Gabi's Pushing 6!

We booked a little party at the local arts center so Gabi and her friends can do an art project together. She's pretty excited about it! I wanted to give all of you family shoppers some gift suggestions in addition to the Amazon list you can read from the button on the sidebar. Gabi asked for new wings and for webkinz stuff. We're taking care of the new wings (dress-up fairy wings) and got her one Lil'Kinz and a Webkinz charm necklace. She really wants some charms because she can't play in the Webkinz world charm forest without the code from a charm, so that would be a great gift she could wear and play on-line. She also would like Webkinz clothes and accessories. A few other ideas:

craft kits (jewelry/beads, painting things, cards/stamps,.etc.)
pencil sharpener (battery or plug in)
reader books (levels 2 or 3... she's reading level 1 right now, but advancing fast!)
summer clothes (size 6 or 6x, except pants... wears a 5)

She would also like to get special activities... like a trip to a ballgame to see the cheerleaders (she's been asking about this and you all know how much Blake and I want to go to ballgame), a zoofari class, a trip to the WonderPlace, a boat ride with PaPa Jack, or anything like that.

Micah has it all figured out....

See that sweet face, so innocent and angelic? He's got his teachers wrapped around his little finger. Recently his teachers shared with us they were concerned that he might be getting sick or that something was wrong because he kept being whiny and wanting to be held all the day long. He'd been fine at home, so I wasn't sure what was going on. So, I asked Micah later what he did at school and was he feeling sad? His answer: "I go 'whaaa whaaaaaaa whaaaaaa" and then Miss P picks me up and carries me and cuddles me. I like her carry me. I not sad." Yep, he faked the whine so his teacher would carry him around. I told him that he shouldn't act sad unless he really was sad, and the next school day his teachers reported he seemed much better.

Valentine Sweethearts

Valentines Day had lots of sweet fun. Both the kids passed out Valentines cards and had parties at school. You can see Gabi dressed in hearts head to toe. And while Evan didn't bring flowers and candy like last year, he did come by and bring Gabi a Webkinz pony. Exactly like the one she already has. Was she disappointed? No-- it's twins! She is thrilled, actually. And Kuhlya Melya is enjoying hanging around Webkinz world with her new sister, Felya Gelya. Let's hope Gabi's taste in names changes before she's old enough to name her own little humans.

Sweet tooth Micah enjoyed Valentines Day because there is lots of candy involved. He keeps saying "Happy Valentimes Day! Give me a sucker!"

We're alive!

I think I can finally say with confidence that I have survived the flu. You know I'm sick when I don't blog for weeks, huh? I'll try in the coming days to get caught up on what has been happening the last 2 weeks and Valentines Day and all that fun stuff so that I'm not behind when Gabi's birthday arrives. Check back soon!

Happy Anniversary MiMi & Poppy

Gabi's Parent-Teacher Conference

Today I met with Gabi's Kindergarten teacher about her progress so far. The teacher went on and on about how brilliant our child is -- gotta love that! Gabi is in the top reading group and writing beautifully. Mrs. S said she's always respectful and a good friend to her classmates. I got a stack of papers including perfect spelling tests and sentences like this:

"I like my Gramszz's hus." (I like my Gramsy's hugs.)

"I like Pluto. Evin no its not a Planit." (I like Pluto, even though it's not a planet.)

"I see a rockit and sadrrin and the sun in space." (I see a rocket and Saturn and the sun in space.)

Oh, and the kindy teacher is going to make sure the new computer lab teacher stops calling Gabi "Bailey." Apparently the poor new teacher kept calling "Bailey" her first day and the whole class was insisting there wasn't anyone named Bailey in the class and Gabi never spoke up, just got frustrated. She knew it was her but didn't want to be Bailey. Ha ha ha. I told her this was, once again, something Uncle Neal would know about and she should consult him.

Sickies and Storms

We're alive and fine! All of us came down with a cold and congestions and cough, slowing us down a lot. Both the kids have missed some school; both the big people have missed some work; both the cats have missed some petting. After 2 weeks of a runny nose and hacking cough, I finally took Gabi to the pediatrician yesterday- Micah also got a check because he'd run a fever overnight. Turns out Gabi has bronchitis which we can treat easily, and Micah just caught a minor virus- it's not the flu or strep- so good news! The bad news- The road we travel from here to the pediatrician goes right through Atkins. No doubt you are aware that the town of Atkins has been ravaged by a tornado. Blake was also in Conway for a meeting, and as I finished up at the pediatrician's office, I got several phone calls telling me not to leave Conway because there were storms all over, including major wrecks with flipped cars on the interstate and the alternate highway home. So, I went to the church where Blake was meeting and rode out the storm. They generously fed us dinner leftover from the meeting and let us play in the nursery. We tried to follow the news and decided it would be best for us to stay put for the evening. We got a hotel room, Gabi's prescription filled, and some Starbucks and we were good to go. Well, good to stay, I guess. We drove home this morning, and there was still a lot of debris around the interstate at Atkins. If you are wanting to help in the storm recovery efforts, you can donate or find volunteer opportunities at the Arkansas Conference UMC website.