Family Home Evening

We've been working really hard on making Family Home Evening a tradition in the Walker house. So far we are going strong. I'm so excited!

Rebekah loves it. I know she loves the activity / games, and the songs we sing. But most of all, she loves the treats. One week we decided to dip strawberries. It was a little hard with the toothpicks once they got in the chocolate, but Rebekah was a trooper and didn't give up.

Don got this picture. One of my all time favorites.

Chocolate covered or plain, I love my little girl! 

Saturday With Daddy

Don had some time on Saturday morning so we took a trip to the local elementary to play around. I've been wanting to use the fancy camera but am a little intimidated by it. Don brought it along to show me how easy it is to use. Fun too.

Here are some of my favorites:

Getting started

Slide alone

Slide with ball

The new teeter totters 

Didn't make 'em like that when I was a kid

Sad Reka

All time favorite

Swinging

Don showing how it's done

Making faces

Loving the monkey bars

To sum up, I'm sold on the quality of the pictures. I'll be spending some serious time with Don's camera in the future.

Paul Comes to Visit

Don's son Paul came out for a quick visit. It was all Rebekah could talk about, she was so excited! Finally after much anticipation, Paul came. She woke up the next morning to play but Paul slept and slept. So, when she couldn't play with the man, she played with his things.

Paul did eventually wake up. We spent much time just being together. Rebekah loved being with and playing with Paul. One day I just finished putting laundry in the machine and Rebekah, who is usually one step behind me, was no where to be found. I went downstairs and there she was sitting on the couch with Paul. I asked her if she was okay and she said yes, she was talking with Paul and that I should go back upstairs. So I did.

A picture Rebekah took

One of them both

There was a trip to Dairy Queen. Rebekah shared a banana split with daddy while Paul and I used a coupon we had for Blizzards.

But Rebekah wanted sprinkles. Don went back for them. They charged him 32 cents. He was not happy. But what you don't do for your little girl....

Enjoying their treats

Kayla's little girl's first birthday happened while we were all together so we skyped to watched her open some presents.

Paige Mae in Kayla's arms on the computer 

The family watching the computer

I suggested one family picture before Paul went home. This is what I got. 

They don't look too happy but it was a pretty fun week for them.

Pudding

We like to eat popsicles outside on the deck. Usually it's because it's nice out side. But then again it's usually because Rebekah makes a mess. The other day she wanted pudding. I figured it would be nice to eat it outside. And good thing too for trouble ensued. (In case you are wondering, I DID give her a spoon.)

She likes to experience things to the fullest extent 

Yummy

A close up of the pudding hand

Checking out her pudding beard

Posing for a picture

But seriously, mess or no mess: isn't she cute?

First Fish

The other morning we were upstairs playing in my room when I looked out the window and saw our neighbor Stephanie fishing with her dad and daughter. Rebekah loves Miss Stephanie and Kallie and wanted to come say hello. 

Turns out she was very interested in fishing. Kallie showed her everything. Then Miss Stephanie caught one and had Rebekah reel it in. She had so much fun.

Kallie, the fish, Me and Reka

Of course when the fish started flopping around Rebekah got nervous and wanted to nothing else to do with it. But hey, she caught her first fish!

Our 4th

Every year on the 4th of July our neighborhood community puts on a big firework show. It's huge. They light it off two houses down. This year the rocket launchers / fire work set up continued on to our neighbor's yard. We stayed around last year to see the show. Rebekah got three "boom's" into it and had enough. I spent the rest of the night inside trying to calm Rebekah. The show didn't stop for hours. Then there was the after party until the wee hours of the morning. Needless to say it wasn't much fun for us. Since Rebekah is still very anxious around loud noises, we chose a smaller more private party: camping at Frank's.

The morning included a vigorous routine of trying on Don's shoes. 

Around 4:30 we headed to Frank's.

Rebekah fell asleep on the way. Don stopped to get a pizza which woke her up. It was going to take about 20 minutes so he found a park for us to play.

We explored much.

Then we drove to Frank's and began the eating of the pizza.

Followed by golf cart riding

Enjoyed by the whole family

Then Don played keeper of the marshmallows.

Reka finally scored one.

Don roasted a few

Reka wanted to help

Don doing the "catch in the mouth" routine

The perfect throw

Followed by the perfect catch....

(Don't ask whether the two pictures are truly related)

Rebekah enjoyed a game of catch too

and some one on one grandma time

There was much to talk about

And even time for a selfie

Then Rebekah took me for a ride

I did the feet work but she took the wheel

Then Rebekah wanted to play in Frank's camper so Don took her for a while. 

I saw my opportunity to do some roasting of my own.

That night we slept in Frank's camper. 

Reka enjoyed a before bedtime show. 

Don enjoyed a before bedtime nap. 

Rebekah had much fun. 

So did we all. It was truly wonderful being on Frank's land. Thanks for letting us come!

The Training

We all knew this would come eventually. They tell you to wait until the child is ready. Well how do you know if they are ready? Do they come and say, "mama, may I use the toilet please?" or "mama, when do I get to use the toilet?" If they do, Reka was far off. But my little girl is pretty smart so I figured she may be able to handle it. I kept talking about it with her. Then I started asking everyone I knew about how to do it. Finally I was ready so I figured it was time for her to be ready to. 

We went to the store. She picked out her underwear, some treats, some juice and a toilet seat. I was going to wait until the next coming Sunday but when we pulled into the drive Rebekah asked if she could start now. So we did. 

We started out very well. The next day I almost gave up. But by noon we were back on track. We've been going strong ever since.

We spent a lot of time indoors which is highly unusual for us. I looked up many ideas on the internet.  Here are some of the activities:

Play dough and buttons

Reka's train

Pom pom mess... I mean fun

Painting with bubble wrap

Balloons

Complete with home made paddles

Reka practiced her photography skills

There was much snuggling time

She read to her parrot 

Cloud dough

Finger painting

(and foot painting)

We even made our own garden

After she was more trained, there was outside practice too

It's still a work in progress. She has mastered some aspects of it. We are still working on some. But it's only been a week and a half so I'm very pleased with my little girl's efforts.