Family Fun

I can't believe that May is almost over!  I haven't been updating as much lately because I'm not actually sure that anyone is reading.  I started the blog when I moved to Hawaii as a way for people back home to watch my journey, but now I'm not sure who my audience is.  So if you do read the blog, please leave me a comment so I know you're out there.  If no one's reading, I'm not sure that I will keep sending things out into the technology sphere, but if people enjoy following our family story, I'm happy to keep sharing.  Thanks for taking a minute to drop a note!

Natalie got her first major injury in April.  We got a call from daycare on a Friday around lunchtime that Natalie had fallen and hit her head and it was bleeding.  Rick and I were both there in less than 10 minutes and luckily they had stopped the bleeding and she was in great spirits.  She had gotten shoved by a classmate and hit the back of her head on the corner of a bookshelf.  Once we got there it didn't look like an emergency room situation, so we called the doctor who said they could squeeze her in in an hour or so.  We went to Culver's for lunch (girl deserved ice cream for being so brave!) and then went to the doctor's office for 3 staples in the head.  She was a trooper.  You would have never known that she injured her head except the girl talks non-stop and would tell anyone who would listen all about it.  Five days later the staples came out, and all was well.  Poor kid, but glad that it was all ok in the end.

Since then we have been having a lot of family fun!  We took Natalie to a high school and college band concert which she didn't sit all the way through, but she enjoyed the first part when a family friend was directing the high school band.  The last weekend in April Rick's parents came to visit and Natalie loved playing with them and going out to eat ice cream.

Then we hit May.  The first weekend I co-hosted a bridal shower for a good friend which turned out to be a great party (thanks to the other co-host).  Later that week Rick and I had a date night and went to see The Lion King.  I had seen it several years ago but Rick had not; when the animals paraded in during the opening number I had tears in my eyes.  Such a moving musical--the costuming is phenomenal and it really illustrates the magic of theater.

 Mother's Day weekend my sister and niece came down to play.  Saturday morning we went to a few garage sales and the girls loved it!  Mom win!  We snagged some good deals before we headed to the main event of the day: Sesame Street Live!  The first five minutes of the show the girls were so amazed and excited that this was really happening.  In real life.  It was adorable.  And Kendall remained amazed and engaged while Natalie asked if it was over, asked for snacks, wanted a balloon, wanted popcorn.... the list goes on and on.  So the show was a bit long for my restless child and most of the second half we spent at the top of the seating area, but it was still a good time.  After the show we went out to eat, then more garage sales, then time with my sister's friend and baby... it was a busy Saturday!

 Last weekend the Jr. Cyclone Club hosted a free movie night at Hilton.  We ate at family favorite Hickory Park ahead of time and were unsure how long Natalie would sit through the movie, but she loved it.  She was very impressed by the "big TV".  The movie was Big Hero 6 and it was pretty good and so was Natalie despite switching laps all evening long.  First movie experience a success!

 Which brings us to this weekend.  We headed west on Saturday to the Omaha Zoo and although it was a bit cold, we loved it.  Ask Natalie what her favorite part was and she will say the train (not animals, go figure), but she enjoyed a lot of the animals, especially the fish.  It is a very nice zoo so it's fun for Rick and I too.

 The rest of our weekend has been spent doing some housework, spending time with friends, and spending as much time outside as the weather has allowed.

Natalie continues to get "bigger, bigger, bigger!"  She is quite the talker and is pretty good at counting and is very interested in reading and phonics.  It's fun to watch her learn, and her memory is alarmingly good.  Almost too good.  She is wanting more independence and is helping set the table, put dishes in the dishwasher, doing all her own toileting, dressing herself, and anything else I will let her try.  I can't believe how much she has grown in the past 2 1/2 years!