Riding a Bike

Kaylyn has tried a couple times over the years to ride a bike without training wheels. One of her best friends learned how to ride at least a year ago but even with encouragement from her, Kaylyn wasn't able to get her balance.

But this Spring, we determined this was the year!  Morgan wanted to try too.  So in April, we removed Kaylyn's training wheels and gave it a try.  Morgan wanted to ride too so she rode the same hill as Kaylyn, taking turns.

Some success was made as Kaylyn worked to balance herself down the hill beside our house.

And sometimes, she had to let Daddy catch her.

I love taking pictures, and I take a ton, just to get that ONE shot.  I didn't realize it at the time but this next shot I absolutely LOVE!

April 2012

The first week of summer break was also a week of vacation for Adam. I immediately announced that we had a goal - Kaylyn was going to learn to ride her bike.   She was not so confident.  We had Bike Rodeo for the cub scouts in just over a week and Kaylyn didn't believe it was possible for her to ride her bike.  Right after prayer for dinner, Kaylyn announced that during prayer she'd had a vision of herself riding her bike to Oklahoma, with Adam and I running behind her. 

So immediately after dinner, off we went to help her with her bike riding. 

 All it took was seeing herself ride her bike (in her mind) and then she was able to do it!

Sadly, this was not immediate.  First we had to go down the hill on the sidewalk practicing.  Somehow I missed those pictures - I was cheering.  And then when she got it, she forgot to use her foot brakes and the hand brake didn't work.  So being Mom, I "saved" her.  In the process, I flipped over her bike, crashing on the sidewalk.  It is now July and although I'm no longer in pain, my knee still shows my injury.  Kaylyn, though, landed in the grass without a scratch.

 After tending my wounds, I made her go back out and "get back on that horse".  And these last 4 pictures were the result - she can RIDE!

Swimming

It's been a while but here's what we've been up to the past 2 weeks....

Morgan practicing her back float - Day 1, with our friend Matthias watching

When Kaylyn was younger, we tried group swimming lessons a couple times.  The first time, Morgan was a baby and I sat on the side of the pool holding Morgan while Kaylyn had her lesson.  Then when Morgan was old enough for the Parent/Child class, we did it again.  Both of these times, Kaylyn was still in major sensory issue mode.  I know that she will have sensory issues for the rest of her life.  I know this because as we've helped Kaylyn, I've realized that some of my quirks are sensory issues.  I just assumed EVERYONE couldn't stand the feel of chalk and pushed through it - apparently that's not true.

Kaylyn on Day 1 with a kickboard

This year, we decided to try again.  I was a bit hopeful because of all that Kaylyn has accomplished this summer already - riding a bike being a big one.  Oh, have I not posted about that?  Guess that will be next.

As the class progressed, I got discouraged because neither girl was doing as well as I had hoped.  On the 5th of 6 classes, Kaylyn proved herself with the backstroke.  Yes!  I talked to her teacher asking if Kaylyn was going to pass Level 1.  The teacher said if she can put her face in the water for the freestyle.  If not, then no.  Kaylyn was discouraged.

Kaylyn - Day 2 - learning to Bob

Immediately after her bob - she really didn't like it.

Before the last class yesterday, I encouraged Kaylyn that if she wanted to pass Level 1, she HAD to put her face in the water.  She did it!  AND she jumped into the pool!  This is big, because normally she sits on the side and slips in, being careful that her face doesn't go under the water.

Morgan - Day 2 - "Timber" into back float

After class, I went with Kaylyn to get her "report card".  As the teacher handed it to me, she said that she had to write a new one because Kaylyn had accomplished those few things left to pass.  So we waited while a new report card was written.  Kaylyn is now ready for Level 2!

Morgan - Day 6 - jumping into the "deep"-er part

"What about Morgan?" you're asking.  Let me quote her report card "Morgan always listens and is so great to have in class."  Her teachers told me how impressed they were with her.  Why am I not gushing?  Because that's the normal for Morgan.  She is amazing kid.  I'm always commenting to Kaylyn that it's hard to be Morgan's sister, and I understand because it was hard growing up being Aunt Robbie's sister.  Sisters who are great at everything they try and are so popular with friends are not easy to be compared to.  But for both Kaylyn and I, they are our best friends!

Last class - Morgan going under for Ring Around the Rosies

Morgan definitely improved her swimming skills.  She can front float, and swim underwater.  She still needs to work on her freestyle and backstroke - swimming above the water, and treading water.  The teacher recommended that Morgan repeat the Preschool class if she takes the next session.  If we wait until next summer, she recommended signing Morgan up for Level 2 (with her sister).  Morgan is actually asking for Level 1 because she's confused why she doesn't have to take Level 1.

Kaylyn - Last class - freestyle swimming!

Kaylyn - Last Class - Backstroke

Last night, we used some free passes and headed to Chesterfield Family Center so that the girls could show off to Daddy what they had learned in swim lessons.  For the first time, Kaylyn CHOSE to go under the water park features that dump water on you.  What a summer!

Mr. Food's Vacation Giveaway

Earlier this year, Adam and I had a dreaming/goal planning session while driving to the Temple.  My friend Leslie calls this "windshield time", and with a 3 hr drive to the Temple, we can get a lot of dreaming done.  I wrote about it on my I'm THRIVing! blog.  But the biggest thing we walked away with is that we only have limited time with our chickadees at home so we want to make family vacations a priority.

