gymNAPsticks

We went to gymnastics today and both kids loved it. Here are a few pictures of them playing. When we were leaving Dominic said "Thanks Mommy for taking me to gymnapsticks. I had so much fun. It was even funner than picking my nose." Sure enough he had his finger up his nose. Sigh! Glad to know he enjoyed himself though.Right after I took this picture a little boy came by and gave the tube a big push. Caitlin was not thrilled to be tumbled around.It was very hard to get a picture of Dominic since he stayed in motion the entire time we were there. But I caught him a few times on the trampoline.These are two little friends of Dominic's that got stuck in the foam pit.

Elephants

I'm extremely sentimental. Jon sometimes laughs at me because of the things I keep simply for sentimental reasons.

I was told a story about Jon's grandmother. Not sure of the details, but it seems she collected elephants. As the story goes, she didn't even like elephants. But once you get a couple of something people make the assumption that you are collecting them and it never stops. So when she passed away she had a large collection of elephants. This past November Jon's mom brought us a few of them to pass on to our kids. Jon wasn't sure I would want them cluttering up my house, but I insisted. What a neat thing to be able to pass on to my kids - their great-grandmother's elephant collection.

When Jon went to Germany he was having a difficult time finding me something to bring back. Almost everything there can be bought here for cheaper. He found this elephant and thought he'd add to my "collection". I LOVED it. Another Murrell woman who never intended to collect elephants now has the beginnings of one. =)It is so cute and now has sentimentalism attached to it. I wonder if Jon knew what he was starting? =)

Some funny pictures

Both kids wanted on Jon's lap. Couldn't ever get one with both of them smiling. Love Dominic's face in this one though.Caitlin is VERY relaxed while she's eating. =)Dominic found some of my dress socks and put them on. He was all "packed for a trip" and so had his suitcase and backpack. He had to pull up his pants to show me the socks. I think it's the pose that has me laughing so much every time I see this picture.

Family days

Dominic had heartburn. He'd never had it before and was really upset. "Mommy, my heart is broken and bleeding."

Yesterday (Thursday) Dominic asked me "What days are family days?" I made the correct assumption that he was talking about days that Daddy was home. "Sabbath and Sunday, Dominic." "Oh, I think we should make Thursday a family day too. I want Daddy to stay home with us." I just love it that my kids think their Dad is the greatest and want to spend time with him.

Our local gymnastics has an open gym for preschoolers and lets them play on the equipment for an hour. Dominic loves it and was asking me if he could go to gymnapsticks (gym NAP sticks).

My poor daughter has learned a new sign. It seems that I'm a bit busier with two kids than one and so I'm always asking her to wait just a few minutes for something she wants. Yesterday she was playing with a toy and I asked her to come so she signed wait and continued to play. I had to smile.

Big words

“Mommy, I want to be able to talk like a grown up.”

“Why can’t you, Dominic?”

“Because grown ups use big words I don’t understand yet.”

Amazing Husband/Daddy

Life has been a bit rough for all of us this past week, but I think it’s getting better. Middle of last week I got sick and was so sick that Jon felt he needed to stay home to watch the kids. They, of course, followed me and Jon spent 4 days cleaning up after the kids while I was in bed. We are all on the mend and most of us are back to 100%. Dominic still seems tired and is back to taking naps. He seemed to get hit with the virus the hardest.

It has been amazing to watch my husband (when I wasn’t in dreamland). He HATES smells. And yet he never once complained when the kids made “messes” that he had to clean up. For those 4 days the washing machine never stopped working while he kept everything clean and our house smelled like a hospital (during the good times). =) But he shouldered through it and I’m so proud and impressed at what a wonderful husband I have. He’d would do anything for his little family and we feel his love for us every day.

Everyone is home

Jon came home Friday night. His flight was delayed a bit coming into New Bern so the kids were asleep when I loaded them into the car. They never really woke up when Jon put them back in the bed. But Sabbath morning they sure were glad to see their daddy again.

It's wonderful to have all of us home again. The kids can't get enough of Jon. Neither can I! =) There isn't anything better than being home with your family!!!