winter happenings

Our little family is still plugging along and living life. Although these past few months have been trying in ways, they have been great, too.

Ezra is getting so big-- starting to wear undies instead of diapers (not consistently, but enough to feel like there is hope of potty training soon!). He is getting to be such a good listener and helper. Tonight I made risotto for dinner which required a lot of stirring. He got a chair and a spoon and helped me stir and taste and measure. I swear this boy is going to be a chef. He loves food and will eat pretty much anything-- it is awesome!

He has been even more hilarious than usual lately. He sings "how are you today, very well I 'ank you." and has been inserting the word booty into it, "very well I booty..." He also has been calling candy canes "zucchini".

He always wants to pray at lunch time and today I started to pray and he said, "no, the Lord's prayer!" I had him pray after I did, and he pretty much said the entire prayer with no help-- only leaving out a few pieces of it. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that he will be three in April! He still snuggles with us at nap time and falls asleep in my arms. This won't go over well when we have a new baby here, but I am having the hardest time giving it up. I think I will always consider him my baby in a way.

Hope has off of school for a few weeks for Christmas break, and has been staying busy drawing fashion designs, tree house designs, etc. She also got a rainbow loom for Christmas, so she has been making lots of bracelets! (She asked me, "Um.. mom, what's your favorite two colors still? Green and pink?" I told her yes and then she showed me some bracelet charms and asked what my favorite was. I pointed to a flower, and she says, "Oh.. that's my favorite too.." So I ended up with a green and pink bracelet, with no charm! hah :))

Jude is just all busy and rowdy and wants to play all day long. He loves his trucks and got quite a few new ones from family for Christmas. He usually does a great job playing with Ezra-- my heart about breaks from happiness when they are so good to each other. It's one of my biggest hopes that my kids are best friends. He is doing awesome at his responsibilities around the house. He always clears his spot at lunch or dinner and remembers to push his chair in. He helps with folding laundry, and he usually gets the towels, but today he folded quite a few pants and was so proud of himself. I love that he is old enough now to put his own clothes away!

Judah had to sing in our church's Christmas day service, and he really did not want to get up there. He was very unhappy that we made him go up there-- and once up there, he started to cry. I wanted to go get him down! :) He made it through, but didn't do any signing or hand motions!

Hazel is growing and moving! I already feel like she is more laid back than her brothers, and I am really hoping it stays true when she is out here! She does wiggle quite a bit, but it's more rolling than jabbing. We cannot wait for her to get here to snuggle and love on, but are hoping to get a few things done around the house in the next few weeks before she arrives-- like setting up her crib!