Block City

Essie and Alexander

When I was looking through pictures trying to organize them into posts, I realized that I didn't have any pictures of Estella with Alexander. I felt bad about it, but then realized that the reason is I have to be right next to her, helping her hold him. I don't have the freedom to run and grab the camera, or even step back very far to snap some pictures. She does love her new little brother and wants to hold him whenever I will let her. She is learning to be gentle and is still experimenting with those limits. She does the same things Thomas and Nicholas did when they were her age...sticking fingers in his eyes and mouth, putting her feet on his head, wanting to jump over him when he is laying on the ground. Someone has to make sure the baby gets toughened up :)

Cat Spider

The boys found this big beauty outside. I couldn't resist a few pictures even though I get the heebie jeebies every time I look at them. If click on the first picture and look close, you can see the silk coming out of the spider's spinnerete!

Baby A-One Month

I'm behind...he is actually over two months old now, but these are pictures from when he was only one month. We all adore him!

Group Lesson

Jackson held his second group lesson last month. There were so many students, I think he will have to split it into two groups next time.

I encouraged Thomas to join in on the group with his violin. He didn't want to, but he is such a good boy he did it anyway. He had to play all of the songs starting on a different string than he normally does, so it was challenging for him.

Cello Studio

Jackson's cello studio is just about full. He started in the summer and now has 14 students. He is a fantastic teacher. I can't wait to watch (and hear) these students progress!

Fall Soccer is Finished!

Fall soccer season has come to an end. Here are a few pictures of Thomas' last game. I didn't get any of Nicholas' game because I was nursing the baby during most of it. Good job boys! You both played your best, learned a lot, and were good teammates!

Back Archer

Alexander is a back archer! It is so strange to hold him, because he wants to look straight up at the ceiling and will arch his back and neck like this...

Silly little baby!

Hamsters

About six months ago Nicholas started saying he wanted some hamsters. I didn't think much of it until he persisted in the request for months. Finally, I explained the work that he would have to do to take care of them. He seemed fine with that. Then I explained that I didn't want to pick them up to take them out of their cage when it needed to be cleaned, and that he would have to do it himself. When my mom was here helping after I had the baby, she took him to the pet store to see if he would be brave enough to hold one. Unfortunately he was :) I was hoping that he wouldn't dare to hold it. He persisted in asking for one and saving his money to buy it. Finally, we broke down and bought a cage and one hamster for the family and Nicholas bought one hamster for himself.

They have been ideal pets for me. They are very quiet, don't smell, don't require any attention, and entertain the kids sometimes. Nicholas gives them food and fresh water every day without complaint. We had one eventful time last week when we were cleaning out the cage and one got loose. We chased it all around the house, but Jackson wasn't home and the rest of us were too chicken to grab it (I know, we're pathetic, but it was making chittering noises whenever we would touch it). I finally got smart and used a cup to scoop it up and into the box. Whew.