February? Really?

Yes, we still exist!  You wouldn't know it by the lack of posts, but the members of Deertales are alive and well!

We've been a bit busy these days.  Of course there are the regular activities of this family of seven: Church, youth groups, school, AWANA, dance class, and Bible studies.  Just to keep us hopping' this winter we've also made 2 trips to Omaha, started Harrison in wrestling, and thrown in a couple doctor appointments for good measure.  But this is just life, isn't it?  I know we are not the only family rushing from one activity to the next, grabbing a bite to eat when we can!

To bring a little peace to our lives, we've instituted a Family Movie Night on Thursday evenings.  We make popcorn and all pile onto the couch to watch a movie together.  After doing this 2 weeks in a row, the kids already knew it was a "tradition" and began to look forward to it as much as we did.

Lucy is growing and changing so much.  She is officially a Roller!  She has really started to take an interest in her toys, too, and it's so fun to watch her attack her favorites.  We started cereal last week, which she thinks is just okay.  She's getting better with it, but it's taking some getting used to.  She laughs and coos and smiles.  She sleeps well, though not all the way through the night consistently yet. She is a happy baby, an easy baby, and a joy to all of us. :)

 I've said it before and I'll say it again now:  Anlynn would raise Lucy if we let her!  She is very good with her.  She holds her, puts her to sleep for naps, and longs for the day she can carry her around the house!  When Lucy cries, Anlynn is so calm and soothing.  She doesn't get riled or worried....like her sweet older sister does.  And Lucy thinks Anlynn is just the best.

 Harrison has sort of forgotten that Lucy exists.  He is busy with his own life that Lucy is just some sort of vague shadow on the edge of his existence.  He loves her, don't get me wrong, but he could go days without talking to her.  We thought this was strange, so we started making him kiss and hug Lucy before bed.  You would have thought we were asking him to eat her!  The first 3 nights he fought us.  Now he kisses her without prompting and tells her he loves her.

 This kid is sure giving us a run for our money!  Terrible Twos?  Yep.  Strong-willed?  Yep.  If we didn't already have some practice with this sort of behavior, we would have given up by now!  Isaac is cleaver and funny.  He is a great problem solver...too good, if you know what I mean!  We really have to stay on our toes with him.  He tries to help himself to food all day long.  He is always using my pots and pans to "cook for you mommy".  His favorite question these days: "Can I watch movie on the iPad?"  We had to set up a lock on it because he knew all the buttons to push in order to watch a movie on Netlix.  I told you he was cleaver!  Isaac really loves his Lucy.  According to him, "That's MY Lucy!"  For some reason, Lige and I have both taken to calling her LucyBelle or LucyBella for a nickname.  It must be sticking because Isaac sang to her in her crib this morning, "OOsee Bellllll-laaahhh,  OOsee Belllaaahhh."  It was very sweet.  Poor girl has no chance of ever dating as long as Issac is around!

Isaac loves to grab ears.  I know it's weird, but hey, that's what he does.  When he's tired or upset he will grab his own hear.  But he's been found to be holding my ear, Lige's ear, the other kids' ears-but they usually shove him off.  Lucy, however, can't escape his reach, so she is a favorite cuddle target of his.  :)

Amana is growing and changing so quickly it seems.  She has entered that semi-awkward stage where she's so much a little girl still, but there's a part of her that wants to be older, too.  She is lovely in spirit, and longs to please.  She gets so upset if she fails or falls short.  I am trying to help her find balance between doing your best and failing with grace.

Well, that's about as much of an update as I am able to give today!  I hope to write more frequent, but sorry, there's no guarantee!  Until next time, whenever that is, be blessed!