Springing forward?

Aside from the obvious long winter, it is hard to believe that it is almost April already. . . . . What have we been up to:

Alex: he keeps himself busy with shoveling the snow, helping grandpa, and any outdoor activity.  He is one of the few people in Wisconsin that will be sad to see winter go away.  This marked his first year in Cub Scouts, he truly enjoys the activities surrounding that, and is looking forward to going to camp with his dad in August.  I couldn’t think of a more fitting activity for Alex, so I’m really happy he’s involved in Pack 3618.  He’s doing soccer and swim lessons at the Y, and looking forward to the start of baseball. He loves to read books from the Boxcar Children series, and we’ve taken to reading him some Gary Paulsen books from the Hatchet series.  He loves the survival type stories, and often times Jason and I fight over who gets to read to him because we also enjoy reading them.  Hard to believe my first baby will be 8 years old next month, seems like just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital and he kicked us into the beautiful reality of parenthood. . . and we haven’t looked back since. 

Laura: she has been busy as well with swimming lessons at the Y, and just the usual tagging along of our busy lives.  Laura’s swim instructor asked us if we had considered Laura joining the swim team, apparently she has a very good ‘rhythm’ for swimming as a sport.  It’s hard for me to wrap my head around that concept I have always associated sports with some form of a ball.  Watching that little 5 year old swim laps in the big pool makes me swell with so much pride, especially considering I couldn’t properly swim a lap if someone would ask me to at 33 years old!  Her only requirements: a bikini to show off her six pack abs and some rockin’ goggles. 

Earlier this week her teacher sent an email out stating they would be doing away with ‘quiet’ time after Easter break in preparation for 1^st grade, the message kind of slapped me in the face.  She’s also been excelling in school with her reading and writing.  What I used to consider ‘spirited’ in Laura has now changed to determination, and it’s such a joy to listen to her talk about school.  Having your children attend a parochial school is a whole nother experience in itself (a positive one at that); both of my children probably know more religion related facts at 5 and 7, than I do as a grown adult.  A typical conversation after school goes something like this:  “Mom, are Mary and Jesus real?”  Yes.  “Well, then the bible is non-fiction!”

Ainslee: none of my kids ever really suffered from the terrible twos; however, three is when we started to move more into those ‘little shit’ moments.  You know, like dumping an entire bottle of baby power all over the vacuum and closet when no one was looking; sneaking downstairs while her grandma naps next to her-carefully and calculated getting a chair, climb on the counter, and help yourself to the chocolates mom hid on you!  Not only does she perfectly line those chocolates up for consumption, but when her aunt unexpectedly walks in she casually tells Aunt Kate “Grandma’s not here”.  She’s infatuated with wearing skirts, and if she goes out of the house without one on-you can guarantee the moment she walks in the door she will be heading to put one on. 

This is a sore subject in our house because Jason handles a large portion of the laundry duties, he tries to put a limit on how many times people change clothes in the house:  coming from a family of 4 girls, knowing the endless piles of laundry my mom had, and my own habits; I’m wishing him lots of luck on that!    He’s already training Alex well tho, one of Alex’s chores is sorting the laundry-the other day I caught him saying “Oh, come on Ainslee” under his breath.  I walked in to find him pulling Ainslee’s clothes right side out because she had conveniently just peeled them off her body. Yeah, good luck turning those habits around boysJ! 

We’re heading into our Spring break at the Wuest house; we’re looking forward to the next week off of school/work and spending that time with family.  From the Wuest family to yours: have a blessed Easter!