Our first snow day from school. It's so bad that even Nathan's work was cancelled. That's really bad. So, everybody is outside enjoying the snow while I sit here with my nice cup of Ho Cho and figure it's about time for a quick update.
I'd really like to maybe post some updated pictures. Claudia has taken a new interest in photography and somehow, our camera is not working anymore. It was on it's last legs anyway, but I thought we could make it last until I could find what I really wanted in a camera. Oh well, I guess I'll have to decide quick. I'm thinking Claudia is going to need one of those indestructable kids cameras though if she's going to continue with this hobby.
Speaking of Claudia, yes she did it. She turned 12. There was no stopping it. I'm noticing lately that she's even looking very mature and oddly enough, acting mature. She got in a bit of trouble for being on the computer before her piano was practiced and her homework was done. It's something I've reminded her of regularly. So, I had had it and told her that she couldn't be on the computer for a week. She promptly replied in a louder angry tone, "I'm going to stay in my room for a week..." (O.K. this was not the mature part of the conversation.) I went about my business and then needed to check that she was doing her homework. I went in and she was listening to a book while drawing some pictures. I reminded her that she needed to do her work before she did fun stuff. She said, "I needed some 'cool down' time....you're welcome." I was irritated at the time but then thought that maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. At least we skipped the whole yelling thing and she eventually did get all her work done. Small steps, but at least she's learning...and isn't that the point? That sarcasm's starting to take shape too, the little stinker. She is loving her Young Women's group and, as mentioned earlier, really likes to use the computer.
Aaron keeps on keepin' on. He still loves Calvin and Hobbes. Every time he gets a book order, he wants to order the Calvin and Hobbes comic books they have. I keep telling him that his dad has the whole collection to which Aaron replies, "I know, but I have to have him sitting with me every time I want to read it." (Nathan really loves Calvin and Hobbes too and takes every precaution to keep his collection safe.) Aaron is interested in so many things, but what I find the most endearing is that he loves to do whatever he's doing with us, his parents. Whether it's watching a movie, playing in the snow, throwing a baseball around or playing air hockey, he wants his dad or I to join in on the activity. We need to start cherishing that a little bit more and actually stop what we're doing and participate since I'm sure it won't always be this way. Whether Aaron wants to admit it or not, he's doing very well with piano. If he can sit and focus on his practice, he can pick things up pretty easily and it sounds nice. It's just those first couple days of practice that he doesn't like. Although his interest in trombone has waned quite a bit. Aaron's relay team in swimming came in first place at his last meet too. It was really exciting.
Gracie, Gracie, Gracie...such a sweet little thing when she wants to be. Very much the socialite and tells you things you love to hear...she's got quite the stubborn streak though. Usually just over little things. This morning it was that she had to ask permission to borrow somebody's snow gloves. She has her own mittens, but wanted to borrow Aaron's gloves. Joshua was more than willing to let her use his gloves, but it had to be Aaron's gloves and she wouldn't say the words just to ask to use them. It all got worked out, but this can be awfully frustrating. Other than those brief moments of stubborness, she is a delight. She's bright and sweet and her new love is working on Rocket Math (trying to get as many facts done in a minute as she can). She also gets to have the challenge spelling list at school and consistently aces the test. She is really loving her teacher and being in the 2nd grade. She's also got a pretty mean backstroke in swimming.
Joshua continues to be easy going with pretty much everything he does. There are times when he's into a video game and can get pretty frustrated if someone doesn't follow his instructions, but those moments are short lived. He likes to play with his Mr. Potato Head and his dinosaurs. He's loved being able to sled down the big hills at the park this year. As long as he can do what all the older kids are doing he's pretty happy. There's been a new family that's moved in to our ward and their son happened to be put into Joshua's class as well. Joshua's had quite the fun time getting to know him and playing with him at recess. It's his favorite time of his school day when he gets to play Star Wars and Indiana Jones with his friend. They even have matching retro Star Wars t-shirts. It's so exciting when they make plans to wear them on the same day at school. Oh, to be a kid again:)
At home, the renovation process is pretty slow going. I have in my head the order in which I would like to get things done. For the past few weeks, it has just been to get the storage area weeded out and organized. I have thought for weeks if I could just sit and do it, I could probably have it done in a day. That's just not a possibility. So I work at it here and there in between homework and running kids to their activities and doing laundry and making beds and doing dishes...you know, the everyday stuff that always has to be done. So even though it looks as if nothing's been done, you should see my storage area. It looks great!!!! Now, as soon as I can get my bills paid and all the kids school papers sorted out for the day, we can continue with the fun stuff. First order of business is decorating Claudia's room. We've been collecting things here and there, have all the paint, now we just need to get down to business. See, this stuff is a little more satisfying because the results are so much more visable. Nobody cares about the boxes that I've sorted all our stuff into or the ten bags of trash that I got rid of that we've been carrying from state to state thinking we need to keep it "just in case". Hopefully it will start to look as if we're really doing something.
That's us in February.
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