Nikki and Sandra come for a visit

Nikki Holmstead Marcelo and Sandra McCabe came to visit us from April 5-9.  I picked Nikki and Sandra up at the Portland Airport and drove them to a hotel in Troutdale, OR.  Sandra said, "Are we staying in a hotel" and I said "Yes"; it was a surprise.  Sandra had never been to Oregon so I thought it would be fun to stay the night in Troutdale which is the start of the Columbia Gorge.  The next morning we drove to Bridal Veil Falls, Wakenah Falls, and Multonomah Falls.  It rained on us a bit but we had a good time.  As we were hiking up Bridal Veil Falls, Nikki said, "The red plant is beautiful".  I only saw the orange from the safety netting and thought she was joking.  She kept going, "It is reddish, orange and so vibrant."  I told her it was called "Plastic Porticus."  Again, I thought she was joking but it turned out she was serious.  She was wearing her glasses and does not see as well with them and thought the orange plastic netting was a plant.  

                 River from Bridal Veil Falls              Bridal Veil Falls                            Wakenah Falls

                                        Holly, Nikki, Sandra                  Plastic Porticus 

After the waterfalls, we headed for Montesano.  Harper loved having Nikki and Sandra to play with.  Twice while I was making dinner they were having a dance party in Harper's room.   Saturday and Sunday we watched General Conference most of the day.  Saturday evening we did go up to Lake Sylvia and Sunday evening we had a campfire and tinfoil dinners.

             Coloring with Nikki and Sandra.       Harper and Sandra were taking selfies with my phone.

Harper brought out her two lambs for sleeping Nikki and Sandra to cuddle with.  Sporting the Bow look with Sandra. Sandra works on her piano skills with Sandra.

                                        Harper and Sandra              Elmo playing peekaboo with Baby

                Sandra giving in to Harper's phone addiction  Tinfoil dinners over a campfire.

On Monday we went to Lake Quinault and saw the oldest Sitka Spruce and walked around the Quinault Rain Forrest.  We then went to the beach at Westport so Nikki and Sandra could find Sand-dollars.  

                        Nikki helping Sandra to climb the Sitka Spruce.  Harper exploring.

                   Mommy and Harper   Nikki, Sandra, Harper, and Holly at Lake Quinault

                      Happy Harper ready for a hike in the Quinault Rainforest.

Nikki, Holly, Harper, and Sandra.  Sandra was a good sport and offered to carry Harper since I'm pregnant.

 Sandra and Nikki at Westport Beach.

When we dropped Nikki and Sandra off at the airport, Harper cried.  She had a lot of fun with them.

Daddy's T-shirts

I was vacuuming my room and had the prompting to go and check on Harper.  She was in my room but awfully quiet and I couldn't see her. I went around to James's side of the bed and there was Haper sitting in daddy's t-shirt drawer taking his t-shirts in and out of the drawer.

 What?  I didn't make this mess.  Harper trying to snap her fingers.

First Playdate

My friend, Juliana Wallace's, granddaughter, Avery, was visiting for spring break.  Avery is 3 months old than Harper so Juliana invited us over for a playdate on April 3.  It took about an hour for Harper and Avery to warm up to each other.  They had fun chasing each other and throwing a stuff lamb of the landing.  I would then throw the lamb back up to them; they thought it was great fun and took turns launching the lamb.  When it was time to go Harper gave Avery a hug which caused Avery to lay back onto some barbells.  Avery started to cry and Harper reached over and rubbed Avery's back while Avery's mommy comforted her.  Harper only has boys in nursery so I was glad she got to interact with a girl her age.  

 Harper, Avery, and Matea.     Harper and Juliana

 Avery and Harper launch the little lamb

                                              Harper, Holly, Avery, and Matea

Cuddling with my basketball

My friend, KayLynn Larsen, gave Harper a basketball.  As we were driving home I looked back and saw that Harper was holding on to the basketball.  It was a proud mama moment.

Learning to dress myself

Harper loves trying to put her clothes on.  She has figured out how to put her shirt over her head but not put her arms in the shirt.  She also can get both legs into pants but they both end up in the same leg hole; she looks like a Mermaid.  Often she will either try putting her clothes on while I am folding laundry or she will get her dirty clothes out of the hamper and try them on.  

Wee Wee

Harper has taken to calling the playground "Wee Wee".  This is what we say when she goes down a slide.  She loves to play on the slides, swing, climb and at Aunt Leann's "Wee Wee" play in the sandbox.

Helping with Grandma's new patio

James and his brothers built a patio for their mom.  One day we were over at Grandma's house and Harper grabbed the tape measurer and started to measure the wood.

Learning to Climb

Harper is pretty fearless at the playground.  She will go down any slide, preferable by herself.  She also has started to try and climb different obstacles.  I showed her how to climb the obstacle pictured below one or twice and then she had the hang of it.