All day, every day. They play with little princesses and pirates. I usually document the occasional events but the majority of the time, this is what they are doing. At dinner we have started to share our "sweet and sour" from the day. Bailee will say that playing with her sister is her "sweet" for the day quite often. I love how well they play together and how much they love it. 9.23.16

Our little cucumbers are growing! They are much bigger now because this was from a week ago, but I had fun taking some close ups with my camera.

Bailee 9.29.16

Walk to the park

The weather was finally decent enough to be outside at 10 am and it felt like a great park day! We followed this path from our house along the side of the runway over to the marina park. I was eaten alive by mosquitoes but it felt really good to be out! The sight of planes and helicopters taking off right by us never gets old. 

Bailee reciting scripture 9.30.16

We have been reading this scripture daily for a while now and she was excited to share what she had memorized.

Arts and Crafts Center

We learned recently about an arts and crafts center on base that does many activities for children and adults. A friend told us about a free day to paint ceramics so Bailee and I went and she chose a small Santa plate. I am excited to pick it up soon and see how it turned out after going through the kiln.

Blowing bubbles

Bailee was pretty excited that she finally has the skill to blow bubbles! 

Trying to feel like it is fall 9.22.16

On Thursday a friend invited us over for a craft and caramel apples but Bailee had a fever the night before and felt queasy so we skipped the event, even though she was better in the morning. She was super bummed to miss out so we did our own fall activity to make up for it. I have heard it goes from summer to winter here so we just keep it in the low 70s inside and make fall treats to feel like we aren't missing out on my favorite season :)

2 dates in a week!

We found an AMAZING babysitter, so we ended up going on two dates in one week! I was called into the Young Women's in our new ward and I am pretty sure I want to request having a calling in there whenever we move. It happened in TN as well and I have found it is a great way for me to get to know the girls and scope out who I want taking care of my kids :) Having always been a babysitter growing up, it is fun to be on the other end as the mom who gets to see the excitement from my girls when they get to spend time with the fun sitter and hear all that they have to say afterward. 

As for our dates, they were two very different events however I am grateful for both. The first was on Tuesday when we went to a free early showing of the new movie "Deepwater Horizon" here on base and they had Kurt Russell, Kate Hudson, and the director Peter Berg talk for a little bit before the movie. The movie was really well done and it was neat to have somewhat of an insight into what happened. I have heard (from a local) that after the big oil spill of 2010, they tried to put something (I can't remember what she said it was) in the water to help it get back to normal but instead it made it worse. We live 2 minutes from the coast but drive over an hour to enjoy the ocean because of what Dave has seen and heard at the hospital from people who have gotten bad infections from the water. We do LOVE the view we get to see though, so even if we don't get to swim in it we love driving next to the coast each day! 

Today, we made the 2 1/2 hour drive to Baton Rouge, LA to go to the temple. Our wonderful babysitter, Rachel, has an amazing family so the girls went to their house for the day starting at about 6 am this morning. It was so peaceful to be at the temple and feel the spiritual renewal we needed together and for our family. It has been interesting to think today about how when we were first married, we lived less than a minute from a temple. Then in Sacramento I think it was about 20 minutes. In Hendersonville, we were about 45 minutes and now we are almost 2 1/2 hours away depending on the time of day. So, from start to finish it is about an 8 hour day to get to the temple. I was thinking how grateful I am that we were able to be close early in our marriage to develop the habit of being there regularly. As we talked to the Lyman's (family who kept the girls) when picking up the girls, I was reminded that 95% of church members live within 2 hours from a temple now so I guess we are part of the 5% who are over that amount. I am grateful for the peace and guidance I feel in the temple and that Dave and I were able to be there together today. When we went to get the girls, they continued to play with the Lyman's 10 year old boy, John, who we found out had made forts like an airplane for the girls and other imaginative play that they love while we were gone. (He is the youngest of 6 and also spoke in sacrament Sunday more poised than some adults.. needless to say he is not like most 10 yr old boys and I was so impressed). The girls loved playing with him, Rachel and their dog.  We have only known the Lyman's for a month or so (Dave met them today) and I am so grateful for the positive influence they have had on our family already and the relief I feel to have such a wonderful family to take care of our girls if we ever need it. 

