Just trying to keep up

I can't seem to find enough time to blog anymore. I hardly even read my emails! But I wanted to mention that Margot is getting around so well now with her crawling and is pulling up on things. She has 3 1/2 teeth! She is also a champion elephant! Mom cannot make elephant sounds - she definitely takes after her dad. She is such an ape - always copying sounds that people make.

Jack has started wearing underwear all night! He is also eating carrots!!!!!!!!! We're so excited he is eating a vegetable. He actually had 6 carrots tonight for dinner. He is always talking in full sentences now and his vocabulary is really improving. He is much easier to understand and is getting much better at sharing and playing with others. He is so loving and loves to kiss me on my arm and neck:). He loves saying, "Mommy, I love..." fill in the blank with whatever we're talking about...cake, cars, star wars game, singing. He knows words to lots of primary songs now and also hums along with his video games, songs on CDs, or movies. He is a natural musician. And he has an incredible memory.

Katya has another loose tooth. She loves being independent and picking out her own outfits. I try to be patient with her and let her wear whatever she wants. She is doing much better with wanting to do her school work this year. She is so good about getting right up in the morning when it's time to get ready for school. She loves to sing, "I'm trying to be like Jesus", which happens to be one that Jack really likes to sing, too. She is so good to Margot and loves her so much. Jack is very sweet to her, too, but has a hard time sharing with his baby sister.

Scott is working hard at school and has all A's at midterms now. He enjoys being home with the kids again during the day. He really enjoys teaching seminary even though he has to get up super early every day. I am proud of him and don't know how he has the energy to do all he does. I am enjoying my job. The people I work with are great and the work is interesting and challenging. I am learning a lot. I am doing well with Scentsy these days. I have 3 consultants under me and have moved up to lead consultant. I enjoy all the people I work with and am having fun at it.

Firsts!

Today, Katya got her 1ST loose tooth and Margot started crawling!!! Margot also got her 2ND tooth just 2 days ago. Katya was quite excited bouncing around the house after her tooth started to wiggle. Margot was inspired by the computer power cord that she just HAD to have. It gave her that extra incentive to start being mobile! Although she was already doing a great job rolling around the room.

Wild Animal Safari 2

Wild Animal Safari

We also visited Wild Animal Safari over Spring Break.

This is the awesome van we rented so ours didn't get mauled...

by this...

or this...

More Spring Break

Jack and his water obsession...

Wow! I wish I had one of these in by yard!

Happy Easter!

I love seeing the two of them playing together and being good friends.

Spring break

We went to FDR state park to camp for Spring Break.  Of course we chose the 3 coldest days of the year!  Can you believe snow flurries in South Georgia in April?  Here are the girls all bundles up...

 

We went to Callaway Gardens and the butterfly house...

The happy family...

The secret garden... 

Model 3T

 

 

I thought Jack was super handsome in these pics from our Spring break trip...

Kikko 2

Margot loves these rings just as much as her kikkopants sister. She uses them mostly with her hands and usually with her left!!! She does use her foot some thought, just like Katya! I got these pics on one of those nice days where the natural light in the room is just right. What a fun baby she is these days!

Bear Jamboree

 
 
 Pictures for Grammy and Grandma...Thanks for letting Katya borrow the outfit - she was a hit for Bear Jamboree.  What a fun day!  They had biscuits and watched someone churn butter and one of my friends from church quilt.  Then they went outside on a very chilly day and panned for gold and washed clothes on a washboard.  Then they had storytelling (really fun songs) in the library by their wonderful librarian who I went to music school with at UGA.  Then they saw a bluegrass band and clogging by their classmates and the school nurse!  They saw animals from the local zoo and another band with the son of Katya's teacher in it.  They finished off the day with a hay ride.  Then when they got home, we played outside with the new bubbles that Grammy got them for Easter.  Thanks for helping with the biscuits and kids Grammy and Papa!

My Review of REI Kingdom 6 Tent

REI

REI Kingdom 6: This family palace of a tent features 2 private rooms, tall vertical walls that maximize livable space, and multiple organizer pockets located throughout.

