From Jada

**** For chores, our kids have wipe-off checklists that they use. There is one checklist for each section of the house. This week, Jada had laundry*****

Jada: (dramatically huffing and puffing while hauling a clothes basket up the stairs). I just can't do this. Help HELP help!!!!!!!!!! Woah, oh no! Ok, ok I can do this. (stops for a break). (moaning) If only I'd eaten three biscuits and had 20 glasses of apple juice, then MAYBE I could do this!!!

(Stops for a break)

(loudly continues) All right, let's go.... too many clothes, too many clothes. Ok, I made it! WHEW!!!!


Me: Jada, someday if you have kids, you are going to have to haul laundry baskets everyday, then what are you going to do?

Jada: I'm going to bring your checklists and give them to my kids. THEN I won't have to DO anything!!!

Jada: (laughing) What are you going to do when I'm a teenager????

Me: Good question.

Most "Colorful Clubber" Night at Awana!

Sledding!

This winter, we have hardly had any snow. This does not bother me at all, in fact, I love it. Our kids, however, were super excited that we finally got some significant snow over the weekend. After we finished school yesterday I decided to take them sledding. Our yard is flat, and so is our neighborhood, so we had to drive to a hill. The kids were mostly happy to go, and we got to the car with only one mini tantrum and one full blown screaming fit (both by the same child, who shall remain nameless).

Once we got to the hill, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it went! I fully expected Micah to not be a happy sledder, but he was perfectly content to be pulled around at the bottom of the hill while his siblings played. I was also surprised that Zachary was able to make it to the top and climb in a sled without much trouble. Jada was very helpful and eager to take Zachary down the hill. Ethan was happy to sled by himself, and not so happy to share with Zachary (yikes!). The sledding fun ended a bit early for Ethan, as he kicked his sled across the field when he missed the jump he was aiming for. The advice to "Try try again" was not an acceptable option to him....

He can walk (alternately titled, It's about time!)

Micah

is so

excited!

He can

walk!!!

A Lost Tooth!

When Jada lost her first tooth at five years, four months, I thought that she was too little to lose teeth. In fact, I didn't believe her when she told me she had a loose tooth. A year later, she has six teeth out and says a seventh is loose!

 So... when Ethan kept telling me that he had a loose tooth, I thought he was copying Jada. Jada has been known to make a rather big show out of losing teeth (HELP HELP!!! NO NO, don't touch, don't TOUCH it! OK, wiggle it, NOOOOO, don't touch it....). About a week ago, he told me his tooth was almost out and showed me. He did have a loose tooth and apparently had had it for quite some time, as it was hanging by a thread. Three days later, it was out! He was so proud:) And, he was even earlier than Jada at four years, 10 months.

Zachary is 3!

Our sweet boy is three today! He spent his day at home playing with his toys. He got a spiderman mask, 2 "Where's Waldo" books, and an addition to our train set. He is so cute and precious, I don't know what we'd do without him!! He was running around this morning with his froggy blanket. He just loves froggy, and I love wathcing him with froggy because I know it will only last a little bit longer. We love you Zachary!!

 We started out the day with colored oatmeal... he was thrilled as you can see.

opening his first gift 

 A spiderman mask!

 A pirate cake, as requested.

 working hard to blow out all 3 candles!

 more gifts under the "birthday tree"

 And, because I think these are funny, here are a couple of Micah!

4 Years

" Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away."