Oh, and we found a Panera Bread less than 10 minutes from the temple and two more on our path back! This was pretty exciting news because Panera Bread is my all time favorite place to eat out and I recently looked it up to see the nearest one in MS and it is at the top of the state, so about 300 miles away. I was thinking I would be missing out on my fall favorite: turkey, apple, cheddar sandwich with autumn squash soup but I hadn't thought to look in Alabama or Louisiana for a location. Needless to say I was so happy to eat there today and if you need a recommendation, definitely try this sandwich and soup! It is seasonal so I think they keep it on the menu through December... If you do try it, let me know what you think :) 

Elise 9.24.16

Bailee reading 9.23.16

Reading is coming along well with Bailee! 

Running club 9.19.16

Last week we bought Bailee a pair of running shoes and as soon as she put them on she started walking faster and wore them out of the store and straight to the playground outside! We have a friend in a running club on base that goes for 6 weeks so Bailee had her first day this past Monday. She was worn out by the end and next week Elise and I will join her! It's a group to promote exercising with your kids but she  also teaches them a little bit about running. 

Bailee and her friend Adrianna. 

Elise swimming!

This finally happened this past Thursday September 15th and we couldn't be more excited for Elise! Earlier this summer I was by myself at our pool in Hendersonville and we had a little scare with Elise. She got out of the water to have a snack and couldn't reach her mouth with crackers unless her puddle jumper was off. I was watching her right in front of me in a seat while Bailee jumped from the side of the pool next to me. Within a short time (as it always is) Elise came down to the water right behind my back. She walked right off of the steps and wasn't under long before I turned around and pulled her up. She had forgotten her floaties were off and came right in (always my fear). It was enough to lose confidence in the water and we had to start back at square one of sitting on the side of the pool to hop in to mom and then slowly working our way back up to where she had been. We have been grateful for her improvement so far this summer and then this past Thursday she just decided by herself that she was going to swim! She pushed right off the steps and came to me a foot or so from the last step. After that she didn't want to stop and we were sure to get back to the pool the next day so she can get as much practice as she can before the pool closes in a month. 

9.17.16

Bailee's friend Naomi from church had a birthday party and I thought their table was so cool for the kids! It is a full size table from Japan (they were stationed there before MS) and perfect height for kids :)

I found this fun spelling game at a yard sale for .50c and was pretty excited that it goes right along with what we do for school.

Recent events catch up

Time with dad at the splash pad next to our neighborhood pool. 9.10.16

I couldn't resist documenting a sight that was so sweet. Working together to clean up from dinner. 9.11.16

I was in charge of story time with a craft at our home school group so because the girls love Tacky the Penguin we read that and then each child made their own penguin with decorations. These pictures were before the girls finished, so add a mustache and confetti to Bailee's and feather hair to Elise's and that was the final product.  9.12.16

If we are coloring or doing a craft, Elise likes to be involved with school. 9.16.16

Math

We are giving a try to a supplemental math program and Bailee loves it. We got to a point in her current math curriculum where she just isn't ready for the concept yet so we decided to change things up a little. It is called dreambox and it is set up like a game where she is trying to solve a mystery of sorts and does math to earn credits and unlock hints to get to the final goal. Technology is such an amazing blessing!! 

I also wanted a picture of her hair and outfit :) One benefit of homeschooling is that when she gets herself dressed there is no worry of if the weather doesn't go with her outfit or my concern about matching. Everybody wins! 

