Neverland

(Photo courtesy of Martina and Jeff=)

Whenever my kids watch Peter Pan I begin to think that Neverland is THE best idea. These kids are growing way too fast. I have realized that if we really are done having kids, I will have no more babies. My "baby" is not so babyish anymore. I have some rough days with them, I will say that. But I have loved being able to stay home with them, despite those days. Now if we could go to Neverland and keep them the ages they are.

I have a reading girl! Ella has been quite the little school girl these days. I have been doing a little "pre-school" thing with her 3 times a week right now. She goes to dance to get some social interaction and I haven't wanted to pay for real preschool at this point (especially since she will have to wait another 2 1/2 years until Kindergarten if we stay here). Lately, she waits all day until we lay Carter down for a nap. Then we start our pre-school. She calls me "teacher" and wants me to call her "student". It is like playtime in a way, but I am okay with that. =) She has been learning to write all of her letters and numbers. And guess what, she has also been reading! She has read a couple of little books all by herself! These mostly consist of 3-4 letter words (with no ridiculous English rules to them), but it's a start! She can sound out simple words and has been doing it non stop! She is thrilled with her new found skill and cannot wait to be off an reading more difficult books on her own. Not to mention that she cannot wait to write emails to her cousins (Patrick has made her very excited about this thought). The fun begins! On another note, she is loving dance class (unless she is too lazy that day). She has her first recital coming up in June and cannot wait for that (picture above, don't mind the leotard under her costume). She is picking up tap like a pro and loves ballet (although she needs a bit of help in the graceful department =). She thinks I have no idea what I am talking about when I try to help her. Irritating! Such is life! The other above pictures are of her a few weeks ago. It was her first talk in Primary! She was the first Sunbeam (3 year old) to be asked to give a talk. She thought that was pretty cool! She did an excellent job and was so proud after. It was cute! She really is such a hoot these days! Definitely her fathers daughter. She is coming up with funny comments all the time. Oh and the sassy nature about her. If I say, "Ella, don't talk to me like that." She will swing around and say, "Don't talk to ME like that." Oh man. There are times I want to laugh, other times I am furious with her. You know the way it goes with girls. Only nobody told me it started this early! She does love her brother though. Such a good sister. She holds his hand everywhere we go and it always taking care of him. All in all, I just love this little girl. Now I just want her to slow down her growing up. We are about to move her into a big bed. Her toddler bed is getting snug. She comes in to my bed every night lately because her bed is "uncomfortable". I am pretty sure soon she will look even bigger to me at that point.

Oh my little guy. He is getting so big all of a sudden! He climbs, jumps off stuff, makes HUGE messes, gets into everything, and throws cute (sometimes) little tantrums. He is such a momma's boy lately, and I have to admit I like it. Until Sunday when he won't go to nursery that is. He is talking a lot now. Nobody would be able to understand him except us, but he says a lot of words. He will try to say any word you ask, only sometimes it just comes out with the first syllable. He loves his sister. He copies everything she does. He wants her approval and follows her around like a little duckling. It is so cute. I love that they are having so much fun together. Most times. Other times, Carter torments her. He will steal her toys and run. He hits her, sits on her...you know brother stuff. I can't help but wonder how they will get along as they grow. Carter has 4 teeth and 1 1/2 molars on top now. On the bottom, he has two. What is that about? On the top he looks like a big kid, and on the bottom like a baby. So weird. Hope they grow in at some point! He is a little crazy, and little naughty. He knows before he goes in his diaper and tells me almost every time. In fact, last week he told me "poop" and I asked if he wanted to go on the potty. He said yes, so we decided to give it a try. He sat down and went poop! Then stood up like it wasn't any big deal, looked at it and smiled. Yay for Carter! On the other hand he brings me a diaper and wipes when he wants to be changed, then runs away and laughs. So, not saying he is potty training or anything but it was a positive thing! Who knows, he may be four and still in diapers. =/ Just loving this little guy though. He is such a little man. Well almost. He LOVES shoes. A little too much. He wants to try on every pair at any store...no matter what size. He steals visitors shoes to try them on. He wears my shoes and Brady's, though his favorite shoes are Ella's dress shoes. Ho hum. It is cute and scary. Kid is going to have a shoe fetish when he grows up. We just bought him new shoes and he wears them all day every day and shows everyone he sees. Cute boy. Everytime you pick him up he wraps one arm around your neck tight, making you never want to put him down! It's rough. =) Boy do I love him. Hope he stays small for a bit longer.