REI Kingdom 6 Tent

Great family tent, in 95% of conditions

compass9 North Georgia 4/12/2009

 

5 5

Gift: No

Pros: Waterproof, Sturdy, Easy To Set Up, Comfortable

Best Uses: Beach, Car Camping

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist

Just came back from a spring break camping trip with the kingdom 6 + optional vestibule in southern georgia. There are five in our little family with myself and wife, 5 year old, 3 year old, and 3 month old. Set up was easy, rainfly has great coverage without sacrificing breathability or livability, on the contrary, it goes out of its way to make it more so. The rainfly has an ample vestibule that held all of our gear and camping chairs while we were gone from the site, the sides of the rainfly roll up to increase visibility and it is very easy to increase the tension with the pull tabs at the base of each pole and the handy velcro ends at each tip of the top spine pole. The optional vestibule gave room for us to sit huddled and sheltered from the elements and allowed me to cook breakfast without getting snowed on. In short, it gives a lot of storage space (we could all put our boots on at the same time under it) and added weather pertection.
We had hard rain one night with some small hail, snow flurries in the morning then warm sunshine on the last day. Camping by a lake would have meant either high winds or lots of condensation. The first night was very windy 20-30 mph with gusts even higher. With the guy lines staked out, the rainfly hardly fluttered and the tent stood strong. The rain/hail didn't get through the tent at all, even with the wind, and no condensation in the morning! The next night was calm but chilly with a low of 32, but again, no condensation in the morning, fabulous.
I am 5'10" and can stand up everywhere in the tent, the tent stands firm and the walls are almost vertical. Plenty of pockets and loops for everything you'll need. The floor of the Kingdom is great, super tough coated nylon oxford, think NAVY gunny-sack material, super tough, but soft to the touch. We love this tent and look forward to many more hospitable camp-outs with it, but if the weather goes bad, we'll sleep soundly. Great tent.

all lit up at night, day two

: Using Product

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Jack-o-lantern

My favorite nickname for Jack. We have many, and none of them original. What a great name if you are running for class pres or just need a slogan. There are so many quotes/sayings with Jack in them. Anyway, Jack Attack has been so awesome lately. I love snuggling with him in bed at night. I love watching him dance and sing and play instruments. I especially love when he wakes up in the morning and says "Hi, Mommy" in his cutie cutie voice. He always gives a sheepish smile, too and drags his bootie (his blanket, not his bum) around. And he loves to sit in my lap! I've got to enjoy THAT while it lasts! We are having some good times together lately. I am really enjoying him. Hopefully the feeling is mutual.

It's all you, baby

I don't remember enjoying the other two kids quite this much when they were babies. I'm not sure why, maybe because I'm older, or I need a sane, calm moment, and Margot so often offers my escape from the world. I love it when she breaks out into a huge grin. I also love cuddling with her on my chest. She makes me very, very happy. She is so peaceful. Hopefully I can return the favor.

BFF

Katya and Jack have been sleeping together. We tried this before, but Katya would always get frustrated and go to her bed because Jack would be too crazy. It might be the Benadryl, but it's working now. And no kids waking up in the middle of the night to come sleep with us either! She is such a mothering type. Tonight she read to Jack and sang songs. I love it when they dress up as cheetah and giraffe and chase each other through the house. They are great playmates!

FUN!

Jack was a challenge today except for tonight at Katya's school program where I thought he'd be the worst because he was so "done". We had so much fun, and he was a perfect angel. He held hands in the parking lot both times without complaint(a major feat considering he ran away from me in the parking lot earlier today), he sat down with us at the table while we ate, and he sat down and listened during the entire one hour program even though it was bedtime - amazing for any 3 year old, I think! Plus - he got to meet Curious George. Oh, he was soooo excited. At times he would just lie down on the floor with his head in his hands and stare up at him, so contentedly. He followed him wherever he went and gave him lots of hugs, handshakes, and high fives. He did come when I asked him though, held my hand to the bathroom, and admired George from afar while other kids got a chance with him. Life is so much better without tantrums! Katya really enjoyed the program, given by an Atlanta-based illustrator, Michael P. White. He did lots of demos, and Jack was intrigued, too. He had the kids practice while he gave them tips, and Katya came home with pages of pictures to share with her dad.

Also pictured are fun times with Jack - why I love being a stay at home mom (SAHM) - at Catch Air and play group at a friend's - see, he still likes his jewelry no matter where we go! Maybe it is genetic - and I always blamed Katya's love on Anne deJong...

The foam pit pics are from an open gym day that the local gymnastics place does for kids once a month. It's usually just for preschoolers, but Katya was on holiday and got to go this time. I don't think she was excited - do you? Her constant comment while we were there was, "Mom, this is awesome!"

Fun times, these years...

The last month

We've been taking lots of pictures, but I've been really lazy about blogging, so a brief synopsis of the last month. We always have Jack to entertain us while he dresses up in his crazy outfits and plays us a tune or dances a hula. We said goodbye to friends, made the most pathetic snowman ever, visited family for Baby Natalina's blessing, Margot learned to smile!, Katya had her first school performance, and Scott cut his hair. We've also been to the park lots lately on these heavenly Southland in the Springtime days. We've visited with Grammy and Papa lots since and are so thankful Papa's feeling better. We've been babysitting and dogsitting for friends keeping it busy and fun. And today, Katya and Jack got new rooms! They switched - always fun! Enjoy the pics - Rebekah