What We're Up To

A brief (kind of) update on our comings and goings...

JACOB...
...is Mommy's little helper! He helps by being so easy to keep happy that I'm able to get everything done that I want to in a day! We are enjoying our one-on-one time together - we read lots of stories, bake cookies and run errands. Jacob loves his weekly playgroup with 4 other little boys in our ward and he always looks forward to going to the Childrens' Museum with mom once a week. Despite all that fun he is anxiously waiting by the window for the school bus to drop Danny and Lyssie off each afternoon.

DANIEL...
...is totally loving the all-day kindergarten thing (as am I!) Because he's a late August birthday and could technically have gone to kindergarten last year, he is very ready for this schedule. When we ask him what his favorite thing about kindergarten is he always says, "ALL OF IT!" He comes home filthy every day. It cracks me up. This kid gets grass stains on his back, even. Thank goodness for Spray 'n' Wash - we would be tempted to buy stock in it if the market weren't so bad! Danny's also playing soccer and loving it. His energy amazes us - he is all over that field and is usually able to stay very focused on the ball. He's the first child we've had who doesn't need encouragement to be more aggressive when he plays. In fact, it makes sense that he is enjoying organized sports because for once his activity level does not have to be tempered. His parents are on the side of the field yelling, "Yes, Danny! Go, Danny! More, Danny!" instead of, "No, Danny! Calm down, Danny!"

ALYSSA...
...loves 2nd grade so far. She was fortunate enough to get the same teacher as her BFF (who happens to be the daughter of a good friend of mine from high school!) Her teacher makes learning lots of fun and Lyssie refers to her as "The Nicest Teacher Ever". Like Danny, Alyssa is also busy with soccer. She has really turned a corner this year - she's scored several goals and she's saved many a goal while playing goalie. She is still a fairly 'polite' soccer player (if someone else is going for the ball she'll often hold back in an 'After you' sort of fashion) but she is having a really good season and loves it. She also started piano lessons this year and is doing very well with them!

HALEY...
...is feeling pretty much back to normal after her pneumonia. She still can't play sports because of her knee surgery (the year this kid has had!) but after Nov. 11th she is supposed to be able to return to full activity. This means she'll likely get to play basketball this year and she's thrilled about that. Haley is also busy with piano lessons (she's getting quite good!) and has taken up the Alto Sax in the school band. She had her first babysitting job last weekend the the report back was that she did a very good job and may give Amber competition where babysitting is concerned.

AMBER...
...is still babysitting lots and enjoys it greatly. She loves playing with kids (except the other day she babysat for someone while she was in the middle of a 2-week grounding from the TV and evidently was a little more interested in the kids' television set than she was in the kids themselves!) She is still playing the clarinet in the school band and really enjoys that. She's also getting great at the piano. She has been working on two songs from Phantom of the Opera the last few weeks and I love to hear her practice them!

AMY...
...has had a great month! I can't believe how much 'down time' I have with the 4 older kids in school all day. I have been on a cleaning/organizing rampage, tackling closets and drawers and cupboards. I also decided that I could groom the dog better and cheaper than a professional (I can't) and gave her quite the hair cut - that was a 2-day ordeal. Once a week I get to help in the kids' classrooms at school, which is a fun opportunity to be a fly on the wall. I only help in Alyssa's and Danny's classrooms because helping in Amber's and Haley's would be "so embarassing" for them. In fact, the other day Amber forgot something important at home and I had to drop it by the school for her. They called her down to the office to get it from me and throughout our entire conversation she was looking at me with fear in her eyes! Relax, Amber...I'm not going to break into song and dance in your middle school lobby! I just wanted to give you your picture money! I'm still teaching the Gospel Doctrine sunday school class at church and I really enjoy it because it's only every other week and it forces me to study where I am prone to procrastinate normally :) I'm also looking for a good book to read (but not too good or I won't keep cleaning my closets!) Any suggestions??

BRAD...
...is busy with work. He is still loving his new job and we are loving his more regular hours (home by 5:30 like clockwork and no more Saturdays or holidays!) He is on a health kick trying to prepare for his upcoming high school alumni basketball tournament. This is a tourney held annually at his high school up in Canada. He loves it so much. Seems like every year he says it's his last and I smile knowing it's not. It's not uncommon for him to leave the tournament on crutches (I'm not joking - that has happened twice!) and he even cracked a rib one year, but for some reason he keeps going back. And don't tell Brad, because I like to pretend the whole tourney is a hardship, but it's pretty fun to watch him play :)