Here's E in her 'name parade' for preschool. It was the final touch to the name project in which they talked about all their names and chose a name for their class, etc. During the parade they chanted, "We are the tigers, the mighty, mighty tigers. Where we go people want to know who we are so we tell them...." and I had this chant stuck in my head for a long time. The sign she is carrying says 'are' on the other side (for we are the tigers). She seems to be enjoying school a little more now, but we have Oma and Opa visiting this week to help us and play so it's a bit hard for her to leave for school after lunch. Still, Oma will get to help in her classroom this friday afternoon. In this pic, E is also wearing a name sash and name crown and name necklace. Lots of fun with names!

I love that my children are each unique. It's amazing how many different expressions they can show on their faces. We have hard days with grumpy words and whiny times, but they are so precious and I thank God daily for the uniqueness they each bring to our family. At least the love out weighs all the hard times.

Do you ever have one of those weeks where most everything is going a normal, but at least once a day something wrong happens? Not EVERYTHING going wrong...just one or two things a day for a long stretch? That's my life right now. Today it was the downstairs toilet....leaking behind at the connection....I got the plumber's wrench out and fiddled with it....no leak now, but I did bump my head at least once in the process. Yesterday, J colored on the playroom floor and his jeans with markers. At least they were washable markers. (I won't go into everyday). BUT, last Friday, J gave C 'nurse-maids elbow' in the car. Basically, he pulled on her tiny arm wrenching it against her car-seat. I didn't actually know this happened right away (but I remembered when she first cried on the way to school-J admitting that he had bothered her) and figured it out from all that followed. (approximatly an hour later) I manipulated her arm the correct way and heard/felt the tiny 'pops' as her ligament when back into its proper place. Ouch. I felt so bad for her. She was complaining for a long time just trying to tell me. At least I figured it out without a huge ER bill. (this same arm thing happened to E when she was 2 and I remembered how to deal with it). We have since rearranged carseats and J does not sit next to C. This actually helps E (who sits in the middle now) to not get carsick on the way to church. Anyhow. Just wanted to show you a picture of my first plants in the back. Two coral bells (i think) and one fern in the middle. I think I might like some mums, too. Great time of year, isn't it?