lately

Lately I've been missing. It's just been a strange start to our year. Between sickness and a TON of yucky weather we haven't been out doing many things and when we do I haven't been bringing my camera. Usually January is our slow activity month and filled with many museum trips, chuck e cheese, and day trips.  But...this year started off different. The kids haven't mentioned a thing about it (though I am constantly thinking about all the things we aren't doing). They are having fun playing at our basically toy-less house (since it's on the market) and playing outside in the hot temps...then today in the cold rainy temps.

Braden's still going to the eye doctor but THANKFULLY they let us see one right near Brian's work so instead of a several hour event it's condensed into one hour.  They have had to pull several of his eyelashes because they are growing backwards...into his eye and are contributing to damaging his cornea. It's very strange. I wonder if all the drops and goop are causing it but they say no. Who knows.  Lately Braden has been wanting to do journal entries on anything Science. First a whole research paper on the different types of rocks (which he also taught to his scout den) and yesterday he did one on atoms.  I actually had to get him to call dad and read it to him to be sure it was all accurate.  He's reaching the point in science where mommy stopped...and he LOVES it all.  Another love of his came back this week too.  That is the love of running.  He started back over the weekend and is up bright and early (then drags daddy out of bed to go with him) happy as a clam to go out in the hot/cold/rain..whatever and run.  He missed all his fall races because of everything that happened with his eye but he is very hopeful that he can get back to it this spring.  Braden is finished with his first book of TnT and will be saying the entire thing next week to earn his Gold award! 

Cailey hasn't been sick lately and for that we are thankful!! She's loving school and usually does it between the hours of 8-10 pm. Yup...she is a night owl and does all of her independent work the night before it's due which this year means math, journal, handwriting, latin practice, typing, word problems, drawing, and state project.  Since she's finished all her awana books she is now working on memorizing 1 John.  Yup...the whole thing.  She's already memorized 1 John 1, 2, 3, and is learning 4. Once she finishes she is hoping to continue with 2 John and 3 John.  We love hearing her say her verses.  Her current love is basketball (though she can't wait for soccer!) She started off the season and by her second game scored 4 points in one night:).  She has the desire to run a couple races coming up but has yet to train so we'll have to see what happens with that.

Kinsey is our healthy one this year (and last) and the only one who didn't meet their deductible!  She has her allergy problems but nothing serious..and for that we are thankful.  She's made SO much progress with reading and now reads me Magic Tree House books.  She's finished the first grade Right Start Math book and started second grade (about 35 lessons in now).  It AMAZES me to see how far she's come since a couple of years ago!  She has finished her Awana book and is now working through the flight plan.  Basketball is her sport right now and she's constantly practicing outside.  She loves drills, shooting, and just the game in general.  She wants to steal the ball but with Upward you aren't allowed to do that until you are in the 4th grade league and it's driving her bonkers!  This is an area where she excels for sure which is neat to see. 

Ephram has been healthy since right before Christmas.  He's no longer taking naps more than a couple times a week (if that) because he has trouble falling asleep at night if he does.  We always make sure he gets a Sunday nap but other than then he thinks he's big stuff staying up and playing with the kids all afternoon.  He is turning out to be a helper like his older brother and constantly wants to help fold laundry or sweep for us:).  LOVE IT!  He is also quite eloquent with his words and well beyond his years with some of the things that come out of his mouth.  Brian and I often listen to him then stare at each other wondering where in the world Ephram learned whatever was just shared. And he's observant too...then can apply his observations. Fascinating.  Can't wait to see how easy/hard school comes for him.  (praying for easy:.)

There have been other things going on in the house contributing to the lack of blogs but hopefully I will get my act together and start again soon. I've never gone so long without blogging and really want to keep it up for the kids...

That's what we've been up to lately. 

Super Hero Skating

Cailey is in Routh 56 at church...it's Sunday school for the 5th and 6th graders. They had a super hero skating day on a Sunday afternoon and she went with her friends Abby and Kylie.  There were lots of other girls she knew there (Lindsey, etc.) and she had a great time.

It was the first time we've 'dropped her off' somewhere without an adult we know there (Actually Stefanie..Kylie's mom dropper them off) and I was nervous the whole time!  ALL of her leaders were there and her friends so I was pretty sure she'd be kept safe but this was a new step for us. We sent her with spending money for skating and a snack and she was very responsible with it...bringing us change afterwards.  

