Neighbors for dinner

Recently our new neighbors from across the street came over for dinner along with Shuli & Satosi, our next door neighbors. It was a warm evening and we sat outside for part of the time. Anthony, 6, and Adrianna, 4 came with their parents Mike & Kathy. Josie was excited and could hardly wait all day for their arrival. Earlier in the day Josie and I met Aunt Gaylynne for lunch at Bucks. 

 Shuli and Satoshi stayed to read books to Josie and put her to bed (around 10pm).

Stanford Sierra Camp

 We just attended the 19th Annual Women's Healthy Living Retreat at Stanford Sierra Camp on Fallen Leaf Lake in South Lake Tahoe. I had to work half the time and Eric came along to take care of Josephine. What an incredibly beautiful place. It rained a little on Thursday when we were arriving but then stopped. Friday, Saturday & Sunday were sunny.

Josie came out of her room on Thursday ready to get in the car. She ended up leaving her hat, gloves and mink at home. 

One night for dinner we sat with Owen & Scottie and their parents along with Jen & her mom Joan. After dinner Joan read a book. It was so nice to have Joan to play with Josie and to keep her occupied. Owen and Scottie have been coming up every year with their parents and so has Joan and Jen. We always share a two room cabin with Jen and Joan.

 Friday afternoon during my time off the 3 of us went on a hike to Glen Alpine Springs. Lots a wild flowers along the way. It was a lovely 3 hr hike.

 We hiked up Stanford Hill; past the two waterfalls; to Glen Apine Springs. Josie slept for an hour on Eric's back.

Josie with baby Sage. Sage's mom was a presenter last year too and Josie played with her big brother, Xavier. He didn't come this year. Josie asked if we could take Sage back to our cabin.

 Sierra Camp 2012

 Walking to dinner. The food was amazing as usual. It was pretty chilly in the morning and at night so Josie got to wear a few different hats during the weekend.

Josie's break through in the bathtub.....

She hasn't been that excited at all about putting her face in the water until practicing in the hot tub last week. Now she can't get enough of it. After this video I took another and she kept right on doing it. Back and forth practicing her submersions. I hope she'll have fun doing it at her swim lesson this week. Having a bathtub at home would come in handy.

Kaira spends the evening

Recently Kaira spent an evening with us from 5:30 until about 9. Her parents had a chance to go out with their friends. Kaira and Josie are two peas in a pod. 

Kaira brought a fun project. Stringing letters to spell out their name for necklace or whatever. After dinner they got right to work on it. Josie did her first name with extra letters and numbers and shapes and Kaira did her first and last name. Impressive that she can spell out her really long last name.

Finding some hats to wear and gloves for their hands and feet.

 

Back to the closet. Digging Josie's head band.

 

 Another change of clothes. 

 

Headband girls.

Happy Mother's Day

We had a lazy morning with two in the household sleeping in. I awoke at 5:59 without my alarm and yes could have gotten up to go for a nice run or hike but alas settled on the couch to watch my favorite show CBS Sunday Morning from 6-7:30. I also wrote out my Care Cards for church members. It was a nice peaceful morning. Josie went to bed super late so sleeping in until 8 wasn't even long enough in my opinion (which of course doesn't count even on Mother's Day). The three of us made waffles and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Off to church and then spent a couple hours in the pool at PCC. Josie turned a corner in her swimming. We switched teachers last week and even though it was a rough start she had fun in her lesson. In the hot tub today she wanted to pretend it was her swimming lesson and I was Micheal her new teacher. She was going under with out a problem. At her lesson she was crying. We were in the hot tub, big pool, hot tub, and baby pool. We weren't going to go for very long and was too rushed to pack some food to take along. Finally around 2:00 Josie said she was hungry so we took hot showers and packed it up. I thought for sure Josie would take a nap after eating some lunch but nope she played in her room while mom got to take a quick nap and dad was out working. Dad made some home made pizzas (crust and all) and we ate a yummy dinner. Josie was asleep by 7:30. Ahh.....

So thankful to be a mom to Josephine Joelle. 

Josie made this in Sunday School

Josie said this is me with curlers in my hair.

Family photo. Josie at the bottom as a "piece of toast".

Mission Springs All Church Retreat

PCC had our church retreat this past weekend at Mission Springs in Scotts Valley. We had beautiful weather and great fellowship. This year was a little easier since Josie's a year older. She had fun b/c she could be more independent. She was in the class with 3-5 yr olds. She rode her tricycle all over even without us there. Sometimes she would finish her meal and we told her she could go ride her bike and we'd be out in a little bit. Off she'd go with all the kids and ride laps around. She got to sleep in the top bunk (single bed over our double bed). She didn't make a peep all night. The bunk had rails all along the side so we knew she was safe as long as she wasn't jumping around.

