Family Update

I haven't done a family update in a while. And since this post is full of random pictures I figured that this was a perfect place to do it. James is keeping really busy with work and school. School keeps him extra busy and he doesn't get to spend a lot of time with the kids or I. But it will eventually end, so for now we are dealing with it as best as we can.

The kids keep me busy as always! On February 21st I started my last online class for a requirement I have to meet to renew my teaching license this year. It's a 2 credit class that runs for 3 1/2 weeks. So far I'm doing better than I expected, but I'm already looking forward to Spring Break because that's when my class ends! I'm still working with the scouts at church. The lead Webelos leader moved at the beginning of January, so I've been doing it by myself since then. Hopefully I'll get some help here soon.

Everyday seems to bring something new with Analyn. She is not walking yet, which makes me very happy! She's becoming more vocal. For some reason my kids like to squeal to get attention as babies. It's been fun lately because she'll answer questions now by shaking or nodding her head. She's also started to sign a lot more. She signs, please, thank you, milk and more the most. She can say Mom, Dad, and yeah, those are the words she says the most too. This was a cute day since she never falls asleep on the floor.

Analyn loves Lizzie's princess chair. It's just her size.

Lizzie of course had to get in on the action. Elizabeth has to be the center of attention most of the time. She's doing amazing at preschool. Every time I talk to another parent there the first thing they tell me is that she is bright. Thursday was career day at school, and unfortunately James and I were not able to go. James typed up a simple explanation of his job for Lizzie to read and some pictures to show. We didn't think she would actually do it. The only time Lizzie acts timid is when the other parents are visiting the preschool class. When I picked her up her teachers told us that she had got up and read it to everyone. We were so proud of her, and her teachers were shocked that she is reading.

Analyn only has 2 bottom teeth right now. Her two front teeth and the teeth right next to them have been working on coming through for about 4 months now. I've never had a 1 year old with only 2 teeth. She can gum most food, but I still have to think of other things to give her to eat. At least until her other teeth finally decide to make an appearance.

And we can't forget Clay. Everyday I have to get after him about 20 times to leave Analyn alone. He has to be touching her, hugging her, laying on her all the time and she really doesn't like it. He loves primary at church, but the transition for him has been a little harder. He doesn't understand he needs to sit and be quiet yet. Granted he just turned 3 right before he went into primary, so he's still young. Luckily we have a great primary presidency that is willing to work with him. He has quite the personality too! James and I are very shy, so it's funny that 2 of our kids are so social. Clayton and Liz will go up to anyone and chat. The other day we took Lizzie to school and Clay runs up to a train table and yells, "Hi everybody!" He then continued to jabber to everyone asking if they wanted to play. Then a boy got up and walked around Clay, he looked at him and said, "Wow, that's a great shirt!" Then Lizzie introduced that boy to him. Next he went to the other side of the table and one of the girls from Lizzie's class was there. She had those sketcher shoes that are really busy and light up on the toes. He saw her shoes and said, "you have such beautiful shoes!" I was laughing so hard. He's a holy terror sometimes, but he makes up for it when he comes and tells me he loves me or gives me a kiss.

Super Bowl

Most of you that know me know that sports don't interest me. Especially watching them on television. I'm so glad that James is really only into football, because by the time the football season is over I am so sick of it and all the games. James took a vacation day so he could have a Sunday off, and not have to go to work right after church was over, and he wanted to relax and watch the Super Bowl. I figured even if we had to watch football, at least James and I would get to spend time together. So I bought him some snacks and made him brownies for the game. The kids were not happy about the idea of watching football, that is until I popped some popcorn. Then they were on board.

James was so excited about this game. He has always said that his 2nd favorite team behind the 49ers is the Steelers. However James is a huge Aaron Rodgers fan too. He watched him play college football, and he was so disappointed when the 49ers drafted Alex Smith instead of him in the draft in 2005 (yeah I know, it's sad I remember that. In my defense we had just gotten married though). Either way he was going to be happy with a win. I decided earlier in the week that I was going to cheer on the Packers though.

Even after the rest of us were sick of the popcorn Clay continued to eat it and carry it around the room with him.

Analyn quickly caught onto what he was doing and managed to get her hands on some more popcorn as well. Let's face it, this kid will eat as long as food is in front of her.

After the first hour the the kids and I were having a hard time paying attention to the actual game. The kids started to move around the room doing their own thing. Lizzie had to of course be the center of attention and started making some funny faces for the camera.

Since Grandpa was watching the same thing upstairs on his television Grandma came down and played with the kids. The kids all love Grandma and Grandpa so they took advantage of having Grandma around to play with. Notice that Analyn is standing up in the picture by herself. I'll probably only get another month before she starts to walk.

Reading the Elmo puppet book she got for her Birthday. Analyn loves this book and giggles uncontrollably while it's being played with.

It was a fun little family night, even if it was spent watching football. Figures the first Super Bowl I watch in forever had a crappy halftime show and hardly any good commercials. Go figure!