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

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for all the organizations that seek to help orphans have a better life and find new homes. There are boatloads I could list, like Half the Sky, Love Without Boundaries, and World Vision with the AIDS orphans, but today I want to encourage you to make a plan to hit Wendy’s this weekend for a Frosty! On the 14th and 15th in honor of Father’s Day, they are giving .50 of each Frosty sale to the Dave Thomas Foundation to help the fatherless find families. Read about them here: http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

So that’s right people – I am telling you to go eat some fattening and yummy Frosties this weekend (you could try one of the new Frosty Shakes). It’s for the children! *wink* Their goal is to raise $1.3 million to help children who are available for adoption in the foster system to find homes. (Just so you know, not all children in the foster system are available for adoption)

And here are a few more “I Saw Green” photos for this week.

Alligator egg

Fridge Farm

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