Exhaling!

Two & Cute!

The month of May is tremendously busy! Wow - end of the year everything! We move from preschool to school to dog trainer to speech therapy to OT playgroup to soccer games and then to ballet. . Dr appointments, board celebrations, graduations. It seems as though nothing slows down and I am so exhausted and missing my friends. I am looking forward to the end of May when we can come back together as a family and enjoy each other and really enjoy time with friends!

I am very thankful for a large family, but months like May make it seem like we have 20 children! We are adjusting to some better routines and by force I am becoming more organized - still have a long way to go.

Olivia is finishing up the 5th grade - WHOOOA. We are so very proud of her and the light she has been to her school!

Annabel is finished with 4th grade home schooling and we have learned so much together - the highlight of her year was finally getting her soon to be big dog, Pilot. She has done so well training her!

Grace is becoming such a talented ballerina and quite a soccer star. She is almost finished with kindergarten and can read more than we would like for her to read :). The tooth fairy came for her sister Annabel this week and for some reason the tooth fairy was a little low on cash so she left a note and accidentally signed it: Love, The Easter Bunny (Opps!)
That was a bit confusing for a 6 year old -

Quinn has done great in K-4 and loves his little school and teachers. He has played Co-ed soccer this year - I am so proud of how he treats the little girls on the opposing teams. He will not steal the ball nor will he even approach them if they have it - how do you encourage anything different? AND he has his younger sister Amelia always reminding him that "it is ladies first!" in a not so kind voice at times.

Ameila has finished K-3 and talks to anyone she sees about dogs. She wants to know if you have a dog, if your dog goes POO POO! What your dogs name is (and she will let you know if it is a good name or not!) - There are only so many pre-discussions you can have to avoid absolute embarrassment. You never know what she is going to say - she has more opportunity for correction than any of the children - We have many talks together.

Grant continues to amaze us. He has gone through some times recently where I have had to leave to room in order to not scream. He is really been testing boundaries - he is a two year old and I do not know how I forget that some days. His newest trick is to dump his milk behind his highchair in the morning. His speech teacher has insisted I give him an open cup to exercise his mouth muscles - We are going to make it through this! He did have to have all 4 front teeth pulled because of infection. It was an emergency situation and the dentist had to do it asap. It was very difficult because he only had gas and shots to easy the trauma and pain. He did GREAT and by 6pm he was jumping around. I think his little mouth feels so much better - the little nerves on 3 of the teeth were exposed. He is also eating a lot more - Praises! Any day I anticipate his speech taking off - he is really working hard and so very determined. OH and we are not biting anymore!!! That is a very big hurdle - Everyone who meets Grant is so amazed by the joy in his little spirit - he is a delight! It has been very interesting to watch the attachment process - it is coming and he knows we are something more than passing people in his life. He also allows himself to receive the love from a hug - and sighs with enjoyment! Precious!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention! I turned 40! It was the best birthday -Ever! Skip surprised me with a dinner party with friends - Elizabeth who recently moved to TN even came! It was grand! and too boot he gave me a 12 passenger VAN! - WHITE! It is the greatest car in the world! I love it! I cannot understand the puzzled looks from my friends - more than 3 have said, "is that really your car?" And the greatest thing is . . . it is a little less than half way full!

I will post on our new addition Pilot this weekend -

I am so very thankful it is FRIDAY!!!!!
Blessings to everyone!