RICKY – He is currently trying to heal from a couple of pretty bad ear infections. (Someday I’m hoping my children will tell me their ears hurt before they get so bad.) He gets great grades at school – their scale is a 1 to 4 scale with 4 being best and Ricky is pulling mostly 4’s with a few 3.5’s thrown in. He is currently learning to sweep the kitchen floor and how to load the dishwasher. And we are working on phone etiquette and skills (if you get random phone calls from him, just consider them practice). Ricky is one of the only kids in his class who takes his lunch to school, but he doesn’t complain about it so I’ll keep it up. He enjoys getting a note from me tucked in with his food, so I think that makes it okay. His desire to play sports still doesn’t exist although he did inform his pediatrician that he is going to take swimming lessons in April (I’ll have to look into that).
BILLY – He could use some outside time. His energy level is much too high for our house! He is learning to put letters together and read words – so far he’s mastered cat, bat, and hat. (I actually think he can read more than that but he refuses to perform for me so it is difficult to tell). Billy loves to say the prayer for each meal and gives well thought out prayers at night (well-thought-out for a 4 year old, that is). He is my best eater and will try most anything as long as it doesn’t resemble a fruit or vegetable. Those he avoids. He has been practicing with his light sabers a lot lately – to be prepared should we come under enemy attack, you know. Billy can’t wait to turn 5 because that means he’ll almost be 6.
RUSTY – He has finally hit his “terrible twos” … 2 weeks before he turns 3. He is a coloring fool and while he doesn’t stay inside the lines, he is adamant that the entire picture be colored completely. He goes through a lot of coloring books in a week. Rusty is picking up on the Star Wars talk and even though he’s never seen the movies or even read a Star Wars story, he is Darth Vader and will attack with the light saber given the chance. I am still not his friend, but he is willing to tell me that he loves me on occasion now (much to my delight). He is a picky eater … not so much about what he’ll eat, but more about when he’ll eat. If he eats a good lunch, don’t plan on him eating much for dinner or vice versa. It makes meal planning a bit tricky.
TOMMY – He is talking more and more. It would make my life easier if I remembered that he actually says words and phrases and paid attention to what he is saying! He loves going down the stairs and does so at lightning speed on his tummy. He is much faster than any of us on our feet! Tommy enjoys coloring with Rusty, although we have to watch him carefully since his crayon does not always stay on the paper – my poor walls. He, too, was diagnosed with an ear infection this weekend and is much happier since being placed on antibiotics. His frog pacifiers are dying – apparently he chews on them too much – but he isn’t quite ready to give up the pacifiers completely yet (and I’m okay with that). Tommy still isn’t a big fan of strangers, and sometimes even of people he knows and loves. I’ll just say that he has a strong personality …
MOMMA & POPPY – We have had our doses of head colds and stomach bugs right along with the kids and would like the germs to clear out … please! Kevin’s work continues on and each day that the company he works for still exists is a good day. He is working on his Masters of Information Technology degree and classes start up again this week. With church callings, work, and school, he still finds plenty of time to read The Hardy Boys to our boys and change his fair share of diapers! Cindy has a whole slew of hobbies that keep her busy as well as trying to keep the house in somewhat decent shape as the whirlwind of boys follow her around.
That’s the state of our house … at least it is the state of our house TODAY.