Changes

Things are pretty much the same around here. The kids are growing and changing. Steve is working. I'm still at home. Madeleine is turning into something else. She is coming around in the world of tantrums. I've gotten my energy back and my head on straight, so I've started being a little more strict in our schedules and my expectations. At first, she didn't like it much, but she usually does come around and do what I've asked. She is quite a character. The things she says and does crack me up. Currently, she is really into movies and princesses. The other day she wanted to wear a dress to Lucy's birthday party and when we got it on she said, "I'm a pwincess!" It was cute. She is totally into dresses, flowers, jewelry, bows, nail polish, perfume, shoes. If it is girly she wants it, which cracks me up. Charlie is changing quickly. He is probably well over 11 pounds now. His hair is falling out and his eyes are turning brown. Steve and I both think we have seen an intentional smile here and there, but they are quick and we can't capture it in a picture. He is really interested in his surroundings and can stay away for longer periods of time. He also is starting to work his mouth and get excited. I think he'll be talking to us soon. We are having lots of fun...or at least what we call fun!

Posing after bath time

Eating chips while cruising around the yard in her truck. The chips greased up the steering wheel to the point neither of us could steer the thing.

This is what Charlie thought of the truck driving.

Maddie's hair is performing impossible feats. She has the finest, slickest hair ever, but somehow it managed to stay up like this for an entire day. I even used water on it at one point and it stayed up. I can't explain it.

Lucy turned 3 today. Helen and Tyler hosted a family party on Saturday night. I think everyone had a really fun time. I was happy that Maddie was on her bestest behavior. Lucy had surgery a little over a week ago on the cyst in her femur. There were a few unexpected findings, but we are praying and feeling optimistic that things are going to turn out well. For now, she has to be kept off her leg, which I think is torture for someone her age.

We had experienced about a week of beautiful weather. Temperatures were near 80 and the sun had been shining. A front moved in toward the end of the week and we ended up with snow. SNOW! Effingham didn't get much, but Flora had well over an inch by the end of the night. Maddie loves snow, so she was glued to this window watching it come down. It was beautiful coming down, but not acceptable for me this time of year!

Michael and William were having fun at the party. Michael was tossing him in the air and William would say, "Do, do, do it again!"

Steve hates big flower bows, but the smile on Maddie's face tells you exactly what she thinks about it. She is just getting enough hair on the top of her hair to handle barrettes. She immediately picked up this bow when Lucy took it out of her hair. She walked up and showed it to everyone who would give her the time of day.