This is inside the worship center. The kids were in their classes while the teenagers and grown ups were in the worship center for our sessions. Such a pretty back drop. Love the song on the screen (Lord, I'm amazed by you....).

The morning was a little chilly and Josie saw Eric with his long underwear on under his shorts so she wanted to wear shorts over her leggings to be like dad. By about 10 it really warmed up.

 Saturday lunch was the annual BBQ on the lawn at Frontier Ranch where there's a big open field for games etc. We participated in the family relays. After about 3 rounds Josie was done. First time through I carried her as we "rode" our hockey stick. Next round I helped her carry the beach ball (ice cream) on the cone and 3rd round she wanted to go by herself with the hula hoop.

 

Riding her bike around after dinner.

 

 After the evening session on Saturday we all headed up to Cathedral Grove which is an outdoor amphitheater with a fire pit. There was a short open mic time and people came up to show off their talents. Mostly it was kids doing silly things like telling jokes or giving their best animal sounds. Eric asked Josie if she wanted to go up there and she did so I took her up. I think Eric was kidding but nope, we have a brave daughter. She told me she wanted to sing ABCs. When it was her turn I knelt down to hold the mic up to her and she said her name then sang her ABCs. Right at the end everyone cheered and clapped and gave a standing ovation. She was bummed b/c she said she didn't get to finish her song. Everyone started cheering before she could sing "next time won't you sing with me." That evening walking back down the hill and the next day people kept coming up and saying what a good job she did. Even little kids. One little girl said "I'm so proud of you". It was pretty cute. Unfortunately we don't have it documented so you'll have to take my word for it. 

Sunday morning we could hardly get her off her bike to her classroom. She found a bunch of snails some kids had put on this poor flower. She was fascinated with watching them.

  Some of the lovely flowers around camp.

Last session Sunday morning Pastor Gary gave the benediction. The theme was Walking in the Dust of the Rabbi which has been our theme all year at church. It was fun to have our neighbors, Shuli and Satoshi, there.

Papa Andy & Grandma Kay

Cousin Janna married John in Escalon not too far from Hughson on April 27th so we had a perfect opportunity to visit Papa Andy and Grandma Kay and the fun orchard. We arrived in time for lunch and hung out for a few hours. Eric and I headed off to the wedding and got to spend the evening with all my cool cousins and celebrate John and Janna's new life together. Josie got to spend the afternoon/evening with her grandparents and cousin Megan. We arrived back around 10:30 and Josie was sleeping soundly. We drove home after breakfast on Sunday. 

 

  

Josie couldn't wait to ride on the tractor with Papa Andy.

Megan and her dad made a chicken coop to keep at Grandma and Papa's.

 

 

Josie loves her Papa Andy and Grandma Kay

3 yrs 3 months

A few things Josie is doing this month:

• Picking out her clothes more regularly or at least having an opinion about what she wears.
• Dressing and undressing herself pretty regularly. Shirts are still a little tricky.
• Trying on her clothes, like dresses, just for fun.
• Wanting back rubs at bed time almost every night (who can blame her).
• When she asks for something and the answer is no she says "mom you have to trust me".
• She likes to put her sleeping bag on the floor and spend the night there.

 Hanging out with our friends after a Sunday evening service. We went out for dinner with Dave and 3 of his kids. Tia was out of town. So thankful for our church community.

 Josie's recent coloring on one day.

 One of the many "faces" of Josie.

 Loves wearing hats.

 

Loves wearing grams night gown to bed.

 Easter outfit from our friend Pat.

 Josie wanted to wear a skirt to My Gym and picked out a hand-me-down from Katie. Her grammy made this skirt for her.

 Head bands are much fancier when you add a enormous purple flower.

 Sweet singing Josie

 Funny sleeping positions in her new big girl bed.

 Swim lessons at King's Swim Academy.

 Let's go fly a kite...

 

 Turned out to be a little too windy or inconsistent wind gusts made the kite difficult to keep afloat.

 When you're tired of flying kites just find some grass and do some somersaults.

 Family hike in Portola Valley. It was a windy day and actually a bit chilly.

Spot where Eric found a geo cache in a hollow stump. The "treasures" inside weren't that interesting but we signed our names to mark our finding.

 

  Post hike popsicle.

 
Josie and I hiked one afternoon at Big Canyon in San Carlos. It's a hilly 2 miles and Josie did great. We loved seeing tons of banana slugs. The wild flowers are in bloom. Josie wanted to climb as many trees as possible along the way.

Sunday afternoon hike with Shuli and Satoshi in San Carlos on the Eaton Trail.

When we got home we went in their yard to take a look at the veggie garden.

  Loving our recent hot weather.