I have been pulling weeds a lot in the evenings the past few days, and Sara has been helping. Yesterday she was using my hand weeder and said she was "digging for China." Not sure where she got that from! Probably this show. But now we don't go out to pull weeds anymore; we go out to dig for China!

Just a few things about Sara I want to jot down so I don't forget them in 20 years.

I love:

• when she calls me Mama instead of Mommy. (or Papa for Daddy)
• that she says, "I so love you."
• how "I wanna hold you Mama" means "pick me up."
• that movie = oofie, as in "I wanna watch a oofie Mommy."
• when she says something she thinks is funny, and then makes a cute shrugged shouldered, squinty eyed, head titled back, short puffs of inhaled air, open mouthed laugh.
• the face she makes when she is excited about something, or when she thinks something is silly. (wide eyes with big open mouth / wide eyes with tight 'o' shaped mouth)
• how she shakes her hips when she dances.
• when she makes her soft-singing face (dreamy, heavy-lid eyes).
• that she runs everywhere she goes.
• how she gets excited over the tiniest things.
• how caring and empathetic she is (she is very concerned when someone gets an owie).
• that she is starting to make up her own words to familiar tunes (just like her Mama!).
• that she loves rocks and collects them everywhere she goes.
• how she always wants to "help" with whatever I'm doing, or she wants to do it herself.
• how expressive her eyebrows are!
• her mean face (is it wrong to think it is adorable?!)
• that she is starting to speak in surprisingly complex sentences.
• how "thanks" and "thank you" = "ganks" and "gait you"
• when we give her something new, how she gasps and says, "Wow! Oh WOW! Gait you Mommy!"
• that she (usually) wakes up happy. Before switching to a toddler bed she would wake up and just play/sing to herself for at least a half-hour before wanting to get out of the crib.
• how she loves her cousins and friends and is starting to play really well with them (although she still needs frequent reminders to play nice and to share!)
• her sweet little voice.
• when she makes her lovey face (squinty eyes, closed-lip smile, head tilted to the side) and gives me a hug (usually accompanied by "I so love you Mama.")
• and much much much more!

We got all the Hinckley grandkids together a few weeks ago for a photoshoot in my in-law's backyard. Rob's sister-in-law took the photos. Here are two of my faves with all the grandkids.



We also got a few snapshots of our little fam.

As most of you saw on Facebook already, Rob graduated from Westminster College with is MBA on Saturday. Yay! Three years and lots of night classes later, he is finally done!




 



A special thanks to everyone who came to any and/or all of the many graduation events. And WAY TO GO ROB! We're so proud of you!