures of the first day of 1st grade for the girls. Chris has attended preschool part time all summer  but he was excited about the beginning of a new year as well. Paula sent us these pictures since we weren't there in person. I love how the girls so often hold hands when they are doing something special.

 

 

 

Here's to new beginnings and a wonderful school year ahead!!!



Two Super Weekends in a Row !!

We were fortunate to have our favorite house guests visit two weekends in a row. The first weekend we asked to have them because it had been so long since we really had been able to spend any length of time with them. The second weekend was while Mike and Paula took a couple of days to celebrate their 12th anniversary. Happy Anniversary Mike and Paula, and many more!

 

The swimming pool is certainly the center of entertainment when we are at home. All three C's had swim lessons this summer and in each case they gained skills by leaps and bounds.

 

 

 

 

The following little movie shows Chris trying his jump into the water for the first time without his life jacket or water wings. What a character! He was quite tentative around the water the first time they came up in June to swim. Look at him now!

 



 

We decided to take a break from the pool and take an excursion to Turtle Bay Museum and Park. We sure picked a hot day...(what were we thinking?)...but the kids really seemed to enjoy it even though the temperature was at 107 degrees when we got back in the car. Yikes!!!

 

Chris, in particular, was very taken with the tree and the underground root system display. Actually I found it very interesting as well.

 

 

 

The fish were great fun too.

 

 

 

We stayed in the shade for the outdoor animal show but actually had very good seats and a great view of the stage area.

 

 

After the show we found another shady location to have some lunch followed by an ice cream treat.

 

 

 

 

Back at home, Chris does some of his dance moves with Papa's ear protectors and Papa's socks.

 



 

 

Between our two weekends we had a chance to meet Mike and the girls at the greenhouse that he is currently working with . Both girls got busy with their pruning jobs. We were quite impressed with what they know and how they did their work. Here is Claire trimming the coleus.

 

 

Paula sent me a couple of cute pictures from their week. Chris is so proud of his garden produce and the girls are doing something interesting on their ipads.

 

 

 

The second weekend was busy with lots of swimming again. Below the girls are modeling some new swimsuits.

 

 





 

Some good friends, Danica and Aubrey, were visiting their grandparents as well, so the swim time was much more exciting and fun. Claire hadn't ventured to the deep end to jump off the diving board yet (Chloe has done it quite a bit) and Claire decided she would try it as well. She probably spent a total of 20 minutes, two different times, while she stood at the end of the board and contemplated whether she really could do it or not. Of course she could, and after the first jump you couldn't stop her. We actually think the girls can probably handle the deep end without their water wings but Papa and I decided that it would be water wings unless their parents are here too.

 

 

The jump......

 

A cannonball jump..... :)

 

 

Sweet Chloe....

 

 

 

The three C's taking the plunge together....

 

 

A little park time thrown in for good measure while Papa was at cardiac rehab....

 

 

 

 

More pool fun.....Chloe, followed by Claire, followed by Danica.....

 

 

 

 



Claire doing a cannonball again....

 

 

 

The five kids doing their plunge together.....Aubrey, Chloe, Claire, Chris, Danica

 

 

What a busy and fun time. I'll confess that when the kids left on Tuesday afternoon I took a LONG nap. Their energy is never ending...but I love it!