Dinner Story and Kids Updates

It is so nice to sit down to dinner with my family. There is just something about being at home catching up on the day while at the same time appeasing the ravenous mob providing my lovely family with nourishment they need. Everyone has their place at the table (upon Lex’s insistence it is ladies on one side and gentlemen on the other), and there is a place for everyone; everyone, that is, but him. Suddenly, I noticed him. There he was, leaning unknowingly against the side of the table. I knew he wasn’t expecting it. So I made my move and down he went right to the floor. As he lay unmoving on the ground, for a split second I felt a sense of accomplishment and delight and couldn’t help but start to laugh. Lately he had just been driving me mad, it felt good to make him pay. Then the small moment of silence gleams in, just for one moment. Not the peaceful sort of silence either; you know the one. It’s the one you dread, the one that makes you wonder what the kids are up to and just why it is so quiet. As the cries start cutting through the silence, I started to feel very different feelings – remorse and regret. A horrified Lex has huge tears streaming down his face, and it’s my fault. Justin is sitting in his chair shocked, his face full of mixed emotions. Inara is still caught in the moment of silence; she sits in her chair speechless. After a quick moment I composed myself enough to comfort my son as he continues to bawl. I am thinking, I will have to clean up his body later outside of the watchful eyes of Lex, right now my son needs me. Maybe Justin can discreetly dispose of him, as I am being watched like a hawk. After the tears ended and the cleanup was finished, I pondered my newly learned, very important lesson: Never, NEVER swat a fly in front of the children after they refer to them as “nice.” Sorry son, Mama just murdered your nice new interspecies friend.

The kids have really been getting big lately. It’s been a while since we blogged anything so here’s some updates!

So what’s new with Lex?
Lex started preschool this year and is loving it! This week his normal classes are out for fall break, but they had a special field trip to the zoo on Monday, which he enjoyed, despite the dreary weather. He has homework which I really think is giving him a good sense of accomplishment (he is so proud of himself!) and is very good at it! He is still in gymnastics and doing very well! I have noticed improvements with confidence and independence, as well as improved physical strength, agility and balance. He is also still enjoying his Sunday classes, and is starting to open up about what they learn in class. After Inara started telling us what she did in class this last Sunday, Lex opened up and shared the story they learned in class this week (Jesus washing feet) and went on to talk about Jesus dying on the cross. We knew he was catching on to everything, but it is very exciting to start hearing him tell us in his own words!

And what’s new with Inara?
Inara just turned 2 a few weeks ago and is doing very well. Physically small, but very advanced in her speech in particular (has been since she was a baby.), loves to sing and dance, has tons of confidence and is physically able to climb on the potty by herself (with a stepstool), do a two foot jump (even on the stairs despite my best efforts to make her stop) and pretty much anything Lex can do. She can count to 11 (or eleventeen as she used to say), although most of the time she skips 2. She knows it just fine, but just seems to not like the number 2; I was hoping that would change when she turned 2, but so far it has made little difference. We are working on potty training, but are not being very pushy; when she’s ready, she will be ready. She started gymnastics as well this fall, and is doing very well. At first she would not let Mrs Cindy even touch her (I would spot all her moves) and as of today, aside from telling her to mind a couple times, I did not do a single one with her. Awesome! I think she really enjoys being in the 2 year old class at church it’s much more exciting than the one year old class for her. This Sunday, she was telling us about the songs she sang and that the story was about Jesus! In keeping with the “terrible two’s” guideline, she has also been throwing more/longer tantrums than she used to. Fun times!

Justin will be taking his MRI registry sometime in December, so he is studying for that. I’m just doing my normal stuff working and trying to keep up with the kids. Time to get the kids off to bed!