Sleepovers

The 3 boys all share a room, which has been working out well.  However, a few weeks ago, the younger boys started waking up when David wakes up, rather than sleeping for a while longer like they used to.  We still didn't let them come out, with the intention of helping them get back into the habit of sleeping longer (because they really needed it!). Before too long, they were having "sleepovers" in the mornings, where they would crawl into a particular bed (it changed from day to day), and gather all the blankets/pillows, etc. and have a party until it was officially time to be awake.  They would have so much fun!  But, it got to be too much fun, and often the laughter would be intermixed with crying, (sometimes a party would be held in the bed of a child that was just starting to wake up)... so we had to say "no more."  If they want a sleepover, it has to wait until after breakfast.  I will say that overall they have adjusted to the time change fairly easily, though!

Winter

This pretty much sums up what life further up north is like.  We recently had a day when it was beautiful out and we even had a window open a little bit...then the next day we were hit with several inches of snow.  It prompted me to think about the Children's Blizzard of 1888.  The kids had yesterday (Mon) off because of the snow and we went to yet another new sledding place.  We had a great time, even though they liked other sledding hills better.

The boys

I sometimes wonder what Joshua will be when he grows up... He his so lively and good at almost anything he does.  He is very athletic and has amazing balance and coordination (we sometimes call him Monkey because he loves to climb, swing, and jump); he's also pretty confident (while getting other kids ready for sledding, he jumps in the sled, takes off and loves it!).  He has an engineering bent to him - he loves puzzles (he has mastered some that have 24 pieces) and certain mechanical things.  But, he is also very dramatic and expressive; definitely the "class clown" of our family!  He is also by far the most vocal of our kids, at least this age.  And, lastly, he is very observant.  He's always taking in various information, and when he talks about it, it can be very funny!  Recently, he was sitting on Derek's lap and saw a freckle on his arm.  He laughs and says, "Dad, you have a round-about on your arm!" (Man holes are also "round-abouts" to him). He also referred to a picture of a cardinal as an "angry bird," and when he looked at a video of a newborn baby asked if it was baby Moses.

On another note, Nathan wrote his name on the marker board for the first time!  I haven't done much with writing letters, and he did a great job! While at the marker board, I wrote "at" and he was able to sound it out.  We continued with other "at" words - cat, bat, hat, etc. and he got every one!  He loves counting, adding, and counting by twos.  It seems like he is really growing. He is currently stuttering quite a bit again, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much.  I did take him to get a preliminary evaluation done (end of Dec.) to see if he qualified for speech therapy, but he didn't.  They also testing his hearing in a few different ways, and his hearing is right at the average mark.  It was comforting to know he hasn't had a lot of hearing loss after 4 sets of tubes.

Our life in pictures

He loves to make his own outfits.  If I do not stop him, he changes his clothes every few hours.  When I find clothes strewn around his room, I usually assume they are clean. 

If stolen bread is sweet, what is stolen milk while sitting on the table???

After-supper wrestling match

At a local play center

Play center with a friend

On our way to tour a greenhouse, we stopped at Cabela's.  

Cabela's

A friend manages a greenhouse (it covers several acres) and we got a tour.

Second sledding outing.  Nathan wasn't too happy for the first hour and cried for most of that time. 

Elizabeth and a friend. 

Crash!

More friends

This is what David did most of the time: race!

View of the river beyond the hill.

1 hill; 2 toboggan runs

Elizabeth being helpful.

At the end, Nathan decided to try to go sledding, but still didn't feel very well. 

In early February, my cousin got married and the wedding reception was at a bowling alley!

Another play center; helps wear off energy in the winter!

Nathan and Joshua's engineering skills.

I love Joshua's expression.  As my grandma once said, "He looks like he's full of the dickens." 

Elizabeth's Valentine's treat; the leaf said that is was from her.

Valentine's stickers

Nathan first attempt at writing letters: E,N,J (I guess he sees his siblings names quite a bit!)

David had a friend sleep over!  Playing connect 4!

More crafts: cookie cutters dipped in glue and sprinkled with glitter

More pictures

Turning 9!

Decorating his ice cream cone tree

more decorating

This child LOVES to make up his own outfits, even if it's with hats!

Jan. 2013

First sledding experience of 2013!

Matching pjs (Hello Kitty) made by Grandma Heeren 

Celebrating David's birthday at Valentinos!

Recent addition: inherited table and chairs

Sister

My sister at a recent farm show.  She won grand champion market heifer! Ahh, the memories of showing cattle... although I don't think mine ever looked that fluffy!