Grade One

I forgot to take a picture before she left for school so this is her after her first day. She says she LOVES first grade and can't wait for tomorrow. I was kind of hoping that she would say how much she missed me, but no such luck. She said her favorite part was eating lunch in the cafeteria; she can't wait to buy lunch so she can get some chicken nuggets too. She likes having her own desk but she feels like the teacher makes her sit too long. Oh boy.

Lela in the newset new fangled baby gear The Bumbo or bumeroo. Every kid I know loves sitting in one of these except Lela. She sits in it for about two seconds and then starts arching her back and screaming her head off.

I Stand All Amazed

In memory of my loving brother Jeb Stonewall Ely

Children's Museum

Popping a bubble with a bubble popper (you smack the back of it and it blows air)

watching big sis-she was such a good little girl

Thula was afraid of the dinos-they also had a reptile exhibit that included owls and tarantulas-she was a bit skittish when they fed the owls dead mice

Miss Archeologist-she said this was her favorite part-they gave them the vests and goggles-to cute!

Blue screen-TV weather anchorwoman-she really got into it

Thula on TV

Lego land-they had an earthquake simulator-you pressed a button and it would shake your creation-I built a tall tower and kept making it fall over

turtle world

I love her sleeping poses

The Children's Museum in West Hartford was really fun. They also had a planetarium which we really enjoyed. The best part was that it wasn't crowded!

Going Private

Hey Friends,

I have decided to do a private blog-if you would like to be able to see it then make sure you have a gmail or sign in with blogger. I will add everyone on my google reader, but if you think I might miss you send me your email and I will be sure to add you. Take care

Beach Bums

Lela's makeshift shade. She didn't like the water.

Daddy and Thula jumping the waves

What better way to end the day then at Friendley's?!

Going for a stroll

She loves the swing and chewing her fingers!

We had a fun time at the beach in Rhode Island. School is around the corner but the humidity has finally arrived and so we have been able to go out and do some summer activities.

By the way, who is my Spokane reader?

Prison

80 feet down in the copper mine. It was very wet, but a pleasant 52 degrees on a humid day. Thula was terrified of it, so I told her that if she listened carefully she might hear the seven dwarfs mining away. That seemed to scare her even more! Lela on the other hand was a trooper.

View from the the prison

Ruins that housed the workshops and women's cells-they were never housed in the mine.

From 1777 to 1827 America's first copper mine was used as a prison. Some old yankee thought,"Hey, wer'e not using this anymore let's put prisoners here." It was finally shut down due to public outcry.

Wadsworth Falls

I discovered this beautiful place not far from where we live. I love having my own car now; I take myself on mini adventures every week. Thula had fun with her little friends from church too.

Berry Picking

Eating a delicious cider and cinnamon donut at the farm store

blueberry picking

our delicious berries
beautiful Connecticut

I found this lovely orchard and farm not far from where we live. I relived one of my favorite childhood memories of berry picking. Thula was so excited to pick her own berries. It was a very hot day though and when I asked her what her favorite part of the day was she said, "Eating my donut!" I had Lela in my moby wrap and she was miserable from the heat. I kept pouring water on top of her little head to cool her off and she liked that. We will go again in a few weeks and pick some peaches and apples.

And this is for Rosie and Mom

"We told you father we were berry picking."

"Oh, what kind of berries?"

"Blueberries!"

"It's to early for blue berries."

"It's been so cold lately they turned blue."

"Okay, let me see the berries, come show me the berries."

"Oh, well, we ate them."

"Well, since you have stuffed yourselves full of thousands of delicious berries, I shall simply tell Frau Schimit to skip your dinner!"

Thank you, thank you, that was all from memory.:-)

New Pictures and LDS Manhattan Temple Trip

Some of my young women and leaders drove to the LDS temple in Manhattan. (My hair is flat because it was wet and humid).

Afterwards we had a picnic in Central Park

The CNN building in the distance-mom told me to take lots of pictures-everything is interesting to look at so I chose this-lameo I know.

Brownstones

Central Park

Thula playing in the rain

Lela is a spitting image of her father's family

changing baby's diaper-I like how their little legs always spring up in that position

Modeling the new clothes Auntie Rosie sent