Lilja's first day of kindergarten

It feels like yesterday when I had that little peanut in my arms .. so helpless and tiny.. now I watch her walk into her school with a backpack as big as she is.. and she is on her own.. deciding which friends to play with, what food to eat from her lunch.. deciding to color or to play with the blocks and deciding to listen to the teacher.. all out of my control !' Such a strange feeling for a mom that likes to be in control ..it looks like we are doing a goid job so far as she is coming home with "excellent " tickets and she seems to be enjoying going to school. Here's to the next 18 years of school !!

Lilja had a great first day of school. Little white face when we picked her up.. but she had fun! So glad my parents could experience this day with her .

Lilja standing in line to go into class . Lots of structure this early morning .  But she did great !

We are both so proud of lilja !! 

Lilja was glad she saw het friend violet at her school

The night before school she git a bag of sprinkles and a poem .. so cute.. and yes it worked .

The night before school lilja shot her bow by herself for the first time.. wow, how some of these developments just jump by leap and bounds 

Snuggles with oma

The weekend before school started , my uncle eddy came and visited us and out oarents. We ended up at villecito lake for the morning. Here is my friend robin with lilja on a paddlebiatd.. they went ver far, and lilja loved it !!

Aran tried to paddle board, but the board was fir a little person.. Robin is 5'3".. yes, he fell in !!

Lilja's first true s'more !! 

And mom is just relaxing until the storm came .. where is mom ?? In the car !! 

Our favorite past time 

Oma and opa also enjoyed a little paddling . They loved it !!

Lilja is such a water girl and actually just a true nature girl.. 

Lilja and oma and opa 

Uncle eddy.. my mom's youngest brother came and visited us for a couple if days .. a volleyball practise  was in store for lilja 

And some monkey in the middle with oma and opa .. who had more fun ?? Not sure..

opa and oma are here ..take three

Ok, feeling a lot better, but still can't do some fun stuff .. luckily aran is up for carnival rides, oma is up for hot tubbing and opa is up for lilja on his lap .and both of them are playing "monkey in the middle" every night with lilja before bed. One more week and I will be getting the go ahead for normal snuggles, running and playing.. I hope. We are having such a great time with opa and oma here. This last week we visited the county fair and house sat for the beautiful ranch and dog sat Leon, Barney and Maynard .

Went to the mall in farmington today that had some bouncy house to play in.. lilja just jumped and jumped and slid..

Monkey in the middle is the new game before bed .. they get very competitive 

Over their head or through their legs..all tricks are being used by a 5 year old  

Very serious face to master riding her bike 

Look at her little face  . So serious !! But she got it !! Still needs to practise starting and stopping a bit.. but she got it !!

Daddy on his new bike !

The county fair was fun, a very Amari can barbeque cook off was a highlight ..

Lilja got het thrill fir speed from her daddy .  She loved this rocket .. 

Snuggles with oma and the red balloon

Boring !! Apparently

Trying to get a glimpse of the car derby.. 

Lilja loves animals !! Not afraid to come in and pet a sweet little calf

This ride went higher and higher .. also faster and faster 

House sitting and dog sitting has it's perks.. one of them being the hit tub.. Oma and lilja had a blast .. wish I could have joined them 

Another perk, new books , for older kids.. and time with opa 

Starting to look like a kindergartener?

And fresh eggs each morning ..

Love this running girl in motion 

Going to get the eggs, love that my parents still hold hands after 50 years of marriage !!

opa and opa take two

So it is now 4 weeks since my surgery. I can finally say I feel good, even though my tummy will let me know once in a while that I have done a little too much. Last week, my parents moved to the house next door for the rest of the time , to give us some space.. I find myself walking over there by myself, missing the spontaneous talks and laughs ..lilja, the first day, walked over there in the morning while I was in the shower, scaring me for two seconds when i could not find her.then reality sunk in and i walked up next door .. the look on my mom's face was priceless .." yes, she just came over by herself.."..rules were set...
I started walking the dogs again, but dad has been with me and is working with the new dog Leon. By the time my parents are leaving , leon will be a dream to work with. Plus these walks are a nice one on one with my dad. Mom has been sewing up a storm. We got a new king size bed and furniture so pillows are being made so my bedroom looks fresh and new. I can just say what an amazing time we are having .. makes me wish they were here all the time !!

Every night we play a game like monopoly or uno or we do a puzzles with the whole family. Tonight was puzzle time ..

Daddy running next to lilja riding her bike without training wheels. She is doing great .. just needs to practise starting and using her breaks when she gets out of control. One time she tran into a tomb stone.. we thanks "melvin" for stopping her 

Oma in heaven !!

The three girls !!

Lilja took this picture.. I had to put muffin in the photo 

Oma wanted a picture of the two of us 

Muffin the cat had to come with us to the animated orchestra.. beautiful classical music made by an orchestra that follows a story of a ferret in a music store. Very fun and inventive . 

Oma and lilja...best buddies, plus muffin