Family walk.

We love to go on walks as a family.  One Monday night a few weeks ago we took advantage of a nice evening and went for a walk around our neighborhood.  I love our cute neighborhood and have walked the neighborhood loop many many times.  During my pregnancy with Elna I walked the loop twice (4 miles) almost every day.  I haven’t walked nearly as much since having Harriet because she isn’t a huge fan of the stroller, but I’m hoping this Spring and Summer will bring some more walking for me and my girls.

About half way through our walk we ran into some friends and they decided to join us for our walk.  Elna started running off with her friend, Michael, and soon after she tripped and skinned her knee pretty bad. 

This was actually taken after the accident, and she wasn’t very sad here.

Or here.

And then suddenly she noticed her bloody knee and then it really hurt.

And she lost it!

And she was still doing this an hour later.

Goodbye naps.

Elna hasn’t taken a nap in at least a month.  I’m so sad about it.  I’m not quite ready to give up my only free time during the day.  For the first few weeks Elna didn’t nap, but was at least pretty quiet and entertained herself with her books or baby dolls.  Then one day she some how found some nail polish in a closet in her room.  I didn’t realize there was nail polish in there (obviously, I hope!) and until that day she had never gotten into the closets.  When I came in to get her at the end of the nap she was very proud of her work:

Unfortunately she also got it all over the carpet too.

Not too bad for her first time painting her own nails.

Maybe I should stop taking pictures?  You should know that she thinks I took them to send to Daddy because he would be so sad about it.  But still, the pictures maybe only encourage it.  She didn’t see me take the next pictures:

This was her art project the next day during nap time—permanent marker on the wall and artwork.

Also all over her clock.

The marker pretty much came out of everything, but not the hearts artwork that Brian and I had made when we decorated her room.  Where did she find the permanent marker?  In the closet, of course.  In my defense, I didn’t realize there was a marker in there.  It was inside my church bag which I didn’t think she could get to.  But after two strikes, we wised up a little and finally tied up the doors.  As we were scrubbing the walls, Brian tied up the doors so that Elna could see that she couldn’t get in there anymore.

As Brian was putting her to bed that night, Elna said in the sweetest and most sincere little voice (she seriously can be so sweet sometimes):

“Thank you for the bows, Dad” (the ropes that tied the doors shut)

and then she went on and said “Sorry about the painting.  I was trying to write my name and Daddy’s name, and Mommy’s name.  But it didn’t work.”

The next day I came into her room and found the doors open.

I had told her before her nap that if she took a good nap or played quietly without getting in the closets, that we would go to the park afterwards.

After he nap I explained that we wouldn’t be able to go to the park because she didn’t take a good nap.  She thought for a minute and then said:

“Okay.  Hmmm.  I’ll think about that Mom.” 

After a little thinking she said:

“I have a good idea.  I’ll get my shoes on and you can stay in here and I’ll go out the park!”

 

Oh, Elna dear!  What are we going to do?

 

But while we are talking about cute things Elna says, here are few other things she has said lately that make us laugh…

To me:  “You’re the cutest mama I’ve ever seen in the whole world.”  

And for Family Home Evening on Monday night we talked about the 10 lepers and gratitude.  When she was about to say the closing prayer (she insists on saying  all of the prayers and leads the music too), I told her that when she prayed maybe she could just thank Heavenly Father for all of the things she is grateful for.  This is what she said:

“Heavenly Father, I’m thankful for that, and for that, and for that, and for that, and for that.”  She was entirely sincere and not joking one bit.  We think she was just thinking in her head of all the things she was thankful for and that’s what came out of her mouth.  Funny, funny girl!

 

I’m praying for patience, and unfortunately I fail all of the time, but I really really love this girl of mine!

Wrapping up February.

Up with Daddy early before he left for work and eating bagels together.

My handsome date on Valentine’s Day in one of those old-fashioned elevators that you work yourself.

Sharing the tricycle at Grandma’s house.

One rainy Saturday we were feeling antsy to get out of the house, so we took the girls to the mall and let them run around and get some energy out.

I never thought I would be the parent who lets their children ride these stupid little rides, but for 50 cents, it’s sure a cheap thrill.  The girls LOVE them!

Then we saw this little Ferris Wheel and Elna wanted to go on it.  She was very brave and sat by a girl she didn’t know.  She hopped right on without any hesitation.  She was so fun to watch.  It was definitely a magical experience for her and for us watching her.

Excuse the blurriness of the pictures.

I love her little face as she’s looking down from the top of the ride.

She either looked very serious like this or had a huge smile on her face the whole time.  Somehow I never really got a good picture of her smile, but she was very pleased with the whole experience.  For just a few dollars it was a pretty fun thing and lasted a long time.

Some morning bedhead and cuddling.

Riding around on an upside-down stool.

The girls spend a lot of time in this doll cradle.  Especially, Hattie.  She climbs in and out of all day.

I love both of these pictures for different reasons.  Elna’s hair on the left is just the best bedhead ever and the love between them in the picture on the right just makes me melt a little.

On another Saturday in February we went on a hike to Bridal Veil falls.  Elna’s boots are constantly on the wrong feet, but she doesn’t seem to mind much.

All cozy in Dad’s coat, with her little feet hanging out.

There were a lot of steps to get to the lookout.

Elna hiked the entire thing on her own!

Playing peek-a-boo.  We’re slow moving in the morning and I love how these girls play together in Elna’s room.

Boxes are good for so many things.  Harriet loved being pushed around the house in it.

Brian took this picture of Elna who was watching the movie Brave--when the music came on she just stood up and started dancing spontaneously.

A family walk for Family Home Evening.

We went to see the horses at the Equestrian Center again this year.  Elna was much braver this time and Harriet was very nervous.

Apparently these girls like to be near me all of the time—even in the bathroom.

I took this picture as I was driving.  Maybe not the safest thing, but it was too beautiful to pass up.  This is seconds away from our house, right before we turn the corner to our house.  We live in such a beautiful place!

I’m not usually around when this is happening (because I’m hastily getting ready myself), but when I heard Hattie giving Brian a hard time (she is crazy wiggly!) I went in to see him trying to pin Harriet down to get her tights (tights are the worst!)  I’m grateful he does this each Sunday—when he’s not at meetings.

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? … Who me?  Couldn’t be!

More bike riding at Grandma’s house.  Harriet was walking by holding on to the back of the bike.

I handed Hattie to Brian the second he got home one evening and wished him luck.  She had been crying so much of the day and I was just spent.  It’s hard to be cried at all day.  He took the girls on an outing and I read a book with a very tired and grateful heart.

Looks like Hattie got over it.

Hattie’s favorite place to hang out.

The next 3 picture sets I took of the girls at basically the same time.  I took the picture of H on the left and then took a picture of E looking at her, because E thought H was being funny.  For some reason I just love watching Elna’s face as she is watching Harriet.

Brian was outside in the shed, and the girls were trying to get his attention.

The End!  (finally, I know!  That was a long one.)