Gymnastics

This week we began a session of gymnastics for Daniel.  I was nervous for him, would he pay attention and listen to the instructor, could he go through the lessons by himself?  Well we got there a little early and got comfortable with the surroundings.  Once the lessons began, he cried for me to go with him for one second, but after that he was golden.  He was so happy to play and run and jump, he didn't really miss me, which means I can have some one on one time with Rachel as he gets more comfortable.  He actually cried more when we had to leave.  It was 45 minutes of action, and he still wanted more.  Daniel has so much energy!  

Here they are having some floor time.  

Here he is patiently waiting for the lessons to start.  He is armed with his Diego shirt and ready to go!

Here is a brief video of some of the things he was doing.  I was surprised how quickly he picked up a few things, and not so surprised when he ran off to check out a new thing in the room.  We will miss next week's lesson, but I think this will be a good change of pace for all of us.  I am still praying for wisdom how to handle a three year old, it can be exhausting, but I am learning to take it one day and situation at a time.  

My first sun burn

I think I highlighted all the exciting things with blowing out my tire this week, so here are some pictures of the weekend.  Well, the one below is just of the kids being cute.  They do pretty good when I tell either one to hug each other, long enough to get a picture of at least.  

My husband is a beach bum.  The weather was beautiful today, and we just had to go to the beach. We even bought a new chair for this beach season, and here are the kids trying it out the night before.
Daniel is following in his father's footsteps with playing in the sand at the beach.  Kevin has this natural tenancy just to dig a deep hole, and he gets the kids to help out.  
It was a little cooler with the breeze, but I am glad that Rachel was covered, I think she has the fair skin like her momma.  
More of the hole.  
In other news I got an e-mail from some folks I knew when I worked on base to help out with a yearly assessment of some environmental standards.  It would just be for one week in early June, the same week that Kevin will be out of town to St. Louis.  I am working out the logistics, but it looks like it may work if my sister comes out to help...right Beau?!  Ok, time for me to relax the rest of the day, and put some more aloe vera on my skin, but what a blessing to have such a warm day in April!

There are good people in the world, part 2

Today I went for a long drive to visit a friend who was in the area with her in-laws.  Lisa and I were friends in college, and I have been blessed to have kept in touch with her all these years.  I am also thankful her husband's family lives in MA, so she can come to the area and I can see her.

We had a pleasant afternoon and it was time for me to go home.  I had my GPS ready, the DVD all set, and some snacks and drinks ready to go for the ride home.  Well, I thought I may have left something back at Lisa's inlaws house, so I went to pull off to check in the back and I cut the corner too quickly.  My tired popped and I was in the Honeydew Donut Parking lot, with two kids in the back and 7 months pregnant.  

I didn't get too upset, I have roadside assistance and got out to ask one of the workers at Honeydew the address so I could get a some assistance.  The employee offered to change my tire for me, which I happily accepted.  Her boss had come out and helped us too, and in 20 minutes the tire was changed.  He even gave some pointers on how to do it along the way.  Daniel was just a little concerned that his gray car was broken, and I had to explain how mom had broken it.  The man mentioned there was a tire place right down the road that I could get the tired checked out at, so a few moments later I was in the parking lot getting help there.  Then I drove home.

So in my accidental quest I have found more folks out there willing to help out a person in need.  It is humbling to need all the help, but I thank God for leading me to the right parking lot, for helping me know who to ask for help, for the patience, and keeping us safe in the mean time.  And I think I am going to get some Honeydew Donuts in the future.  

Zoo

This weekend we went to the zoo with the kids.  While we were there we took the opportunity to get an annual family pass, I think we will be there a few more times this year, and I can bring some friends too. This picture is of Kevin's favorite moment at the zoo, just sitting there eating with the kids.  

Daniel got to see a turtle, up close and personal.


