Memorial Day

Memorial day weekend. Must do it right! So, Friday after school we went to the play pool. Rebekah sure knows how to relax! 

The next morning Rebekah slept in. I still stalk Rebekah a little in her sleep, but seriously: look how cute! I could just pinch those cheeks! But I won't because a sleeping Rebekah is a precious thing.

Friends of my family sent me this picture. So grateful they are out there to tend the sight.

We went up to Frank's land for an pre Memorial Day cook out. Don had to work close to where we were so he left early on. However, not before I got this:

Then we played. Rebekah sure loves time with grammy on the golf cart.

Grammy even lets her drive.

They came to pick me up and drive me around. 

Then we played ball.

And stacked cups.

We collected nature and found various uses for different things.

So pretty. Inside and out. I am truly blessed.

Sunday we played around the house and policed the neighborhood.

It was so hot outside but one has to do one's duty.

Memorial day we did some work outside the house. (We bough mulch for the front yard weeks ago. Apparently I read too much because I found on the package a warning that you shouldn't put that mulch next to certain plants, one of which we had. Who would imagine? I mean it's mulch!) We returned the offending mulch and got new mulch. I searched around trying to understand whether a rash that sprouted on Rebe's back was infectious (was told the said rash was not) and then we went to a ward BBQ. We are still new enough that it was awkward but we are trying.

Finally to end up the day Don took us to DQ where Rebekah got a milk shake as big as her head. Half of it is still in the freezer. (The milk shake, not the head.... - that was for you Michael.)

Grandma's Mother's Day

Since we are living somewhat farther away these days we didn't get to celebrate mother's day with mom, however we came out the next weekend to stay over and party! 

I wanted to get mom her favorite strawberry pie but ended up not driving the way we had planned. We did find this strawberry cake. I questioned about the price and it sounded reasonable so we went to buy it. When we got up to the counter they wanted to charge us almost twice as much as they lady told us. I argued my case and was ready to walk away when the cashier gave us the original price. (It's crazy how much I seem to have to battle these days....)

Both grammy and Rebekah were very excited.

During that weekend we saw this little red bird. Just sitting there staring at mom's front door.

We spent the weekend with grammy. Sunday we went to church in Muncie - I was asked to sing with my previous ward (crazy), but since we were going to be in town and wanted to go to church anyway, I accepted.

Sunday afternoon I got in touch with Tenley's mom and we were able to take a little nature walk. It kills me how much Rebekah and Tenley are alike. Oh how I wish they could grow up together!

Monday we went to see the eye doctor for Don. He is still having trouble seeing despite the many surgeries he has had. Unfortunately when you are a patient of a specific doctor and call to make an appointment with a specific doctor, that may not mean you will see that specific doctor. He doesn't even work mondays! Seriously! So frustrating! We would have just left but we weren't told about this until after Don was dilated, not to mention we leave almost 2 hours away.

The other doctor suggested a procedure that Don's specialist recommended so we went ahead and signed up for that. HOWEVER, when we went to scheduling I spoke my mind and made sure Don's doctor would be doing the surgery and we would be seeing Don's doctor from now on. Ugh!

Then we headed back and picked up this little snuggly. She had lots of fun with grammy. We sure love them both!

Swim Updates

When we started this new swim team I emailed back and forth with the coach. She was all about competing and I was all about my daughter being a young 6. She told me at the time that she would not have Rebekah compete "until she was ready." Imagine my surprise when I stumbled on the list of participants in the first of summer swim meet. Don suggested that I was talking about being ready emotionally when coach may have been talking about skill level. Either way I didn't think she was ready. Far from emotionally ready she was still not able to do a dive like the competition. 

We talked about this together, Don, me and coach, and decided we should have Rebekah come and be exposed. If she wanted to swim then she could. If not, then she wouldn't have too. I told her I wanted her to simply do the warm ups with the team. I then suggested to Don that he be the master mind behind the meet because Rebekah is much stronger with him and more emotional with me.

Some of her team mates tried to cheer her on. Love the good supportive group of girls she is with.

Turns out it didn't matter much. She got anxious upon entering the pool and tears flowed. It was a bad situation. She is young enough that she needed a hand to hold and she didn't get one. I thought we were done but eventually one of the team members talked her into going in with her. I ran in and pushed my way into an illegal seat where she could see me. On the bright side, no one made me move. I got a few shots.  

She looked pretty comfortable.

She even got brave enough to think about swimming the breaststroke heat but didn't know whether she could sit dive or not and balked at the task.

Back at practice she looks pretty good.

First time freestyle 50 meter length.

Breaststroke 50 meter

Her swim team group (10 and under).

Rebekah learning the kneel dive

Swimming a relay. Love the "go Rebekah" in the background

Before the second relay she fell and skinned her knee. Thought I would have to intervene but coach Jennifer had it under control. We love her.

We recently talked about swim. I told Rebekah that I didn't care if she ever competed. I just wanted her to learn to swim with great skill level, have confidence in herself, and make good friends. Sure hope this is the right place considering their great focus on competition. However, the coach spoke to me and Don a few days after the event. She mentioned what she would do differently next time to help Rebekah more. I feel pretty good about her plan and as long as she doesn't actually push my daughter into anything and lets her come as she is ready, I'm supportive.

Family Photo Shoot

I couldn't think of what to get the moms in our lives for mother's day so I finally decided a little photo shoot was in order. I mean who doesn't like pictures?

It started with just me and Rebekah.

Thinking....

Got to have the tongue.

When in Rome...

Of course we needed silly faces.

And a heart for love.

Rebekah is intrigued with the camera's crazy settings. Think this one is alien.

Mirror

Chipmunk

I've got a great head on my shoulder... I mean head... 

Then we decided to get the man involved. This was Rollercoaster pose.

I think both Don and I thought we were rollercoastering and Rebekah went for silly.

The ever popular "thinking" pose

Then we got the official one for our wonderful mom. 

Mother's Day

Rebekah brought home some treasures from Kindergarten in celebration of mother's day.

We also got a cook book from the kindergarten class with the kids explaining their favorite recipe their mom makes. I was please Rebekah chose birthday cake. 

Some other kid's favorite recipes had to do with hotdogs, a microwave, and opening a package of cookies. Rebekah makes me look like a master chef!

She also brought home a very well done picture of me. I've never looked better.

She also filled out an "all about mom" questionnaire:

Then she wrote and illustrated this book for me:

Cover. I love how the sizing of her and myself is pretty much accurate.

First page (I'll translate from kindergarten spelling): I snuggle with my mom, I give my mom presents.

I smile at my mom. I hold hand with my mom. (That's a picture of us in bed - I hold her hand sometimes while she falls asleep.)

I ride bikes with my mom. I love my mom.

And the back of the book:

The Friday before mother's day Don gave me a few hours of down time. I pulled a chair outside on our cement patio and read the entire time. Best gift ever.

Saturday I made what I call "Courtney Brownies" - which are actually called "Double Chocolate Chip Brownies." I searched my computer for what seemed like forever until I realized that little point.... I think I'll have to rename them - so I could have a treat on mother's day.

Then Sunday I was given a lego set. Rebekah and I made it together after church.

I should say something touching about being a mom and the girl that made me a mom. Couldn't ask for better.

This was our first mother's day together. Such a cutie! And I'm learning to take selfies better so as not to get the double chin and the up the nose look.

This is our most recent mother's day.

She is truly beautiful inside and out. I am so grateful Heavenly Father let me have Rebekah in my life.