May 2010

The children are busy. I can't believe there are only 2 days of school left this school year. They have learned so much and are growing physically, socially, and they are talking up a storm. Just the other day, Emily said, "I want to wash my hands, please, to make them nice and clean." It is part of a song I sing them but she put the sentence together. They have completed three gymnastics lessons so far. Nathan was the first to get excited by it - climbing right onto the beam and wanting to walk backwards on the first day. Daniel is a mad man on the rings and did his first forward somersault independently on the angled ramp. Emily tried to jump on the horizontal bar and did a kick step on the beam. I am so proud of all of them. They are also taking swim lessons. Although they like the teachers and the lessons, they are having a little mommy-itis. I think it is time for me to stay out of room when they take lessons.

We have had some very exciting things in the last couple of months. We had a Passover performance at school (we had the only two students in the school who cried) and then we had an Easter egg hunt at a neighbor's house. Nathan found the largest egg but put it into Emily's basket to share with her. Grandma and Grandpa came and took them to the farm, a park by a little airport, and swimming. Although they were intimidated by the farm, they talked for weeks like it was the best adventure they ever had. We then took the children to Chattanooga to ride Thomas. They loved being on the train. We'll have to do that again next year if they are still into Thomas like they are now. Finally, Meme and Poppop came last week. Our big highlight was going strawberry picking, where we ate our weight in huge delicious strawberries. Daniel came home bright red from all he ate, and Nathan took tiny bites out of fifty of them.

They do anything for a laugh these days. They love to dance - the Chicken Dance is a favorite. We have it on video. They love to ride the rocking cow together and fall off laughing. Their goal sometimes is to make each other laugh. They make me laugh every day.

Thanks to another "fall" out of the crib, we have transitioned them to big kid beds. Emily now has her own room. Mimi came out and painted a mural in each room. When I showed Emily the castle in her room and asked if it was Cinderella's castle, she said no - Emily's castle. She also has harlequin diamonds with Mickey Mouse ears and Tinkerbell. The boys have a huge tree and tree house with sports equipment everywhere. I love their rooms and hope they will love them for years.

We are looking forward to a busy summer. We will travel to Florida, Jen and Isy will visit, and Nadine, Jack and Ella will visit. Grandpa and Grandma will come when Nadine's family comes.