We're still here.

I got on the computer to blog, but can't find my camera cord so pictures will have to wait.  Then I got distracted and started catching up on fellow bloggers and realized I've got a lot to catch up on.  Whew!  Then I got distracted by my dark background and needed something lighter.  I've decided that I can't decide on a blog template so I'll just try them all on and see which one sticks.=)

But I mostly wanted to let everyone know that we haven't fallen off the planet.  We went to Washington for Glen's parents 50th wedding Anniversary/Family Reunion.  It was lots of fun and we were blessed with a good bit of snow.  The day after we got there we got over 5 inches, so we skipped our planned snowboarding trip and stayed home and sledded most of the day away.  More of a story to share later (with pictures).

Today my little Izzy turned 5.  She's getting all grown up on us.  She's been such a little angel the past few days.  No tantrums.  She's been coming at the first call of her name (with a polite "Yes mommy or daddy I'm coming." might I add.)  Chores have been getting done without grumblings and I'm wondering "Who are you and please don't let the other one come back."  (Have I mentioned before that she is my teacher of patience?=)  Glen and I have been praising her all day for her excellent behavior and one time she commented "Well I'm 5 now and I want to be a big girl."  YES!!!  Now please teach Alexandra that it's o.k. to be a big girl before the magical age of 5.=)  (Again I'll have to post pictures later.  Where is that silly cord?)

Today Glen made Andrew a what I would've considered an unattainable offer, but as I've said before, Andrew loves a challenge.  Glen said that if Andrew reads the book Prince Caspian (from the Chronicles of Narnia), he'll take Andrew to see the movie in the theater.  (He hasn't even seen the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, but anything movie, tv, video game, etc., my kids will do what they need to do.)  That means that he has to read a chapter a day to finish the 15 chapters by the end of the month.  When Glen told me, I said "Why didn't you start with something easier?"  But Andrew started right away and finished his first chapter today.  He read some to himself and when Glen checked up on his reading to see how his comprehension was doing, we weren't sure he was getting it so we had him reread an important page aloud.  He missed the main word "vanished" and then didn't know what it meant so once we got past that, it was smooth sailing.  Wow.  It was absolutely amazing to me to hear him reading through this page with very minimal stumbling.  He looked so grown up to me and I was once again reminded that these few years in youth will fly by so I need to make the most of it.  

Speaking of growing up, Alex is talking like crazy.  It's still tricky trying to figure out what she's saying, but it's coming in waves and fun to hear the new things she comes up with.  She's a loving little girl going from family member to family member giving out hugs and hellos.  She especially loves to make sure Calvin is included in everything.  If it's too quiet she'll say quite loudly "Hi Calvin" which of course gets a grin and sometimes a bouncy dance from him.  And he's finally getting around.  He's taken his time catching onto all the milestones, but it seems more like he was waiting for daddy to be home to enjoy all the fun stuff.  He's getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth and trying so hard to figure out how to get to what he wants across the room, but he can roll and turn to get to where he's going.  But that crawling stage is just around the corner, but I'm thinking (and hoping) he's waiting for the big move to happen so I can get boxes unpacked without chokables in his reach.  A little over a month left and we're on our way.  San Antonio, here we come.  We're very excited, extremely nervous, ready for a new start, but not so excited to have to start over with the making new friends, finding a new babysitter or fellow babyswapper.  It sounds like lots of fun though.  Big plans, big diets, big resolutions, big everything.  Isn't everything supposed to be bigger in Texas?  Or am I making that up?  Don't think so, but maybe ... think it's just time for bed.