School Pictures

Hi All!
The school year is rapidly coming to an end (tomorrow is the last day in fact). School pictures seem to be quite the school fundraiser and they are now taking them twice a year. Parents like us are suckers for cute pictures of their kids!!!! And let's be honest, who can resist these faces? (Notice the fingerprints and love given to them already.)

India turns 6!

Thank you so much to everyone who helped to make India's birthday special with birthday wishes and/or gifts. We feel so blessed to have such loving and caring friends and family. She felt all of your love on her special day. Here are some pictures from her birthday party. India chose Rapunzel as her special guest. The girls decorated Rapunzel braids to wear in tribute. Even daddy wore a special braid. Time for cake and ice cream! Yum! Opening gifts. Posing with friends, Harrison and Graham. The boys got to make beards at the party. Our little "ruffians and thugs."

Our little princess

As our daughters get older they are becoming their own persons and developing their own styles. Jordyn is all princess and frills - unless of course you try to mess with her or her sister, then she will throw a few elbows. She can also be the sweetest little girl ever. Tonight before bed we asked her when she feels loved by her family. The little princess said, "All the time. Even when I get in trouble. And when I get lots of hugs and kisses."

India's book about Spring Break

India came home with this book she made after her first day back to school from Spring Break. All About Spring Break By India Washington We went to my cousins house for a Easter egg hunt. I and my sister got lots of eggs. I dyed Easter eggs on the night before Easter. I went to the swimming pool. (My personal favorite.) I will sing bump no mo no big fat woman. (Guess everyone at school now knows what is on daddy's play list. Praise the Lord we didn't get a phone call home.)

Our little girl scout

India is a Daisy Girl Scout this year and she is loving it! Here is a picture of her with her troop.

This is a close up picture we took to promote Girl Scout Cookie Sales. We will see how our first year goes :-)

Warm weather

After a few weeks of frigid temperatures it is warming up in Denver! Last weekend we were out and about exploring. Friday afternoon we walked around a lake close to our house. The girls had fun finding sticks - some bigger than them - and seeing dogs.

We had pizza and movie night on the big screen. I had to practice for a presentation I was giving and brought a projector home from work. We figured we might as well have some fun with it too.

Saturday we drove through Gennesse to look for elk and have a picnic. No elk there. We think Grandma and Grandpa are our lucky charms because the only time we got to see the elk there was when they were with us. We decided to drive home through Evergreen and found a herd of elk. We also walked around Evergreen Lake.

We walked, ran, played in the dirt, and walked out on to the ice to visit the ice fishermen. While skeptical at first, we figured if there were hundreds of ice skaters, a zamboni, and two dozen fishermen we would be okay. They were catching trout through the 18 inch ice.

Cowgirl India.

Making friends with the statue by the lake.

Zoo on Sunday.

Sweet Prayers

India and Jordyn were able to have a few sleepovers with their cousin Cenika over Christmas break. Apparently they must have had an intense bedtime discussion one night. Here was Cenika's prayer with her mom a few days later: "God bless me and India when we are astronauts and in space and bless Jordyn when she is a princess and make sure Captain Hook does not take her pixie dust." Love them!

First time Ice Skating

Last Sunday the girls and I went ice skating with India's Girl Scout troop. It was the girls' first time on the ice and they did great. At first they were a little apprehensive; especially when they first stood up in their skates. On dry land Jordyn was confident and India was less than thrilled at the limitations on her usual speedy self. Linwood had to work so I was not sure how I would juggle the girls on skates, but I knew I would get it done. On our first lap around the girls were not excited. I tried taking them both at the same time, then I tried helping each one go about 10 feet at a time. I must have looked pretty pathetic because it wasn't long before a troop dad came and offered to help India. That was awesome! He had her zipping around and she LISTENED to his directions :-) Jordyn and I were doing much better as well. Jordyn is naturally athletic and she has great balance and instinct. She did a great job listening to my hints and we were moving along pretty good. After one lap around Jordyn announced that she was "done" and ready go home. We found her a spot on a bench and returned to the rink to pick up India. India's confidence just soared! She was trying to do tricks while holding on to the wall and laughing even when she fell. We went around 2 more times and stopped to check on Jordyn. She had her skates untied and one of them off but we managed to convince her to come out on the ice with us again. This time around India was ready to be done and Jordyn was having a ball. She said, "I was scared but now I'm not and this is really fun." Thoughts after skating: India said, "I didn't like that at all. Mom, can I take lessons?" Jordyn has asked at least 3 times this week when we could go skating again.

The girls watching the zamboni

Saturday Mornings

We are just starting to get to the age where the girls will get up on the weekends and be happy to entertain themselves for a short period of time. This Saturday Linwood has left to play basketball and Jordyn came into the room, crawled into bed with me, kissed me and left. I listened to her wake up her sister and they started talking. It wasn't long before their voices were drifting upstairs from the living room. After the experience with the pizza and oranges a few weeks ago I thought that I should investigate. I crept down the stairs to the landing and discovered that they had just dove into a game of "Go Fish." (Our family's favorite game these past few weeks. They are just learning to hide their cards and listen to what others ask for so it is getting more and more fun.) When they talked about what to eat Jordyn said, "I can just get a bar because I can reach that myself." India said, "I think I will have cereal without milk." WHEW!! Praise the Lord! I snuck back upstairs to jump in the shower one proud Mama!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family. We hope that yours was as blessed and joyous as ours. Thank you for all of your thoughtfulness, gifts, texts, and Christmas wishes! We love you so much and are so grateful for you!!! Christmas morning (excuse our dead tree in the background. It went on a hunger strike a few weeks ago.)

Christmas Eve

It's a white Christmas!

Christmas morning

We went to a Nuggets game the day after Christmas. The girls got to help pass the game ball.

Daddy with a Bronco's player at the game.

Kobe taking a free throw.

Go Nuggets!

Getting ready for Christmas

How we love the Christmas season!!!! The girls were in a Christmas play at church the beginning of December. I didn't take pictures because I was handing out programs. I will try and post a group picture they sent us in the near future. The girls also helped make treats for Holiday parties and cookies for Santa. Making Treats

Decorating Cookies

The girls gave daddy a Super Hero cape for his birthday.