Time for an update:
Lauren-
She can sit up and roll over. She is a happy baby and smiles easily at others, although she doesn't really like anyone but her mom, dad or siblings holding her. She loves music and tries to "sing" (yell) along. During the children's choir prelude at Stake Conference she yelled the whole time and had a look of pure delight on her face.
Nathaniel -
Loves to make Lauren laugh and she adores him. Still loves to throw
things everything, including rocks at the library window (my back was turned for 2 seconds!) I can't tell you how relieved I was that it didn't break. He is one of the toughest kids I know, taking all his bumps and bruises in stride. He loves going to story time at the library. He is a sweetheart and melts my heart with all the cute things he says - like when we were eating dessert and he says "yum, this whipped cream is so tasty!".
He and Matt like to watch Aaron play Redbull Air Racer on his phone sometimes which is a simulated game based on the real airplane race that involves flying airplanes fast around a race course and trying not to hit air filled pylons. Nathaniel will often pretend he is an airplane while running around, whenever he bumps into something he says "oh, pylon hit". I can tell he likes airplanes because one day he was singing I am a Child of God and sang the chorus "lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the airplane."
Matt -
Ha
s learned to ride a bike, how to keep himself going on a swing. He loves doing school and is getting better at reading. He can make his own peanut butter sandwich. He does an awesome job of loading a dishwasher along with Nathaniel rinsing. He has some friends across the street - two girls. The oldest girl said Matt is her "best friend" (she's about 2 years older than him). She and Matt will race on the sidewalk on their scooters. His friend said to me the other day "Matt sure likes to race, he wants to do that everytime we come over". Yes, yes he does. He likes going fast and usually makes his "engine" roar while doing so.
Ashlie -
Has really become a great helper taking care of her younger siblings. She has helped the boys work out disagreements calmly and plays fun things with them.
She recently cut her hair really short and loves it.
She has vast knowledge of animals and creatures. Ashlie always has some interesting fact about the animal kingdom to share, she comes and shares her latest knowledge with me at night before she goes to bed. If I left her alone she would probably read the entire day all snuggled up in her blankets and pillows. Her favorite thing to eat is seafood.
Madelyn-
Has been developing her drawing skills lately.
She enjoys being a part of her young women's group at church. They recently got to do Zumba which she loves.
Madelyn is a super great helper with laundry on Saturdays. She gets all the laundry washed, dried, folded and delivered to everyone's bed (we get to put them away in our drawers). She gets to play on the ps vita while she waits for loads to be done, so it's a win win situation.
Madelyn brings a lot of fun into our home. She makes her brothers laugh and plays with Ashlie while they laugh and giggle about silly things.
Alia -
Joined the high school cross country team this fall. She has made some good friends with her teammates. They've done some fun things together like "spaghetti feeds" the night before big races.
She's really getting into the social aspect of being a teenager. She dressed as a hippy for the 70's/80's stake dance. She decked out her hair for their school's big football game.
She is busy with early morning seminary, part time public school, homeschool, piano, crocheting, and reading whenever she can.
Aaron and Ahren -
We got to go on a date on the MOTORCYCLE!!! It was super fun.
And last but not least...
Thorin -
He's learning to be better behaved. He can retrieve a ball when you throw it (as long as there is no new people or dogs around). He is getting better at heeling while we walk. He does give us an arm work out most of the time though. He loves his kong toy. He still is hyperactive around new people, but for the most part is a good doggy.
