Goings on...

It has been quite the whirlwind the past few months.  I have not had tons of extra time for blogging because I just got called as the Primary president to our brand new ward.  They just reorganized the boundaries and created a new ward, of which we are now a part.  It turns out it is a LOT of work organizing a primary from scratch.  Having never been in primary before, this has proven to be a daunting task at times.  But it has also been an exciting and unique opportunity, and I am glad that I get to offer what service I can.  I have only been in it for a few months, and I already love it.  The kids are wonderful and I love to teach and learn from them.  It also helps that I have the most awesome counselors and secretary ever. 

This happened to poor Elly at one of the padded, indoor playgrounds.  This should not happen at indoor playgrounds, I feel.  They had some wood molding that came to sharp corners by the parent's seating, and she fell (or was pushed, I'm not sure which) right into the corner.  Poor kid.  The goose egg it produced had me worried, but she only cried hard for a few seconds.  She's a tough little cookie sometimes.

We have taken many opportunities to go to the zoo.  Our kids are a great age for the zoo, and the National Zoo is free and a great way to spend our free time.

On a whim back from the zoo, we decided to see some DC sites with the kids.  Here's the Lincoln memorial from a distance.

 

And Mr. Lincoln himself.  It's quite impressive in person.

Elly got a new bathing suit, but refuses to go into any water.  I think she doesn't like the cool temperature, no matter how hot it is outside.

This is what happens when Peter is in the pool.  Elly just watches, either outside on the deck, or from inside.  Someday maybe she'll venture into the water.

On our way to the beach.  This glasses are a little big, but too cute and funny to pass up a picture opportunity.

Elly loved the beach, as long as she didn't have to touch the sand or the water.  It's kind of amazing she enjoyed herself as much as she did.

We went to Colonial Beach, which isn't the best of beaches in the world, but it was fairly close by.  And it gave Peter his first chance to exerperience the beach.

 

Peter LOVED the beach.  This can't be overstated. 

Happy, excited boy!

 

 

Elly was a little sick recently and feeling very snuggly.  She is very snuggly in general.  It is very sweet. 

I have decided to try to get Elly to cut her nursing opportunities in half: from 8 to 4 times a day. At first it was a little difficult, as she kind of refused food and drink of any sort.  But she was feeling a little under the weather at the time, and I think she had a sore throat.  But it was just a couple days later that she started to eat more.  She still only sips a little from a cup.  Her liquids still come from me and fruit (usually grapes and watermelon) that she consumes in large quantities.  She is not going for the milk thing.  I hope she transitions eventually.

She has been starting to consistently say new words the past few months.  However, she has a pattern of saying a new word for a little while, and then never saying it again.  She did this really early, at 10 months with "up," and "more (mo)," and more recently has said, "hi, baby, bath, fish, sheep."  But it seems like as soon as she starts saying new words, she stops for some reason.  She still mostly resorts to grunts to express her views.  sigh.  She is very much a girl who is not going to do anything she doesn't want to do.  And yet, she is still a sweet, affectionate, and playful little thing.

I wish I could get pictures of Peter and Elly having their snuggling wars.  At first it looks really cute, but then it looks like they are trying to inflict death by snuggling on the other one.  I have had to intervene from time to time. 

Elly has started to give kisses consistently.  She especially likes to kiss her daddy, and it is very sweet.  She is a good little kisser already, and has figured out that she needs to close her mouth and pucker up.  So cute!  It took Peter a long time before he figured that one out.  I'll have to try to get pictures of this soon.