Joy

Friday, May 25, 2012

Poolside

We are loving summer!  The weather has been warm enough to enjoy the benefits of summer without being too ridiculously hot. (yet).
This week we went to Grandma's gym pool for the afternoon.  We had a very fun time!  Claire just played with Grandma and Aunt Shelbe most of the day while I had Joy glued to my hip.  Joy is going through EXTREME separation anxiety right now and will only let 3 people in the world hold her;  Me, Josh and my mom.   But with a face like that how could I mind? 

She sat by the edge of the pool watching Sister for quite a while.

Claire was so excited, she never stopped hopping through the water and playing.

It cracks me up how different these two girls are. 

While Claire is deathly afraid of getting water in her face....

Joy is splashing, crawling and laying in the lapping waterline.  
Life is easy for the easy-going.


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Growing Up

Yesterday, Joy stood up off the ground all by herself!
 
She was pretty proud of herself but has not done it again since.  
 
She can stand alone for about 30 seconds and lowers herself back down with control.   She'll be walking soon I am sure!

She loves to chew on nerf darts - they feel nice on her 5th tooth coming in!  

 

Pensive moments.

 

Claire is excited that her birthday is coming up and likes to remind us that she is "growing up".
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She went swimming yesterday and was still deathly afraid of getting her face wet so I signed her up for a Phoenix Parks Rec swimming class.  It is specifically for children between 3-5 years old who are afraid of water.  

That water was cold!


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Ladies Tea - Simply Citrus

Last weekend was our second annual Ladies' Tea at church.  It was a fun, exhausting and busy time but I loved every minute of it!   The past few weeks, every spare moment was spent planning, preparing, testing recipes and ironing napkins. 

The theme this year was Simply Citrus and I actually got some pictures.
We sold 99 tickets and had 16 ladies help out either by making recipes, setting up, cleaning, or hostessing a table.... and some did all of the above!
The centerpieces - deceptively easy looking, really a pain in the neck.
 
We had 3 courses of  3 to 4 foods each. Everything was delicious.  
I am so thankful for all the ladies who agreed to make over 100 tiny foods.

Speaking of tiny, look at these adorable fondant flowers to top the petit fours!

Before:


During:

The devastating clean-up after:
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The clean-up wasn't so bad - mostly because we got a head start thanks to the fantastic kitchen help. 

Paul, The Dishwashing King.  Seriously, one of the coolest guys I know. 
 I am humbled that he took his entire Saturday to wash dainty dishes. 
Thanks Paul!  (and you thought you weren't in any pictures)

Josh was as always my main supporter and help.  He even ironed a tablecloth! Nothing makes you love your husband more than when he's helping you with something that is important to you.
We had some very servant-hearted youth helping out too.  They got paid in tiny left over treats.
(how many guys does it take to count cups of salad? 4 apparently, probably because their hair was in their eyes)  But seriously, they did a wonderful job.

Every lady got a take home favor (thanks to my mom!)

Thanks to all who made the tea a success!  I hope everyone enjoyed it as much I did!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Change of Plans


 The Ladies Tea at church was this past weekend, (photos coming soon!) so I now have some spare time.   We were supposed to meet Grandma at her gym pool today but Claire came down with a stomach bug that has made it necessary for her to stay close to a toilet all day so it has been fun just being home with nothing I have to do.




We took the chance to try out our new magnet fish in the water.  These are from Lakeshore Learning. I wanted to get them back around Christmas but they were $20 so I didn't succumb to the temptation even though I knew that my Puggles group might like them.
 
  Well, about 2 months ago I was at Savers and found a brand new, unopened box with every fish still individually wrapped in plastic and wrapping paper on the box that said "Merry Christmas! Love, Gma and Gpa O!"  Well, sorry Gma and Gpa O, someone didn't like your gift, but I sure did!  Especially with the $6 price tag that Savers had slapped on it.   The Puggles spent MANY hours entertained by this toy and now that Puggles is over, I brought it home for Claire and Joy to play with.

Fisherbaby.
 

Yep, we spent the early afternoon soaking up the sun, catching fish and capturing some precious moments.


 






Right after I took this picture Claire said "I love her very very much... I think she loves me too" 

Sometimes it is good when your plans are interrupted.

A few minutes later, pool time went down hill fast as it was almost nap time so we came inside for a snack.



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Poor Joy, she just couldn't stay awake any longer. (and now you know why she always wears a hair bow or a hat.)