Busy, Busy, Busy!

We're finally back online and very happy to say that our connection is speedy fast (as Junie B. Jones would say)! We've been in our house for 2 months now. During that time, aside from getting most things unpacked, we also had a pole building garage built. At this point, Jim is working on figuring out how to get power out there. He's not happy with the situation, as he's trying to dig down to locate the conduit that was placed in the ground prior to the hole being filled in. (Don't mention the issue to him...might tick him off!)

Our baby chicks aren't so little anymore. They sure love me, though. They think I have food, so they come a-runnin'! It's funny. Here's a picture of me and Emma on a snowmobile. I don't remember if I ever posted pictures of that day.

Andrew is teething....that's why he's chewing on 2 pacifiers. It was funny so I had to get a shot of it! Emma is delighted at putting several hair things...that is, when it is HER idea...!

Let's see...what else has happened since we've moved in? Bowen started school here, and he's becoming an expert on the numbers and types of buses that the Ephrata School District uses. His favorite web site is http://www.schoolbusland.com/ if you'd ever like to check out the various buses pictured there. He's bonded well with his two bus drivers, and they think it's fun that he likes buses. They had a remote control bus at their office and decided to give it to me for the kids. How nice of them!

It didn't take long for Andrew to learn to climb the ladder and slide down the slide. He was so excited!

More recently, we were all visited by the 'stomach bug' and though us grown-ups didn't get it (thank god), three of the kids got it. Andrew was the worst off, and after 2 1/2 days of V & D (he couldn't keep anything in his tummy), I ended up taking him to the clinic then the ER for IV fluids. Now I know what dehydration looks like! The doctor did run a blood test to see just how dehydrated he was, and he said he was 'pretty dry', so they gave him a second Bag of fluid. The best part of it was that they gave him some anti-nausea meds in his IV, and he's been able to drink and eat more and more ever since. He's perking up quickly. I had to laugh at the hospital though. Andrew was pretty mouthy...saying things like, "Get OFF ME!" and "I WANT MY DRINK" I told the nurses that Andrew was going to be their biggest biligerant patient for the evening.

Emma has probably had the most difficult time adjusting to the move. Potty training has gone in reverse. I won't buy anymore pull-ups, and she hardly ever 'goes' to the bathroom. Some days she gives me some hope, but really it's got to be her decision to do it. At three and a half, she's really becoming a challenge! On the other hand, she seems to have one foot in baby-land and the other in grown-up land. She likes purses, fancy shoes, and even tried to give herself a haircut! (Don't ask!) This week, she's shown much interest in writing her letters. She can write MOM and is working on Emma. She also decided to plant some flowers, so she pulled off most of the blooms from the African Daisy, and stuck the stubs into little pots with some dirt. It was cute at first, but since Jimmy had sort of 'claimed' the daisy pot, he was pretty ticked at her.

Jimmy is enjoying his final few months of no-school. He's been quite interested in helping to plant some plants. He's not super outgoing, but I think that'll change when he meets kids at school. I have also caught Jimmy talking to Andrew and getting Andrew to play with him. Jimmy's a pretty social kid. He's keen on motorcycles, and really wants to get a bike that looks like a motorcycle. I told him maybe for his birthday...

I need to do another post later. I need to hit the hay!