Busy busy busy

Just giving a quick update on how we are doing now that I've got veggie soup in the crock pot and homemade rolls in the oven. I have a few minutes!

Daniel has been going back to school for his certification as an orthotist. This has been requiring him to be at school Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 4:45pm-8:45pm. He then has his online class he has to do on top of going to work full time. He is taking Biology and Chemistry to make things even worse. So this is taking up over 110% of his time. This is only for the summer and ends the first week in August. You would think we'd have weekends but no, he is doing his Chemistry labs on Saturdays. And Sundays, well... We get Sunday mornings and that's about it since we split for classes at church and are struggling with 4 kids for 3 hours. Hanger is paying for his classes if he gets a B average or higher. So that is very nice. There is also school for him to take in Chicago for 2 months which they pay for family housing so we can go with him. But that isn't until he is done with his classes at Pima. He loves his new job so much! He loves helping people and seeing people improve. He also loves working with his hands and fixing things and making things, which he gets to do everyday when he fits patients with their orthodics. It will take some super hard work but for only a short time. In about 2 years I think we will be very happy we went through all this and it will end up being well worth it.

Shane is LOVING Karate and is actually getting his yellow belt on Saturday. I will have pictures (I hope) of that to come. I broke my camera and it's getting fixed right now. Hopefully we will get it back on Tuesday. We just signed him up for another year. Unfortunately it had to go on our credit card since it was $1300!!! Crazy. But I think it's a great investment. Another plus was that they are letting Seth go for a year as a Little Dragon for FREE. That made it a bit easier to do. Just a bit though. When are we ever going to be debt free!!!??? I think with 4 kids that answer is the obvious. But Shane is well beyond his age in reading and writing. He had to write two paragraphs for his belt testing on Courage and Discipline. He did a great job. Simply he summed it all up by saying Courage is being brave and being able to choose the right with out being scared. Discipline (which he knows how to spell on his own now) is doing what you are told, following the rules, finishing what you start and getting smart and strong because of it.

As for Seth and Karate... He first day was Monday and he actually did VERY well! Surprised me! I didn't think he'd take to it that easily but man he was all over it! I am very impressed with the teachers there. Seth just loves it! So that made it even more worth the money. Seth is also reading very well and writing all his letters and even sounding out his own words and sentences. We write in journals about 2 times a week and he writes his own now with a picture every time they write. He is quite the artist too! Man he comes up with the most interesting drawings and they are really really good!

Canberra is YES 100% potty trained. Even at nights. At 2 1/2 I don't think anyone can complain about that. She even uses the big potty now. She got her big girl bed all set up now and loves it. She just learned to say her name and is saying it correctly. She started to say it Can-ber-ra instead of just Can-bra. But I think she's got it now. She is very vocal on what she wants these days and will speak in sentences that actually make sense. She is very much concerned with making people happy with the things that she does. She is constantly asking me if something made me happy or even just asks me if I am happy out of the blue. We are working on getting her feet to not turn in. It's more in her ankles than her hips but we have her shoes with the plates in them and they said to get her to sit with her legs "criss cross apples sauce" as much as possible for that will help with her hips.

Zander just got his back bottom and top right molar and is getting his other sides right now. It's funny because he only has his top 4 and bottom 4 and then a big molar. He also likes to talk and talk and talk even though we have NO idea what he is saying. He'll go on forever and look at us like we understand him perfectly. It's so cute. He is playing very well with all the kids now. He just has to get better on his feet so he can stop whacking his head on everything! He always has some scratch or bump or bruise on is forehead. Poor little guy. But his is sleeping on his own now for a while now actually, 2 months or so. I just nurse him and lay him in bed and he doesn't cry, never did cry even, he just goes right to sleep or plays for a minute then sleeps. He also sleeps through the night still. All the kids go to bed around 6:30-7:00 and are up bright and early around 6:30 - 7:00. Due to the sun blaring in the windows in the morning. Zander has changed from 2 naps to only 1 a day. But I tell ya, it's a nap! He will sleep from 9:30 to about 1:30, sometimes a bit longer! I get a nice LONG break in the day. I don't know how much longer I will nurse him. He's getting to be 15 months now. We'll see. A few more months perhaps. His new words that he likes to say that are clear to understand would be... Bow and Aye Yah (from being at Karate) No, mama and Ba Ba for Canberra. The boys are always trying to get him to say their names and other words.

Needless to say I am very lucky and blessed to have such wonderful kids in every way. I never had a child throw tantrums or wig out or have major fits. They all slept through the night from about 2 months old. They all were great weaning from whatever, nursing, bottle, binkies whatever it may have been. Never had issues with any of them. We've never experienced any major sicknesses or injuries, just some minor ones. None of my children would wig out if we left or took them someplace. They have all always been very secure in us returning. Even in nursery at church. None of them ever had issues with being a picky eater. They all ate and EAT everything! Potty training has been great, other than our mistake of MAKING Seth potty train earlier than he was ready. But once he made his mind up it was all him. We had to do nothing. We don't and never had to experience any bed wetting in the night ever. All our kids stay in bed once they are in bed. All of our kids were in their toddler beds by 2 - 2 1/2. Never had issues with them getting out of bed. At the beginning for about 1-2 weeks would be all for the boys, but for darling little Canberra... She has never gotten out of her toddler bed or now her new big girl bed. We can take them anywhere with us and they are so good. Don't get me wrong... they are still kids and act like kids but on the better end of the spectrum from what I've seen. We always have some couple tell us how wonderful they behave when we take them to restaurants and places, we always get someone saying that. Needless to say, I have been very blessed with quick learners. They pick up on things so easily and Shane and Seth are very advanced for their age already. That is a blessing because I am not patient enough to work with them if their situation were different. I am just so blessed and I recognize these blessing and I am very thankful.

As for me... I try to have the kids have a "school day" three times a week with 2 pages of math, writing and then an art, with something new to show each of them. Canberra will just color a picture but I shouldn't say just because boy she can color! She uses every color in the box and stays in the lines and is VERY careful when she colors! I've been planning our trip to San Diego Torrey Pines Beach this 4th of July. I found this place in hopes that it being on a reserve it will be more clean and not as crowded. We are bringing my niece Savanna too. We are going to be beach bums for 2 days. I am looking forward to it. Daniel is too... although his online teacher decided to have a test due the night of July 4th. Not so cool. So after fireworks Daniel goes off with his laptop to take a freakin test. Nice. At least Saturday he can fully relax. If you consider going to the beach with 5 kids under the age of 6 relaxing. We are crazy I know. It's been way too long. I was very much pregnant with Canberra the last time we went to the beach so she hasn't even been. I think she will love it, Zander too. I will post a little video of Zander jabbering away so there is something new to look at and watch. Time for me to get ready for church!