Life has kept us busy lately (hence the long gap between updates and pictures).
Big Brother is doing great and we are working on issues at school with hopes that he'll be able to succeed and thrive like a normal Kindergartener. His birthday is coming up soon and "time" is a very hard thing to explain to a 5 year old...especially when his "Birthday!" is on the line! :-) He is determined to have a Lightning MacQueen ("CARS") themed birthday party and Mommy is still working out the logistics of what day to have this awesome celebration. He has mentioned wanting a Tiger Shark for Christmas, so I'm hoping he doesn't have similar hopes for his Birthday present (although mommy and daddy have discussed maybe getting a fish tank with a little "shark"). No definite decision yet. Big Brother continues to love the library and we check out about 30 or more items a week... reading several a day (and several times each!). I try to get lots of Non-Fiction books and he seems to love what I pick out. Whales, Fire trucks, the Titanic, the Hindenburg, Cars, Trains, Alaska, Snakes, Coyotes, Volcanos, etc. etc. etc. Whatever the subject is, becomes his new infatuation. Right now we are focused on tornados, sharks, and volcanos. So of course, he requires mommy to draw him pictures of these things. They usually involve the Tiger Shark biting a tornado or jumping over a volcano (and similar scenarios). Pretty dramatic stuff. We're really into natural disaster stuff and its pretty cool to hear about how God makes lightning, thunder, tornados, etc. We have a SUPER STRONG God! :-)
Baby Sister is thriving and sleeping good at night. There's been a few nights with only one feeding and this makes Mommy VERY happy! :-) She is still looking "pretty in pink" and has the smile of an angel! I have been updating family with pictures and everyone agrees that she has the sweetest smile and the brightest eyes! She's beautiful!
We are enjoying Spring Break and Big Brother has been WONDERFUL for me throughout the day (with a few exceptions which require "redirection" and "focus time" - sitting in the hall facing the wall). We have added CHORES to his routine this week and he is excited about "earning quarters"... he already knows how he wants to spend it... *on GUM* (of course!)
Tomorrow evening we are headed to see Poppy and GiGi on the coast and plan a trip to the beach and an aquarium (shhh...it's a surprise!). We have lots of shell-collecting to do, because we've promised shells to just about everybody we know (teacher, CPS and CASA worker, other mommy and daddy, etc).
We have made cookies for the Firemen twice now and the first time we delivered them, Fireman Chris let Big Brother sit in the drivers seat of the BIG RED FIRETRUCK and HONG THE SIREN!!! So exciting! (*Mommy has decided Fireman Chris is super cool). :-) We delivered some again today to them and also to the local Police and Big Brother got to give the Policeman a "high five". Not knowing all the details about these kids past, we are trying our best to reinforce to Big Brother WHO the "Good guys" are. Policemen and Firemen are brave and strong and protect us. I have baked and delivered cookies to the police and firemen before in our community, but it means so much more coming from a kid who can look up to these men and say, "I'm super strong too Mommy! Like a firefighter! I wanna be a firefighter!"
(Neat!)
***The kids' Court Date is March 21st, so please keep them in your prayers and pray that the Lord will give the Judge wisdom in his decisions. May God's will be done.****
Please enjoy the pictures I've attached, and know that our family feels your prayers and needs them daily! We send our love and THANKS to each of you and hope your month will be filled with rejoicing in the Lord!
Big Brother loves to "wash dishes" (another way of saying "playing in the sink for an hour")
Big Brother watching a movie (an animated book) for having a great report from school!
Gotta love the germ-infested-playgrounds at your local fast food restaurants :o)
Daddy and Baby Sister
(she holds her head up so well!)
Another cute photo from the Rodeo
Daddy, Big Brother, and (the other) Poppy
(Every man in this little boy's world is "Poppy")
Couldn't get this image to turn, but you can get an idea of the sort of drawings Big Brother likes.
Here is one that Daddy drew (at Big Brothers dictation)...
Mommy and Daddy are bottom left watching a tornado.
PawPaw Otter (that's GiGi's dad...My PawPaw) is riding and "roping" the twister,
and GiGi is watching from the ground (her hair is being blown around from the high winds).
He has quite the imagination! :o)
