April 30 - Go Luke Go!

 Luke started swimming lessons in January at a local indoor pool. Although he basically had a private lesson every week for about 10 weeks, he learned very little (he loved it...it was difficult for me to sit on the side and watch the lack of instruction). He started private lessons last week with a girl named Paige (a former swimmer from Florida who is now full time Coast Guard) and he is doing incredible. INCREDIBLE! He can now do the back float and swim back stroke-actually swim backstroke by himself. This is HUGE folks. He can tread water for about 15 seconds and is working on his freestyle. And he's only had 3 lessons. His progress is simply incredible, we are so proud of him. The Orcas start next week and we're still undecided if he'll try out for the team (he cannot swim a lap yet and Mr. Skin and Bones will freeze in the water next week). Go Luke Go!!

Luke was honored with the World Citizenship Award at school this week

Chalk fun

The 2nd Grade Squad-Kyla, Julia & Almas

April 21 - Snuggle Bears

As you know, we are dog obsessed in this house and we (mostly the kids and I) pamper our furry babies. One of my favorite times of the day is reading time, it really is a family affair for the girls! Yes, it's clear these girls are living a tough, tough, life. :) They aren't getting walked much lately (with my pelvic issues, thank you pregnancy) but they are getting lots and lots of snuggles. 

April 18 - Back Twenty

Baby Yamo #3

Happy Monday folks. We are experiencing major storms in Houston, MAJOR! After dropping Luke off at school in torrential downpour, the road I drive home on was already starting to flood. I had to head back to his school soon afterward because he was being presented with a World Citizenship Award at an awards ceremony. The award is presented to a student who is a model member of the class, follows the attributes of the keys of excellence and does his best in all academic curriculum matters. Well..I showed up for the ceremony and he was waiting for me in the lobby with his backpack on-the school was closing due to weather. After we got home, Julia's school called and announced they were also closing. Although I was one of 50+ parents in the lobby, she was released quickly.

20 weeks!

Julia came home and completed her homework and read for 30min-impressive! The kids have been great all day. Amazingly, we haven't lost power so I'm able to work with no issues. They are having fun playing video games and watching movies. 

In other news...we have officially entered the back twenty weeks for pregnancy. This is huge news people, I'm not someone built for pregnancy so being halfway done is a huge relief. Since I pretty much tossed all of our baby stuff after Luke was 1, we're starting from scratch. Our first baby gifts arrived last week and Julia was beyond excited. 'These clothes are so cute I could just die!' 'Mom, look. It's a REAL bib!' She really thinks this is her own personal baby. Although she's not happy that none of my top name choices are the ones she recommended. 

Thanks!!

April 12 - Squirrel Monkeys

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here-low 80s during the day and 60s at night. This is the sweet spot of Texas weather-blue skies, nice breeze and the mosquitoes and humidity haven't arrived yet. As such, the kids are basically banned from playing in the house. Last week, I was cleaning up from dinner and told the kids to go outside and play until I called them in for a bath. As I was washing the dishes I heard some squirrels on the roof. Loud squirrels. We had a squirrel problem a few years ago (they got into our attic) so I was worried they were back again. I finished washing up and yelled for the kids to come inside. 

They came inside...and Luke kept whispering to Julia and then telling me he had something to tell me but they would be in trouble. I honestly thought they had said some mean things to each other outside or something along those lines. Eventually he caved...and guess what? Those were not squirrels I heard on the roof. They were my children, who climbed up a crepe myrtle and then hoisted themselves up on the roof. Our very steep, approx. 30' high, 20 year old roof. They proceeded to walk on 'all fours' (as Luke told me) around the roof. He checked out the chimney up close and personal-he's wondering how Santa fits in the chimney. He's also curious as to why there are so many rocks on the roof. He blamed the entire thing on Julia "Well, she wanted to see if she could climb the tree and touch her window, then she said 'let's be monkeys and climb all the way up!'". Julia for her part was very quiet. As you can probably imagine-I completely flipped out hearing about their 'monkey activities' and they were grounded for the rest of the week. Kids!

April 7 - A Wife? Too Much Work

The North Pointe Fun Run was this past weekend and Julia competed in the 1 mile race. She absolutely rocked it and came in first, great job Jules!! Kendall came in 2nd and the girls were both very proud of their performance. 

In other fun news...recent discussions this week:

"When I grow up, I want to be a farmer with horses and chicken, just like Uncle Brian. I want live on a farm in Florida, be married with two kids-1 boy and 1 girl. But they will definitely not be home schooled though. What about you Luke?" - Julia

"When I grow up, I want to have a house in Texas with one son." - Luke

"One son? That's it? Aren't you forgetting something..like a wife?" - Julia

"A wife? No, I don't want a wife. A wife is too much work." - Luke

....
"So today on the playground, Almas and Kyla (girls from her class) told me that Kobi has a crush on me" - Julia

"Oh, okay." - JD, totally taken off guard

"Don't worry Dad. I'm not looking for a guy in my life right now." - Julia

Julia & Kendall

Luke & his buddies at a birthday party over the weekend