Lena followed her cousins everywhere! She was the youngest one there, but it didn't seem to bother her. Her cousins were sweet and stopped to play with her every once in a while.

Daddy took Lena on her first jet skii ride. She seemed to enjoy it and didn't cry at all.
She also went fishing with Daddy and together they caught her first fish. She liked it so
much, she decided to try it on her own. Of course she didn't catch anything else, but she still had fun.

Mini Vacation

This week, Lena and I are in Midland visiting my parents and siblings and their families. I'm also going to dinner with my best friend since childhood. I will post all about our 4th of July and this week when I get back home. Just thought I would update on our whereabouts since it has been a while since posting.

Good News

One of the good things that has happened this week is I got a call on Tues. and there is a spot for Lena to go to Brentwood Christian School next year! We are so excited! When she gets to Kindergarten she will have to wear uniforms, but at least we don't have to worry about it till then.

I decided to stop teaching, partly so that Lena could go to BCS, and also so that I could have some time at home to get things done while Lena goes to school. I'm looking forward to having a few hours to myself two days a week in the fall. I love Lena, but it is a lot easier to get things done without a 2 year old around. And the socialization with other children will be good for her.

The other good thing happening this week is that I get to go see the new Indiana Jones movie tomorrow on a date with James!

One

I know it has been awhile since I last posted. My computer has been on the fritz and I haven't downloaded pictures from my camera (whose media card is full now). So, no pictures to post right now. I have now claimed James' laptop as my new computer, so hopefully there will be some posting going on now.

This has been a very difficult week for us. It is even hard for me to post about it because the tears keep getting in the way. I never have posted about this before, because I never was at a spot where I could post about it without crying. But through the tears, I will post about it now. Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of my sweet nephew Connor's death. Pause....lots of tears. He was 13 years old at the time. It was Memorial Day, the family coming home from a weekend of fun at the lake. My 16 year old nephew Hutton, Connor's brother was driving. He fell asleep at the wheel, the back wheel hit a culvert, the suburban overturned and rolled several times, throwing connor out the window. He died instantly. My 18 year old niece Bailey, was injured very badly with one leg broken and the ankle of the other leg injured badly. The other four people in the car had only scrapes and bruises.

It was a very difficult summer and year. The injuries have healed, new memories made, but our hearts are still very broken.

Saturday is my birthday, the day I will turn 31. It's going to be hard to be happy in light of the sadness surrounding this week. So, to distract me from the tears, James is taking me to the movies on Saturday. It should be fun.

So, it's a week of one's. One year without Connor, one year of being in my thirties, but hopefully the start of one fun summer.

7 Random Things About Me

Well, Jessica Dennington tagged me, so here are 7 things about me.

1. I was adopted when I was three days old. My parents knew they were going to adopt me before I was born, but my birth mother almost changed her mind and didn't sign the papers till I was three days old. I have never met her.

2. Even though I am adopted, I have a cousin that looks like my twin.

3. When I was little, I could easily fold both of my legs behind my head. I could still kind of do it as an adult, but haven't tried in a few years.

4. I have been to England once, Brazil twice, Cancun once, and to the Caribbean once. I hope to be able to go to Scotland, Greece, Australia, and all the places where Bible stories took place.

5. I am the youngest of 6 children. There is 12 years between me and the oldest. I became an aunt at 11 1/2, and now I have 22 nieces and nephews.

6. I want to have 6 children, but some may be adopted.

7. I knew James was the one I was to marry after 1 week of dating.


I tag Christy Taylor, Tiffany Benson, Kelly Holly, and April Carrasco.

Video

Does anyone know how to upload video clips to a blog? I have a video of Lena that I wanted to put on here, but don't know how. Help?!

Bluebonnets Part 2 Pics

Bluebonnets part 2

On Wednesday, Lena and I met up with some friends to take pictures in the bluebonnets again. Partly because the flowers were still there, and I was hoping to get pictures of Lena with her little friends. The friends picture didn't work out so well. But, here are some pictures of Lena in the bluebonnets--again. No grasshoppers this time. We also went to dinner that night with James' mom, since she was in town. At dinner, I was showing them the pictures from the day, and James pointed out that my pictures weren't so clear. He looked at my camera and showed me that the lense had a Lena sized fingerprint on it. So, now I know where my camera went when it was missing for a few days, and two--my pictures should be clearer from now on. Sorry for the blurriness before.

I have more pictures to post of Lena in the bluebonnets from Wed., but I seem to be having a hard time posting them right now. Will post them later.

Lena in the bluebonnets

Last week, I took Lena to a nearby soccer field that had some bluebonnets growing there, and took some pictures. Needless to say, it wasn't the easiest thing taking pictures of a two year old, because two year olds don't like to stay still for too long. Out of the 178 pictures that I took, I did get a few that seem to be good. Anyways, Lena had fun running around in the flowers. Towards the end, a grasshopper landed on her dress, and she wasn't sure what to think of it. She kept saying, "Get it off! Get it off!" She finally brushed it off herself. We may try again at a later date and see if she stays still then.

Lena's new bed

Yesterday afternoon, I bought Lena a new twin size bed. She was about to outgrow her toddler bed. I'm going to have James stain it this summer to match the rest of her room. I went in later around midnight, to check on her and see how she was doing in her bigger bed. She had so much more room in her bed that I found her sideways! She ended up sleeping quite well through the whole night.

Lena and the fish

March 18 began as a sad day for us. It was the day that my sweet nephew, Connor, was to turn 14 years old. It was sad for us, because Connor died in a car accident on May 28 last year. Connor loved sea life. So, in honor of Connor on his birthday, we bought Lena her first betta fish. It is the sixth betta for James and I, and since we couldn't get Lena to give him a name, he is just named "#6". Lena loves her fish, and other sea life. It's as if her cousin Connor left a part of him with her.

Austin Zoo

Last month, we took Lena to the Austin Zoo. We weren't too impressed with it. We saw more bees than any animal, so we only stayed around to see a few animals. The animals we did see, we felt more like we were at a farm. James fed the llama and goats, but Lena seemed to be unsure of them. She seemed to like seeing the snakes, frog, and turtle the best. I think the next time we take her to a zoo, it will be the San Antonio Zoo. That's a good one!

Great new site!

I found this great new site that I just love! It's called Moms for Modesty. Here is their mission statement:

Moms for Modesty Mission Statement

• As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women.
• I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.
• I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.
• I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.
• I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls' and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

I know it's hard in today's society to find things that enable us as women and as mothers to dress ourselves and our daughters modestly, but it CAN be done! It's not only about dressing modestly, but teaching our daughters about modestly. I know Lena is only 2, but I am already starting with her in teaching her about modesty. I believe you have to start young. If you believe as I do about teaching our daughters about modesty, then check out the site, and sign their petition.

She's a smart one!

Lena loves to see the monkeys on Disney channel that come on in between shows and introduce the next show. A couple of days ago, Lena kept saying, "I want to see the monkeys." I just told her every time, "Maybe in a little bit." After asking several times to see the monkeys, she finally stopped and decided to play with her toys for a bit. A little bit later on, she came back and kept telling me, "Say please, say please, say please." I had no clue what it was that she was saying this for. I said, "Why are you saying this? What is it that you want?" She just kept repeating, "Say please, say please, say please." Finally I just said, "Please." Lena broke out in a big grin, clapped her hands and said, "Yay! You want to see the monkeys too!" I couldn't help but laugh at her little scheme to get me to turn the monkeys on. She's a smart one!