Big girl ponytail

Elise's personality is really starting to come out. She wants to be just as independent as Bailee, has an opinion about many things (however we don't always understand what she says), she loves music (kid songs, Geronimo, my house, or hey brother are some of her favorites), and she loves to share her testimony when we do it for FHE. Dave recorded one on his phone earlier this week. She wants to do school just like Bailee so we practice writing letters or identifying colors, shapes, etc to help her feel included. She is convinced she can read now and I just love her excitement about learning and looking at books. Right now we have a huge shark book from the library and she wants to hold all of the creatures in it. We have a playground behind our backyard fence and at dinner tonight she said "I will save it for later" and jumped down from the table and told us she was going to play with the kids that were out there. The kids were probably 3rd or 4th grade so we told her she needs a few years before playing with them. She likes to talk about her friends in nursery and is devastated if we forget the picture she colored in class. She is growing up and I have decided my favorite kid stage is the toddler years. I love the ideas she comes up with and her excitement for life. It is infectious and sweet. 

We got this ponytail at bedtime and it felt like a milestone of growing up! Just don't grow too fast!

The result of no nap

Yesterday, sept. 7th, we were eating dinner and when Elise finished she just got up and walked away. I thought she went upstairs but after searching every room I couldn't find her anywhere. I came back down to find her in this position, and yes, she is asleep 😂 we could even hear snoring. She is very much a sleeper but after a field trip and friends over we just forgot about nap time and this was the result. 

Dave was happy to take some cuddle time right before work. She didn't even wince when he picked her up. 

Fire station/museum field trip 9.7.16

We had the opportunity to visit the Biloxi fire department museum and one of the stations yesterday. It was fun to explore the museum and see how things have evolved over time. The highlight of the museum for the kids was getting in the back of the two old fire trucks. 

And I was officially there! Thanks to a great friend who suggested I get a picture with my girls :) 

They learned more about fire safety and we came home and counted our smoke detectors because Bailee was very interested in what we have in case of a fire. 

Bowling party

Bailee has a sweet friend, Adrianna, who we met at our homeschool group. She is the one friend her age there and they are only here for a short time so they leave in November and we are so sad. Such is the military life 😏 Luckily she had a birthday here and they went bowling which is one of Bailee's favorite activities. Elise was included as well to bowl and they had so much fun. Right before I took this picture, Bailee had just helped Elise bowl and they were standing at the lane with their arms around each other just watching the ball go. I was soaking up watching so when I finally got my camera out it was too late, but they continued with the sisterly love 😊

Elise testimony 9.5.16

Elise loves Family Home Evening each week, especially when we share our testimonies.

dress up storage just about complete!

I was so excited to get the girls dress up clothes organized that I still need to do the final step of painting "dress up" on the front, but for now it is functional! Bailee wanted pink and Elise wanted purple so we compromised and did both :) It is well loved already and they want to show anybody that comes over or that we have talked to on the phone.

Homeschooling 2016-2017

I realized last night that I never did a first day of school picture of Bailee so we decided today could be our first "official" day :)

We started doing school the second week of August right after moving into our house and this first month has mostly been review of math, learning to read, write, and a little taste of science. We are getting into more of a groove but I wouldn't call it a schedule or routine because we stay pretty flexible with when and how we do school. Yesterday Dave did school with Bailee and she loved it! For whatever reason, daddy has a gift of motivation to get her going and they sat down and worked through all of her assignments for one day in a much shorter time than it takes us :) It is such a rewarding experience watching her little brain make sense of things and seeing her excitement when concepts click. I thought teaching kindergarten would be a breeze but I have found the hardest part is keeping my excitement and figuring out creative ways to present material to her. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   We have also been gardening the past month because our sweet friends the Gittins gave the girls some cucumber and flower seeds and gardening gear before we left so the girls were anxious to plant something. I knew we wouldn't be able to wait until spring so Dave and I are hoping to produce even just one cucumber for planting so late in the season. The plants are looking hopeful already! When we first talked with Bailee about homeschooling, her main excitement was to learn how to garden, cook and bake at "our school" :)

our plants as of today

Elise is in a stage of striking poses