Nearing the finish line

Life has been glorious as we've settled into the new home. There's room for all of us and all our stuff, too! (And if you've ever helped us move, you know that is no minor thing.) We're all enjoying the new grassy backyard (especially Herschl), and having a yard full of citrus trees has been a treat. Day after tomorrow baby Helen is scheduled for her big debut, so I thought I better get updating while I have the chance!


In February Jackson tested for the Peoria District's gifted program, Project Ideal (P.I.), and we recently learned that he passed with flying colors! That is no surprise to us--we didn't need him to pass for us to know what a bright guy he is--but we're just so excited that he'll get to participate in this fun group next year! Jackson is a wonderfully inquisitive child and always has a way of looking at things that surprises us. (Certainly one reason why he loves anything science-related.) We are anxious to see what types of things he will do in P.I. next year. In addition to P.I., we've been so thankful for the unexpected help that has popped up for Jackson in the areas of reading and writing. A long-time friend of the family who is also an incredible retired teacher, met with Jackson last week and came up with creative ways for us to incorporate writing into his life that are fun and anything but mundane. And this summer we have Jackson signed up for a reading class at the community college for incoming 2nd graders. Mike and I were really impressed by the program and we plan to attend with him, as they suggest. Last Saturday Mike and Jackson entered their "Han Solo frozen in carbonite" pinewood derby car for Awana, and he brought home a trophy for first place in design! This is the second year Jackson and Dad have built a pinewood derby car (last year was in Cub scouts), and Jackson enjoys learning how to use the Dremel tool.


Elaine says and does funny things so often I can't keep up with remembering them all. Recently while in the van at a stoplight, she started laughing hysterically and saying something over and over that I had a hard time deciphering without knowing the context. I looked all around: McDonald's? Construction workers? Then I saw the jogging man wearing nothing but his little running shorts and realized Elaine was saying, "Naked person!! Right there!!" During the Easter service at church the pastor said the word "Jews" mid-sermon and Elaine picked up on it and yelled, "Juice!!" She enjoys playing with her Bob the Builder trucks, her Little People sets, and helping Daddy and I with any task we can give her. She gets especially excited to help Daddy with tools in the garage or Mommy with cooking in the kitchen. More and more she is talking about baby Helen and pointing out all the things that belong to the baby (the car seat, baby toys, etc), as well as looking at her books about "new baby." She is getting better and better at using the potty, but Mom isn't quite ready to completely forgo her diapers. While she is learning all about sibling conflicts in recent weeks ("Mine, Eggie!!"), she misses her brother when he is at school and said to me in the van the other day, "Jackson is my friend!" I love to see them playing together. Jackson relishes his role as big brother and loves to come up with pretend games for them to play together.


Mike has been enjoying the lighter caseload of his current job and is still very busy with his book business. We were recently all sick--one right after the other and then the rounds began again--and I don't know what I would've done without Mike when it was my turn to be ill! He spends the early part of every evening wrestling the kids, and when we are not too busy he takes them out back and throws the baseball around. The other night we determined to clip our wild dog's nails on our own after nearly 12 years of having to take him to the vet. He is so skittish and strong that the groomers won't take him b/c it takes too many people to control him. At the vet's office they tag-team Herschl in the other room to do the job. But after enough episodes of the Dog Whisperer and a commerical for a nail trimmer that looks exactly like his Dremel, we got the job done! We were amazed at the success. So yeah for Mike's Dremel idea and yeah for Cesar Millan!

We will post again about the baby's arrival, and if I remember I will post some Easter pics tomorrow. Thanks for reading and we love to hear about you, too!!