July

Some highlights of the past month….

 

Travis and Heather have been learning to write!  They were writing their names and other things so much on their own, that I decided to go ahead and start the handwriting program that goes with our kindergarten curriculum (“Handwriting Without Tears”).  We usually do it after they have had breakfast and while Jeffrey and Brian are having their breakfast.  (It’s also a way to keep them occupied constructively and out of trouble while I’m supervising Jeffrey’s breakfast and nursing Brian.)

 

Travis is very good and copying and creating patterns.  He saw a drawing of a man made with these wooden pieces and immediately went off and created it himself.

 

Our church had Vacation Bible School in July.  The theme was “Wisdom Calls Aloud” from Proverbs.  The kids from kindergarten age through 6th grade had 5 verses to learn over the course of the week.  Travis learned all 5.  Heather and Jeffrey only had to learn the first half of Proverbs 9:10, but they ended up learning all of Travis’ verses too.

 

Heather has finally gotten the hang of potty training!!  I sent her off to a dear friend’s house for two days to get some undivided attention and unbridled enthusiasm for the task.  She came back with lots of stars in her potty chart!

 

Jeffrey climbs everything!  And seems to have a knack for finding snacks and fire ants.  He got bit about 18 times one night.  He is enjoying his Sunday School class and most everything else in life… except loud noises like thunder and car alarms that go off in the garage.

 

All three of the older ones are learning to sing and enjoy it.  Heather even sang loud at the parents’ program at VBS.  Last year, she was too shy to do it at church even though she did it at home.  Jeffrey also sings a lot a home.

 

Brian is now almost 5 and a half months old.  He has been practicing his latest trick … rolling over from back to tummy.  The only problem is that he doesn’t like to be on his tummy very long and he hasn’t figured out how to roll back the other way.  He is regularly sleeping through the night, though not as well at nap times lately.

 

In July, we took a trip to Ardmore, Oklahoma for a wedding.  On the way home, we stopped at Lake Murray State Park and the Tucker Tower (where these pictures were taken).

 

I am staying busy with cooking, laundry, discipline, and preparing for starting kindergarten soon with Travis and Heather.

Ronnie is staying busy with work and preparing to lead the AWANA program at our church  this year.  He also taught our adult Sunday School at church one week.  I’m proud of him for stepping out of his comfort zone and trying out some new areas of ministry.