No better way to wrap up a Monday!

We couldn't get to the pool fast enough this evening!

We are so impressed with how well the little Monkey is doing walking around the pool and she has such a great time being in the water.

She also enjoys watching everybody...nosey little thing!

Check out Monkey's hair...her teacher was having an 80's flashback.

(our camera was at home - my poor little BlackBerry had to capture this moment for us)

It's really all about the sticker

Addie was more than happy to go with us to vote.

All she knew was that she was required to ride in the car... sit quietly (and crooked) in her stroller...

and then steal any sticker within her reach.

She played with that sticker all night long...

and each and every time I asked her if we went and voted, she would respond back to me by saying, "vote" and nodding her head.

Julien update

Julien sent me a text last night telling me that he was having "flu like symptoms", but that he insists that he doesn't need to go to the doctor.

It is miserable being sick, but being sick while on vacation is even worse!

They have left Utah and are back in Colorado, so I think the majority of the traveling is over except for the trip back home.

Thank you for continuing to pray for him!

Shoes, shoes, shoes!

Monkey is the official shoe getter and obtained that position with no effort on my part.

She nominated herself, seconded the motion and then went on to approve and pass the motion.

I don't know what it is, but any time she knows that we are getting ready to leave, she will start bringing us shoes.

Sometimes the shoes are appropriate, other times not, but we are always thrilled with her efforts.

In this instance, she was trying to hoard as many shoes as possible. Then tried to take her shoes off so that she could wear mine.
In the end, she decided she would be just as happy sharing and helping me to put my shoes on.

What a good little helper!

One very determined and outspoken little Monkey!

This was written on Monkey's daily sheet today.

Her teacher, Jessica, was beyond thrilled!

We think sweet Monkey will have no problem taking care of herself!

Other than Loretta Lynn

I do not believe that I have ever known of anyone else who gets so excited over a new pair of shoes.

My Chunky Monkey is thrilled over each and every new pair of shoes that she gets.

She truly is a shoe diva and I have no idea where she got that from!

I had to buy yet one more pair of shoes for the Monkey.

Chris and I hired a physical therapist to come and see Monkey for the summer months since she will not receive FIVE of the six therapy appointments each week that she normally receives because it is summer and some of the therapists don't work during the summer.

(Banging my head against a wall and trying really hard to keep my mouth zipped)

I have had major concerns with Monkey's braces and thank GOD for the physical therapist that came and thoroughly examined Monkey's braces because the braces are causing more harm than good.

We have had so much trouble with braces that I wonder how beneficial they really are for Monkey.

To keep the story short, we have ditched the braces and had to buy a good supportive athletic shoe until we can decide the next step to take to help Monkey's little feet.

The whole process is just so frustrating, but I am so thankful for our physical therapist and her hard, hard work with Monkey!

When the little Monkey got out of the shower tonight, she went straight for her new shoes and "begged" me to put them on.

Chris wanted to know exactly why Monkey had her shoes on...and nothing else.

(I have no idea why there is a video game crammed under my couch - that clearly was not returned to its proper place)

Exploring

Chunky Monkey didn't hesitate to explore every inch of the children's area.
I must have looked approachable today because I had some of the oddest conversations to take place.

~I had a physicians wife approach me to discuss reconstructive hand surgery and preventable measures for hand injuries.

~I had a Dad approach me to ask if I saw his daughters missing shoes and wondered if I could possibly help him and keep an eye out for them (isn't this a scenario that we tell our children all the time to avoid - run and yell "fire"...right?).

~I also had a Mother to tell me that if I would move out from in front of the camera that my little girl might enjoy watching herself on the video monitor...

what the...???

1. I didn't know there even was a video monitor - apparently there was one right in front of the chair that Monkey was trying to climb onto.

2. Was she implying that my bum was so big that it was blocking the entire video monitor?

3. What made her think that my little girl would enjoy watching herself on the monitor?

4. Although I am all for the whole free speech thing - AND THE AVOIDANCE OF SOCIALISM AND GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP - I really think that if I want my over sized bum to block something, that I really have that right...and;

5. My bum was inadvertently blocking the video monitor because I was keeping the little Monkey from falling off the chair.

what that Mommy would have had to realize is that Monkey cannot be left unattended in chairs because she has severe balance issues and falls easily.

(They don't sell alcohol at the children's museum,

but it is sold at Chuck E. Cheese.

I wonder who makes more business?)

Chris was not feeling well at all - ended up being walking pneumonia which put him in the bed for two whole days - so he missed out on all of my fun conversations of the day as he was sitting on any available chair trying to enjoy just watching Monkey.

Of course she took a time out to stop and look at the books.
My sweet girl loves books!