What's going on with the gals

Micheala:

Micheala is really into the outdoors. Wonder where she gets that? Just the other day, after dropping Dylanne off at school, she asked me if we could go fishing. This was such a proud moment for me, unfortunately it was raining, so we couldn't go. I have been sneaking Micheala out to Palo after we drop Dylanne off at school and fishing a bit in the morning. Micheala enjoys touching the fish and wants all of them to be her pets. Micheala also loves bugs and any insects. Our neighbor bought her a butterfly house to "grow" butterflies. So we ordered the caterpillars and are now watching them grow. She is so excited. Micheala is a lot like me as far as a complexion goes. She has to be careful out in the sun, so she is constantly lubricated in sun screen, which drives her nuts. She likes to swing, swim, drive her truck and ride her bike. Micheala is getting real close to potty trained. She makes the choice to wear diapers or big girl underwear in the morning. She's done real well with the big girl underwear, but is definitely taking her time making the complete change over to big girl underwear. Heather and I chose not to pressure her, as she initiated the wearing of the big girl underwear.


This is the cup in which her caterpillars are growing. Once they get to the right stage, we can move them to the butterfly house. Dylanne's class does the same project, so Dylanne has been teaching Micheala about the different stages of caterpillars becoming butterflies.

Here is the little renegade on her bike. Although she rides pretty good, she has some wipe outs. She then thinks she needs to cover herself in band-aids.

Dylanne:

Dylanne is just about finished with pre-school. One more week and it's vacation time. Honestly, Dylanne has been a bit on the "diva" side lately. Heather and I find that she is quite defiant at times and requires intervention from us in many circumstances. Dylanne and Micheala are hit and miss with their relationship. They either play really well together or fight like crazed animals. Dylanne has recently started riding her bike without training wheels and had to get a bigger bike. She was so excited to pick out her new bike and is still a little intimidated about riding it without training wheels. However, she does a great job and only time will conquer her fears. Dylanne likes to play outside, but is not an outdoors person. She would much rather play house with the numerous babies that she mothers. Dylanne is very attached to Heather and I. She doesn't like when either of us have to leave for work and is usually within 10 feet of us at all times. Regardless of her attitude problems at times, we are very proud of her. Last night she said that she wished Grandma Brenda was still alive so that she could call and tell her she could ride her bike without training wheels. Having a psychology degree, I can't help but wonder if Brenda's death has something to do with her recent defiance.


No more training wheels! Dylanne on her new bike. She is also sporting the matching helmet, knee and arm pads.

She is so proud of herself! What a way to kick off the summer. You go girl!

Heather and I are starting to get back into the swing of life again. We have focused a lot of our free time on helping Heather's god daughter, Ally, with her recent cancer diagnosis. It has really given us a different perspective on life. Every time we think that things are tough, we think of Ally, and realize that if a 9 year old can battle cancer with the amount of courage and determination that she is, then we can get through anything that life throws our way.