She was gone ALL day Sunday, going to church, then straight to Kylie's, skating, picked up and taken to early practice at choir, then mission kids, and regular choir. Whew! It was a long day but she loved every bit and came home and told me all about it.  I loved catching up with her and hearing all about her day but man I can't believe how quickly she is growing up.

Oh...Ephram let her borrow his super hero cape to wear too:).

littlest helper

we got kinsey this little broom a few years ago and ephram has rediscovered it. he LOVES to help sweep the floor...and mama loves it too:)

type a

 I like Sharpies. I couldn't find one I needed and in my hunt this is just the beginning of what we discovered!  I own a CRAZY amount of Sharpies!  I don't go out and buy them...they are from over the years and every time I see a new deal online I apparently think I need to order them. From now I I will think better of that...lol!

Oh..and my draw that dad made me with slotted areas for my love of organizing. Friends are always surprised to see this but I love sorting things in rainbow order and sorting in general!

curly q

My curly cutie! I always thought her hair wouldn't keep the curls in very long but boy was I wrong! Her hair is gorgeous in curls and they stay in for days after I curl it.  My curly q!

napping boy

We let Ephram stop taking naps since he was having trouble falling asleep at night. Usually, we still have him take a nap on Sunday afternoon to 'catch up' on his lost sleep. He will still occasionally fall asleep in the car on the way home from places but for the most part makes it all day with extra energy.

Last Sunday he asked if he could stay awake instead of taking a nap. Since it was so nice out we decided to let him. I was upstairs while the kids were playing outside and Brian was running an errand. Apparently he left Nascar (aka Napcar) on the TV and Ephram thought he would watch it for a minute. Or not. lol! He feels the same way about it as I do and was totally out...legs crossed and all!

ceative cailey

 Cailey is a performer through and through but lately she's also been writing plays.  Whenever girlfriends come over they write plays together then record them or perform for us. Usually there is a song involved (or the whole thing is a musical).  Several evenings out of the week she'll get her siblings together and teach them a play...then they will perform for us.  She is SO creative!  She's written them about homeless people, bible stories (the latest was about Peter), funny themes..they are always different!

Everyone had a solo in this musical too:)

She decided that after the above show she would give gifts to the participants (all wrapped nicely in gift bags, of course...and personalized for each sibling) and have a reception afterwards!  She made this snack for the reception which was also creative!  She thought this up all on her own and I didn't even know about it until after the play. Bananas with sprinkles, pretzels, raisins, chocolate chips, yogurt raisins, marshmallows, and clementines.  And in such a pretty array!

It was a very short musical followed by gifts, food, and fellowship:)!

Tangram Tub

 I have so many fun things from my teaching days that I forget about but when Ephram was doing Oo (for oval and octagon)I took out a giant box of tangrams I have. There are all different sizes, thicknesses, and colors of each shape and the other kids joined right in and made houses, clowns, letters, kites, hexagons from triangles, etc. We played with these for two hours! So thankful we can take time to explore:).

10 pts!

Saturday morning I woke up to Kinsey standing over me.  She was completely dressed in her basketball uniform, her hair was fixed perfectly (in a ponytail), and she had already eaten breakfast. This was EARLY and the rest of the house was still asleep.  She was so excited for her first game (still hours away, starting at 9:30).

Kinsey's been dribbling basketballs for a long time...and we always thought she'd be good at it if she was interested in playing down the road. She is very athletic and somehow sports seem to come natural to her (except, of course, her tendency to fall when running...constantly:).

Last year she did cheerleading and really didn't love it. From day ONE out there she said she changed her mind and wanted to play basketball instead.  A year later and she's on her first basketball team loving it!

I actually FORGOT my camera the first week (ridiculous, I do realize) AND the video camera..which I will now be taking to all her games.  But just so we don't forget (for when she gets a basketball scholarship to UNC as Brian says:) I want to write down the account of her first game.

She's started...she's playing with Upward which means the baskets are lower...still. She was crazy amazing. There were some things that she had to learn though, such as it's not a good idea to steal the ball from your own teammate:).

