Nadia’s Got the Beat!

Here’s Nadia’s first little “dance video” that Louanne just finished. It’s a little under two minutes, and I can’t stop laughing at it…and Nadia wants to watch it over and over again. Enjoy!

We are free because of the brave

I dedicate this blog post to Mike’s dad who was killed in Vietnam and to his cousin who was killed in Iraq. Additionally to the families who have lost loved ones in the service of our country. We are incredibly grateful for all our military personnel and their families and the sacrifices they have made for our country.

Please take some time today to remember that it is not all about a day off and barbecues.

It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag. ~unknown~

Fun Photo

Nadia and Louanne

Last week Mike did a photo shoot for Girls INC and Nadia and I needed to be the “models” for Mike to check the lights and the settings on his camera. I am totally in love with this photo!!! Me and my sweet girl playing around being silly.

God has blessed us so much with this wonderful child.

Picnic with the 3rd graders

3rd grade picnic
3rd grade picnic (click to see album)

Click the photo above for the slideshow. Today Nadia and I were invited to the 3rd grade picnic field trip. We took our lunch and met the kids at the school. There is a very big, nice park behind the school, just a short walk away. Nadia loves to check things out and did her usual thing of walking round and round exploring. The little girls wanted her to play on the slides with them, but Nadia really wasn’t interested. She got in the toddler swing a couple times, but didn’t want to stay in there. She wanted to, “WALK! WALK!”

One little girl came up and said, “Whose your kid?” And I pointed to Nadia. She said, “Then why are you hanging out with the 3rd graders?” I told her that we came to see our friend A’Jani because I was his mentor. She said, “I want you to be my mentor too, so that I can have a friend come see me.”

I had to sort out a cookie dispute, but it all worked out. One girl saved her cookies and then close to the end she opened her mini chips ahoy and gave Nadia the first one. All of a sudden the screaming started, “I want one of those. Give me one of those!” I thought one kid was going to try and grab Nadia’s so I said, “Okay listen up. That is not the polite way to talk to your friends. Ask nicely and she may give you a cookie, but don’t yell and scream about it. She choose to save her dessert.” They all stopped to think about it and then asked the girl politely. She shared with them and then gave Nadia 3 more which led to more 8 year old drama. But everyone was polite and I complemented them all on sharing.

The funniest thing was when they all started putting sunscreen on at 11:45 and the picnic had been going on for 2 hours and was about to end. Gotta love it!

Nadia and A’Jani.

Nadia and A'Jani

The girls and the abacus.

3rd grade picnic

Nadia searching for treasures.

3rd grade picnic

The girls going through the sticks.

3rd grade picnic

It was so windy!

3rd grade picnic

Eating a cookie after a hard morning’s play.

Cookies