A lesson on being Brave

My dear friend, Courtney, and her daughter, Davery, joined Sierra, Papa Steve and me for a weekend at the cabin and some fishing.  This was our second summer to take the girls out for this adventure.  They both started off a little nervous of the movement on the boat but quickly settled in and were eager to hold their pink and purple princess rods.  We got a later start getting on the lake as getting the girls ready in the morning (after a late night to bed) was a slower process.  The first hour and a half or so we were completely skunked.... not even a nibble.  There was debate amongst us adults as to whether or not it was time to call it quits.  Between my prego belly and smaller bladders it was time to head to the dock for at least a potty break.  During this break I decided to trade out a couple poles for the lead lined pole and the beer can rig that were still in the truck.  Long story short we set back out for one last attempt.

AND it worked!  On our very next pass around the lake Courtney caught a fish.  Then... another... the "KING FISH" as Papa Steve calls them.  Court caught a large brown trout!  Yippee!  Well... then Papa Steve pulled out his portable scale to see just how big the fish was.  The fish wiggled... and ripped off the scales hook.  Then the fish began to bleed... a lot!  Davery moved back in the boat.  Sierra began to cry.  They were quite concerned about the poor fish, the blood, and whether or not it would be okay.  After the fish weighed in at 2 lbs. Papa quickly got the fish put back in the water off the stringer... out of site. 

Then the girls were sooo sweet.  They moved to the back bench of the boat and sat down together.  Davery took Sierra's hand as she sat a bit weepy and told her it would be okay... "We just have to be Brave!  Really Brave!"  Sierra started to wipe her tears and said, "okay... it's really really hard but I will try."  Then Davery proceeded to ask Papa Steve if we could eat the King Fish!  So funny their train of thought.  It was so sweet to see them comforting each other and helping each other through the circumstances.  (Last years trip they thought Papa was being the doctor and taking the hooks out of the fish... and we didn't let them see them cleaned... or dare feed them to them.) 

Papa did grill the fish that night and the girls tried some.  They also learned a  lesson in patience and perseverance.  We had some great discussions about not quitting.  All in all it was a nice time with some comical moments as well as each girl lost their hat at some point of time as they went flying off into the water!  Hopefully it will be a tradition we can carry on in the coming years making many more memories!

 Getting ready

 Out on the boat

 The girls looking on as the first fish is pulled into the boat

 Papa weighing the King Fish

A concerned look as she observes and ponders the fate of the King Fish

On the Road Again

Sierra and I have spent several days traveling around to catch up with great friends and enjoy new experiences.  In all she was a great traveler... although she has learned to ask, "Are we almost there?"  There were many wonderful conversations, good food, and more funny stories to come.  For now here is a picture update:

Fisherman's Warf with the Mateers

Watching an otter eat

Swimming with Kelly

Sierra and the Capell's

Katie, Sierra, and Kelly (her "fairy" godmother)

Playing the piano

night time story time with Papa Steve

tea party before fishing

Getting started out on the late

The end of the trips catch!

Sierra cooling off with her cousins (Max and Zach)

More California Fun

Today was a slower day around here... full of leisurely activities.  Sierra started off the morning by helping to water the flowers and discovering snails!  Then she spent time wandering up and down the street taking the baby dolls for a walk with grandma.  We had a picnic lunch out in the shade followed by some "tag... you're it!"  Then there was cookie baking, lots of playing, some guacamole, yummy dinner... and then horse back riding.  It was another great day =)

Fun in and out of the Sun

 We arrived safely in California and started our trip with the indulgence of In N' Out cheeseburgers and milk shakes!  Then the next stop was Grandma Lulu and Papa Steve's house.  Sierra stayed up EXTRA late to run out some energy after a long day of sitting in the car, sitting in the airplane, and more sitting in the car!  She was a fantastic travler and even took a short nap on the plane... followed by the viewing of Beauty and the Beast.  Once we got to bed we had a good night's sleep and I actually got to sleep in, hooray!  We took a morning walk that turned into quite the outing as it can in a small town.  We fended for ourselves against a loose dog, passed by daddy's old childhood homes and then we stopped to play some at the park and ran into multiple people we knew.  We made it home to get cleaned up and have some lunch before heading down the hill. 

On the car ride there we got to see the trains winding through the mountains, cows, fields of orange trees and other plots of crops.  But my favorite thing we spotted on the trip was the truck on the AAA tow truck.  Sierra spotted it ahead of us and pointed out that she thought that truck had some trouble and was needing help.  As we went to pass by we looked to see if it had been in an accident.  Sure enough we could see that at least the front bumper was broken and had hit something.  I asked Sierra what she thought that truck had run into.  Her response, "I think it hit a frog.  A big frog.  A really really big frog!"  She cracks me up!

