Day's end...

We had a great time together on Labor Day.  Even went to the school playground after dinner.  Shot this on the way home...Two tired little girls, but I think they had fun.  I know I did!  Shot for week 36 of the 52 Week Project.  Theme was "After 5 p.m."

I is for Independent...

But once in a while, even stinkers cooperate!  We tried like crazy to get a photo of her with her daddy.  Once we got outside, all she wanted to do was "walk, walk, walk, walk".  Methinks Christmas photos might be a challenge this year!  lol.  Oh well...I brought out the hat just to see if it still fits, and Abigail was very happy about it.  She LOVES hats....so she played on the low windowsill putting it on and taking it off and I grabbed my shot in between.  Haven't processed them yet, but think I got a few cute ones of her playing too.  She was in rare form that day....BIG temper tantrum at dinner.  But you'd never believe it to look at that sweet face would you?

Be happy, be yourself...

Shot for week 36 of the 52 week project.  Theme was "Unconventional".  I love the smell of coffee, but really prefer tea (especially a good Chai).  A little unconventional in a world where there is a Starbucks on every corner. 

Serendipity...

She fell down in the grass and decided it felt soft, so she was content to lay there for a minute.  An angel in her fairy wings...

Fish in training...

Hannah loved her lessons with Miss Julia and seemed to really respond well to one on one.  We've decided that it's a lot for a 3 year old to process tho'....the multitasking of blowing bubbles, kicking legs, keeping face down in water, and pulling with arms.  She was only ever able to remember 2 things at once.  lol
  

The hardest part for her was closing her mouth to LISTEN.  Ha ha!  Miss Julia had to repeat several things, because Hannah was busy blowing bubbles or (ahem)...talking.  :)  Here Julia is explaining about how to push off the edge to float.
 

Hannah learned about blowing up a "balloon in her belly" and laying really still to float.  She even floated for a few seconds by herself, but still has a hard time remembering that floating means being still while tummy swimming means kicking and reaching.

Proof that she actually went under the water.  My favorite moment was after 2 weeks of refusing to jump off the steps without holding her teacher's hand.  She finally decided to do it and went all the way under water.  She came up saying, "I'm so proud, I'm going to do that again."  So we let her.  When Julia stood closeby with arms reached out, Hannah said "Back up a little."  Ha ha!  So Julia took one step back.  Then Hannah said, "No, go all the way to the other side of the pool."  Ha ha ha ha.....There were 4 adults out there who were quick to explain that she is not ready to swim all the way across the pool yet, but I love that her confidence is building.  Now we need to be extra vigilant when we watch her!

A spontaneous hug for her sweet teacher.  We hope Julia can teach her again at the beginning of next summer!

Busy...

Week 33 of the 52 week project...out of order and 2 weeks late.  Ha ha. Theme was "Busy".  This was her first time to cut with scissors.  We really thought she would get terribly frustrated.  In fact, we prepped her with all kinds of talk about how we don't always get the hang of new things the first time we try them.  She loves reading the Little Engine That Could...so we've been talking a lot about "I think I can, I think I can."  Well...guess what!  She really COULD and without too much coaching.  Granted, some of the paper was more torn than cut and she doesn't have too much control yet, but she was VERY proud of herself for her little scraps of paper.  And so were we!  I love watching her learn new things!

Raindrops were falling on her head...

Not sure exactly what was bothering her, but suspect it was the water in her eyes.  I finally showed her how to run under the arcs of water, trying not to get wet and she played happily after that. 

I had street clothes on and had to drive home soaking wet.  But I would do it again to help Hannah play and have a little fun.  We'll try again next year...  :)