New Beginnngs

Sadie started preschool today!  It was rainy so we didn't get a picture outside the preschool.

Sadie, and her friend Sadie

Since Sadie was starting something new today, I decided to try something I've been resisting for years...Facebook.  Yep, I'm tired of slow Blogger and I'm realizing that if you want to know the latest and greatest about your friends and family, you really have to be on Facebook.  I don't know what I'm doing but hopefully I'll learn and we can be friends :)

Family Charades

Yesterday was a grey, drizzly day so we laid around a lot.  By evening we were looking for something a little more active, so we thought we'd try playing Charades.  Everyone had to come up with their own ideas (we helped Sadie some times) and then as you act it out, anyone can yell out the answer.

It was a lot of fun.  We did grocery shopping, peeling and eating a banana, riding the bus to school, frying an egg, etc...  The one that stumped us most was when Sadie laid flat on the floor and didn't move.  After breaking the rules and asking some 'yes','no' questions we finally figured it out!  She was acting out 'carpet'.  I don't recommend that one for your family charades night :)

My narrow child and her friend Sadie

I love it when kids are learning new words and they get them all mixed up.  The other day Sadie came to me and said "Mommy, I am being very narrow."  I wasn't sure what she was talking about, but usually I don't associate 'Sadie' with 'narrow'.
Later on she surprised me by cleaning up her room very well without being asked.   After showing me her fine job she asked "Mommy, aren't I being narrow?"  After probing a little bit I realized what she meant to say was "Aren't I being thorough?"

 Sadie is super-duper, over-the-top excited about starting preschool next week.  On Monday we went to see her classroom and meet her teacher.  It all looks wonderful and very fun.  When we looked at all the name tags we were surprised to see another Sadie in the class.  (so much for trying to pick uncommon names).  The other Sadie was there meeting the teacher too, so we met her and the 2 Sadie's played together for a little while.  Now Sadie is even MORE excited about preschool because she has a friend...but she keeps forgetting her name.  Seriously.  She keeps calling her Grace.  She'll have to get more 'narrow' about that.

2nd Grade

Today is Noelle's first day of 2nd grade.  She was very excited to start and that makes it great for all of us.

Deep Creek Lake Vacation 2011

 The Spence Family on their annual lake vacation.  From Left to right:  'Great' Judy, Dave, Noah, Elizabeth, Ethan, Janelle, Sadie, Brad, Noelle, 'Grandma/Mom' and 'Grandpa/Dad'

 Sweet, sisterly moment (still working on some teeth for Noelle :)

 The 4 cousins (next year there will be another baby boy cousin!)

 fireworks one night

 water balloon fight one evening

 a flower picking walk one afternoon

 on the flower picking walk

 boating and tubing

Brad and Noelle

 Grandpa with Sadie and Noelle

 a little visitor for Sadie

 a trip up a chairlift to wonderful mountain views

 Grandma and Sadie

 The kids with their 'binoculars' made from toilet paper rolls

 cooling off in the lake