Summer Sunshine

Summer is our little ray of sunshine, only interrupted periodically by Summer the storm cloud. Here are a few things that she is doing/saying lately.

1. Summer tells Anders "Bye, honey" whenever we go somewhere. She learned that one from me.
2. She also says "Oh gosh, it's a mess." Yep, learned that one from me, too.

3. Our bedtime routine consists of putting on her PJ's, brushing her teeth, rough housing with daddy (if we have time), reading some stories, family prayer, kisses for Anders and Ellen, rocking and singing some songs with me, and then into bed. Once she is in bed, she likes to have her bunny and bear with her and the fan turned on. After that, Anders comes in to give her a tickle and one last goodnight.  It sounds like a lot, but once we're done with stories, it only takes about 5 minutes to get the door closed in her bedroom. Summer likes her routine-and she lets us know if it's not going as planned.

4. Summer loves to read-and we have started taking trips to the library. She will sit on the kid chairs and read books while I find new ones to take home. She also has started reading books at home on her own and will tell me the story of the books as she flips through the pages.

5. Summer also often says "Goodness!" This is another one from me...
6. "Be Nice!" said with an attitude is a common phrase heard at our house. It started soon before Ellen was born and has continued. Summer often says it to people if they get too close to her, say something she doesn't like, or do something she doesn't like.
7. Summer likes to wear my shoes-especially my heels. She tromps around them in the morning while I'm getting ready for the day.

8. Summer loves nursery! She gets very excited to go to church because she knows she gets to go to nursery.

9. She likes to sing. Current favorites are "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," "I am a Child of God,"  "The ABC'S," and "Give said the Little Stream." I will often hear her singing her version of one of these. She can sing the first three all the way through on her own. She also will sing along with the songs we listen to on the radio in the car.

10. Summer is really starting to like to do artwork. She likes to play with Play-Doh, color (especially with markers...which is not my favorite), and she likes to paint with water colors.

11. Summer has a cheesy smile that she gives whenever you tell her to smile. She often won't even look at the camera, but will still give her cheesy smile to whatever she is currently looking at.

 

12. She is very independent at the playground. She will go down the big slides on her own and climb up most any of the equipment.

13. Summer loves animals. We took a trip to the zoo a couple of weeks ago and she is still talking all about it.
14. Summer is my little helper. She loves to help in any way possible-laundry, dishes, emptying dishwasher, making my bed-she likes to help.

15. Summer has begun to use her imagination. I have heard her talking to her stuffed animals and she does a lot more pretend play than she ever has. 

 And here are a couple of pictures of Ellen just because she's cute!