Papa's birthday!

I didn't want to forget to write about our trip to Lynchburg near the beginning of March. Allie, Hunter and I went to visit granny and papa, while Brian and Sky stayed here to have a dad's weekend. The kids are so awesome in the car, that traveling is never too stressful. We got to hang out with granny and papa and celebrate Papa's birthday. His actual birthday was a few days before we arrived, but still there is always time for cake! Allie even took $5. of her own money to granny to help buy the cake. She's just too sweet. Saturday, Papa was watching golf, and so did the kids. Allie even told me later all about the golfers outfits and that her and Hunter like golf. I'm sure that is music to papa's ears. We loved that we didn't have to share granny at all to the hospital, now that she's retired. Instead, we got to enjoy a nice Saturday at the park.

It was a lot of flame on the cake! Happy 74th birthday Dad!

Flown by!

When I used to teach in a classroom, I always remember March being the LONG month. Everyone could not wait for spring break to come. This March has flown by for me. I just looked and the last time I updated the blog was at the beginning of the month. So, there's a whole month to catch up on.

Allie started gymnastics about a month and a half ago. She has loved every class. I think we will stick with gymnastics for a while. She also is playing tee ball. Practice started about 2 weeks ago. She's is playing girls softball and loves it also. Her team name is the Kennesaw State Owls. Some of you might recognize that name, as where I went to college in Georgia. Brian is her coach this year, and we got to pick the team name. The Hokies was already taken, which was Brian's only choice for a team name, so we went with my school. I think they are both enjoying the baseball time together. I can't wait to see a game! Allie has wrapped up Girl Scout cookie sales for her first year as a Daisy. She sold over 100 boxes of cookies just on her own, and worked a cookie booth. Only a few more Daisy meetings until next year.

Allie and Sky enjoying a morning snack before school.

Hunter started speech this past week. I am so excited for him to talk, and can't wait for the day, that he tugs my leg and says mama too. I feel like we have got a long road ahead of us, but looking forward to helping him. The speech therapist models lots of activities for us and gives us homework for the week to focus on. He is going through a picky food phase right now, which I know if typical for a 21 month old, but I still hope it passes quickly.

A Day in the life of Hunter. The boy loves his books.

Along with all that goes on with me during the day, taking care the kids, house, tutoring etc., I have started a class at the community college. It's for 8 weeks, and I have finished 2 weeks so far. The class is Language Arts for young children, and so far I have really enjoyed it, however it's a lot of work. My nights are now consumed with reading and writing papers. I am taking the class for re-certification points, so that when my teaching license gets ready to expire, I will have all the points I need for renewal.

Spring Break starts NOW!! Brian picked Allie up from school and went to the new frozen yogurt place in the neighborhood to start our break off right. Brian works Monday and Tuesday next week, then took off the rest of the week, so he can enjoy it with us. Hoping for beautiful weather, maybe a trip to DC with the kids, or zoo. I love spring!

These 3 love each other!

Hunter's Speech Progess

Our little guy is just the sweetest. He is quiet, loving, playful...really just the best little guy. Today Hunter was evaluated for speech therapy. He qualified within the first 20 minutes in which the ladies were here. I had mentioned in a previous post that he knows mama, dada, and makes some sounds for pig and dog. The speech therapist asked us if he called our names to get our attention or when we came in the room, or when we wanted out of his crib etc. The answer to that is no. So, really she said he's just mimicking what we say, but not using the words. She said really he uses no words. The therapists played with him, and took notes. Hunter was his cute, social self. He has a delay in expressive communication. He did do a little baby babble in the hour and a half they were here, which the therapist said is maybe on the scale of where a 12 month old would be. Hunter will be 21 months in a week.

I am so happy that he qualified for services, and that he will get some help learning and we will get pointers also. I had hoped that before now, he would just starting saying words, which just hasn't happened yet, but I know it will. Hunter's a smart little guy. Tonight we were saying saying sounds for him to try and when he would try his excitement was so cute in his little face. He knows he is trying hard to accomplish something

So, next week we have his goals meeting, and then soon after that his services will start here once a week. For him, it's just play with adults...little does he know we are sneaking in some learning too!

Hands-on museums are the best!

Last weekend we took Allie, her friend Addy and Hunter to this little children's museum in Winchester, VA. It was about an hour west from here, and a perfect place to go for a few hours. We have been to lots of children's museums. Each one is always unique. It amazes me the concepts people come up with that entertain children for hours. This place wasn't too fancy, but kept 3 kids happy and playing for 2 hours. Here are a couple of pictures from our trip.

She was trying to get these magnets to interlock, therefore moving multiple wheels at one time.

The rock climbing wall!

He's always ready to give me a smile! He loved this cardboard house where he could open the doors and windows. This kept him happy for a while!

Teach me Daddy

Hunter's turn

The girls were very involved with the art area.