Spring Break Part II!

 This week has been the boys' spring break! We did not take an exotic vacation, unfortunately (money and all that jazz;) so we've been hangin' around here. Samuel really really wanted to go to Chicago this week but we want to wait until Ben can go. I've been trying to come up with little things to occupy everyone!

First, a few pics!

Eliana and her little cousin being silly at JoAnn's:)

I got together with a friend of mine last week so our girls could play and we could make some snacks! We made fruit roll-ups and granola bars. Yum!

We filled out a little bracket for a friendly family competition and Eliana, who was very proud of her bracket, chose Virginia because that's where her cousin lives! We haven't broken the news yet that they lost....

Fun news! Zakkai is now taking Tae Kwon Do!! We have been wanting to get the boys involved in something but it's really expensive and time-consuming! We found a great class through our church and it meets three times a week (he only has to go at least twice.) We have thought for the longest time that martial arts would be so good for him; to build self-confidence, learn self-discipline, respect, etc.

Z has hemmed and hawed when it comes to choosing a sport but after trying this class, he LOVES it!! I had a chance to go watch him last night and it was just adorable! Pics coming soon:)

And Samuel will be starting baseball next week, I think! He is excited about it. We are waiting to hear what team he gets on and if Ben will be a volunteer coach. Boy, if our schedule wasn't busy enough already.....
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This week has seemed long and different. I have been teaching preschool this week (as E's spring break was last week) so the boys hung out with their Grandma both days. They had a lot of fun!! On the off days, aside from running errands here and there (grocery store, library, etc), we have done a couple fun things using some Christmas gift cards the kids got like going to see a movie ("Big Hero 6" SO cute!) and getting ice cream at Graeter's (an Ohio specialty!) The weather is "eh" this week so unfortunately, we haven't gotten to do outside play or parks. Watch next week be gorgeous:)

I'm still trying to decide what to do with them on their last day tomorrow. We have to plan something or we feel crazy being cooped up! Spring fever, anyone??

Catch-up!

Hey, ho, we're still alive over here! We're back to the busy schedule of Thurs-Sat where we barely see each other because Ben is working so much. So the kiddos and I have been staying busy at home the last few days of this spring break. Samuel is already begging to go back to school! I'm not sure if I should be happy that he loves school so much or offended that he's tired of us.....:)

Eliana has been as grumpy as can be for the past 3 days. She will play happily for about 5 minutes and then come hang on my leg, crying, snot everywhere, saying "Uh? Uh?" (UP). I sure hope she feels better soon!

Some new things we've learned over the past week are:

Samuel learned to swing! We tried so hard to teach him last summer but he just couldn't get the hand of the coordinated pumping and body leans. He was so frustrated! But at the end of last week, Ben took the boys to the park and Samuel picked it up 1-2-3! I got to watch him in action a couple of days ago!

Eliana learned how to say her biggest brother's name! She started a few days ago, saying "Mamyule, Mamyule" in the very same, sweet, high-pitched voice that she uses to call our names. He just loves it! She knows who Zakkai is but hasn't attempted his name yet, or at least that we can tell. I thought she was saying his name a few months ago but turns out she was saying something else and it was a coincidence:) She also tries to say "Budder" (Brother) which is too cute!

Zakkai has learned how to scoot SO fast on his scooter! It took him a little while to get used to the 2 wheeled scooter but now we see him zipping around outside with all the other neighborhood kids:) We counted the number of bruises on his body today and he was impressed to learn that he has 20 bruises. What a BOY.

Take a look at the picture below and see if you notice anything funny:) I'm sure you can guess who did it!!

Now I am off to await the return of my long-lost husband and to watch the big basketball game! Go Bucks!