Today, I discovered the Mr. Food Disney Vacation Contest and immediately entered.  I totally want to win this trip!  Go check it out!  But of course, I don't really want anyone else to enter because that will decrease my chances of winning :)

Kaylyn's dance at Texas Roadhouse

Kaylyn's class was asked to perform a line dance at Texas Roadhouse during a school fundraising night.  Of course, by the time we were seated and ordered, it was time for her to go practice and perform.  Adam and Morgan stayed at our table to eat and watch.
Here she is with classmates getting ready for the dance.

And the video of the dance....

After their performance, all the kids headed outside to see the fire truck that came (for a visit not because their services were needed).  Adam went with them so that I could eat my (semi-cold) dinner

Everyone came back in and we finished up our meals.  When we were ready to head home, the firemen were still in the parking lot so Morgan climbed in for a tour.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day!

Me with Mom

I am blessed with a wonderful mom who has taught me so many things and encourages me all the time. She is also an incredible grandmother to my girls and spoils them rotten and introduces them to experiences I never could on my own.

Can you believe this beautiful woman in 94?!

I have been blessed with a Nana (my maternal grandmother) who has always been a great example. I love that my daughters are building a relationship with her and carrying on the tradition of playing cards at Nana's.

My Mother-in-Law is an amazingly strong woman. She carries her burdens with ease because of her testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and her love of family. Her journaling encourages me to improve my own recording of our family.

Me and my sister

I have a sister who is also my best friend and 4 wonderful sisters-in-law who I treasure.

On top of all this, Heavenly Father has seen fit to put so many "sisters", friends, and extra "mothers" in my life. I am surrounded by examples that I try my best to emulate. Thank you to all of you for your examples, encouragement and love! You are my inspirations!  May you each have the Mother's Day you desire.

For those who may be struggling this day, my thoughts and prayers are with you. For so many years, I HATED Mother's Day. It was a reminder of all that I wished for and didn't have. I am so grateful for all the love and direction all the women in our lives give my daughters! You are a great influence on my children and I thank you for it!

Princess Naked Toes and Princess Smiles A Lot

 Finally, I must thank Princess Smiles-A-Lot and Princess Naked Toes.  You are my joy and my heart!  I am so grateful every day to be your mom!

A new Adventure for our family

I know that many of you are not on Facebook so this is how you keep up with our family.  I apologize for not doing a very good job over the past year.   I'm not going to promise regular posting to this blog but I'm going to try to do better. But here's one reason that I've been absent lately (doesn't excuse 2011 but this is my excuse for 2012).... I have become a Shelf Reliance Independent Consultant. I fell in love with Shelf Reliance's THRIVE Foods products last Fall and after a few months, decided to take that love and become an Independent Consultant.

As part of my business, I have launched a new blog that is highlighting how I am using Shelf Reliance in our home, particularly the freeze-dried foods. I'd love to have you join me at the I'm THRIVing! blog as well as here. This will continue to be where I post how I'm striving to be a Mother Who Knows and then there's the family blog which is almost as neglected as this one. The I'm THRIVing blog will be my go to blog for recipes as I try to utilize my food storage in everyday ways.

For the month of May, I am hosting a Dreaming Big Giveaway on the I'm THRIVing blog to celebrate it's launch. So head over and enter today!

If you're not familiar at all with Shelf Reliance, here's some basic information. To help achieve their mission to help others become more self-reliant, Shelf Reliance has three main product lines:

• THRIVE Foods. These are quality freeze dried and dehydrated foods, including meats and cheese. Many of these products have a 1-2 yr shelf life once opened, and 25 year shelf life unopened - and yet they taste amazing! My family has found many of the products to be delicious as a snack - and how can you complain when your kids are eating fruits, vegetables, and yogurt with no preservatives as their snack? In addition to the products, Shelf Reliance offers a Food Storage Planner to let you identify what foods and how much you would need to store for anywhere from 3 months to 24 months. You can place small individual orders, sign up for monthly shipments, or purchase everything you need/want in one large order.
• Food Rotation Systems. This includes the Cansolidator Cupboard which is the prize for my Giveaway. These systems help you by organzing the foods in your cupboard, pantry shelves or as standalone units. They work on a first-in, first-out basis, allowing you to see what you have in your shelves. This prevents you from buying food that you already have, and using up the oldest first before it expires.
• Emergency Kits and Supplies. I live in tornado country and we often have to take shelter when the storms are on their way. How nice it would be to grab a fully-stocked 72 hr kit and be able to provide for my family's needs during these disasters. Whether you need a pre-assembled 72 hr kit, supplies to update your personal kit, or alternate heat and cooking sources, Shelf Reliance can help! Like the Food Storage Planner, Shelf Reliance also offers an Emergency Kit Planner to help you identify what you need in your kit and you can specify the types of disasters you are wanting to be prepared for.

I have so many things I love about Shelf Reliance - their products, their mission, how they treat their Independent Consultants, and many more. But the last thing I want to share with you that is a great help to me is the Q Club option. My family set a goal to build up a home store in our home to help us be better prepared for the future (you can read our unemployment story here). We had great intent but it was very sporadic and we didn't make much progress. And then I discovered the Q program. First you use the Food Storage Planner to identify what you want in your home store. Second you sign up for the Q, which are monthly shipments of the items in your plan, and YOU set the budget. The shipments can be automatic or you can adjust them each month to take advantage of what's on special. In addition by being a Platinum Q Club member (free if you sign up for a $100+ monthly Q), you also can take advantage of a special Q-Pon. May's special is Black Beans.