I finally have a moment of peace!  I'm not watching extra kids, Chamae is taking a rest before we go pick Donovan up, and it's not the end of the day so I don't just want to veg in front of the tv or climb in bed from exhaustion!!

Things have been going pretty well lately.  We are starting to get caught up on some yard work (we still have a few things inside the house to work on, but it will take time!).  We planted our garden this week.  Hopefully we get some plants and the deer and turkeys don't eat all of our veggies!!

The kids are doing well.  Chamae is getting so big!  She is talking more and more every day.  Most of the time it's jibberish, but she'll slip in a clear sentence or two that always catch me off guard.  She is very good at following directions, if it's something she wants to do.  She loves to see her daddy when he comes home for the day or during his lunch break.  She squeals with delight when she sees him.  She is just as sweet as she is sassy.  She loves to give kisses and hugs, but also likes to scold her brother and screams when she doesn't get her way.  If I tell Donovan not to do something, she likes to tell him too.  She is already a little mother.  She loves babies, and she often says, "ith a bebe" when she sees one.  She is so silly sometimes!  She makes us all laugh and loves to be the center of attention (who does that sound like?  Brad maybe?).  She went through a phase of stranger anxiety that only seemed to be with men around Brad's age, but she loves old guys and usually calls them, "papa".  We haven't seen Jordan Carver or her Uncle Scotty in a while though, so she may be over it.  It seems like she is, but I guess we'll see when Scott comes to town in a couple of weeks.

Donovan is Donovan.  He loves being outside.  Loves all kinds of bugs and wildlife.  He loves talking to adults, but doesn't get along as well with kids his own age.  He is getting good at playing more with his sister, and she is showing more affection for him as a result.  He is beyond excited about our garden and can't wait to see it sprout!  He is a good helper, when he isn't busy playing.  He does pretty well with listening when it's something he wants to do, but it takes a few times for him to complete a task he'd rather not do.  I am trying to instill in him a willingness to work and do service for others and not worry so much about a reward or getting things in return.  I think he gets it, I just need to be consistent.  I love that when he asks me, "What can I do?"  I know he's asking me to play Wii or the ipad, but if I say, "You can go outside."  He races to the door to get his shoes on and goes outside.  I love that he chooses outside over games most of the time.  He is getting better at soccer, though Chamae shows more interest in it than he has.  He scored his first goal on Saturday!!  He was so proud, as soon as it happened, he searched for me in the crowd and the second he found me, a grin spread across his face.  It was adorable, and it was a good goal!!  I hope he continues to get better and enjoys it more and more.  Having an activity twice a week has helped him with his days.  He knows that if it's Monday or Saturday, he gets to go to soccer, and he usually looks forward to it.  I love seeing that.  He is also starting to read!  He has learned how to sound out words and recognizes quite a few sight words.  Brad and I just look at each other when he tries to sound out a word and then says, "Oh, I know that word." and repeats what the actual word is.  It's so fun to see him learning to read!!  I am loving it.  I am also loving the fact that he is enjoying it.  He has also tried to spell some words on his own.  The other day, he drew a picture and wrote "domeno" next to the picture of a domino.  I was pretty impressed.  He is still my sweet little Donovan.  Last night, I was asking which songs he wanted to sing and he gave me a big hug, so I said, "You don't want songs tonigh?"  He said, "I do, I just love you!"  It was so sweet and it melted my heart.  It's moments like those that make parenthood worth it.  I also love those little moments with Chamae when I pick her up and she lays her head on my shoulder and pats my back.  It's the best.  Love these kids.



Chamae loves to climb all over Brad.

 She also loves to try on everyone's shoes and gets very upset if they don 't stay on.

 Our little reader.

 Our awesome free swingset.  It needs a little work, but the kids love it so far!!

 Donovan is handsome, especially when he's all dressed and ready for church!

 Chamae is pretty.

 We are all in love with her crazy grin.

 Donovan loves to run up and slide down the slide.  He has also learned how to pump himself on the swing. He can get pretty high now!

 Before we planted the garden, Donovan's favorite thing to do was make mud and play in it.

 Even at the end of the day when she looks like a ragamuffin, she is still pretty :)

Not a whole lot going on with Brad and me.  College Spring season is over, so he doesn't have to leave for work as early, but he's still coaching high school so he's home late in the evenings.  It's rare for us to get to eat dinner all together, but we do our best!  I am still running 3 times a week.  My running partners and I are talking about running a half marathon in October.  I will have to find a sitter if I decide to do it since Brad will have his Region tournament that weekend as well.  We'll see.  It'd be fun, and I'd get my 13.1 sticker!  I don't need a 26.2 sticker, that is for truly crazy people...like my mother.  I am signed up to the Omaha Color Run with some mom friends, it's just a 5k so it's just for fun.