Beach day!

We spent Memorial Day weekend down with my parents and had a wonderful and relaxing time. We went down to Fort Macon beach on Saturday morning and the kids had a blast! We didn't take any pictures down on the beach because the wind was blowing enough sand around that David didn't want to bring out the camera. Joshua and Leah loved running up and down the beach and playing in the shallow water while holding our hands (the current was pretty strong, so we made sure to stay close together and hold hands). We got to see the Coast Guard plane fly really low and close a few times as they were surveying the water to make sure everyone was safe, and the kids thought that was pretty cool too.

When we were done down on the beach, we came up to the pavilion for snack time and David snapped a few pictures of the kids.

Usually I have to ask Joshua to hold my hand, but I think he knew that the water was a little stronger than usual, because whenever he wanted to go back in the waves, he would walk up to David or me and put his hand into ours...it is the little things that melt a momma's heart :)

This picture is 100% Leah! Squinty-eyed smile, dimples, mouth full of food...and sassy written all over her face. I love it!

Joshua's First Primary Talk

We found out a few weeks ago that Joshua would be giving his first talk in Primary on May 20, and he had been assigned the topic of "The Holy Ghost Helps Me." He's seen lots of other kids get up and share a scripture, give the opening prayer, and give talks, and I think he's always been intrigued by the microphone :) But I also know that he can get extremely nervous and overwhelmed in front of large groups, especially if he is the center of attention. So he and I worked together to prepare his talk early so he'd have a couple of weeks to practice and prepare for it. Here is the text that we came up with:

Each of us can receive help from the Holy Ghost. When we are scared, He can help us feel safe. When we need to know what to do, He can help us make the right choice. He helps us know the truth, and He helps us feel Heavenly Father's love. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

At least once each day over the last two weeks, we'd sit down and read his talk together, and then Joshua would read it to me. As the days went by, he got more excited and read it with more inflection. He was so proud of himself each time and seemed to be getting over the nervousness of sharing it in front of the Primary class (at first when I told him that he'd be doing this in Primary, he'd say, "No...I think I'll just do it at home for Mommy"). I told him that I would be there to help him, and that Daddy and Grandma (who was already planning to be in town for a concert and spending the weekend with us) would be there to see him too.

The big day finally came and Joshua looked so handsome all dressed up for church. When Leah had finally had enough of Sacrament meeting (which doesn't take long these days!), we went into the Primary room so Joshua could practice standing at the podium and giving his talk into the microphone. By this time, he'd read his talk enough that he had it memorized and was quite the ham in giving it to Grandma and Daddy :) I think this helped calm a lot of his fear and showed him that he could do this! When it was time for him to get up and share his talk in front of all the Junior Primary kids and teachers, though, I could sense his intimidation and see a little fear creep into his eyes. As I was helping him stand on the chair behind the podium, he asked if I could give the talk instead. I smiled, reminded him of how hard he had worked, and encouraged him that he could do it. He held onto the microphone with one hand and he gave that talk all by himself! Granted, he said it a little more quickly than he'd practiced and looked at me instead of the class for about half of it, but he DID it and I was so, so, SO proud of him! He conquered a big fear and did such a good job.

I honestly don't have the right words to express how much I love this sweet boy. He loves to learn and he loves to please, and I know that what he did today was not super-easy for him, which makes me all the more proud of what a great job he did. I am so grateful and humbled to have been entrusted with this amazing child and to have been given the blessing of being his mother. I am also grateful for the testimony that he is building, even at a young age, of the love that Heavenly Father has for him and for the help he can receive from the Holy Ghost. What a wonderful learning experience for my little man! :)

Any resemblance?

I've had a number of people ask me recently why I think Leah's hair is so light and wavy when mine is so dark and curly. I've told them that my hair looked just like Leah's at her age, and then sometime before age 4-5, it got really dark and really curly. I've gotten that "sure...if you say so" look from them, so here's a little photographic evidence for you.

Picture of me circa 1982

Picture of Leah at about the same age

Now, if you don't see some similarities there, I don't know what to tell you. My sassy little mini-me :)