Spring Has Sprung!

I haven't not posted because there's nothing going on -- I haven't posted because there's too much going on! We have been super busy lately. It seemed like once spring hit (which in Georgia is generally late February!) we hit the ground running. The kids have been outside playing nearly every day and it's all we can do to keep up with Katie's school.

Katie's appetite for reading and learning has increased exponentially over the last several months. She reads anything she can get her hands on. She really likes comic books (Baby Blues/Foxtrot) and her school books. Recently Katie has been reading an encyclopedia of animals and a book about the Titanic. She told me that her school books are more like "regular" books because they're so much fun to read. She has four loose teeth, in varying stages, though she hasn't quite lost one yet.

Little Joe is beside me now in the kitchen, pretending to be Daisy. If I "accidentally" call him 'Joe' he says, "No, I'll be Daisy!" His imagination is really developing. He is talking a lot more, though his social skills aren't quite there yet. :) When he sees someone he wants to greet, he does different funny things as though he's not sure what to do. For example, he'll hit himself in the head, or stick his tongue out, or just hide behind my legs. Yesterday he greeted Mrs. Chrissy by head-butting a nearby bush. We're looking into obedience schools to try to teach him how to shake.

Jeff has been asked by his boss if he'd be interested in going to a management seminar! Of course Jeff said yes, so he'll go sometime next year. After that, he'll take some management classes, and that puts him in a position for promotion. We're very excited, especially since I've been encouraging him in this for several years. I think he would be great in management level, since he's already showing many of the qualities of a good leader. Also, the district manager, Foster Taliferro, was in Jefferson recently to scout out a good location for a new plant on the quarry site. Jeff (who has been one of the primary operators) told Foster what he thought was the only logical, efficient place to put the plant. Foster said, "You know, I think you may be right." Sure enough, when the plans were made, Jeff's suggestion was what the company had decided to go with. There was another question of what to do concerning an aspect of the plant, and Foster asked Jeff what he thought. Jeff told him that he'd been trying to get it done that way since the plant was built four years ago. It is an answer to our prayers to have Jeff's contribution at work acknowleged! He's been tempted to leave the company for a long time, but every time we prayed about it he continued to feel that this is where God wants him. We know we're in God's will for Jeff to stay where he is, but it's nice to get physical confirmation!

You Asked For It! More Stories

Being a big sister must be tough! This morning I found a note Katie had just written to Joseph, after she had reached her limit of patience (15 seconds!).

Dear Joe,
I am not Helping you with your silly Puzzle any more

O.K.

to Joe
from Katie

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous, so I sent the kids outside to play while I cleaned house. (It's so much easier when they're not destroying everything right behind me!) I had the doors and windows open and could hear them playing. At one point I just had to go outside -- I heard Katie yelling, "Help! Somebody rescue me!" from the top of the slide. She was trying to get Joe to help her, but he was busy attempting to ride Katie's bike. I called, "Sir! You with the bike! My little girl is trapped -- can you save her?" Joseph's little face lit up, and mouth open, he ran to rescue Katie. Katie climbed down with Joe's "help" and ran to me, hugging me. To Joe, I said, "Thank you so much, sir, for saving my little girl!" He grinned and ran for the slide so he could take his turn. Obliging, I yelled to Katie, "Oh, ma'am! My little boy is trapped!" etcetera, and we went through the routine again. My children are hilarious!

What an amazing privilege it is to be able to enjoy these moments with our kids! I am so blessed to be able to stay home with Kaitlyn and Joseph. I wouldn't trade a moment.

Funny Girl

I was checking my e-mail this morning, drinking my coffee, while Katie and Joe were in the living room playing. It was a stormy day and I overheard Kaitlyn say, "Okay, when you hear the thunder, that's when it's time to fight!" I caught her eye and said, "No, ma'am!" Disappointed, she replied, "But that's what happens in the movies!" Now that's an astute little girl! The Lion King, The Great Mouse Detective, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty . . .