1. I love spending time with my family (and friends but that might have moved her list to four things so we'll combine)

2. I love to dance

3. I love to hula hoop

Sweet girl. Isn't it the simple things in life that our kids really crave. All the toys, games, activities don't really matter all that much. In the end, they just want time together as a family doing some things they love. I can't get enough of our play time this summer. I feel like school is creeping up on us and I want to enjoy these last few weeks together all day. What a precious summer schedule...nothing but playing with friends and family. Perfect! We'll have a little dancing and hula hooping too to keep Haley happy.

P.S. If Evan made a list I am sure it would have said "I love Star Wars." Ever since a friend introduced it to him in preschool he is fairly obsessed. And really, he isn't cursing...he is just asking you to "fix my millennium fa com (falcon)" Jed can't resist asking him over and over...

A sweet friend from D.C. came in town and took these great pictures of our family. I did some design trade for her and she did some awesome pictures for us. What an awesome blessing to see her perspective behind the camera. Other than Evan doing crazy poses and moving at the speed of light it went great. It is always a small miracle when you go to get family photos that you get any pictures with your eyes open and everyone looking at the camera.

He had some great adventures but one of my favorite conversations happened with my Dad. Haley had been reading and sharing all kinds of facts with my mom and Evan went into the bedroom with my dad and mentioned that Haley sure was smart.

My dad told him that he was really smart too but she was just older and had been in school longer. He reassured Evan that after he was in Kindergarten he could read and do a lot of the things Haley could achieve.

Evan shook his head and replied, "I am in school too and it is just NOT working for me!"

Oh sweet Evan, you are still only 3. I know it seems that you should be able to do everything your big sister can do, but you have plenty of time to catch up. Your witty comments and snappy responses assure us that you are bright and will have no trouble doing all the same things as you get older...unless they ask you to sit still...we are not sure how that is going to work for you:)

One highlight for the kids is always going to the park with their grandparents. I remember Nomy and Granddad taking Shana and I to the park in Spearman and sliding down the rocket ship slide over and over. The park never gets old and is a wonderful place to build memories:)

My parents took Haley and Evan to the same park (but thankfully with an updated play ground) that I often play at as a child. Haley asked my mom to lift her up to do the monkey bars and my mom hesitated because Haley's feet were dangling about 4 feet above the ground. Haley insisted and my mom stayed right beside her being careful not to touch her (since a determined Haley was certain she did NOT need any assistance!).

My mom said that she did the first half of the monkey bars fairly effortlessly. Then, she started getting tired so she asked if Haley wanted to hop down. Haley said "no" then started talking to herself under her breath. Haley started saying to herself, "Haley...you can do it. I know you can do it Haley. Keep trying. You can do it!"

She motivated herself all the way across the monkey bars to the other side. Bebe said that she had never seen that kind of determination in a little girl. She knew she had it in her to do something that seemed a bit impossible for such a small girl.

Determination is important Haley Ann and being able to withstand the obstacles in life, overcoming them one bar at a time will get you far!