Henry's Ark

I've been wanting to take the girls to Henry's Ark all summer long, but it has been pretty hot so the pool was usually a better choice, but it is finally cooling down some, so we decided to go there this week.

We made our first attempt on Monday, but as we arrived we realized (with the help of a sign) that it is closed on Monday, so instead we went to the play ground at Norton Common.

We made our next attempt on Tuesday, and this time we had success.

As we were walking toward the animals a lady asked me if we had brought carrots. Uh, no. I didn't even think about that. So she handed me a bag full of baby carrots. Rachel is absolutely fearless when it comes to animals. She was petting and feeding everything. Gabi, while not exactly scared, was a little more nervous. She was fine around the goats, but the emu had her a little intimidated.

We used all of the carrots, and another family offered us some of their carrots. They had the big kind of carrot, and they had quite a few of them, but they were ready to go home, so they gave us some of theirs. I don't know who appreciated the kindness of our fellow zoo-goers more, my girls or the animals.

Swimming Lessons

Rachel has taken swimming lessons this summer, and I can officially say that Rachel can swim. Okay, she can't swim an extremely long distance, but she can swim. I didn't measure it officially, but my estimate is that she can swim about 10 or 12 feet. That's both good and bad. I'm glad she can swim, but now she wants to not wear her floaties anymore, so I need to be right with her all the time. It's good, because when she does wear floaties, she just relaxes and floats, and doesn't swim, but when she doesn't wear floaties she is becoming a stronger and stronger swimmer. Now my challenge is to convince her to wear floaties when I want her to. It's a challenge because she enjoys the freedom of not wearing floaties.

The Week in Review

We, like pretty much everybody else, have been dealing with a heat wave. Because of that we have been to the pool nearly every day this week. The heat is much less oppressive when you are lounging in water. Just sayin'.

Rachel make a raft for herself to lounge on at the pool.

If we don't go to the pool we play in the sprinklers in the back yard.

On Tuesday Jeff was with the girls while I was at rehearsal. He reported to me that they had been awfully quiet. Turns out that Rachel found a sharpie somewhere, and decorated herself and Gabi. I learned that sunscreen spray (SPF 50) is very effective in removing sharpie from skin.
In keeping with the artistic theme, I got out some paper and paint for the girls to get creative.

Let's face it. Those girls are talented!

A day at the zoo

Started with a ride on the carousel. Last year when I took the girls on the carousel Rachel said she wanted to too, but as soon as it started she leaned off her horse and clung to my neck, and all this while I was holding the then 1-year-old Gabi. Last week when we went to the baseball game the girls rode the carousel there and they both loved it, so we did the zoo carousel again, and both girls loved it again.

Then we looked at a bunch of the animals. Both Rachel and Gabi really like animals, so that was fun. We also ate lunch.

Next we went to the splash park there. It was a pretty hot day, and and the water felt great. Gabi really didn't want to leave, but it was getting late, and both girls were getting tired. (Not to mention me and Grandma who was there too.)

We really wanted to see the new polar bear and sea lion display, so we went there before we left. We didn't stay too long because we were all seriously getting worn out.
They both fell asleep in the car on the way home. Not surprised at all!

That evening we got together with Jeff's mom and Brian and Amber and watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 in anticipation of seeing part 2 today. Rachel and Gabi played with their cousin Rose while the "grown-ups" watched the movie. At least that was the plan. Its success was suspect. It was a very long day and the girls had yet another late bed time.

The Pool

Rachel just finished another round of swimming lessons. This time we signed up with a girl in our ward who just recently moved here. Different than the lessons at the YMCA we did earlier this summer, her teacher doesn't have the children wear any type of flotation device. Rachel loved the lessons. She loves the pool in general. One of the teacher's emphases this time was to teach Rachel to put her face in the water. Rachel's face often ended up in the water, but it was because she sunk. She just couldn't seem to tuck in her chin and put her face in the water.

Last night we went to the pool for an evening swim/desire to wear the girls out, ergo easy bed time. Rachel voluntarily tucked her chin and swam with her face in the water. And she did it over and over again.

