Feb. Fun

Jacob has started eating a little more. He loves sitting and watching the show (Michael eating) while he dines.

Nicole and Michael barely ever let me play the piano- they are so eager to pound away. Nicole has started sounding a little better (i.e. less pounding). Michael, on the other hand...well you can probably tell from the expression on his face that he plays a little more aggressively.

Nicole all ready at the RBC Center in Raleigh for her Vday date with daddy...the Ringling Brothers circus! I packed her a little bag of snacks and Jim said it was so cute because the first thing she did when they got there was open the bag and eat everything in it.

Before the performance you could go meet the performers down on the floor.

Nicole's favorites: the pirates, superheroes, and elephants. I think Jim said a total of 5 motorcycles were in that small sphere! Nicole finished her reading lessons and as a prize got a dollhouse that I found on clearance for $40. Since Jim's history of reading instructions is a little shady, we asked a friend to come help us put it together. Nicole said she wanted to help and read the "corrections," meaning "directions" and we joked that corrections are what they usually end up being for Jim :-)

I think it took under an hour to assemble, I think Jim was grateful we've never had any toys like this to assemble on Christmas Eve. A very tall dollhouse.

Although it was bedtime, we let Nicole stay up so she could see the finished product. It's taller than she is and she absolutely loves it! The other day she had her doll sleeping in the bed and all of her toy dinosaurs around the doll's bed. Made me wonder what on earth she is pretending...of course, to her the dinos are friendly. Maybe they are Barbie's pets?If you're wondering what's been keeping us Ultra-Busy, Jim opened an office in Sanford and I went there on Wed with the kids to be there for packages and other various workers coming that day. We were there for 6 hours and books, Cheerios, and markers didn't quite cut it. The experience was definitely not one to forget- I killed the biggest spider I've ever done in...with baby wipes and a pizza box, Michael spilled a box of Cheerios in one of the rooms while I was distracted by answering questions from the Internet line installer right before the landlord came to visit (I frantically tried to close the door to that room so he didn't see it), we ate pizza on a leftover map of Sanford, shared a sprite can that became increasingly filled with floaties, and...everyone fell asleep on the drive home.

Varying states of action. Poor Jacob wanted the balloon (see hanging string)

Life is sure an adventure! We have had such a rollercoaster of emotions since the business opened last May, I can't believe it will have been a full year this in a few months. Jim has worked incredibly hard, I admire his diligence and strength and hope to support him in all he does. He is such a star. Our first time ever one-night getaway from the kiddos that I paid in full for (ouch!) had to be cancelled and we're so bummed. Maybe, someday...

Hello February

We've been busy, busy, busy with a lot of stuff that I won't bore you with details about. But here is our FHE from last night. We enjoy seeing the progression (and in Michael's case- the existence) of coloring skills as they get older.

Michael is growing up to be a little boy instead of a toddler. He runs without tripping much now, loves Toy Story, and talks a lot more. His personality is very headstrong, caring, and persistent. His favorite thing right now is at bedtime when he commands whoever is putting him to bed to "SING, SING!" He loves those church songs :-) He is coming off his 5th ear infection in a year and after visiting the ENT and seeing the cost of ear tubes and vaporization of his adenoids...we decided to wait and see if he gets another one before we rack up that bill. Fortunately, in a hearing test they conducted, his hearing is normal despite the extra pressure on his ear from the infection.

Nicole has blossomed in preschool with her social and speaking skills. Her shyness is all but disappeared in most situations and she has this exuberant happiness that is a big blessing to us. She also loves getting tickled! Last Sunday in Primary she had "scripture" so she read Mosiah 1:7. I put a video of that below (or look on the blog if you get this in email format). She is four lessons away from finishing the "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons" book. We started when she turned four in September, but got a little sidetracked when she realized she could read other books and preferred them to her lessons. Finally, we instituted a bribe...I mean, PRIZE... for when she finished, so we're almost there. :-)

Jacob is the omnipresent trailer of the other two. He is always tagging after one of them and playing with their toys or trying to wrestle with them. His sixth tooth is just about coming in and he's recovering from a double ear infection with big smiles. He is the most cuddly baby we've had, and although he is a fine weight, he still just seems so light and to fit right in our arms to snuggle.

No walking for him yet, but he's pulling himself up on everything to reach more of his siblings toys :-)

Each Tuesday and Thursday after preschool Nicole shows me everything she did. I thought I could share that with you for fun as well as the scripture she gave on Sunday.