The next to me place: The Kids

Wanted to type an update on the kids!! They are growing and changing so FAST!! Hard to believe that in a couple of weeks they will be joined by another little blessing from God!! We are so incredibly blessed!! Everyday the kids are learning something new and teaching me something new as well. Life is always an adventure with them. Lately the challenge has been keeping them quiet while daddy is sleeping. James is now working overnights so we try to not be too wild in the house while he's snoozing!! That can be quite a challenge with a busy five-year-old and three-year-old. So thankful for the warm weather and the big back yard though. That makes it so much easier!! We will have to get creative during the coming winter months!! Enjoying the weather and the ability to be outdoors as much as we can!!

Zechariah update: Zechariah is and always has been our ball of energy. He's never lacking in it!! He's always excited about life and whatever we're doing. He's probably one of the most curious and inquisitive people that I've ever been around. He's ALWAYS asking questions. Since he could talk he's been asking questions. When he was little it was "WHY?" about EVERYTHING. Now, he has me convinced that he's going to work for the CIA one day!! For example, a couple of months back we were visiting PriceCutter. While shopping, I became fatigued and nauseated(thank you pregnancy). I had to stop and sit and really needed to get something in my tummy. The kids were starving so I went ahead and got the kids and I something to munch on and went and sat down in the deli area. Right away Zech noticed the only other person in the deli area, a man eating by himself. Zech took the liberty to walk over to the table where the man was seated and proceeded to sit across from him uninvited. "Hey, what's your name?" The man told Zech his name(I can't remember). "That's a good name. How old are you?" The man told Zech his age. "My dad is 30. He's bigger and stronger than you." Ouch. The man was very amused by Zech who continued to sit and ask detailed questions about his life, where he worked, what he did, what he was eating, and if he had kids. This is pretty much what happens EVERYWHERE we go. Zech makes friends everywhere. He talks to EVERYONE who will answer him. If I stop long enough in an aisle when we are out and somebody walks by it's a guaranteed conversation. He's always always been this way. There is not a cashier that checks our groceries out that doesn't become engaged in conversation. He's a natural people person and he genuinely cares about the people around him. We were in Walmart a few weeks ago when he saw a woman in one of the electric scooter carts. We pulled up next to her to grab some chicken and of course, Zech took the opportunity to talk to her. Nothing gets by Zech, he notices everything and he noticed a brace on the woman's wrist. "What is that?" he asked her. She told him of how she had very bad arthritis and how it had crippled her wrist. "Take it off" he told her. She explained to him that she couldn't take it off because of the pain that was in her wrist. Zechariah was not satisfied with that. "TAKE IT OFF" he told her again. "It's going to be better. Jesus is going to heal it." The woman finally took the brace off and Zech was finally satisfied when he prayed for the woman's wrist. He just could not be satisfied with that woman hurting or something being wrong with her. Zechariah is VERY perceptive and has a pretty keen spiritual awareness for a little guy. We are always learning from him. We were driving home from the store several days back when we saw an ambulance. Zech: "A firetruck mommy!!"
Me: "No baby, that's an ambulance" Zech: "What's an ambulance?" Me: "An ambulance takes people who are hurt or sick to the hospital." Zech: "Why do they take them to the hospital and not to the church. If they are sick God can heal them. They shouldn't take them to the hospital." Me: speechless!!

Let's talk about school. Zechariah is SMART!! We sometimes have challenges with him listening to directions and focusing but he is super smart. We are slowly working our way through his kindergarden curriculum. So far, it's mostly review of things we already have learned. He can proficiently and pretty neatly write all of his letters, knows all of their sounds, is reading basic words, knows his numbers, basic addition, some clock reading, and all kinds of other things. The more we work, the more improvement I see and it's really fun watching him learn and discover!!

When it comes to size and growth I think Zech is finally getting a little taller. He still is not, by any means, tall for his age. He's still small for his age and is so thin!! He's definitely picked up in eating(he eats a ton) but I don't know where he puts any of it!! You can see every one of his ribs!! I was looking at pictures from last year and I am really noticing how much he has changed into a little boy!! He is really losing that baby look :( And he's really becoming quite the big boy. Such a good helper and such a good listener. So thankful for him!!

I'll try to get Eden's update done tomorrow :)

Cool enough for Hot Cocoa :)

After a talking with his friend Moriah for the LONGEST time in his room(sleepover) he had to get up to go potty. He came in to see me in the living room for a minute and fell right to sleep. If this little boy falls asleep like this, you KNOW he's wiped out!!