I have to start the blog out today by giving a little shout out to Auntie Beth. Not only does she check the blog daily but she also sends me little e-mails commenting on the entries. There were several blog entries that she went through each picture and bit of news and commented on each item just to make me feel good. Beth lives 3,000 miles away and so it has always been difficult to keep the kids engaged with her during the longer absences when they were younger. Now they get the full impact of having an Auntie far away - they miss her when she is gone, look forward to her phone calls and visits, jump up and down when a treat arrives in the mail and understand that her hugs and kisses at the end of phone calls, messages and letters are genuinely little bits of love being sent in her absence. Molly does a little countdown to Auntie Beth's arrivals in CT and loves their girl time - Peter sometimes loves her a little bit more than she can handle - he's a big boy with the need for lots of affection. Annie doesn't get the disappearing act yet but responds happily to Auntie Beth when she does see her. I grew up with most of my family very close by so I truly appreciate all of Beth's overtures at being present in the kids lives in some fashion even when she can't be here in person. I am a little concerned for the day when the kids realize that you can travel as unsupervised minors at 12 and start begging for tickets to LA for their birthdays!
Peter had a great week at school. His behavior was incredible and his teacher was very excited about all of the skills he was able to demonstrate during testing(many above grade level). It may seem as though I go on and on about Pete's scholastic achievements but, let me tell you, my boy works so very hard at all his school work that he deserves accolades often for his successes. I want Peter to love school and I think it is often the kids who struggle with learning issues that become disillusioned by school and fade off into the sunset - Bob and I are constantly trying to find ways to encourage and engage Peter - Noah Webster School has been a bonanza for us in this area.
Another picture of Katherine Shannon but for very good reason. Bob called me today and asked that I begin referring to him as "The Godfather". Pat and Karla asked him to be Katie's godfather and he could not be prouder or more excited. I personally think he is a great choice but Bob feels very honored to be considered such an important person in Katie's life and to know that he will have a place in her spiritual upbringing as the year's go on. Bob is such a wonderful man - kind, generous and unbelievably patient and loving with the kids - he adores his nieces and nephew and today his chest is puffed out just a bit more with the knowledge that he and Katie are about to become bonded even more closely. He was also very excited to remind me that after grandparents - godparents get priority when it comes to holding the baby! We'll see if I give up my niece to him at any point but he can dream!
KK sent all the kids cute little Valentine's Day packages and I have been dying to put this little onesie on Annie. Unfortunately my little one was very tired and uncooperative about letting me get a picture of her in it. It says "Apple of my eye"!
I have to admit that although I really wanted a cute picture of Ann in this outfit for KK - how the heck can you look at anything but that cherubic face and those squishy, wonderful rolls all over her little body. You can't get a good look at them right now but she also has dimples all over the place - elbows, hands and ankles!
And then Molly girl asked if she could do a "belly picture" for KK. Not her most flattering pose but, once again, that belly and her little eyes just make me laugh. Molly has had lots of body image issues lately - kids telling her she was chubby and her wondering how to get her tummy to stay in instead of stick out. I love that she was uninhibited about lifting her shirt and showing me her gorgeous belly - I'm her Mom but I think she is perfect! We have spent ample time talking to Molly about healthy eating and exercising and she really does get it - she is much better about choosing healthy snacks and always drinking water rather than juice or soda. Irish Step Dancing is certainly good exercise for her - I don't know how they do it for and hour????Peter starts baseball this week with Uncle Pat and Daddy as his coaches and Tyler as his teammate. We tried to give the boys a bit of a break from ALWAYS doing everything together but as it turned out Pat and Bob joined forces anyways so they are teammates again. I personally love being able to go to basketball or baseball and see both kids play but I wonder if at some point they will be tired of each other and want to branch out on their own. Frankly I don't think Pete will ever be the one to want to separate from Tyler - he constantly asks why he and Tyler couldn't be twins so they could dress alike and live together - he loves his cousin!
Hopefully a quiet weekend so I'm not sure how much I will have to share but we have lots of basketball to watch so Bob will be happy!
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