Open House

The kids had Open House at their school this week.

Robbie got an honorable mention for his Science Fair project.

He made a biography bottle in his class.  His was James Madison.

Lydia wrote an animal report on blue whales.

They also studied Vincent Van Gogh.  She recreated Starry Night.

Robbie and Lydia have both had excellent teachers this year and have done so well academically.

Our Week

 This week Thomas and I learned a new song at library time.  Catherine really loves it.  

 Catherine carried these around for a while one day.  She kept trying to put them on.

I planted our garden.  We have tomatoes, jalapenos, cucumbers, and strawberries. 

I got a new haircut too.

Piano Recital

Robbie had his second piano recital this week.  His teacher, Sis. Guthrie, has one once a year.

  

He did so well and we are so proud of him!  He played a song called Fairies' Harp.

Robbie and Sis. Guthrie

Thomas Time

Thomas loves his sports class. This week they learned about soccer.  He counts the days and looks forward to this time every week. 

 

Also this week, he wanted to send Brian a video message.  When I asked him what he wanted to tell him, he said he just wanted to sing Child of God for him.

Sweet boy!

Park

Catherine is getting more brave at the park and wants to get in on the play time.

Lydi wants to learn to ride her bike without training wheels.  We took her training wheels and pedals off so she can practice balancing.

Climbing up to go on the slide.

OIT

We took Robbie in for another OIT appointment.  We haven't been to the doctor since September when he was supposed to graduate the program.  However, Robbie's been having reactions for about 1 year now.  It's always with peanut butter and after he exercises.  He needs to go an entire month without a reaction, and he's had 1-4/month.  Dr. Randhawa says that parts of our body desensitize at different rates.  There is a part of Robbie's body that's stuck, and hasn't desensitized.  He thought it was his lungs since he was only using 80% of his lung capacity.  Back in September, the doctor put Robbie on an inhaler to help with that.  He retook the lung test this week and his lungs are working at full capacity now, and he still reacts. So our new plan is to treat the back of his throat.  He's supposed to drink a liquid medicine before he doses with peanut butter each day, and we are hoping it helps him progress.  We go back in 6 weeks to reevaluate.

Skin test.  The upper red dot is peanut, the lower is the control.  I can't believe that his reaction is so small.  In the past his reactions would create a redness that covered his whole lower arm.  This treatment is working, and he's come so far!  We are so grateful for it, and Dr. Randhawa for helping him get over this obstacle.

1 Year Check-Up

 Catherine had her 1 year old check-up at the doctor this week.  

height: 30.5 in (75%)

weight: 22 lbs. (70%)

 The doctor also found she had 2 bad ear infections!  I had no idea...no fever and no complaints.  

Is this the face of a baby who's suffering?!  She's on medicine now and we will go back in a few weeks to check them again.

Other than that, she's growing great and is a healthy little girl!

Family Pictures

For Easter, the kids all got a new church outfit.  I made the girls dresses, and the boys got new blue shirts.

Family picture

Gawbie and Grandpa were able to come with us to church before heading back home.  It was sure fun to see them!

Catherine loves her new chair, drinking a sippy of milk.

Lydi taking Catherine on the slide.

Kids' Classes

Right now Thomas is in a multi-sport class.  It's his first time taking a class, and he's so excited about it.  For his first lesson they worked on basketball, which he plays daily.

obstacle course for warm-ups

dribbling on his dot with one hand

Gawbie and Grandpa were in town and got to come watch with us.

Lydi is in a basketball class too.  They meet right after Thomas's class.

Robbie is also taking another basketball class that meets a few time during the week.  It's been a great way for him to work on some more specific skills.  He loves to dribble between his legs.

working on passes and layups

Thomas Painting

When my kids are little, I have them do a painting on canvas that we can hang in their room.  Thomas has been long overdue on getting to paint his.  He finally did it this week!

He was so particular in covering every spot on his canvas and blending the colors together.

He was so proud of his work!

1 Year Old

Catherine made it through her first year!  She's such a sweetheart, with a ready smile.  She's observant, loving and smart.  We love having her in our family.

 

 first cake

 She wouldn't blow out the candle, so I helped.

She loved her first taste of chocolate cake.  It took her a while to warm up to eating it.  She wondered why everyone was staring at her!

  

Opening presents

Bobby, Jesi, and Liam came for Easter dinner and birthday festivities.

She's standing pretty well.

Loves singing, saying "hi", hi-5s, and shaking her head "no".

She's a keeper!