Alice in June

Alice’s intense separation anxiety has returned. I’m hoping it is from the stress of moving and that it will subside soon because June has been a month of me pretty much not being able to leave her sight. Unfortunately June was also Alice’s first month in nursery. I teach in primary so I can’t stay with her so Bryan has been staying in nursery with her. Even with Bryan there she cries for a while when I leave her but I think she’s making progress. A week ago it was Bryan’s turn to teach in YMs so he had to leave her for the last hour and she stood at the barricade in front of the door and cried and cried till she fell asleep standing up. Our friend took these pictures of her:The nursery leaders laid her downI know this is really sad, but I just can’t help laughing when I look at these pictures. Oh Alice. I love Alice and I snuggle her every chance I get and give her extra long hugs and snuggles before bedtime. Bryan either calls her “hippo baby” because she’s on my hip or “barnacle baby.” I love her for wanting to be with me every second of the day but I do hope she’ll be able to enjoy nursery all on her own soon.

Norah in June

Norah gave her first talk in primary this month.

and then she used it against us! Bryan found a place on the carpet where she had colored with marker and asked her if she knew anything about it and she said “Dad, remember my talk a few weeks ago? Remember how little children are innocent and learning right from wrong?”

Courtney Visits Dallas

Tomorrow, Bryan’s little sister Courtney embarks on her 18 month mission to Brazil. She volunteered to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints back in February and has been eagerly awaiting her June 18th start date since. Courtney will spend her first 6 weeks in Sao Paolo studying Portuguese and then continue on to Joao Pessoa where she will teach the gospel. We will miss Courtney but we are so excited for her and also grateful for her example of service. Norah and Alice now have a missionary aunt to look up to and I look forward to sharing Courtney’s pictures and stories with them while she’s away.

In honor of Courtney I’m finally going to post pictures of her trip to Dallas (May 17th – May 21st). It was wonderful to see and enjoy her company. Norah still talks about taking Courtney to primary and how we sang the hello song to her and told everyone she was going on a mission. She’s already very proud of her aunt.

We went swimming at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles’ pool. Bryan asked me to inquire about joining the fraternity and Courtney and I listened to a description of the very rigorous application process. When the lady explained that Bryan’s best bet would be to start hanging out at the bar a lot until he befriended some members willing to sponsor him we determined that Bryan was not going to qualify.Courtney was here for Norah’s preschool Carnival and end of year performance. It was sooooooo hot but also adorable. It was fun to share that experience with Courtney.Since Courtney is headed to Brazil we decided to introduce her to the Dallas’s own rainforest inside the world aquariumOn another extremely hot day we took Courtney to the ArboretumI’ve probably been to the arboretum close to 50 times yet somehow I had never seen this little corner before. We explored it with Courtney and called it the secret garden. Courtney didn’t want me to take this picture of her because we were all so hot and sweaty but her hair is just so pretty I couldn’t resist

Alice and Norah In Wonderland

I love the Dallas Arboretum! We visited Wonderland with friends and had a great time.