I've taken a break from a few things. 

I miss keeping a record of our growing family here.

So, I'm back with older children.

EIGHT, SIX and (in just three days) TWO...

What have they been up to?

Big E

Reads chapter books like crazy. 

 (as in stays up all night. )

  which Mr. Dreewes has pointed out, among other things reminds him of me.

Has decided to let his hair grow.

Plays Axel F on the piano

Loves to shoot his friends

 (with nerf guns or on the xbox game - HALO)

Likes sushi but

      not grilled cheese sandwiches

      (not a trait he inherited from me...)

Miss E

Has a love for girls, of all ages.

Reads signs aloud in the car

Prefers "ice cold water, with ice in it"

Creates art and lovely sweet notes 

   ( prolifically )

Can brush her own hair

Dislikes smoothies. and chunks in yogurt

  likes going out to Thai food with Dad.

Little E

Performs all his own stunts

  (first child to go to the ER, first child to chip teeth...  and so on.)

Loves to do wooden puzzles.

Gives the sweetest hugs in the known universe.

Likes grapes.  (which could be grapes or strawberries.)

Is wearing big boy undies.

I'm sure I've missed a few really important milestones, and forgotten funny stories.

But to sum it up

 :  Our kids are sweet, crazy and very smart.  and we love them to bits  :

Epic.

It's been a wild period in our lives.

an epic time.

a crazy six months.

Time for changes
  and time for sadness.

a lot of hugs and love.
a lot of support.

Reflection.
Realization.

Growing.

We have been finding the new normal.

Life on earth always changes
- that's something I'm confident about.
But it's not gradual or consistent changes.

Some times in life are more peaks and valleys.
 and unexpected cliffs.  and oceans.  and sandy beaches.

Gardening and Sunshine

Today we got some very nice spring weather.

All the E's were out in the freshly tilled earth.

We even had some friends over.

I aimed to clean the odds and ends around the yard, weed the strawberries, mow under the blueberries and plant the vegetable garden.

I pulled out five weeds. . .

Big E and his friend did some stick collecting. And tractor climbing.

Miss E played puppies with her friend.

And Baby E tried to eat a slug.

What a great day!