Family Home Evening—Birds

Our theme for family home evening this week was: birds. Our lesson was from a talk by Milton R Hunter. We learned about quail and how the quail babies show great devotion and obedience to their parents. They have great faith in their parents’ leadership. We learned that it is important for us to be obedient to both our earthly parents and our heavenly parents just like the quail babies. We need to follow the council of our parents, and be obedient. After our lesson, we made curly birds out of paper (Elle found this to be a very intriguing and fun project; Hudson not so much). And lastly, we had bird cupcakes for dessert (Hudson perked right up when I brought out the food—he mutilated it). All in all, family home evening turned out great.

Ice Skating

We took Elle and Hudson ice skating this past weekend, and they both thoroughly loved it. Elle has always loved to ice skate, and begs to go all the time. Hudson is still fairly new to the whole concept, but, like everything else in life, that did not stop him. He loved it when Johnny would skate with him around the rink. And when Johnny let him pretend to skate for a second with his shoes, he couldn’t get enough of it. In fact, he didn’t like being left out. He wanted to ice skate just like everyone else.

But as fun as the excursion turned out to be, there was one mishap with a hockey bag. As we were exiting the skating facility, a young boy headed to his hockey practice was entering the building. As he went through the automatic doors, his hockey bag hit the side of the door and swung around and hit Elle right in the eye. So unfortunate. And what are the odds that it hit her and not Johnny or I, who happen to be much taller than the hockey bag slung over the boy’s shoulder. Why did it have to happen to Elle, who is eye level to the hockey bag slung over the boy’s shoulder? It really was too bad. And she now has several minor cuts around her eye. Poor girl.

But, thankfully, the unfortunate mishap will not discourage her enthusiasm for ice skating. She loves it too much.

Main Street Mile

This weekend, Elle joined lots of determined children, and chased an ice cream truck. I know this statement sounds crazy, but it really is true. Elle, and her two friends, signed up for the Main Street Mile in downtown. Basically, this is a race where the kids run a half-mile after an ice cream truck. Then, at the end of the race, they all get a blue ribbon and an ice cream. Very fun.

Elle ran this race last year, but she only made it through a quarter of the race before she was ready to stop and walk. I wasn’t sure what to expect of her this year, so I went with an open mind (and flimsy flip flops). However, she greatly surprised with me with her competitive edge (she gets it naturally from Johnny and I; we are very competitive—especially with each other). Not only did she not want to run it with me (she told me constantly that she was running by herself), but she was also very focused and determined. When they said go, she took off (as did I in my useless, unsuportive flip flops). She ran fast, and she ran the entire thing (stupid flip flops). She never once walked or checked to see where I was. She was in the zone.

I was very proud of her and her accomplishment. I don’t think she has ever ran that far without walking. It was something new for her. She really did so well. I was also happy with how confident and motivated she was. She was not concerned with me or where I was. She just ran her race.

But something that really made me happy, was at the end of the race when Elle willingly shared her ice cream with her brother (I wasn’t just happy, I was shocked). I think it may have had to do something with the endorphins.

So until next year (when I will not be wearing flip flops), Elle will have to practise her running at home. And maybe those endorphins will bring about a whole new form of kindness. One can always hope.

Fountain Fun

Since the weather is FINALLY warming up, I decided to take the kids to the fountain downtown so they could get wet. I had to run a few errands anyway, so I thought it would be fun to let them play. Elle did not think the weather was near warm enough for the cold—freezing according to her—water. Hudson, however, had no reservations, and loved every shivering moment. The kid did not want to leave the fountain. He was soaked and shaking, but it did not deter him from splashing and playing. But even though the kids had fun, I think I will go again on a really hot day. I’m sure Elle is in full agreeance with me.

Tiny Dancer

I guess, for some reason unbeknownst to me, I have decided to keep Elle—and myself—extremely busy this summer. Since gymnastics alone is not all that busy, I decided we needed to pick up another set of lessons: ballet. I’m not sure what I was thinking, but we are already signed up and paid in full, so go we must.

However, Elle rather enjoyed her first ballet class this week, so I guess our busy schedule is worth being busy. And she really was so cute in her ballet attire with her serious, I’m-going-to-get-everything-perfect face. She is such a sweet, determined, fun-loving, creative girl. I love her so much—even if we are super busy.



And as a side note, Elle is the tinniest dancer in her class (no shocker there).