How does he make it look so easy?

John was able to get these shots of the kids after church:and more cookie baking...

Capturing the Joy...

Trying to take pictures of three kids 5 and under, in their dress-up Christmas outfits, post Christmas-program and post-bedtime is no easy task.

Mom, we're so mad that you want to take our picture!

We're happier now, but Bridgette won't cooperate...

OK, we'll sit and smile and even put the chokehold on Bridgette so she stays put!

Making gingerbread cookies with Mom.

Some of the finished products.

Cassidy's preschool Christmas program.

The Halloween of Many Princesses

This year, Halloween seemed more like a "season" than just a day. Thanks to her recent birthday, Cassidy had a different costume for each event. Here's the breakdown:

Last weekend we attended a Halloween party and Cassidy was "Ariel" from the Little Mermaid.

This was on Friday, lining up for the parade at Alex's school. Here, Cassidy is sporting the "Sleeping Beauty" costume. Oh, and the kid on the right is a bucket of green slime!For this one, the whole family gets into it. This was a neighborhood Halloween party, and Cassidy is a sort of fairy princess.

And finally her Trick-or-Treating costume, her "super, super, fancy dress!" Alex was a Power Ranger.

Milestones

Dear Alex,

You are my spunky little five year old boy and I love you to pieces. Right now you are so excited about starting kindergarten in the fall. Today you asked me: "Mommy, the day after we move to Kansas, I'll start kindergarten, right?" I explained it would be a couple weeks and you said "well, there's only 7 days in a week, so that's not too long!"

Yesterday, you learned how to pump on the swing all by yourself! It was such a proud moment for both of us! You said you couldn't wait show your kindergarten teacher that you can swing all by yourself. You've spent A LOT of time out there on the swing by yourself lately, just swingin' away.

You also learned how to read a couple months ago, and that is a HUGE milstone that Daddy and I are so proud of your for. You started out back in February sounding out words and you just kept at it until you were reading short books. We got you a set of "Bob" books with twelve little stories in the set, and you plugged through the first set, and then it seemed like you just breezed right through the second 12 books. We are so proud of you. You are reading lots of things now!

You are so outgoing and friendly and I'm so excited for you to make new friends in Kansas. You make us so proud Alex!

Love,

Mommy

Right on the Money

Yesterday as we were driving home from preschool, Alex asked me, "Mommy, why were you teaching Daddy's class?" Excellent question, son! John teaches juniors and seniors in the R.O.T.C. program. With the seniors this year, he is focusing on skills they will need as lieutenants, entrusted with the leadership of America's finest son's and daughters, Army soldiers. In order to set the example in all areas, lieutenants need to make wise financial decisions. That's where I come in! I gave a 1 hour presentation on personal finance for lieutenants yesterday and today. It was a lot of preparation and logistics, but it was worth it and was a great experience. Thanks to my great hubby for working me into his class schedule :-)

The girls were at a friend's house for the morning. Alex was at preschool, but John picked him up and brought him to the classroom for the last minute or two, so Alex was indeed very confused to see me teaching in Daddy's classroom!

Sittin' Pretty

Well, lookie there....our little Bridgey-Boo learned how to sit on her own! Seems like, all of a sudden, she's sitting up! She is such a cheerful baby. And, get this, she loves music. If you sing to her, she will bop her head and smile.

A little slice of a 4 yr old mind

So, tonight I was putting the kids to bed. We read a story, and then I ask the kids what they are thankful for and if there's anything they want to ask God for help with, and then we say our bedtime prayers. Usually, they say things like "I'm thankful for Mommy and Daddy, or Jesus, or my pink blankie." When it was my turn I said I was thankful that God created my children healthy and whole, with all their bones and muscles working, and everything inside them working right. Apparently this statement set off a huge waterfall of deep thoughts by Alex. "Mommy, before there were people, did God create some Mommies and Daddies and then they had babies? Do all babies look exactly the same when they are born? Mommy, next time you have a baby I want to be there. I really wanted to be there when Bridgette was born."

Whew. So all in one conversation, we've touched on creationism/evolution, the different kinds of people in the world, and watching babies be born. Someday, I really do look forward to explaining all of these things! I don't know how I escaped that but all I can tell you is he's now sleeping and life is good.