Achievement

This past week G. has participated in an Early learning project through Geneva College. One of the professors attends our church and approached us about having G involved. It was a lot of fun watching the learning process.

Last week they came two days in a row and then again this week.

For the first several minutes she lay in her pack and play watching a mobile and they counted how many times a minute she kicked her leg. Then they tied one end of a ribbon to her foot and the other end to the mobile so that when she kicked she manipulated the mobile making it shake and the bells to ring.

Unfortunately the first day they came she had skipped her morning nap and was tired and un-cooperative, but the next day she went to town kicking over forty times a minute.
Yesterday was a refresher, where they shook the mobile for her to bring back the memory and today they finished up with the same process as last week.

Here's G. with Dr. Hitchcock

It was pretty amazing to watch as she grasped the concept that she had control over the mobile, and she would kick vigorously to make it move. She enjoyed the control. Uh-oh, do I have another "first born" on my hands?

They even presented her with a certificate/diploma. She has a diploma from Geneva College before her mother. How about that. Of course I still have more hours invested than she does.

Easter with a 6 and 4 year and 4 month old

We didn't succeed in getting a family picture this year. The boys looked very good in their new polos, even though it was touch and go for a while whether or not N. would wear his. "I don't like new shirts." We seem to be in some sort of a power struggle. If he's going to do something it's going to be his idea. IF he decides to do me a favor he MIGHT wear the new shirt I bought him. I'm trying to get him to understand that he's not doing me a favor by wearing the shirt. It's a priviledge that his mother buys him one. Oh the reverse psychology games I play with that one.

Of course this was also my first year with a daughter. My first year to make/get a new Easter dress. I decided to make one this year since she just looks so darn cute in crocheted garments, not to mention the fact that it's unique.

Saturday Jessica and Rob were here, so we went over to Mom's house for dinner and also dyed eggs. It's so wondeful having an Aunt and Uncle more than willing to help the boys. It certainly made the egg dying experience much less stressful for me. Perhaps the boys can return the favor when Uncle Rob and Aunt Jessica have kids, by being the "big kids" and helping their cousins.

A Wonderful Moment

N. got his first Bible today. He's been asking for one for a while, so this week I just got online and bought one. We went with the ESV childrens Bible since that is the translation we use at church. Seeing his joy and excitement when it arrived in the mail did this momma's heart good. My prayer is that he will become well aquainted with it, and that God will use it to do mighty things in his life. My prayer for my sons is that they will be like David, men after God's own heart.

It's fun to be outside

"It's fun to be out and about" -- NRS

It was just an exploring adventure. They didn't find any pirates, or secret caves, or burried treasure, or fairies. They just explored, and found some rocks and old bottles, but they spent the time together and had some fun in the great out doors.

Maybe next time they'll sail across the sea.

Boys

I've been meaning to blog for the past several weeks. There are things that would pop into my mind that I thought would be fun to share.

Nothing spectacular has happened, just life with three kids. wow! People always said that three was a big adjustment and they were right.

N and I are in the process of trying to finish first grade. He is reading quite well and is devouring his recent favorite books, The Box Car Children. Since his reading seems to be coming along well, I've told him that all we need to do to finish the school year is to finish his math book. That's 30 more days of math. 27 lessons with 6 more tests.

A is adjusting to life as the middle child. I am constantly aware of his dilemma. N needs to do school, G needs to eat, N needs help with school, G needs a diaper change. I feel guilty when the day is almost over and I realize that I haven't really sat down and given him a good hug or just a few minutes of my undivided attention, but he is resiliant and forgiving, and I strive to be a better mother every day.

Just to share a few things about having young boys in the home...

This picture is a couple of things that have been hanging out on our porch for a while. In case you don't recognize them they are a boomarang and a sling shot.

The weather has been slowly warming up. The sun is usually shining at least a couple of days out of the week. We enjoy taking advantage of this and going to a local park for walks. Our most common destination is a mile loop with a bridge half way around. We walk half a mile, stop and play a couple rounds of pooh sticks and then finish the loop. Yesterday, N requested a walk in the woods, so we explored one of the trails.

This morning A was bemoaning the fact that N didn't want to go outside and play with him, so I did my best to encourage him to use his imagination. I set him up with things for an adventure, a buddy, a cap, a snack (with extra in case he ran into a friend and wanted to share, namely his brother), a bottle of water, and a sack to put anything interesting in. I can't wait to hear about it when he comes back in. Right now I'm just enjoying the fresh air coming through the open door, the sound of my wind chimes and a quiet house.