Family Update!

Well, this is way overdue, but here is quick update on all the monkeys in the zoo!

Cole-5 years 2 months

The boy has boundless energy and a very large vocabulary! He goes from the moment he wakes up to the moment he falls asleep. Some days I'm convinced he chugs a 5 hour energy when I'm not looking. He often just lets out a scream (and yes, I mean scream) of joy randomly...wherever he is. Makes me NUTS!!! Though he never stops, he has a sweet and tender heart. He loves his momma, daddy, brothers and sister something fierce! We all get unsolicited hugs and kisses throughout the day just because he has to get "the love out." He loves to read to Jude, loves all things electronic, loves to play with Cooper and will have a tea party or two with BK (when he thinks no one is looking.) He loves to learn and is amazing me every day with how much he is learning and remembering. Currently he has mastered his doubles facts, is flying through 1st grade math, is getting quite good at reading 3 and 4 letter words, is working hard on NEAT handwriting, knows 1st, 2nd, and 3rd latin declensions, knows the timeline from the ancient world into the first week of medevial times (if you are in CC you know what I'm talking about) and has memorized tons of info about science, history, and geography. He also, can "blob" the world, which considering I had no idea what the 7 continents were when we started homeschooling is a big deal! He definitely fills my day with opportunities to practice patience, but he also fills with with SO much joy!

Cooper- 5 years 1 month

Cooper has quite a bit of energy too, but is able to control it a bit better! He also loves all things electronic, but has learned how to "work the system" quite well. We have certain times in the day when they are allowed to play said electronics and cannot ask for a turn...they have to wait until mommy or daddy say it is their turn, but if they do 1 minute will be added to the time they are able to play the game. Well, Cooper knows all of these rules and regularly will say, "I know its not time to play the ds right now mom,"but he does it with his charming smile hoping I will cave....He will also say, "I'm not going to ask if its my turn mom." So sneaky, yet so smart! He tends to get lots of ouchies and definitely can turn on the drama card. Yesterday he had a tiny blister on his foot and told me he probably needed a cast for it (thanks Doc Mcstuffins). I told him I thought a band aid would suffice. He is so sweet and gentle with Jude. Loves animals, is very patient with Bk, loves to giggle and snuggle with mommy, is quick to change his attitude when needed, and is SO smart. Lately he asks me every time he eats if its healthy for him. He tells me all the time that it is important to eat really healthy things so that he will grow strong and fast like a cheetah. It is so cute and I think he might just have a future in nutrition. He also has an amazing leaning towards spiritual things. He asks a lot about heaven and what it will be like, what makes Jesus happy and says these amazing, deep things to me all the time. I know the Lord has amazing plans for my boy! He has an amazing strength in math...it blows my mind every day! He is learning all of the above things Cole is and it is so fun to teach them together becase I'm convinced that they are thriving because they have eachother.

Bailey Kate - 3 years 5 months

Oh miss Bailey Kate! She is a hoot! The temper and OCD seem to be calming down a bit, I don't know if that is due to consistent discipline or moving out of this super challenging stage...either way I'll take it! She is her own woman. She has quite the fashion sense. Currently she will only wear dresses...no pants, no skirts, no shorts, JUST dresses (if anyone needs tons of girls shorts and tshirts I have 2 drawers full!) She is constantly playing some game or make believe. Today it was a paper plate she colored on, covered in happy face stickers which was her plate of cookies she handed out to everyone. Yesterday, on the way to ballet she informed me,"mommy, I'm going to talk to myself now." Um, ok! She is loving ballet class once a week, but would prefer home "dool" instead of going to preschool. She still loves babies, loves al things princess, loves the color pink, loves to do whatever mommy is doing, loves to color and do crafts. She usually is content to sit and cut and glue the WHOLE time we are doing school. She keeps us in stitches constantly with her antics. I can't wait to see what kind of woman she grwos up to be.

 My sweet baby Jude. He is still such a sweet, silly baby. He has mastered walking and has moved onto running. He can also go up and down the stairs with no trouble. He LOVES to eat and eats all the time. He weaned himself at 15 months (made me sad ), thinks he is one of the big kids and as a result has no fear! He is definitely my most adventerous and mischevious baby. He has quite a temper, which we are trying to work on so it won't be as fierce as BK's, is quite the momma's boy, but is SO excited when he sees daddy walk through the door. He LOVES books and animals. We recently went to the Alligator farm and he was in awe of all of the animals. I love this stage of discovery and joy. I'm savoring the last remnents of baby. I still have yet to cut his baby mullet and have no intentions to =) My friend aske me the other day if he was going to be a redneck for halloween. He is so sweet and cuddly and chubby and I love him to the moon and back!