Swim Lessons, Bikes, & Trees

June 9-13th
June 9-13th (click to see album)

Click the photo above to see the photos for the week.

It’s been a busy week for us. Nadia started her swim lessons with Jennifer (http://www.infantaquatics.com/jenniferdelacruz.htm) and although she really didn’t want to do it at first because of the whole “I don’t like strangers thing,” I think that she is going to do really well. Even from day 1 to day 2 the teacher was impressed with her improvement. On the third day a little water went up her nose while trying to float and so the teacher got her upright and Nadia said, “Nose. Hurt.” and Jennifer said, “I know, a little water went up your nose.” Nadia took one look at the pool and smacked the water really hard. I started laughing so hard because I could just see her thinking, “I’ll show you, Pool Water!!!” Here are a few photos from this week.

Swim Lessons

Swim lessons

Tired Girl

Mike and I got bikes last weekend as an anniversary present and we got a Burley Bee trailer for Nadia to ride in safety and style. I think it’s going to be great fun going out as a family and getting some exercise.

Bike

And yesterday we got some trees installed in our front and back yard. We have lived here nearly 9 years and done basically nothing to our yard, but with Nadia enjoying being outside so much we thought it was finally time to do something to it. The guys from Native Shade tree farm in Azle had to work really hard in the back because the dirt is about as solid as bedrock back there. Oh, and in the photo of our front yard, you can see our new porch swing, which Nadia loves!

Here is the Bald Cypress:

Bald Cypress

The Red Oaks:

Red Oak

Red Oak - front

New Day Foster Home Video

Next week our church will be doing an Olympic themed Vacation Bible School. Each year they do a fundraiser for a specific charity that benefits children. Last year the children raised money for a street children’s ministry in India that our church funds. We told the staff all about our visit to New Day Foster Home in Beijing back in March. So this years fundraiser is going to be a contest. The girls will be bringing money for the children of New Day Foster Home and the boys will be bringing money for the persecuted church around the globe.

So each day I am going to give a 5 minute presentation about New Day to the girls. I am going to make a 3 minute video for each day and then talk to the kids for 2 minutes. Here is the first video.

Green Week

shadesofinspiration

The “I Saw Red” was such a big hit that she has decided to keep it going. This is truly the beauty of digital because you don’t have to print the photos. You can take the photos just for the sheer joy of it. And hit delete if they aren’t what you expected.

This week’s color is Green and I see trees in my future since it’s pretty much been a focus for us lately as we are finally doing something with our lawn. 🙂 But I do think I am going to have to think harder for green since Red is such a part of my daily life. Feel free to join in on your blogs.

The smile is another item from Nadia’s wall. We often have real frogs on our porch, but today it was Nadia’s stuffed guy.

From Nadia's room Nadia's frog

 

I Saw Red

I decided to take part in a project another blogger was doing called “I Saw Red”. The goal was to take photos of things that you saw over the course of the week of June 2-8th. The woman who organized the whole event placed a link to all the blogs on her site. Some bloggers posted everyday, but I chose to wait and do them as one post. Several times this week I wished I had my camera with me in the car, so if she decides to do it again, I am going to cart my camera around with me all week. So here goes:

Mike’s truck that he has had since he was 9 months old (the same age as Nadia when she came to us). Now Nadia plays with it.

I See Red
I See Red (click to see album)

Blocks and boots.

Blocks Boots

Sweet Nadia.

Nadia Red table

My Olympics cap from Beijing.

Red Cap

Hair clip

Elmo Easter basket and a wall at Mike’s office.

Elmo easter Office wall

Cooking red sauce in red pots for a pasta dinner.

Red Sauce

And last of all. My cool car – the Tomato Mobile.

Tomato-mobile