Big things are happening around here. We've had mice. We got to visit aunts and uncles. AND J went poop on the big potty today! So far he really likes to be by himself in a corner (still), but today he was running around 'free' when he knew he needed to go and yippee we made it! Pictured on the left is E reading about the universe to C. On the right is Daddy being a camel. I think J is practicing so he can get a horsey ride at the zoo next time we go. ALSO, today C rolled over from her back to her tummy (at least 3 times) and that is big! She's been rolling from tummy to back for sometime now (2 months), but now she has mastered the umph and over! Yay C! E was not the happiest to go to school today, but we stopped at the duck park first to have a quick picnic and play and there were no tears on the drop off. E is writing a book on Flowers and Butterflies and Monkeys and Lions and Bees and Nectar (long title). And she keeps asking me, "Mom, how do you spell________?" She has now pretty much memorized the spelling of each of our names (and her cousin P's). She will have to work on patience in reading next. She'll be able to write books before she can read them. Well, it's almost dinner time. It's leftovers tonight. Wanna join us?

St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Mission. Sundays have been busy so far. We drive 50 miles to church each way and the kids don't like it, but really behave well considering. We enjoy the small parish of mostly converts and recently there have been lots of other young children there. Josh serves occasionally and also sings a bit in the choir as well as helping with the kids (very nice for me). We feel very welcome and the priest is wonderfully laid back and friendly. We hope to have a blessed time going here while finishing school.

J's favorite pajamas lately have been the cowboy jammies. He would wear them every night if we let him. I do enough laundry now with 3 kids to even ensure that they would be clean almost every night as well. At least E hasn't complained about not having any cowgirl jammies......yet.

Here she is....the blue-eyed wonder! C shows more and more effort in sitting up and being a big girl. She will be 4 months old this coming Sunday. Hard to believe, yet a welcome age. She is having less and less fussy tummy, but still seems to be sensitive to loud noises. Still haven't found a pediatrician yet so we don't know exactly how much C weighs, but she seems to be a dainty girl like her sister. Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters. (what movie is this from?) As you can see E loves her little sis. But honestly, I think C prefers J because he moves a bit slower and can be so sweet to her. Next blog I'll try to have a pic of him. Thanks again for the couch Mom. The kids love it.

E started school a few weeks ago and loved it the first three days. The fourth day her daddy forgot to give her a kiss goodbye when he dropped her off and she was a bit sad. So, she and a teacher wrote a note to daddy so that he would always remember to give her a big hug and kiss before he goes. (She always requests about 10 hugs and kisses from him before he leaves for 'work'). Then the following Monday E didn't want to go to school at all. "I'm not going to school today", she would tell me that morning. She took a long nap that afternoon instead. The next day was the same in the morning, but we went to school anyway and she was only a bit sad. The next day there was a storm of tears at the parting and the teacher almost had to pry her off me, but she willing went in the end with big tears and waves. This week has been much better as she celebrated her nameday and took some treats to share with her class and a note on how her parents named her and what saint she was named for. Today was an easy day dropping her off. She still says she doesn't really want to go somedays, but she likes it and she has some new friends that she always plays with. School days are here.