Parade of Nations

The kids donned some homemade kilts for their school's Parade of Nations. 

Happy Birthday, Joshua!

To the best husband ever --

• the guy who sings Fly Eagles Fly with the children after every touchdown, 
• encourages the kids to run drills in the yard and time each other as they race around the house, 
• can nap at the drop of the hat, 
• works out nearly every night to ensure that he is balanced and healthy, 
• foregoes sleeping in on the weekend in favor of watching Voltron with the kiddos, 
• listens to me chatter on endless about work and schoolwork, always offering wonderful insights, endless support, and thoughtful encouragement, and 
• is the most contentious teacher I've ever encountered as he clocks an additional 15+ hours a week correcting student work, creating new material, lesson planning, writing newsletters and plays, and ensuring that all of his students are striving and thriving.

Simply put, we think he is the best!

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Side story: Joshua's ice cream cake read "This is a Naked Mole Rat."  It is half-eaten in these photos because we enjoyed it the day before his birthday with Scott.

Back story: When James was little, he wasn't able to keep a secret so we would give him a line to say when he wanted to give away information about a present.  One year, Joshua told him to simply say, "We got you a naked mole rat."  This phrase has stuck so, when I was ordering the cake from Dairy Queen, I had them write the odd phrase on the cake so that James's insistence that we got Joshua a naked mole rat would be accurate.  Ha!

Uncle Scott

Scott wins again as the first overnight visitor at our new house.  Three houses and one apartment, he is still the reigning champ!  It was a great, quick visit: pumpkin picking & carving, bowling, celebrating Joshua's birthday and even a quick trip to the mall.  Fun times.  We are so grateful for his on-going friendship.

Pittsburgh

The kiddos and I took a quick trip out to Pittsburgh to visit Kate, Neal, Timo and Baby Solia.  What fun!  I love traveling with these two and it is always great to have Pittsburgh time with the Kloders.

Picture Day

I cannot help but take my own driveway picture day photos of these two cuties.

Sweet Conversations

Two things that I want to remember about Alma and James at this age are their kind conversations with one another and the speed at which they acquire and utilize new vocabulary words.

For example, while James was getting dressed this morning, Alma decided to set up brunch for the two of them (Joshua is outside mowing the lawn; I'm at the computer in the living room writing a paper for school).  Upon sitting down at the kitchen table together, here's their conversation:

Alma: James, have you enjoyed the school year so far?  Do you like being in the upstairs classroom?

James: Yes.  Yes, I really do.

Alma: What have you learned?

James: Nouns.  I was excited to learn about nouns.

Alma: That's exciting, buddy.

And the conversation goes on and on about fun things that happened during the week and funny things their friends said.  It's is great that all of their friends are mutual, due to their small school.

The other example: Today while going to a women's soccer game at Immaculata University, James asked which players were more competent at playing soccer.  Competent.  I was impressed.  Then on the drive home, I heard Alma in the back seat explaining to James that Trains R Us, a dumpy little store we know, probably didn't make enough of a profit and that is why it closed.  Profit.  Every day they surprise me with a new word that I didn't think they knew.

I love and am so grateful for my smart, kind children.