Five little things about each of us

MIKE

1. He's doing amazing things at work. Amazing things that make his boss look really really good and save the state lots of money. 
2. He's spending all his church time with Charlie as his primary teacher and the 11-year-old scout leader. It's nice to be in a ward where we aren't quite as needed. 
3. He's coaching Peter's baseball team this year instead of Charlie's. It's been a good change. Especially because he's spending so much time with Charlie in other ways.
4. He bought me a shiny new computer for my birthday/Mother's Day. It's so pretty that I don't mind having one combined present for the two celebrations.
5. We're still taking care of my brother's dog and Mike HATES him. Anyone want a blue heeler?

CHARLIE

1. He got to play King George in his class play. He and the jester totally stole the show with their banter.
2. He's got this great group of friends that make me so happy. Sure they have their drama, but they really are good kids and have so much fun together. I have fun with all their parents too. 
3. He wants to have a Star Wars room, but keeps adding all sorts of other things to it- baseball, Harry Potter, legos... It's become quite eclectic.
4. Charlie is pitching and catching in baseball. And loving every minute of it. Except when it's snowing.
5. He won a writing contest and gets his essay printed in a local magazine. We're pretty proud of him. I'll have to find his essay and post it. He's got such a fun sense of humor.

PETER

Peter is on the 2nd row from the top, far left with his tongue out.

1. He loved being in choir this year. We haven't actually changed schools yet since our move. They really wanted to stay until the end of the school year. But one of the things Peter worries about is whether our new school has a choir or not.
2. The kids sang for Mother's Day last week and Peter was front and center right in front of the microphone. He sang loud and knew all the words. I wish I had a video.
3. He has been pitching in baseball and is one of the best pitchers on the team. He loves it, but it really stresses me out. The older these kids get, the more watching them play stresses me out. 
4. He has a sports/captain America room and he usually keeps it pretty clean. But since baseball season started, it's been a mess . . . and always smells like dirty socks.
5. He's mischievous. And great at sneaking away when he's supposed to be doing something. 

ANDREW

1. He is SOOO excited to start kindergarten in the Fall. He thought he got to start next week after preschool graduation and keeps asking if we can just skip summer. Our new school is only a couple of years old and has amazing kindergarten facilities. The teachers seem pretty nice too. 
2. He got glasses. He picked ice blue because of Elsa, but now doesn't really like her anymore so we've had to talk about other blue things that the glasses could be representing or he won't wear them anymore.
3. He's finally over Elsa!! His new favorites are Moana, Mario, and Chernabog from Fantasia. I have no idea where that last one came from. And he's trying to decide between being Chernabog or TeFiti for Halloween. I've got time to talk him into something else.
4. He colors and draws constantly. We go through paper like crazy. But he's getting really good at it. He's covered his wall with pictures of all his 'friends.' And he says they like to sit with him while he falls asleep. 
5. He wants to be a farmer when he grows up. He likes to take the seeds out of apples he's eating and plant them in the yard. He's hoping for a bunch of apple trees.

CAROLINE

1. She loves to do whatever the boys are doing, but she wants to do it in a princess dress. I'm surprised at how well she keeps up with them and how much time she spends trying to be just like them.
2. She can't go up or down the stairs normally. She has to jump.
3. Anytime we tell her no or get upset with her for any reason, she counters with, "But I love you!" It's hard to argue with that.
4. She lets me do her hair. And gets excited about it. And then proceeds to destroy it before we ever leave the house. 
5. She's trying to decide between a Pinkalicious birthday party or a Mary Poppins birthday party next month. I'm totally on board with both those options. She having the same dilemma about Halloween. 

ME

1. I ran away with my mom to California for a couple of days for our birthdays. It's the first time I've flown anywhere without my kids. And since I have anxiety issues, my mom made sure to keep me really busy so I didn't have too much time to worry.
2. I met Darth Vader and may have told him I'd take my place at his side supporting the Empire. I cracked under the pressure.
3. I love my new house. I love my big kitchen that is connected to everything and I love my laundry/craft room. I'm still working on getting the whole thing organized though. And why is it so hard to commit to where things go on the wall. Everything is just leaning against it, waiting for me to get the guts to put a nail in.
4. I don't love baseball season with a two year old. She thinks it's really funny to drive me insane by getting as close as possible to the road without actually running out in to it. So I have to make sure I park in a good place so I can see the game from the car when I am fed up and have to punish her by buckling her in. She still gets so upset every single time. You'd think she'd learn.
5. I've read 28 out of 50 books for our library book challenge this year. My favorites so far this year have been The Hiding Place and Twenties Girl. The first one for the messages it taught me and the way it made me think and the second one for the mindless entertainment. Some of my favorites from last year were The Night Circus, My Lady Jane, The Lunar Chronicles and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Just in case anyone is looking for something to read.