Mumblings

I feel like this past month has just flown by for our family!  I've been such a slacker on updating our blog, so today "update blog" was on my to-do list...and look, I'm finally getting around to doing it at 11:15 tonight! Although by the time I post this, it will probably show up as being done on Wednesday. Really though, its not all my fault that I haven't been blogging, my computer is partially to blame.  It has something wrong with it where it is running super slow, so for me to do a post, I seriously have to devote an hour or more to it. Normally I just don't have that much free time during the day, and then if I want to edit a picture, I could be sitting here for two hours.  I need to get it fixed, if I could only find the time...

So now an update (mainly for my own journaling purposes) on what we've been doing.  Sorry, its going to be all text, I don't have the patience to edit photos tonight.

Before school started, Carson took a session of swimming lessons.  The Friday before he was supposed to start he was out riding his bike (fast, of course) and hit some dirt on the sidewalk and had a big crash.  He scraped up his forearm pretty badly and was a bit shaken by it.  When I got down to where he crashed, the first thing out of his mouth was, "I'm sure glad I had my helmet on!  I hit my head on the ground."  He was okay, but we had to bandage and then tape his arm up really well every morning before we headed to the pool.  Carson absolutely loved swimming lessons.  He's a lot like me and loves the water.  He was so sad when the session was over and begged me to let him take lessons again soon.

After swimming lessons, we were busy getting ready for school.  It was a bit crazy to take three little boys shopping, but we found some really good deals, and a new store (Crazy 8) that we really like.  While Carson was excited for school to start, I've been reluctant about the whole thing. As I said before, I'm really wishing that we would have chosen to hold him back. I feel like all day school is a bit much for him emotionally.  He comes home from school burned out and sad. Today he came home crying because it was "green day" and all the boys had worn camoflauge clothing and he had just worn a green t-shirt.  He was so upset that he was different. Intellectually, he does great at school, but I'm not sure if he's emotionally ready for it...does that make sense? I mean, he's still practically a 5-year old in that sense, not much has changed that way since his birthday a month ago.

While Carson is away at school, its been nice to focus more time on Jonas and Mason.  I try to plan activities throughout our day to keep them entertained.  When Mason goes down for his nap after lunch, Jonas and I have some special time together.  He's always been my momma's-boy and loves that we get to spent time together without any distractions.  I've been doing a "letter of the day" with him where we usually sing a song, do a worksheet, and then have some sort of activity or art project that involves the letter.   Today we did the letter "C" and then "cooked cookies" for a treat. I've got some cute pictures of him from when we were painting rocks the other day, and if I have some time I'll have to upload them...later.

Mason has been busy being a toddler.  He is constantly into things and making a mess.  I would have to say that out of all of my boys, he has been the best talker.  He isn't even two and speaks in whole sentences most of the time.  He is very good at being able to communicate what he wants or needs. He is asserting himself more and more, and will often times try to pick a fight with one of the older boys.  He is still sleeping in the crib, which is amazing to me because both Carson and Jonas were in toddler beds at 16 months because I couldn't keep them in the crib.  Mason is going to have a hard time when I transition him to a bed in the next few months because he just loves his crib.  He also has a fleece blanket, "blanky", and two stuffed animals, "babies",  that he is very attached to and has to have them to go to sleep.

Jeff has still been working crazy, crazy hours.  He is burned out.  I am burned out.  But after going through what we did (financially) a year ago, I promised myself I would never complain about over-time again.  It really is a blessing for us to have the extra money coming in, especially with a baby on the way.  I am thankful that we never faultered in paying our tithing because now I feel like there isn't room enough to recieve all that we've been given.  And I don't take it lightly.

Well, so much for a quick update!