We spent the second half of the day with Grandma Jeanette and Papa Mike.  We headed to the pool right away to get some splashing time in the heat before the pool closed for a while.  We had a great time and at the end of our pool visit Sierra was a big helper and helped to clean up all the noodles and pool toys others had left out.  We headed back to grandma's house and helped her get the mail.  Then we had a yummy snack of Cinnamon Toast Crunch!  What a treat!  =)  We helped grandma make dinner... and that was yummy too!  Sierra got to hold and play with the little dogs... and play silly games with Papa when he got home.  After dinner we cleaned up and headed out to one of the best ice cream shops ever... Dewars!!!  Sierra fell asleep on the way but was more than willing to wake up once she realized where she was... and had no problem putting away her ice cream! 

After ice cream we headed back to grandma and papa's for a bath and bed time routine.  We said our prayers and then headed back up the hill for sleepy time!  It was a wonderful day and we've had a great start to our vacation =)

 

More photos to come when the computer is more cooperative!!!

Bits and Pieces

This week has been a busy one with Grandma Lulu in town.  We had a lot of fun... and thanks to Grandma Lulu got a lot of projects done/accomplished!!!  I had quite a long list of things to get done before Weston arrives that is now pretty small... hooray!  (And I have a fairly clean house too!) 

Here are some pictures of the fun moments along the way...

 swinging at the park

 reading fairy tales

 cheesy smiles

 letting her stamps dry after gymnastics

 trying out the cheese fondue... not sure about it

 loving some chocolate fondue

 fixated on the chocolate

 totally focused on her drawing

 in heaven reading to the Fisher kids

 playing doctor on mommy

 picking a wedge...

 32 weeks

 Being "fancy" like Grandma

 yummy cookies

Evening cuddles

"Fancy!"

Apparently... Grandma Lulu is "Fancy!"  At least fancier than mommy, ha ha!  Sierra has been fascinated this week with Grandma Lulu's routine to get ready.  She has enjoyed watching/observing/gawking over Grandma each morning as she washes her face, curls her hair, puts on jewelry... and especially putting on make-up! 

For any of you that know much about me, you know that I'm pretty much a tom-boy... still!  On an occasion I will bother to blow dry or curl my hair... mind you these are very rare occasions!  I do put on mascara about two times a week or more, but it's not a daily thing.  So experiencing Grandma's daily routine has captivated Sierra.  Not to mention Grandma has allowed Sierra to do some experimenting with the light eye shadows!  I have found myself a few mornings busting out the mom spit to rub off/smear in the interesting attempts at make-up!

So yesterday morning our new neighbors were out back with their dog.  (Sierra loves dogs!)  She was up sitting on the toilet lid watching Grandma.  I hollered up the stairs at her that the new dog was out and that it looks like Lizzy, Grandma and Papa's dog.  I could hear in her voice, she was torn.  She wanted to come see the dog, but she was BUSY!  Long story short she came down the stairs hurriedly to see this new dog.  Once she spotted it she had to go out back to get more and to let Bongo go say Hi at the fence.  Bongo did his tail wagging and the two dogs greeted each other.  Sierra talked sweetly to the new dog... and she came running back into the house, past me, and up the stairs!!!  I asked her what was going on and did she need to pee?!  Sometimes she makes mad dashes to make it to the potty.... but this time her response was different!

"No,  Grandma is doing FANCY THINGS and I dont' want to miss it!!!!!" 

Mom and I couldn't stop laughing.  She was very serious and it was so sweet!  And there she returned, sitting on the top of the toilet, watching, studying... and then attempting herself! 

Gymnast... maybe! Ballerina... probably not!

So Sierra started some classes on post a few months ago to get her started in something extra curricular... without mom or dad involved.  Do to our school/work schedule at the time we started her in Ballet first.  This has been quite the comical experience.  She has come a long ways in the past few months, but is still our daughter... and blesses with two left feet! 

After school was out it allowed for the opportunity to try out gymnastics.  She has done really well with it.  She has started doing somersaults, balancing... on her own, hanging/trying more on bars, stretching more, and her teacher said today that she is the first student she's had that can balance on the beam and do the V-sit by herself! 

This week was the end of her sessions and they allow the parents to come in and take pictures (although we had to take them at the end of ballet).  We will be taking a break as we take a vacation and participate in summer school and such.  She will be trying out Karate as a "Little Dragon" in July and August!  I think she will like this too.  I am curious to see whether she picks gymnastics, Karate, or Ballet to continue once the school year starts and we participate in just one!  We'll see...

For now here are some cute pictures of her and a video clip too! 

 Posing in 1st Position

 Little Ballerina

 A little confused... I said "stick your toe out"... and we got the tongue too!

 Hanging like a monkey

 Rainbow into the Waterfall... backwards tumble!

 Starting a V-sit

Holding it strong all by herself!  That's my girl!



Walking on the balance beam all by herself... and keeping the right attitude (heard her saying "I think I can!")