Update on the kids

I have been overwhelmed lately with all the things I want to talk about so instead of writing I just have avoided the computer altogether. Finally decided to sit down and update and wanted to start the new year with an overview of the kids and how they are doing.

CARLY SUE:

• Finished her Hip Hop class and is going to start Piano lessons in February. We are all so excited!

• She is doing amazing in school and is starting to love to read on her own. I love going in her room and finding her laying in bed reading or writing in her diary. 

• We found out that she is going to have to get her tonsils taken out. We are set to do it next week and I am not going to lie, I am terrified. I hate surgery and I hate that my baby is going to have to do it. Trying to be brave and act like it is no big deal but am secretly sick to my stomach. Say some prayers for her.

CLAY:

• We had our first lesson of Tae Kwon Do this week and he is hooked. I think it is just as amazing as he thought it would be. He looks so cute in his uniform that I almost can't handle it. I just look at him and think, "if you were not my kid I would seriously steal you."  That's how cute he is.

• He is rocking school. I was hesitant to start him in kinder this year even at home but he is progressing so fast. He is now full blown reading and doing so much in his workbooks that  I can't keep up with him. Blows me away.   

CLAIRE:

• This girl has been making me crazy from the time she entered this world.  She is trouble with a capital T. She wants to be just like the two big ones and pretty much follows them around all day. 

• She wants to do "school" and we have to have daily conversations about how everyone has a job and her job is to be a 3 year old and to play and have fun. She isn't buying it.

• She doesn't sleep.  We put the kids to bed and she pretty much has a party in her room for a couple hours each night. She will bring Dylan and I random items throughout the night so that she can get out of bed. She also likes to sneak into our room in the middle of the night.  Apparently she says some random and hilarious things, I wouldn't know because thankfully she goes to Dylan's side.

CLINT:

• Jojo has been army crawling now for a month and is finally starting to crawl for real. OH... and he is pulling up on stuff. For real, found him standing in his crib yesterday. Make it stop! I don't want him to be big yet!

• He hates when I am out of sight and will scream and crawl as fast as he can to get to me. Pretty much he is my constant side kick and companion. I am not ashamed to admit that he is pretty much attached to me all day. I honestly can't get enough of him. 

•  The boy LOVES his Dad. He will try to jump out of my arms as soon as he sees him when he comes home. I can't blame him he is pretty incredible.

• We started sleep training him last week. He has been sleeping all night long and doesn't get up in the morning until after 8:00. Is it possible to be so happy and yet so incredibly sad at the same time?

• He is still the sweetest, happiest baby and would get a perfect score of 10 if he didn't poop every time I put him in the car seat. It doesn't matter where we go, when I get him out of the car he has pooped. Every time... not even kidding. Sometimes I put him in the car without pants on because he normally poops through them.  It is insane but oh so true.

SCHOOL:

We have been trying to have fun again at school. I get overwhelmed a little with Clint and Claire being so dependent that we have just been doing the basics. With the weather so cold and not being able to play outside as much we have been doing some fun science experiments and crafts to pass the time. Here are a few:

1. Painting a glue picture with salt and water color:

2. The Ivory soap in the microwave experiment. It was actually really cool. 

 

3.  Learning about baking soda and vinegar. 

So life is pretty hard right now. Finding a balance between staying on a routine for Clint and also letting the big kids have time to do fun stuff and play with friends is tough.  We are now going to be committed to 3 days a week of activities with Tae Kwon Do and Piano and so life is going to be pretty hectic for this family who rarely does anything. I know it will be amazing and we are excited but don't be hurt if we decline invitations for a while. I need to be home for my own sanity.