It's fun watching her make progress in the pool.

Next year Gabi will be in swimming lessons too.

Opera

I think Rachel might have a future in opera. Tonight she found some music, put it on the music stand and she and Gabi started singing. And oh my! How they sang!

Baseball Game

Last night we went to a Louisville Bats game. Jeff got tickets from his work. I think we might have watched a total of maybe 1 inning worth of baseball. The rest of the time we spent watching the girls play. They have a couple of playgrounds there at Louisville Slugger Field, as well as a couple of other entertaining things for kids to do, like a carousel. Rachel rode it twice and Gabi rode it once. They both wanted to ride it more, but it wasn't free, so we drew the line. Nevertheless, the girls had a great time.

We only lasted until the end of the 8th inning. It was getting late, and way past the girls' bedtime. When we left we were down 2-0. When we got home we learned that we won the game 3-2. I guess we should have stayed for the last inning.

Hair

My philosophy is that when young people want to rebel a little and do crazy stuff with their look, the best bet is to focus on hair styles. Tattoos are permanent, and an eagle when you're 18 looks like a pterodactyl when you're 60. Weird piercings are, well, they're weird. But hair? Hair grows back. Hair is a safe medium with which to experiment.

Rachel has taken my philosophy to heart. Tonight Jeff and I were fixing dinner. When we were done we called Rachel and Gabi to the table. Rachel came from upstairs, and proudly announced that she cut her hair all by herself. I am happy to say that I did not lose my temper. I did not get angry. I did tell her that I wasn't too happy, and that she shouldn't do it ever again. Anyway, Rachel is currently sporting a bald spot on the side of her head.

A lesson on the power of prayer

On Tuesday I was planning to go grocery shopping in the afternoon. I got the girls ready. (Their outfits of choice were as follows: Rachel was wearing her Cinderella dress, complete with glass (or rather plastic) slippers. Gabi was wearing a unicorn costume.) But then I couldn't find my keys. I looked in all of the regular places, and couldn't find them. So I decided to gather the girls around and say a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help me find my keys. After our quick prayer I decided to check the car to see if I left them in there. So we all went outside to look. I checked the ignition, the passenger seat, between the seats - no keys. Gabi, whose 'assigned' seat is the right side of the back seat, went to her door as always. As I was getting out of the car, trying to think where to look next, Gabi came strolling around the back of the car, dressed in her all-white unicorn costume, with her very dark complexion, looking like a little magical unicorn/angel holding my keys in her hand. I guess I must have dropped them on the ground as I was getting Gabi out of her seat earlier in the morning.

So then I gathered the girls around me again, and this time we offered a prayer of thanks that we were able to find my keys, and that my girls were so helpful in the process.

I really wish I had a picture of the view of Gabi in her costume holding my keys. It was too precious.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

We went to Costco today. Gabi was riding in the cart, and Rachel was walking. After a while Gabi wanted to get out and walk too. I said she could, but she had to stay close to me. It was going fine until I stopped to pick up something, and Rachel took off running. Gabi, who likes to do everything Rachel does, followed her. I called to them to stop, but they ignored me. I took off after them, but they were in the next aisle. When I got to the next aisle I saw Gabi at the other end, but Rachel was not in sight. So I went to the next aisle, and there she was, and Gabi was there by then too.

I caught up with them, and told them that as a consequence for not listening to me they both had to ride in the cart. Rachel especially was not too happy about that, but after a little while she accepted that it was just going to be that way. After a minute or two, Rachel turned to Gabi and said "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

I admit I didn't realize that Rachel recognizes that Gabi follows her in just about everything. I was surprised that Rachel took all the responsibility. I thought it was sweet.

At bed time tonight, Gabi had something of a melt down. It started when Jeff took off her shoes, but I'm pretty sure it was because she was very tired. After a while she settled down, and was laying face-down on Rachel's bed listening as I read bed-time stories. Rachel started talking to her gently, trying to help her feel better. She is really very sweet.

But not perfect. Here is her bedroom wall after quiet/nap time.