A little thing I enjoy making

The shiny center is a mother of pearl star in the center.

So I enjoy making the girls hair bows in my loads of spare time. I am luck that I still get to put them in the girls hair. i was thinking that Nicole wouldn't let me even ask her if she would wear one, but she's the one that went and asked. So glad that she's not growing up too fast.

Swim Team

My two Cuties!

Nicole swimming Butterfly.

Ceci swimming Back Stroke.

The Girls this summer have been swimming on Ashbourne's Swim team. It's been fun for them as well as for Tom and I. We all have made new friends this summer which is a plus since we have barely any children living in our neighborhood.
I look forward to the end of the season in 2 weeks, because we - (I mean I) get to sleep in some this summer, since we- ( no again I) have to get up at 7 each morning to get the girls to practice on time. All in all I have enjoyed our busy summer schedule and enjoy spending my time with my girls.

4th of July

So we tried something new this year. For the past few years we have rented or been at the beach during the 4th of July Holiday but this year we decided to stay home. Part of me wished we were at the beach, but then the other part was glad we were home over this long weekend to get projects done around the house.
We for the first time ever went to the River front in Wilmington. It was fun minus the 2 hr wait, but as a family we had a nice time.
Billy came down from Long Island for the weekend and both he and Polly came over for the day and went to the pool with the kids and Tom while I went to church to do sharing time in Primary. This was a tough 4th because it fell on a Sunday, and yet we want to celebrate as well as do what is right. In the end it was a very LONG day, but very much enjoyed as a family.

Girls on the Run

Nicole and Ceci have been participating in the Girls on the Run program at the YMCA. They have been learning lessons about peer pressure, making good choices, making friends as well as training for a 5k that they ran in June. The girls had a blast during the whole season and were very thankful in the end that they stuck in there and finished. What was amazing to me was that at the very beginning they totally didn't think they could even run 1 mile and to see them at the end running 3.1 miles is simply amazing as a mother to see. When we say "keep trying, keep in there, keep it up......." and for them to see that yeah my mom is there for me and she believes in me is an eye opener for them. I am so very thankful for my two wonderful girls and how much I love them. great Job girls!

Nicole with her running buddy Uncle Billy!

Ceci with her running Buddy Mr. Gary!

Coming to the FINISH line. I have to find a picture of Ceci to put in.

The PROUD mamma!

Long Island

We had the opportunity to go up North to visit Billy in Long Island. We had a blast sight seeing around his town. We went to a few beaches, a few little towns, parks, and the University he works at as well as the Air Show at Jones Beach. A super fun long weekend.

Strength

So Nicole came home one day after school and mentioned that 3 of her friends were asking her a lot of questions about her religion. One friend is Catholic,one Muslim, and the other Jewish. For 11 yr olds they knew the right questions to ask, but the one that Nicole felt most proud of her answer was to the question " Why do you have a Prophet now and what does he do and why do you listen to him"? Her answer was plain and simple: why would God not have someone here on earth to lead us, we had a time on earth when there were no Prophets on the Earth and there was chaos, why would we want chaos again, we need direction from Heavenly Father on what to do in these days, listening to the Prophet will only help us make good choices and to return to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Why wouldn't I want to have that. I am thankful for our Prophet who guides us?

Her friends were in awe, and their answer: Well that makes sense!

Nicole and her friend Arwen are the only members in their grade and in the entire school of 900 kids there are only 4 members in the entire school. Our numbers are few, but I hope the strength Nicole has will be an example to those around her.



I was talking to Arwens mom the other day, and she told me of another instance where Nicole and Arwen were in a conversation circle with a bunch of their girl friends on the playground. The topic: What their favorite type of coffee drink. Nicole and Arwen this time kept their mouths shut, but instead gave each other a look and a smile and then removed themselves from the conversation. To know that you have someone there who believes in the same things you do and can be strong together is so very comforting, and I am thankful that Nicole has Arwen as a friend.

The years ahead of them are not going to be easy, but I hope the lessons they have learned along the way will help them with what comes ahead, but that they also make friends who respect their beliefs and that they can consider a good friend.

Nicole's Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center

The 5th graders went on a Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center to learn more about The eco system. It was a very nice trip with nice weather. Nicole was lucky and got to buddy up with her good friend Arwen.