I am so grateful to Dan for working so hard so that I can be home with our kids. Though this motherhood job is the hardest thing I've ever done it's the best job.
Jacob:
Is doing great in school. He is self motivated and stays on top of all his work. We've had several letters/emails about his attendance though. Jake still has 22 more weekly allergy shots to go before they become less frequent. I'm having a hard time knowing how to keep up with all the appointments for the kids without it affecting each other or their attendance. Jake alone has seen the dentist, orthodontist, dermatologist, and allergist in the last two months. At his Orthodontic appointment we learned that he needs oral surgery to get rid of 4 baby teeth that are stuck in his bone before he get braces. He has started to have small reactions to the allergy shots each week and we're doing Zyrtec daily and steroid creme to help his skin not react so badly to grass and pollen. He's a trooper, hardly complains. When he has a rough day I think it really is because he just not feeling well. After a couple months of waiting to see if the wart on his hand would go away Dr. Yeager decided to take care of it. He prescribed numbing cream which Jake caked on the hour leading up to his appointment. Unfortunately the cream didn't really do anything. It broke my heart to stand next to Jake holding his hand while he cried in pain. The numbing shot really hurt and lasted longer than I thought it would. I was fighting the tears as my little man cried. Poor Tess was there with me holding Aubree and became very quiet too.
Jake became a car rider in March and now only takes the bus occasionally.
Jake is enjoying soccer again. I'm grateful he's got such a great coach.
Funny moment-- I was laying on my bed while the kids were getting ready for bed. Jake came and plopped down on the bed beside me. I caught a whiff of his body odor! I smiled and congratulated him just as Dan walked in and gave him a high five. Jake was grinning ear to ear. It just made me laugh that this will probably be the ONLY time I'll be excited for him to be stinky by me! Ha!
Jake and Dan have been to the D.C. Temple twice now for youth temple trips. Jake was grinning ear to ear when he came home the first time. I think he felt the happiness that is present there and was glad it came home with him. He has taken on a mowing job for our new neighbors until they move in the Summer. He does most of the job with a little help from Dan.
Tess:
Is doing great in school. She is involved in a lot! She is doing the musical, 5th grade talent show act, Running Chics and Activity Day Girls. She wanted to do soccer with Abby and Jake but I knew her schedule was too full already. She stays after school 3-4 times a week. It's funny, Jake asks me on a weekly basis to stay home from school where as Tess wants to go no matter how she's feeling. She recently had a planer wart frozen on her foot. I offered to have her stay home that day but she wanted to go to school. Unfortunately she called me at the end of the day crying in pain.
Tess has a tender heart, she felt so bad when one of her friends wasn't invited to a birthday party that she was. When Dan left for his big hearing in Florida Tess asked him to come in and say good bye at 5a.m. before he left. She then started her stop watch counting the hours until she sees her Dad again!
Tess came to me after completing her assigned reading for school and asked if what she had just read was "inappropriate". I read it and sure enough, it was. I was proud of her for listening to her feelings and for talking to me about it! I hope it is always that way between us.
Update in June of Tess : Tess surprised me at her band concert. When her instructor announced that it was time for the fifth grade solos the first one up with Tess. I had no idea she was doing a solo. She did a wonderful job and I was so proud. There was a big crowd to perform in front of and she sailed right through it. She's has surprised me with her ability to perform in front big crowds. The fifth grade act she danced confidently and smiled the entire time. During the school musical she didn't stumble or forget any lines. Her hard work shows and I am so proud of her.
Abby:
Has lost her two front teeth. The one that wasn't as loose as the other came out first. Dan challenged her to pull her snaggle tooth and promised a $5 reward. Abby went into the bathroom and yanked it out eager to earn her money! Funny girl. I'm sad that her little girl look will change with her smile but it is adorable! I love how she talks too! Abby is best friends with Hannah Smith who lives back behind us. The Smith's are a great family and I am so thankful Abby has that kind of a friend. Abby was the favorite again this year with her cousins Tate and Lucas. I was so proud of how well she played with everyone during their visit. I love that Abby can be so great at playing with Clara and allows her imagination to take over! She is a very artistic and musical girl. This year of school hasn't been the easiest because of her teacher. I'm proud of how well she has done and am eager for a better fit next year.
"I call myself cracker-neck. Cause i can crack my neck" as she rolled her head around.
Clara:
Is getting so big! Her legs are stretching out and she's getting tall!
She loves to sleep with Daddy. While I've slept downstairs with Aubree I'm afraid Clara has taken my spot on a regular basis due to "bad dreams". That'll be fun to fix.
Clara goes through a lot of underwear and cloths each day. Its her second bath and third outfit today and it's only 2pm!
Clara is the sweetest at giving compliments and love. I have started to see a very unique gift she has of showing Christ-like love. At church last week stopped to talk with Amy Johnston several times and hugged and rubbed her arm. She is so quick to tell everyone she loves them and give hugs. Her prayers of full of praise and love.
Funny things I've written down that she's said--
1. "This is kinda awkward!"--having to undress down to her undies at a doctor appointment. Yep it sure is!
2. "Can I tell you something?" is asked before saying anything these days.
3. "Ingenious" is the expression she used to describe her mountain of stacked shoes in the mudroom.
4. "Boy Dad, I sure missed you! Top to Bottom!!" This got a loving laugh from her adoring daddy.
5. " and Heavenly Father, I know that this is really hard for you to answer but, How are you doing today? And please bless that Siri will come down to earth."
Aubree: Is the center of our family right now. The kids still enjoy chanting "go Aubree" to see her happy reaction. Dan still love to whisper in her ear. And I have a 23lb attachment throughout most the day. She is growing and changing so quickly. We're gonna miss this!!