So the clock starts and her teammate has the ball. She goes and dribbles it out from under him, continues to the basket and makes her first one!! Mama was cheering like crazy and she had the biggest grin on her face! She does some more stealing...and some double dribbling (and is instructed by the coach) but by the end of the game she scored 10 points! In her first game ever! That was MORE points than the other team scored all together!

Her last basket was scored by her rebounding it, dribbling all the way down the court (she remembered not to double dribble) and shooting...SWISH!  It was SO VERY fun to watch!! Her last four baskets she didn't even stop to smile..though we were all excited and cheering for her. It's almost like the excitement had worn off for her because she was so used to making baskets. HILARIOUS!  Next week I WILL bring the camera and hopefully I can catch her sinking the ball!


Update...here are pics from game two!

Christmas with the Klick's

 Every year before Christmas we go to Chili's with the Klick's then on a carriage ride in Brier Creek.  It was planned...and replanned this year because people kept getting sick in both of our families. Finally we had to postpone it because of sickness and missed out on the 'sleigh ride'. sigh. mommy is still getting over it but the kids did a while ago:). 

So we invited them over for dinner to do our "Christmas" celebrations and gift exchange. After Cailey was finished eating she played with Charlotte so Kelly and I could finish (we were taking turns with holding the princess:). 

 This year everyone bought a gift for their buddy and did an exchange. The kids LOVED it!

 Kinsey was beyond excited to give Caroline Brave! And Ephram gave Carter a GIANT box of Wiki Sticks.

 Cailey couldn't wait to give Charlotte her well thought out gift!

 LEGOS for our Lego boys!

 They had such a fun time playing the rest of the night..doing stair races, playing hide n seek, tag, having battles with the swords, playing with American Girl Dolls, playing LEGOS, and more!  We are very blessed to have them in our lives to celebrate with!

daddy.

The beginning of the year always brings free evenings and weekends.  Daddy has been playing lots of games with the kiddos which they LOVE!  He is the LIFE and Monopoly player in the family but has also played UNO attack and other games with the four of them...or just one at a time. Braden loves playing chess with him, and Ephram loves playing anything!  Their favorite times with him are for SURE Life and Monopoly, though.  Soon the season will change and life will be busy with longer days outside, sports, ACC, and activities...but for now we are blessed with a lot of Daddy time:).

sick peter pan

 my sweet boy loves to wear his Peter Pan costume. The shirt was missing for a few months and he found it again today. he shouted, "MOMMY! GUESS what I FOUND?" and immediately asked if he could wear it.

he's had a bad cold with fever and I decided that keeping him up at night (and the baby seal cough) needed to be checked out. no sooner than we got in the car was this guy asleep...Peter pan and all.

 waiting...and playing with pirate ships (complete with Captain hook)

Dr. Walker and Peter

turns out he did indeed just have a cold.

Reading Buddies

Ephram LOVES to read his bible..and any picture bible we own. He constantly asks us to read it to him and will sit through the whole story if we have time! I found Kinsey sitting in my room reading to him on the stool while I was teaching the older two and it was just so sweet. They were completely oblivious to me taking a picture (with my phone). I LOVE that Kinsey can read him stories!

drivin' along...

With so many house showings we sometimes just drive to a different street and sit and talk (or read, or listen to brian read). We don't make the kids get buckled when we are just going to a different street and sometimes let them 'drive'. This time was Ephram's turn...and I had a camera:). Precious moments of life..glimpses of everyday.

January visit

 Parades seemed to be the theme this visit...in birth order, of course:). They did this both inside and outside. The weather was warm enough for them to spend a good part of it outside and Cailey came up with a lot of fun games to include everyone.

**Getting people to eat worms was NOT one of the fun games. And I did have to say, "Friends don't feed worms to their friends" to one of my children that day.  never. no worms in mouths. ever.

 

This picture struck me because I look as these kids sitting around this table
and it brings me back to when it was full of bumbo seats and Laura and I were feeding the
babies. Or when there was a booster seat for ephram. Time is passing so quickly
that before we know it we'll blink and there will be tweens, then teens at this table together.

How special they are to us!

 Samuel L.O.V.E.D playing with Kinsey this trip and followed her around everywhere. It was VERY sweet:).  He loves brushing her hair for her too.  Plus..Kinsey and Hannah being matchy!

 Warm snuggly boys playing outside together

 running

and tree climbing