I think this picture is funny because Rachel would meow when she saw the big kitty's, although not quite the ones you would want to cuddle with.  She still has her favorite plush toy as a cat, so we hear a lot of meowing during the week.  
The no pacifier thing is going pretty well, sometimes I see him trying to swipe one, but I tell him it is Rachel's and he is pretty good at getting rid of it.  We are finding him talking a lot more, or maybe we just notice it a little more.

Kevin's been pretty busy with work, and sometimes I don't think I realized that he has only been in this position for a few months.  I think we are still adjusting to the different demands of work and family.  The only thing constant is change, as the old saying goes, but God is still working on us, and we can be thankful for that.   

Every April 19th or so they celebrate Patriot's day in New England.  I always think that it would be cool to see a reenactment of some of the historical stuff, especially since I have been learning about the Revolution lately and this is where all the action was, but the date rolls around, and 5:30 is just too early to be out there.  So I will watch the Boston Marathon tomorrow, and see all these people in super good shape, and look forward to when I can run again, for my recognition of Patriot's day.  

Bye Bye Bier

Ok so although Daniel has used his pacifier only for sleeping time we are making the cold turkey stop to it.  He called it his bier (just the last syllable in pacifier), and he will no longer be using it.  This first nap time it went well, we will see how tonight goes.  My son is growing up.  

No pictures, just patience

It has been a busy week, and I am sorry to say I don't have pictures of any of it.  We got a chance last Wednesday to go to a Passover Seder at our church, which was very interesting, and I think it helps Kevin relate to a co-worker who is an orthodox jew.  Not that we did exactly the same thing, but it is good starting point.  Thursday I picked up my sister in law, Renee, at the Manchester airport, Friday we went to New Bedford for the Easter weekend and to celebrate Kevin's grandmother's 80th birthday, we came back on Sunday, I took Renee back to the airport on Monday, and I failed my glucose test today.  That last thing I threw in there because I am bummed about it.  Maybe the three hour test will be relaxing, I just thought I was doing better with watching what I was eating.  Family members got good pictures of the weekend, I just didn't get our camera out of the bag.  

In other news our hermit crabs are still alive.  I think one is molting.  It is buried underneath the sand and hasn't moved in a while.  But I don't think it is dead.  Other than that things are pretty low key around here.  I just get surprised how quickly the month is going.  I made the rest of my appointments for the pregnancy today, and I only need like 6 more.  Noah is going to be here shortly.  So it is time to enjoy the weather, take it easy, and enjoy just having two kids for a while.  

Say hello to my little friends

This past week was filled with it's ups and down, but we survived and are ready for another week.  Praise God.  The highlight of our week came on Saturday when we went to the mall.  We all got some new shoes, I got my haircut, and while that happened Kevin entertained the kids at the mall.  That alone is good for me, but Kevin took the kids into a pet store and although they enjoyed the dogs and hamsters, they also enjoyed the little hermit crabs.  Hermit crabs I can do.  So we got them some.  They have been entranced for the past two days with them.  One of them is called Soccer Ball, and the other is Blue.  It is because they have painted a soccer ball and Blue from Blue's clues on them.  Not original, but not confusing also.  

Before you scroll to the crabs, here are a few other pictures from the week.  I captured a photo Kevin helping me in the kitchen.  I made ten meals to freeze this afternoon, and Kevin helped me with the meatballs.  

Here is Daniel playing on a new playground that I found this week at Shed Park in Lowell.  Love it!  It is big, and fenced in, and close, and has sprinkler park at it for when it gets warmer.  
Here are pictures of the crabs.  I honestly hope I don't kill them.  
Do you see the little shells on the floor?
Soccer ball is a lot faster than Blue.  It is fun watching them through the eyes of the kids.  
This week will go by quickly.  We are considering getting gymnastics lessons for Daniel while he is getting faster, I am getting slower.  I am going to check that out this week, meet up with some friends, and Kevin's family is going to be in at the end of the week for Easter weekend. So if  you have any advice for hermit crabs, or freezer cooking, let me know!