Where oh where have I been???

MIA from the blogosphere, that's for sure! Life sometimes interferes with the BEST of my intentions! The good news is that I made it through Homeschool Electives Applications and Registration in one piece with no computer meltdowns (and few Marla meltdowns!), the kids are all well and healthy, and it has been warm enough the last couple days for everyone to get outside!! THAT is a beautiful life, my friends!! But really, I just have felt so behind the 8 ball on a number of fronts lately that I neither had the time, nor felt like I could afford the luxury of hanging out online and updating. Progress is being made on the home and project front, slowly but surely, so I am taking the time today to get back in the blog swing of things!!

On the kid front, they are all doing well. Thomas is in the midst of basketball season, which means we ALL are in the midst of it! He's having a good season, really playing a more thought-filled game, and working hard at improving his jumping and running. Unfortunately for us, improving his jumping involves LOTS of jumping in the house when it has been cold outside. When you are 6'5" tall, you have to make sure of head clearance when jump-training....he can't jump upstairs in HIS space without injuring head and drywall, so it is usually in my dining room or den where he is bouncing up and down and up and down and up and down and WILL YOU PLEASE STOP THAT AND FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO! NOW! Sorry, but it gets to you after awhile.... Anyway, this week we have 3 games, today, tomorrow, and Thursday, and our Spirit fundraiser on Friday. The teams are raising money to help defray the costs of attending the 2008 East Coast Homeschool Basketball Championship at Liberty University March 17-21. http://www.hspn.net/Events/EastCoastTourney2008.asp is the web addy, if you'd like to check it out. We participated last year and it was a great experience. The boys will be raising money Friday by taking pledges for a dollar amount for each foul shot or 3 point shot they make. Thomas is competing in the Foul Shot Contest. It will be a fun, family evening, as they always have cool raffles and little kid activities to keep everyone entertained. Thomas loves basketball and Spirit is a great organization we have been so blessed to be a part of.

Benjamin and Max are doing well. Benjamin had his 4 year check-up last week and weighed 40 pounds and is 3'5 3/4" tall. He is such a serious little person, very intense and so sweet. He plays by himself so well, and has a great imagination. He really, thankfully, is NOT into mischief just for mischief's sake, and if he is in the other room and quiet, I am usually not worried that he is into anything, he's most likely just playing quietly.

Max, on the other hand, is a handful right now! He is WAY too cute for his own good, and thinks a cutesy smile and hug can get him out of whatever trouble he finds himself in, which is A LOT these days!! He has very little fear, even when he should be afraid, and is wide open, all boy. He makes my days interesting, and if he is quiet in the other room, I get a little nervous and head toward him quickly! He and Benjamin are so good together, most of the time, and it intrigues me, as different as they are. Maybe it's that whole opposites attracting thing...who knows?

Funny of the day - we went to Meadow Farm yesterday with the 3 littles and had a great time. They have had TONS of lambs born the last couple weeks, including 5 sets of twins and 2 sets of triplets. We were watching the lambs and Max wanted to know why the babies kept head butting their mamas. I explained it was to get her attention, when she is busy eating or whatever. Cut to last night, while I am cooking dinner. Out of nowhere, a small person headbutted my leg. I had totally forgotten our earlier conversation, and told him to stop. After 4 times, I sat him down and asked what in the world he thought he was doing. His response? "I want all your 'tenshun, mama!" They don't miss a thing!

Abby Grace, well, she is just perfect! Too little still to bounce, or talk back, or headbutt, just smile (or cry) and babble (or spit-up) and sleep (or not!), she is SO our little princess! This past week, we were hustling and bustling around, and I had taken her into our room to change her diaper, and Benjamin hopped up on the bed, looked at me with his soulful little eyes, and said "Can we just lay here and look at her, mama?" SO sweet. And of course we did! She is so much fun, and I am enjoying dressing her up WAY more than I thought I would! Thankfully, she's still very compliant!!

I'll close now with some recent pictures of the littles. I will be taking pictures of Thomas tonight in action at his game, and will post those tomorrow.