The boy who cried wolf

Well another school week is closing down and we have had some fun this week.

David had a friend over on Wednesday afternoon since it was a half-day and he played for a while. David’s big event was Friday at school. First grade was in charge of the character counts assembly. The first grade taught the rest of the school about being trustworthy. Davids class did a skit about the boy who cried wolf. David got to be the lamb that got eaten. They were super cute.

Nathan enjoyed learning about the senses this week in school and got to take in show and tell every day. I think his favorite day was, Wednesday, which they deemed “Wacky Wednesday” and the kids got to dress crazy. He loved it. No I didn’tget a picture, I am still trying to remember to pull the camera out more.
We also got the basketball thing David got for his birthday set up. Here is David and Nathan playing.

The twins are perfecting their potty training capabilities and are beginning to master the “stand up” method. Zephen is a bit ahead of McCaul but both are doing GREAT. For fun, here is a picture from last month when we first introduced the potty.

Keziah has been working at perfecting the roll over…she can make quite a distance across the room. She has also been working on pushing up on her hands while on her belly. Here she is working hard and grinning.

Smiles and disappearing acts

So, I am going to try and post something at least once a week maybe twice a week if I feel so inclined. Assuming our lives are interesting enough ;-)

First we wanted to share this gorgeous smile.. seems every time we pull out the camera she turns the smiles off.. but really she is a very smiley baby.. so we made it a mission one night to catch it on camera

McCaul this week decided he didn't want to be left out so he stuck Keziah's bow on his head.




In other updates... lets see.. David has started reading chapter books.. he still needs help but is getting better every day and is excited to be doing it. We try and read one short chapter a day. Right now we are reading Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. I hope he learns a love of reading... In school he is also working on speed math tests.. these are quite the challenge.. he has to answer 26 questions in 1 minute to move on to the next level. Even I get stressed out thinking about it. He also enjoyed shoveling this week. We got about maybe 6 inches of snow Saturday and Sunday and he spent much time Saturday evening trying to shovel anything he could get his hands on... But he got in trouble Sunday morning when we had to go unbury the snow shovel when it got left out by the shed...

Nathan is working on and doing great at learning to read as well. He can read simple short stories and is very proud of himself. He made a great attempt at magic the other night.. He tried to disappear from the dinner table so he wouldn't have to eat those yucky noodles with the peas in them. As he said "Mommy why did you have to put peas in it.. that makes it yucky." Here he is trying to disappear...

David and Nathan also got to go to basketball games at the high school on Friday night and spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa Nicholes. They had to be forced to come home.. Grandma and Grandpa's house is just too much fun. Something about TV and good snack food. :-) But they finally came home and enjoyed a trip with Mommy to McDonald's for lunch and
to go grocery shopping.

I am a bit anxious for tomorrow night they will be having a meeting at the kids' school to discuss the impact of the budget cuts to our schools and what that will mean to us. More than that I am anxious to see what the state legislature will decide once they go into session next month. The governor would like to cut our pay by 6% on top of some nice dips in insurance (increased premiums and deductibles along with who knows what else). But I can't really do anything about it right now and there is no use worrying when things are so undecided and so uncertain at the moment. So I am trying to leave that be.

Oh and the twins have discovered a new skill... one mommy is not at all happy about. Climbing out of their cribs.. Its not pretty... Two free toddlers.. iy iy iy... I am still trying to think of solutions... Sheldon thinks we should just move on to toddler beds.. I am not so convinced.. I imagine long days of refusals to stay down for naps and cranky 2 year olds.. I would like to get crib tents but they are a bit pricey.. Maybe even just get one and make them share a crib (which they prefer anyways)... But we are still thinking through it.

Oh and knock on wood, Keziah went from waking up 4 times a night about a week ago to sleeping through it... Seriously.. Mommy is still waking up so much cause I am used to it. She will wake up one other time but if I pop the pacy back in she goes right back to sleep. She goes from probably 8 to 6 withouth eating though.. I am so excited to be getting more sleep.. I am verging on human again.

David's Birthday

David turned 7 on Friday... It was bitter sweet for mommy... Somehow seven just seems big.. I am sure 8 will really seem big.. Just in my mind, kids one to 6 are little kids.. but something about seven, your not a big kid or a little kid, your just a kid.. and its a bit sad to think my David is a Kid... But its also wonderful to watch him grow and his is a smart kid. I am proud of him and what he is becoming.
He didn't have a real birthday party.. more of a play date with a pinata... but he enjoyed it.
And when his friends went home Grandma and Grandpa Nicholes and Grandma Great and Grandpa Great Warren and Aunt Shauna came over for dinner and cake

So what loot did he bring in... well he was thrilled as all get out to receive money from grandmas and grandpas and such... You should have seen his face.. And Nathan and him are very excited about his hot wheels track and are already planning which one they will get next. He also got a basketball door court thing.. The first one was a dud.. but it has been replaced and hopefully this one will work great. He is excited to try it out. Aunt Trista gave him a thing.. not sure what it is called.. but he turns it over every time he sees it to watch the goop go back and forth. The kids call it "the window" Aunt Shauna attached 7 balloons to his present too which are still floating around the house in various rooms ceilings. It took a good conversation to make him realize why she gave him exactly seven balloons.. He thought it was so every member of our family had one. And finally last night his late present came in the mail.. a kid size guitar which he attempted to sneak off to bed with.. but failed as he was caught. :-)

Some pictures of David on his birthday... Overall I think he had a good day

The start

We are going to try and start this up.. bear with us as we adjust to a new thing