Building

Since I've been showing what you can usually find Tessa doing. I thought I better show Nora's hobby too.

She loves to build with these magnet tiles. They collapse really easily, so I can't believe what she can make with them.

She'll go into her room and close the door so no one will mess with them and spend hours making things. She builds her stuffed animals cars or big towers.

Bed

Sometimes you just have to sit in Mom's bed with some books

Beads

Nora loves to play quietly. It is very helpful during school. Today she made a perler bead flower and a necklace.

Also, she's usually a princess.

Baptism Anniversary

The four older kids were baptized three years ago, and Tessa's anniversary is tomorrow. We renewed our baptismal vows and lit candles and ate dessert!

Ponytail

Nora wanted a ponytail 

Determined

Lucy and Nora are going to play. Lucy tells me, "We'll never stop unless we're hot, tired or hungry!"

Two

Tessa is two!

She got a new dress and toy and books

She liked the cake but felt we should eat it instead of looking at it while singing

Tessa books

Tessa loves to get a big stack of books and go through them one by one. She doesn't like anyone to mess with her or her books. She really likes it when I sit down and read my book while she sits and reads her book. It isn't too hard to convince me.

She fills up her chair with books and pushes it over to where she wants to sit

Sometimes she wants to sit with me while we both read. I always offer to read her book but most of the time she just wants to look at it herself

She needs some help getting up on the couch but she will very proudly get a stepstool and do it herself

Sisters

The girls dressed up today in princess/superhero/ballet costumes

This is my favorite, though. Her big sister is her hero

Two Small Helpers

I guess Nora wanted to try closing the van door, and James is a good big brother, but I walked out to find this:

Reading

We were having family reading time and Grandma took pictures

Tessa became concerned no one was going to take HER picture

And later, Charlie was voluntarily silently reading a chapter book!

Books

Tessa got a suitcase and the obvious thing is to fill it with books

What? It can hold more books. Tessa needs her books!

Surfing

At our pool, there is a flowrider, which lets people "surf"

I couldn't believe that Charlie, James, and Lucy all wanted to try. And had a great time!

Charlie got flipped up to the top pretty quickly.

Here's James

Lucy, though, was the real shock. This is only half of her turn!