Joyful, Joyful

Back in January, John and I attended a parenting class at church that talked about bringing God into your home, first and foremost.  Our class, geared specifically for toddler-aged parents, focused on the Fruits of the Spirit.  To that end, in February we talked about LOVE (Tanner now tells me, "Mommy, crying and being bad is not showing God's Love."  She is reminded of this during her tantrums but usually chooses  speak that sentiment when Ellery is in the midst of one.....what is the fruit of the spirit that doesn't judge??? :) 

Anyways, March is JOY.  And let me tell you, I can think of no greater JOY than the last two days of beautiful Colorado sunshine!  We took advantage of both days, with more outdoor activities planned for this beautiful-looking weekend.

As soon as we woke up yesterday and Tanner saw it was sunny outside, she started putting her requests for the park in - as in, "Mommy, I'm picking up my toys nicely.  Maybe we could go to the park?"  Or, "Mommy, I'm being a very good girl, can we go to the park today?"  (She's got the "subtle hint" down)

Tanner wanted to run the whole way to the park.
And so she did.  The WHOLE way.
It made for a very fine nap time :)

Ellery's first trip to the park where she can really PLAY!

And play she did.

She walked all over that park!

And she had such fun!

 Tanner's adventures included lots of things "brave."  She was very into being brave (and occasionally scaring her mother :)

Last time we went to the park, Tanner was SOOOO afraid of
walking across these alone.
This time, she was an old pro.  What gives?

"Mommy!  Take a picture of me being brave!"
This wasn't the one that made my heart jump -  
nearly falling off the fireman's pole did that. 
Obviously I didn't get that shot.

At the top of the seesaw = a good thigh workout for Mom :)

"Swing me so high I touch the clouds and the sun.  PLLLLEEEEEEZE Momma!?!?!?"

She actually jumped from that rock to the one on the left -  
another maneuver that made my heart skip.
(I'm used to girls, not rowdy boys! :)

Tanner's bravery continued into today, when she flipped over the bars at gymnastics on her own and also jumped into the foam block pit by herself - both things she had never done before (her coach even told me after class how good she did today!)  She continued her bravery by performing the following feat:

And that must've been all the bravery she could muster, because tonight she's scared to death about leprechauns.  Swings, slides, and fireman's poles?  No big deal.  Little men dressed in green who might be naughty at our house?  Terrifying.  But I digress...

Today, Ellery continued her outdoor adventures and, for the first time, got to "play" in the backyard. 

The sandbox is always the big ticket item.

Tanner made sand slippers for her feet since I wouldn't
let her wear her shoes outside today :)

GROSS!

Can you see all the sand she dumped on herself?
I literally had to Dustbuster out her crib tonight.

As I mentioned earlier, Tanner and I had a little scuffle about shoes today - she wanted to wear them, and I didn't want to bother finding appropriate play shoes.  Besides, it was sunny and beautiful out - who needs shoes?

Tanner's first stop once we came inside.
I came in to find my bathroom a sandy, muddy mess! :)

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I actually wrote this last Thursday but am just posting it now due to some technical difficulties (the movies and blogspot were NOT cooperating - leave it to John to fix it :)  Enjoy the post - more soon! :)