The House of Helrings

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Shaving Cream Theme Play Date

Every Friday morning we have a play date with a group of friends. The children range in age from 8mo old to 7 years old. Each Friday there is a different theme scheduled for the kids to try out different sensory tables, experiments, games and messy free play. This last week the kids played with shaving cream. Ava enjoyed sliding on the plastic tarp, while Charlotte would rather play with water. Charlotte doesn't usually like to get her hands sticky. She asks to get her hands washed and wiped a lot. Ava on the other hand enjoys it!

The kids got to participate on a science experiment demonstrating condensation.

Visiting With Grandma Evelyn

We visited my Grandma Evelyn, my Dad and brother Lee on Thursday. The kids loving going over to visit. They got to play outside and play with Mitsy. Mitsy is almost 13 years old and a great little dog. In this pictures the kids and the dog all decided to climb onto Grandma's chair with her.

Ava's First Day of Summer Dance Class

Ava has her first day of dance class this last Wednesday. She seemed to enjoy getting the specific dance instructions from her teacher, Jenna. The classes are an hour long and are held at Mission Viejo Performing Dance Studio. The class includes a little bit of tumbling, tap, ballet, jazz and hip hop. The teacher is fabulous and very animated and enthusiastic with the kids. They told me over the phone that she wouldn't need any special attire, but all the kids minus two showed up in ballet clothes and tap shoes. So, I will be sure to include Ava in the tap and ballet attire. She will love it next week when she gets to all dolled up like a ballerina.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

July 10th Evening at the Pool

We are starting to get a nice little heat wave here and we took advantage of the pool this evening.
Ava again eager to jump in with her Puddle Jumper floaties and Charlotte enjoying Ava's Hello Kitty goggles.

Monday, July 9, 2012

20 Week Ultrasound Pics of Our Baby Girl

We just found out that we are having a baby girl. That is three girls for us! They will all be two years apart and be celebrating their birthdays within 40 days of each other. Our newest baby girl is due Thanksgiving week. She is very healthy and we feel so fortunate that she will be part of our Helring crew in a few more months. Our doctor stated she weighs about a pound right now. Ava and Charlotte attended the ultrasound appointment and are very excited to be big sisters. My best friend Aline also got to accompany us to this special appointment.

Her little legs.

She moved her arms a lot during the ultrasound.
Here she had just crossed her arms in front of her.

Toward the end of the appointment she was moving
a lot more. This is the best profile picture we could get.

                                         It's hard to tell in this picture because of all the shadows.
                                        But she is yawning in this photo. Middle left shows her
                                        opening her mouth. Right side of photo is her torso. The
                                         rest of her face is shadowed.

                                         This photo is a little more difficult to decipher, but it's a
                                         photo of her face on the left facing us. She had just waved
                                         her arm over her face so you can see her arm bones over part
                                         of the center of her face. The rest of the photo on the left is her torso
                                         and I believe her left knee is brought up to her chest. That also might be
                                         the umbilical cord between her head and her knee. She was an active
                                         baby toward the end of our appointment. But for the most far she has
                                         been less active than I remember Ava or Charlotte being. Ava was
                                         the most active. I am sure as the months progress I will feel her movements
                                         more often and stronger.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Ryan's Solo Backpacking Trip Album

Ryan went his first solo backpacking trip at the end of June in his favorite area of Yosemite. He started in Tuolumne Meadows and ended near Silver Lake in the outskirts of Mammoth Lakes, CA. He originally was going to take 3 days to complete his 29mi trip but instead completed it in 2 days. He was eager to get back to us. Yay! Plus, it was super windy at night and he was carrying a 46lb pack. I was worried but also very excited for his adventure. I am glad it was a short trip because anymore than 3 days would drive me a bit crazy with very little or no contact; esp going solo. Below are a few of the many pictures Ryan took along the two day trail. I dropped him off in Yosemite around 5:30PM on a Thursday and picked him up about 4:30PM on Saturday. The girls and I relaxed in a lodge in Mammoth Lakes and cruised the local lake basin area on Saturday. We had a great time in June Lake, but the pictures are on my cell phone still.

Here is the main album

http://imgur.com/a/3pbAs#0

And here are some panoramas that would not fit

Saying good-bye at the backpackers walk-in camp ground.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Playing Princess for the First Time

Ava got to play princess for the first time. Her friend Kaia invited her to play and dress up while they waited for the mud play date to begin. Ava enjoyed getting dressed up, putting on the high heels, getting crowned and dancing with Cinderella. Ava hasn't really gotten into the Disney princesses yet, so she doesn't know who they are but she does enjoy the whole idea. She was a little bit bashful. Charlotte was reading a book with me meanwhile.