Pirate Sol and other fun stuff

For some reason I didn't blog for a week or two because I didn't think that I had any pictures to post. Little did I know that David and Ian had been taking some pictures of their own - yay! So now I have a whole slew of pictures to post again from the past couple of weeks. I will post Ian's own personal photos that he has taken all together at the end of the month. This is some of the fun that has been happening around our home lately...enjoy!

Have you ever seen a more beautiful pirate?! Ian got these pirate toys and dress up from Gabriel's b'day party. Sol LOVED wearing the bandanna and eye patch - and all out of her own initiative! All she is missing is her sword...she even has the pirate stance!
Who doesn't love a bath! We often have more than just two in there because friends always want to join in. This is Ian's best friend, Maelyn, who is moving to England in September. :(
Ian and David were "racing balloons" to see who's would make it to the ceiling first. I couldn't believe how hard they were both laughing. Simple fun is awesome! After holding and letting the balloons go from their hands, they decided to hold and let the ballons go from their mouths. This was even more hilarious.
David brought some old airplane magazines home for Ian that the college library was throwing out. Incredible - Ian couldn't have been more happy and Sol too. They pick up and "read" the magazines at least once every day. Ian can even identify some of the airplanes by their official names...something he definetly learned from his Papa and not me. Sol will point to the airplanes and say things like "Wowww" or "Neeeeerm" (the sound of an airplane).
Like father like son. Ian got his first official bike with helmet included! And LOVES it! He got it from Gabriel who got a bigger bike for his b'day and wanted to give this one to Ian. The bike brakes when you peddle backwards and that is what he did naturally at first - so it was a bit frustrating for all of us to try to get the bike and Ian moving forward - but he is getting the hang of it, and can even peddle a few rounds himself now if he is on a slight downward slope. :)

25 Words to Loved Ones

A couple of weeks ago, there was a lesson in Relief Society based on President Monson's October 2008 conference talk "Finding Joy in the Journey". In it a story is shared about a POW who was allowed less than 25 words to write home to his family. He thought about what he could write in so few words that would let them know the letter really was from him and express his deepest feelings and desires for them. This is what he wrote, "These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year." The teacher then asked each one of us to write our own "25 word message" to our loved ones. It was a thought-provoking and inspiring experience, thus I am sharing my message with you and tagging all those that read this to write your own "25 words to loved ones" and post it.

I Love You.
Pray Often.
Go to the Temple Regularly.
Have Family Home Evening.
Play Together.
Family First in Everything.
Read the Scriptures.
Be Grateful.

Trains, Bubbles and Nail Polish

Ian and Sol love buses and trains. Every now and then Alyssa will take Ian on a special trip with just her, riding a bus and the trax. This day Sol, Ian and I went with our good friends Miriam and Allie to ride the trax. We had a PB &J sandwich picnic in the City Library and then rode the free section of the trax - it now goes from the Library all the way to the Central Bus and Commuter Train (Front Runner) station. They had fun, to say the least.

Ian now washes his hands by himself, since he is a "Big Boy" that also goes on the potty all by himself. Well, this day he was especially quiet and taking especially long. The scene below is what I discovered. Again, it what one of those moments where you could get flustered and upset or laugh and bask in the pure fun of it. I decided to laugh and let Sol join the fun. The only thing missing was a drain in our bathroom floor - the one thing I LOVE about overseas bathrooms.

Sol is an "Imelda Marcos" girl. She loves her shoes and everyone else's. Her favorite shoes are her Sunday shoes because they make a tapping sound on the wood floor. Here she has put my tennis shoes on; and despite their bigness and being on the wrong feet, she did a great job walking.
The afternoon/evening was getting long - as they tend to do sometimes - so we decided to have a nail painting party. I thought I would get to paint their nails and mine, but as you can see it didn't end up that way at all. Little Mr. Ian and Ms. Sol wanted to do it all, ALL BY THEMSELVES! Needless to say, a week later, there is STILL nail polish on them that refuses to come off. That would be because there were about 5-7 layers put on, with varying colors.

Sol is very proud of her nail painting.