Everything New

Update 10/1/07

Simple Update

Great news! My son-in-law is back safely on U.S. soil after his deployment to Iraq. Thank God, and thank you, Paul, for selflessly serving our country. (You and Kristi are heroes!) I'm so happy they're together again. And Camryn can now keep them both running - she's a real walker now. Big change from when her daddy left for Iraq.

Nothing really exciting to report. We've had a busy few weeks with Angus's karate belt testing (he's now a yellow belt), a trip to the aquarium, a trip to the zoo, a trip to M.O.S.I., a trip to the beach, and a few nature walks with school thrown in for good measure. The kids are really moving forward and, in many ways, are so much easier to deal with than when they were toddlers and infants. They're understanding limits and exercising their judgment skills. Nice. Going out with them is becoming more about family and less about corralling a brood of animals.

Kelli's moving forward in her school work and has put in job applications all over town. I sure hate the prospect of losing her as my built-in babysitter, but I know that a "real job" is in her future.

Kevin spent the weekend camping with friends in both Georgia and Florida and is now back to school at USF this week.

Nadia has really taken the "little Mommy" role to the extreme and she's now trying to wipe Ruca's bottom when she poops. I've caught her trying to help Ruca on a few occasions..."Oh, you pooped, Ruca? Okay, I'll clean your bottom." Then she grabs a wet wipe. I quickly intervene, but still, it's one of those sights (watching Ruca bent over so Nadia can help her wipe) that I just never even considered. Too funny. The girls definitely have some qualities to their relationship that I would only attribute to their twinship and it's very interesting to watch.

Max is moving forward in his language development, and although behind the girls, I was surprised when I started the "M" in Max and he continued with A-X and said, "that's Max." He was also counting, "thirty-six, thirty-seven..." a few evenings ago. Don't know where he was going with his counting, but the concept of continuity with numbers - well, that's pretty good for not being three, yet.

More later. I'm beat.

Where does one begin and the other end?	Angus got his yellow belt!	Angus, testing for his yellow belt.	Loren, Ruca and the new orange tree.
Batboy's Sister	Nadia in a cave at M.O.S.I.	Ruca, the goat hugger - at the zoo.	Angus playing a trick on us at M.O.S.I.
The three little ones had to taste the water in the stingray's tank. YUCK!	Ruca and Max getting ready to take a walk with some llamas.	Kevin giving Spidey a boost.	Max on his nature walk. Always on his own.
Spoon Man	Trying out the Halloween garb.	Max, the pirate.	Heading to the pool.
Unbelievably easy day with the little ones at the pool.	Gorgeous day! I love Florida sometimes!!	First easy day EVER at the beach for us.	I love watching them explore.
Getting the sand off.	My gorgeous daughter, Kristi and my gorgeous granddaughter, Camryn at a park.	My son-in-law, Paul, enjoying the merry-go-round with Camryn.