Since May 14th...

The problem with blogging is that it works best when you are pretty timely with posts.  As in, not waiting several weeks to make a few observations about what has been happening.  All I can say is that I have gotten this part all wrong in recent weeks.  So, as I got set to upload a few pictures this morning I realized just how much has happened since I last posted on May 14th. So here we go...

 Summer has officially begun at our house.  I am oh so grateful for one less person to have to get up and ready prior to 7:30 am. Is it bad that I am already dreading it beginning again in August when Joshua returns to school?  Joshua had his program on May 17th and we were so proud of him.  He sang and did his motions like a champ.  They sang "Trust and Obey" and a cute song called "Jungle Jamba" as well as reciting the entirety of Psalm 100 as a class.  Go ahead and look that one up...it's LONG!  And they are 4 and 5 years old.  This picture is of him with his teacher, Mrs. Deitrick, and the school principal, Mr. Baughman.  It was a great year for Joshua at Meadowbrook and we look forward to all that next year will hold for him in kindergarten as well.

 Mara has been doing quite a bit of Bumbo sitting lately.  Mostly she bends herself in half to chew on it, but since she has been quite needy lately and pretty much requires being held by me or in her Moby wrap tied to me, this has been a solution for those few minutes that I just need to have my arms free.  She will sit there while I cook or hang a load of laundry to dry, but wants to be picked back up within a few minutes.

We have  been blessed with not one, but TWO rounds of strep throat, which has necessitated a few of Daddy's special chocolate milkshakes for the big kids.  Hopefully this last round of antibiotics has kicked it out for good, because I can do without a recurrence of that for a while....or ever.

Mara has really been showing interest in our food lately, so we decided a few weeks ago to set up the high chair at the table for her so that she could sit with us for dinner.  This was a big improvement over me holding her while eating, or nursing her while eating (which more often than not was the situation).  After she started opening her mouth when we took a bite, and reaching for food, I decided to let her try some rice cereal.  On her second attempt, she decided she really liked it and has been having a little bit each night when we eat our supper.  She smiles so big, giggles and kicks her legs when she sees me get her bowl.  All I can think is that if she likes this stuff, she ought to love veggies and fruits when we start them.  I will probably wait until the 6 month mark for those, but the cereal has been a good first step I think.

This little blogging hiatus has also included a whole week that Daddy was away on a business trip.  I have to tell you that I have tremendous respect for single parents, because I was EXHAUSTED after his trip.  Between balancing working, prepping everything at home, getting the kids tubbed and into bed each night on my own, and all of the other household things thatneed togetdone without having the option of asking for a little help from Jason, I didn't know which end was up.  My mom had come to help for one of the days, which was so appreciated.  And Jason's Mom was here during the workday and was a huge help.  But goodness.  We hated that he was in Orlando without us along for a Disney vacation, but realized that this year, with the kids the ages they are just wasn't the best choice, especially since Jason was tied up in meetings most of the days.  Hopefully soon we'll start to think about planning our maiden voyage to Disney as a family..

While Daddy was gone, the big kids also had their very first (non-family) babysitter.  A super sweet college student from church agreed to come and stay with them one night that I had a meeting to go to.  They did great and seemed to have a wonderful time.  I could hear them squealing and giggling from the garage when I pulled in and came inside to find them chasing Meagan all around the house.  I'm still not ready to leave Mara with a teenager yet, but Josh and Lauren seemed to love the change of scenery!

 Lauren has managed to have a major growth spurt in recent months and has somehow outgrown her tricycle, so she became the proud owner of her own big girl bike the other night.  It's a Minnie Mouse bike and might possibly be the cutest little thing I've ever seen.  It was raining when Jason put it all together for her, so she rode it around the kitchen and had a blast.  Can't wait for some sunshiny (is that a word?) evenings that we can go out and watch her ride.

And finally, this was the scene last night as Joshua constructed a Harley for himself and his sister to drive.  Please don't miss the details on this one.  The "do rag" on his head is a dish cloth, and they obviously both needed goggles for eye protection.  His Woody vest is supposed to be his leather vest, and the rest of their configuration  was pretty creative as well.  Although it plays me out from time to time, I have to say that I love to see his imagination at work.  And Lauren  just loves any chance she gets to play along with her big brother.  I think Pap would be proud of this Harley riding team!

More to come tomorrow when I report on Mara's turning 5 months old.  I know...I can't believe it either.