Gettysburg

Last weekend Karla took her first trip to Gettysburg with Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, Pap-Pap, Tio Kevin, and Kathy. Her favorite parts of the trip were climbing on the rocks at Devil's Den and going up in the "castle" on Little Round Top. She got tons of Grammy and Pap-Pap time and she loved it! I had a good time too because I got lots of adult conversation! One day Karla went swimming at the hotel pool with her grandparents (for 2 1/2 hours!!!) while Jason and I got to go with Kevin and Kathy on a battlefield tour.



Click here for more pictures from the trip.

Violin

Shortly after learning the English language, Karla expressed an interest in playing the violin. She has talked about it for the past 2 1/2 years. I don't know where the interest came from! I don't have any experience with string instruments and neither does Jason.

Over the summer I had been doing some research and making lots of calls to various people about a 4 year old taking violin lessons. It isn't that common but I found a place that does a free trial lesson. At the end of summer we went to the trial violin lesson. It went really well and Karla was still interested. We explained she'd have to practice, etc. Well, last Wednesday she had her first official lesson. She has a male teacher and was pretty quiet and shy with him but did everything he asked her to do. I wasn't sure if she was getting everything he was telling her or not. Anyway, when we got home that evening, she practiced. I couldn't believe it - she remembered and did exactly what she was supposed to for homework! She even "plucked" more loudly and confidently. She won't get to use the bow for a while. Jason had a late meeting Wednesday so he hadn't gotten to see her after her lesson. Thursday morning when she woke up, the first thing she did was show him her violin and what she had learned at her lesson! When he got home Thursday night she gave us a "concert" and then taught each of us how to pluck "Mary Had A Little Lamb." I'm hoping the enthusiasm continues!

Here she is playing for Grandpa.

Looking at her homework.

Teaching Grandma to play.

New Carpet!

We got new carpet throughout the house last week!

Karla makes a "carpet angel."



Karla enjoying our new carpet.

Special Person of the Day

Today Karla was the "Special Person of the Day" in her class. She got to sit in a special spot, be a line leader, and bring something from home to show her class. Ever since the first day of school she knew what she was going to take when it was her turn to be the special person - Oso. From what she told me I think it went well. She told me before class that she was excited and kind of nervous. She told the class that her parents gave her Oso when she was a baby in Guatemala. She showed them his magnetic hands and how he can be a bracelet on her wrist. She also told them that "oso" means "bear" in Spanish. I really wish I could have been a fly on the wall!!!

Here is a picture of Karla this past weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Aidan is in the background.

These two pictures are from a few weekends ago. Two little princesses.

Akron Marathon Relay

This picture was taken shortly before the 7am start of the race. Eric started us off, then Dad, then Rachel, then me, and then a coworker of Eric's. We missed Kevin this year - unfortunately he was sick. Jason and I have been spectator's for several years and finally this year I participated! It was fun! Can't wait to do it again next year.
THE TEAM (minus one). Rachel, me, Dad, Eric.


During the marathon there is a Kids Fun Run. Karla watched her cousins run last year. She got to run this year with her Daddy close behind. Audra and Tio Eric ran with them too. Eric starts the marathon relay and then goes and runs the kids 1 mile run. :) Jason said that Karla ran the entire mile without stopping. She was very proud of herself and told me all about it later. She got a shirt and a medal she really enjoys showing off.



Karla and Audra with Zippy.

Unfortunately Karla and Jason didn't make it to see me finish my leg of the race. They tried but got there about 15 minutes after I was done. BUT my mom was there! She was the first spectator near the end of my run (it was through a park so there weren't places for spectators to watch). It was a memorable moment. We were pretty happy to see each other! I was just thinking about how hard this was, then I saw her, perked right up and finished strong! Dad was there at the relay point with our last relay team member so we could find each other (we'd never met before). So it was a great end to my run. Our whole team did really well, in my opinion. :) We were in it to have fun - and I think we succeeded.

Update

Karla is LOVING preschool. She has really hit it off with one of the girls in her class and she's already invited to two upcoming birthday parties. The first few days I picked her up she was visibly disappointed to see me. I think she heard me tell enough people that, that now she makes a production of being disappointed to see me and having to go home. I am truly glad that she loves school so much. Jason and I enjoy hearing her talk about things she has learned...when she is in the mood to tell us.

Today is the first day I haven't had an appointment or tried to cram a lot of things into the time she is in preschool. The first two days of her going to school were hard for me but I am totally adjusted now. :)

Here are some pictures I uploaded a few weeks ago.

Karla enjoying our last visit to the pool.



Karla standing proudly beside her new fish Nemo. We did get a new fish the day after her first fish died. We encouraged her to get a Beta fish b/c they are easy to take care of and usually live a long time. She had fun picking him out. She wanted to name this one Nemo too. Almost every night when we go in her room she says "Nemo is still alive! I thought he might be dead." She's thankful everyday that he is still alive. I'll have to get a better picture...one where you can actually see Nemo.

Pumping!

Karla pumped her legs on the swing for the first time today. She has tried all summer but finally got the coordination today. She pumped for 40 minutes straight! She talked and giggled the entire time too! It was great...I got a chair and sat in front of her swing and just listened and watched. It was a beautiful sunny day and we spent a few hours outside playing together this morning.

Karla has been wanting to have "makeovers" for a while so we finally did it this afternoon. Here is a picture of her with her make-up. I didn't take a picture of what I looked like when she was done with me. :) Even though Oso is with us a lot less (doesn't even always make it into the car when we go places!) he had to get in this picture.