daredevil

We've been suspicious for a while that we might have a daredevil on our hands with Jackson.  Seems to be a bit of a thrill-seeker.  (Just what I need!)  The other night Mike was giving Jackson a bath when I got home from taking a walk with Amy (we were late for spin class - oops - so just took a walk instead), so Mike and I were just hanging out while Jackson played.  Anyways, our tub is slanted on one end - you know, like a slide.  Under close supervision, Jackson tried to climb up that part, fell and slid down, and instead of it frightening him, he LOVED it.  He was laughing so hard and kept trying to do it over and over again.  Also, at one point Mike had him on his back in the water with his ears totally submerged - none of my other kids would do that, and he was relaxed and loving it!  This has me a tad worried for the cottage this summer - going to have to keep a close eye on that boy.  I want my kids to be more comfortable in the water than I have ever been, but yet a healthy fear is good!

Tuesday night was a roller skating party for our school.  I'm not sure who had more fun, Mike or the boys!  It worked out perfect with Jackson - we had him in the jogging stroller the whole time, and he loved it!  I didn't skate, but was able to walk around the rink with him some.  Mike pushed him most of the time, though.  Both Caleb and Logan tried roller blades for a while at first, and I thought they were getting the hang of it, but then they wanted to switch to skates, and did well with those, too.  Logan really did well.  At the beginning he would fall, but then get right back up and keep going.  It didn't take long before I could tell he was going longer distances without falling and he just started to look more comfortable with it.  Caleb used a little push cart thing quite a bit and did well.  I think he was having a blast just being with his friends.  :)  Levi definitely improved throughout the night, too!  It worked out nice for him to have the stroller to hang onto.  I enjoyed walking around the rink a few times, and then visiting with other moms.  :)

potatoes

Caleb and Logan had their 7 year well child visit to the doctor last night.  7 years!!  Seems like we were just hauling them in to the doctor in their carseats to see if they were gaining at all!

Logan is 53 lb (60%) and 4' 2" (79%); and Caleb is 64 lb (91%) and 4' 5" (98%).  In the words of the doctor, "If you plant potatoes, you're going to grow potatoes."  I suppose he means we're not destined to have small children!  Ha!

So, so very thankful for my healthy boys.  Caleb and his no-nonsense, I-just-wanna-have-a-good-time attitude, yet still sensitive; and Logan and his thoughtful, sensitive, and creative nature.  It is so much fun to see how each of our children develop into individuals with their own strengths (and, yes, weaknesses...), likes, dislikes, temperaments, and abilities.  We are blessed.

project

We have been working on remodeling our laundry room, and it's been going well, yet it gets to a point where it feels like it's just dragging on, and I just want it to be over with.  Mike has done a ton of work, but there's still more to go (and we're getting into things where I can be involved), and we're having a carpenter come in a couple weeks to do a built-in.  It will be so worth it!  I love living in an old, unique house, but it also means that there is ALWAYS a project.  I started on a photo book of our basement project, and it's amazing what strong emotions that brings out in me.  I am SO GLAD that is over with.  It is definitely nice to have the basement (Mike mentioned how this laundry room project is much easier because of having access to the plumbing and gas lines in the basement), but I'm really, really, really, glad that 2015 is a memory.  :)

We've pretty much just been staying busy going about our normal business of life.  Church, school, working on the laundry room, just keeping the household running.  Last week we had a guy from Mike's work over for dinner, and I think we'll do that more often.  He recently moved out of his mom's house, and it was not a huge deal to just add a plate at the table.  :)

Jackson has had a cold for a few days now, but it seems like he's on the mend today.  Mike is feeling pretty yucky with it today.  Levi has it a little bit, and I think Logan was sniffling some, too.  I can feel it a little bit, but not too bad.  Yuck!  Jackson hasn't slept real great, last night I spend a couple hours in the chair with him, but now he's napping pretty well and I haven't heard as much coughing.

Jackson's main form of transportation now is walking.  The other day I got him new shoes and he is just too cute.  When I got them I tried them on him for a bit then took them off for his nap.  As soon as he woke up from his nap he pointed at the shoes, and when I handed them to him he held them down by his feet.  He did the same thing for Mike the next morning.  He just clomps around the house in them and it's so cute!  It's still pretty cute the way he says "no", too.  He says it when he's going to do something he knows he shouldn't be doing.  So, he often tests it at mealtime - he'll hold his cup or a piece of food over the floor and say "no no".  Or, he'll walk towards one of the lamps in the living room saying "no no".

I've been putting it off for a while, but a few days ago I got all the Legos out for the boys.  They've been enjoying building things, for which I am glad, but the mess is a nightmare for me...  I've mostly been able to keep stuff off the main level so I don't have to worry about it with Jackson so much, but the basement and their rooms are a mess of Legos.

Last week a Chick-fil-A finally opened somewhat near us, and we went there on it's second day open!  The lines were crazy, but they handled it really well.  Mike and I went on Friday with Levi and Jackson, and just went through the drive-thru.  It was so good, and I hope we get one even closer sometime!