Schools Out for Summer!

Well, the kids final day at Kids Day Out was last Monday. They have had a great time at the program and it was really good thing for me this past year with all my doctor's appointments on Mondays before Asher's arrival and then the adjustment of Asher's arrival.

Although we've loved it this past year, we're not going to be attending this upcoming year; partly because we now live further away and partly because I really want to spend more days at home with the kids.

The entrance of their "school"

Elena with her teacher

Ahhh - good memories of running up that red carpet... late... and yelling at Evan to run faster :)

The church that hosts the program has a steeple that we see on our way to our church. Evan enthusiastically yells, "I SEE SCHOOL! I SEE SCHOOL!" every time we pass. I wonder how long that will last?

My Not So Lady Like, Lady Bug

The older kids at the Kids Day Out program Elena and Evan attend put on a musical program last week. Everyone knows there's nothing cuter than preschoolers singing!

This was a fun chance for me to observe Elena interact with the kids. Apparently she's comfortable telling others what to do even outside of our home. At one point, the girl to Elena's left didn't hold her hand at the designated time and Elena would not drop the matter. Elena stopped singing or paying any sort of attention to the teacher, and directed all her energy at making this girl hold her hand. The girls were squabbling about it long after the moment in the song had passed... so, so proud.

But really I am; not about her bossy attitude but just in general. I love my little girl and this first little musical of hers made me beam!

Room Time and Nap Time

One of the biggest things we do around here is room time and nap time, so I figured I should get it on film. This is a time for Elena and Evan to play and sleep in their respective rooms. It's also time for me to have a little one on one time with Asher before his afternoon nap, and to enjoy some quiet!

Evan is not allowed off of his bed, and he really doesn't seem to mind. He plays with his cars before drifting off to sleep (although more and more he's not sleeping at all)

"Bwankets!" - he's gotta have those!

This little girl has really come a long way in being able to entertain herself. Unlike Evan, it doesn't come to her naturally. On good days she "reads" to herself, plays dress up, or cooks in her kitchen. On bad days she gets seriously bored; trashes her room, removes all of Elmo's stuffing, and pees in her toy box (not exaggerating)

It's a good day

Tickle Monster's Gonna Get You!

Uh-oh... almost here....

Stop it some more, Mom! Stop it some more!

5K

This Saturday was the Run for Hungry Children 5K. Two things I learned : a) I can run in the morning and b) running with friends makes the whole thing so fun. In fact we're talking about doing more together soon!

Thanks Meg, for getting us to do this - I loved it!

I need to get cuter running clothes :)

I think I was checking the clock - I look a little odd

Asher - 5 Months

- I think Elena is his favorite person at the moment. There are grins and laughs reserved only for her.

- He is so curious about what people are doing around him. I can't feed him when the other kids are sitting on the couch because he wants to stop everything and see who's talking, laughing, or yelling.

- He started waking up a little early for my liking, so off went the monitor; well, not entirely just on select mornings.

- We still haven't tried any solids, but the plan is to do so soon.

- Sometimes when I'm changing his diaper, he will stick out his tongue to blow spit bubbles, wait for me to respond in kind, and then do it again... he loves that game.

- Still munching on those hands... again, I think we'll see teeth next month

- He is wonderfully sweet, social, and easy going. And he's getting too big too fast!!! Love you Asher!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Yep, he's officially rolling over. It happened over night, literally. I came in one morning last week and he was on his tummy. And then every time he was put on his back that day he rolled. He's now going from back to tummy and tummy to back. I'm telling you, he's brilliant... really.

Handy Man

Ben is SO brilliant when it comes to home improvement projects. I am continually surprised at what he's willing to bite off. Take for instance our thermostat. For some reason when they built the house they decided to put the thermostat right in the middle of this wall. Sure the placement does not at all impact the effectiveness of the device, BUT it does put me in a pretty pickle on figuring out what I'm supposed to hang on the wall. Do I create a collage of pictures with the thermostat as one of the featured items? A shadow box somehow on top of it? Bushy flowers in a vase to cover it up?

Anyways, Ben knew it bugged me. So today, completely out of the blue, he begins sawing into our wall. And then next thing I knew he had the thing moved over to the edge. "Wowsers!" - says the girl who is just proud to know how to use the thermostat. :) Love you honey!