Two little fish

Well, it's Arizona and we're looking at temps around 100 degrees this week, so we figured it was time to set up a pool for the kids. We set it up yesterday and they couldn't even wait until it was done being filled before they got in. They spent well over an hour in the pool yesterday and first thing this morning they both were pining to get back in the water. Aside from the 30 minute breakfast break, they have spent the entire morning in that pool; pruniness and all. I guess I'd better stock up on more sunscreen because I have a feeling that we'll be needing it.

We have a Second grader

This year has absolutely flown by! I can't believe that we have been in Arizona for almost a full year! We're hoping to renew our lease in our current home but we are waiting to hear if the homeowner wants to rent it out another year and, if so, whether or not the rent will go up(which we're pretty sure it will). Leah just finished up her last week of First grade. She is really hoping to be able to return to her same school next year and we would love to be near all of her new friends. There are four children from her class on our street with the farthest being nine houses down.

Leah gave me a nice gift today. She made me a coupon book and wrapped it nicely. There are coupons in it for one free: hug, hug and kiss, musash(massage), dinner made by Leah, babysitting, tucking in Jake, to do the dishes, letting Jacob sleep with me, enething(anything), reeding(reading) a book to Jacob. So sweet!

Leah's piano recital(Old MacDonald)

Leah's piano recital(Big Ben)

Final Week and updates

Well, we've approached it. The week that once seemed like it was so far off from now. The LAST week of school. Our Leah will officially be done with First grade! How did this happen? Where did the time go? I was giving a lesson to my Sunbeam class yesterday, and in preparation for doing so, I recalled giving the same exact lesson to Leah's Sunbeam class from 3 years ago and it seemed so fresh in my mind. It's hard to believe that she will be 7 in just a couple of weeks. Over these last nearly 7 years she has taught me so much about being a parent and has helped to inspire me to want to do better things and be a better person. Leah had her first piano recital this last Saturday. She played 'Big Ben' and 'Old MacDonald'. She did well and we're very proud of her.

Jacob and Noah are both so much fun. Jake's favorite thing to play with right now is his Little People set paired with his dinosaurs. He likes to pretend play that the Little People and the dinosaurs all co-habitat happily together. Also, it's no big surprise but when it comes to his learning, his favorite subject is obviously Science. He loves doing experiments and discovering how different variables will effect the outcome of things. Noah is starting to learn how to pray. He has folded his arms and bowed his head and will usually say "amen". He also loves to lead the music when he hears people singing.

I think that sickness is finally making its exit from our family. Over the last month things have been miserable around here. The kids have been sick with colds and coughs. I have had a cold, Laryngitis, Pink Eye, and most recently some weird throat issue, and Jason has had a pretty bad case of Strep throat with prolonged fevers. I'm so sick of sick!

There are only a couple more weeks until our Indiana trip! Time really is flying by. We can't wait!!!

what we've been up to 2.wmv

This video is a little dated(like 5 months ago) but I thought I'd add it.

Proud

I can't help but to be incredibly proud of our little family. Our children amaze me on a perpetual basis. Sometimes it seems that our kids may go to bed one night without a certain knowledge or ability and they wake up the next morning and all of a sudden they just have it. Leah constantly impresses us with her brightness and abilities. She is at the top of her class and is like a sponge ready to soak up new information all of the time. She is my dayplanner. No needs for a Palm Pilot when I have my Leah. Jake surprises me quite often. It seems as soon as I begin to be discouraged thinking that he hasn't absorbed anything that I've taught him he'll surprise me by suddenly comprehending things like a light bulb just came on in his little head. I've worked with him on his colors, numbers, and alphabet for what feels like ever now and finally over this past couple of weeks he just "gets it". He has recited his alphabet clearly and slowly, identified his numbers correctly, and is doing so well with his colors. Noah's new abilities seem to be acquired faster than I can keep up. He seems to understand so much that we say to him. We ask him questions and he'll answer us with a shake or nod of his head. He knows many words, but currently his favorite is baby. He loves babies and I'm not quite certain if he realizes that he actually is one of them or not. I'm also very proud of Jason. He tries to do well in his schoolwork and is now having to juggle school and work again plus try to give us some attention in that mix. The kids and I sure do miss having him around like we had for the past year but I sure do love seeing their excitement when their daddy walks through the door or calls us. I feel so blessed.

Change and sickness

Jason started a new job this past Monday so our evenings at home have been completely thrown off. It certainly is taking some adjusting going from having Jason around nearly all of the time for the past year to now having him gone every evening. I really have enjoyed having Jason around, even though I may have had the occasional grumble. It was truly a blessing on so many occasions that he was home. He was able to spend more time with the kids and I and was actually home for Noah's first year to see firsthand all of the milestones that our little guy made. I hope that this new change will bring about many opportunities and growth. We do have a transportation issue, however, but we'll make due for now. Jason needs the van to go to work, so I will be motor-less for at least 4 hours daily while he's gone and before his mom may get home. My biggest concern is the reliability of our van. Hopefully she'll hold out for us; she's been a good van.

Soooo, it seems that someone forgot to tell our family that cold season is OVER!!!! It is now May and we're all sick!!! This bout of illness has truly made me realize that we all have our own "personalities" when it come to being sick. When we get sick, Noah gets it in his eyes and nose, Jacob gets it in his lungs, Leah gets it in her nose and throat, and I get it in my throat and lungs which ultimately means that I lose my voice, and this happens pretty much every single time we get sick. We are family yet we are all very unique.