Natalie's day at a Dinner Theatre

The PTP sent the 1st graders to a Dinner Theatre to see Pinocchio. Let me preface this by sharing...so last week one of the 1st grade teachers said they would show the kids the movie since "probably none of you have read the book". Oh, Natalie read it alright...MONTHS ago. Published in 1962 (and the pages look that old too). I got a bunch of my old chapter books and put them in her room. She reads A LOT and apparently read this in January. I had just begun reading this one aloud to Everett when she shared what the teacher said. I asked, "So you did read this one?" (I cannot keep up with all the books she reads) and she confirmed that yes, she had. I asked her several questions, flipping to random parts of the book--she answered the questions quite accurately for having read it a while back. I am AMAZED. My comprehension stinks! I will read a book. Dan reads it RIGHT after me and starts to talk to me about parts of it--and I have COMPLETELY forgotten things, many things. I cannot get over what she remembers.

Anyway, back to today. Natalie was SUPER excited to go to this dinner theatre. We got her all dressed up (IRONING her dress, mother!). She had such a ball! I am so glad. So here are some pics of her hopping off the bus in her outfit. She is one beautiful little girl with a personality to match.

3 1/2 month changing boy!

Elliott has really changed looks these past several weeks. After a whopping 50% weight gain in a matter of 6 weeks anyone would look dramatically different. He is really a big boy, I would venture to guess he is aroung 18 pounds by now. We had the 6-12 month bin of clothing out for, 2 weeks?, and now we have already moved on to the 12-18 month bin. He is sleeping at night for us with a few BRIEF naps (maybe 30-45 mins) during the day. He is such a sweet boy, really. He does have his moments (Grammy has much empathy for him after evenings of her reflux acting up) where he is hurting and lets you know. I have come to accept that those long naps that the other two gave me (to clean and organize the house) are a thing of the past. I know though that I will be far happier later in life if I know I spent more time holding baby than cleaning my home. This first year goes WAY too fast. I love our little one, ones.

Playset FINISHED!

Finally! We spent far more than the 10-12 hours for two people the instructions say. Dan and I alone spent that much. Then several days of full day build jobs. Thanks to Papa and Debbie for the money to buy the set; Thanks to Grandpa and Zac and Jim and Tim for all the time and hard labor to put it together and to Kaylan and Grammy for helping hold "sweet boy"--who was so often NOT so sweet for them. Ok, so it is NOT yet really finished--we now have to rake back the mulch and Roundup everything that is coming through and then...it will be done.

Easter 2010--Elliott a little older than 3 months

Here are some pics from Grammy and Grandpa's home for Easter/Conference weekend. Elliott is a bit older than 3 months, Everett 3.5yrs and Natalie 6.5 years.