JUNE has arrived

Am I the only one, or is anyone else baffled as to how June arrived so quickly? This spring (can you call it that, with the weather we've had) has flown by. In the next two and a half weeks I'll be starting a job, Rob will be finished working full-time, Erica will be finished with Kindergarten, Robby will be finished with preschool, Jacob will get two more teeth, and about ten families will move out of our ward (including one of my best friends that lives next-door, Melanie). It seems like time for an update.

The kids are doing really well - they are happy and enjoying life. Jacob has a mouthful of teeth, which reminds me to share the following:

1. The gap between his front two teeth has vanished
2. The tooth that was missing for months on the bottom finally decided to stop being shy

Jacob is also learning to walk. At La's request, I'll try to figure out how to record and post a video of him walking (without a digital video camera). My mom is visiting and what better time than when her grandson is wobbly walking around. I love this stage! He is growing up WAY too fast (said by a person who loves the baby age). I'm going to borrow the words of my sister-in-law describing one of my neices to describe Jacob: "When he's happy, there is no one cuter. When he's mad, watch out!"

Robby is as endearing as ever. His every sentence makes us smile. Here is his latest brilliant observation: we were sitting down as a family having our usual "pillow time" at the end of each day. When we ask Robby to tell us something good that he did that day, he tells us that he had "compassion" for a little girl and showed her how to do something. Since we've never even used the word "compassion" in our house, we were shocked! Not only did he use the word, he used it in the right context, pulling from his actions that day. He told us that he learned it from the Veggietales movie - of which he's seen only once last week. I guess we will stick with watching Veggietales. :) Robby is still very interested in animals and his favorite movies are the Henry's Amazing Animals series that we check out from the library. He had a haircut and is catching up in height to his sister. Can we freeze time for a bit?

Erica is her usual spunky and delightful self. She makes everyone we pass on the sidewalk smile. Her friendliness knows no bounds (even when sometimes it should). She is no respector of persons and is always watching out for the underdog, even on the playground. As always, Erica is the best big sister around. Whe is really growing up, as evidenced by her loose tooth and her attempts to put her face in the water at swimming lessons. She was the student of the week this week and she brought Grandma as her "item" to share. She told us laughing that "no one ever brings people to share!" Erica has some exciting things lined up this summer - a bird camp at the Audubon Society, a worm camp at a local community center, and weeklong day camp at our complex (which I will be helping to run). Robby and Erica are also taking a pottery class together.

I am doing well. I have finally come to grips with my pain and have a better attitude about it (most of the time). When I think back on how bad it was when Jacob was born, I have really come a long ways. The surgeon told me that I'm not a candidate for surgery and that he felt that time is the only healer. My friend's dad (thanks you, Emily!) sent me a guest pass to a medical website with the latest medical research. It proved to be more helpful than the last four doctors I've seen. It sums up all of my pain and prognosis in three short paragraphs. It even says that usually X-rays and MRIs don't show anything...wouldn't that have been great to know three months (and many dollars) ago? Has anyone ever tried acupuncture?

This week, I'm starting my old job that I had before Jacob was born. I work at our complex's community center providing programs and assistance to the people who live here. It's is a fantastic job to do with children, as they can go with me the vast majority of the time. And who else gets a three bedroom apartment in Seattle for $77/month? :)

Rob is finishing his first (and last!) quarter of working full-time while going to school. I have a new respect for the wives of husbands who do this on a regular basis! By the middle of June, his life should have slowed down a bit. Although he always manages to put his family first, which impresses me to no end. Rob was able to attend his grandfather's funeral a few weeks ago, where all of his siblings and parents were present. It was a special time for him and his family. Rob has a lot of his grandfathers best qualities and I'm glad he could be there to celebrate his life and mourn his loss.

Thanks for all of your comments on my previous post. It's an interesting things to analyze the reasons you do anything. I enjoyed reading everyone's comments (since there were at least fourteen... ;) Considering Rob has a meeting that starts here in twenty minutes (and I'm still in my tattered pjs, haven't brushed my teeth, and don't even know if anyone else is awake), I better run!

p.s. Did I mention that my wonderful friend Erin not only gave me my old job back, but gave me her dishwasher when she moved? THANK YOU, ERIN!! I'm only sorry it means that you are moving...we'll miss you!