The kiddos

Emma turned 6 months old and boy, does she think she's big stuff.  She is sleeping in her crib now, sitting up in the bath, she had her 6 month pictures taken and her 6 month doctor's check up.  She weighed in at barely 14 lbs and is under the 10th percentile for height and weight, but she's still a good eater so no big deal...She can sit up like a pro and is busy putting things in her mouth!!  She also thinks she is a baby koala and that I need to be holding her all the live long day.  Even when she is surrounded by toys and siblings on the floor, or in her johnny jump up or walker.  She seems to be crying if Jared or I are not holding her.  Her saving grace is that she is an angel baby at night so I can take a grumpy baby during the day but it's hard to hear her cry so I usually try to do things one-handed or put on the tummy pack if I really need to be working hard.  I think she'll be happier when she can crawl, but then that starts a whole new load of worry and trouble!

Emma crying in frustration

happy girl in the bath

Sleeping champ

Playing memory with Lillian

Sitting up like a pro

Lately Jonas has been working on counting, recognizing some letters and numbers and doing really well with his colors.  Once in a while when I am asking him about a color or pointing something out he'll say "Same color as hulk" meaning, of course, that the item is green, but he's just trying to be tricky about it.  Or if something is blue, he calls it "Taptain Amerita" since he changes all his k's and c's to t's.  If we say "taptain Amerita", though, he emphasizes and says it again very slowly (and incorrectly) as if we are the ones with the problem.  It's an age appropriate speech problem that I'm sure will work itself out but it is pretty cute right now.  He continues to be so cute with the baby and I love having him with me all day.  We already had a meeting with some moms regarding preschool for Jonas and his peers next year.  He is ready and excited to "go to school" just like his older sisters and I'm excited for him because it will be a group of 5 little boys so he can get his rough and tumble play!
When we say "Jonas, where is your shoe?" or "What happened here?" He responds by saying "me either!"  meaning he doesn't know the answer either, but it cracks me up every time.  Apparently I didn't take a lot of pictures of Jonas since he's been out and about with his Dad quite a bit taking care of the yard, camping and going to scouts with him. I'll have to do better this month.

Two cuties hanging out on my bed waiting for me to get ready

The big news for Jocelyn and Lillian this month (other than the fact that they will both end school in a couple weeks here) is that they got their hair cut.  Lillian has been requesting bangs for a couple months and I figured we better cut a few inches off her hair and get her some bangs from a professional before she took the matter into her own hands.  She is completely thrilled with them and get so concerned if the wind blows them up and off her face.  She panics and reaches for them saying "Mom! My bangs disappeared!!" 

Girls showing off their hair cuts before church

Cait with kids on Mother's Day

Lillian getting her hair cut

The girls playing barbies one afternoon

They've both been pretty super helpers since we instituted a "ticket reward system" at their request.  They helped make up the rules of how to earn tickets and the types of things they can "buy" with their tickets.  Lillian has been waking up in the morning and immediately making her bed and getting dressed without being asked so she can earn the maximum number of tickets, offering to clean up the toy room, etc. (they get fewer tickets if I have to ask them or remind them to do these things).  So Lillian redeemed her first tickets tonight for a date with mom to go get a slurpee.  She was so excited and wanted Emma to come along.  We ended up running some other errands since we were out and she kept saying "I'm staying up way later than Jocelyn" and "this is just like girls night out, mom!" 

We've also been reading the American Girl Books Lately (we read the Samantha series and have started the Molly series) and also a Junie B. Jones book while Jonas is napping or just playing and especially Jocelyn gets really into them telling me throughout the day "I just can't wait to find out who her secret admirer is!  Who do you think sent her that Valentine?" as we are in between chapters.  It's fun to see her enjoying reading and the fun adventure it can bring into your life.  Jocelyn also says "pablo, pablo" instead of "bravo" when cheering for someone.  It makes me laugh and I've told her the correct phrase but she and Lillian continue to say the wrong term every time.  I'm sure they'll get it sometime, but I'm in no rush for it to change

Jocelyn getting her hair cut about 10 inches!

Jared made sure I had a fabulous mother's day with breakfast in bed (kind of), a fabulous home made french onion soup for dinner and some roses picked from our very own yard with Lillian's help.  We sure love him and look forward to weekends when we can spend more time with him.
We are so excited to have my brother Brian and his fiance Katie fly in tomorrow and then we'll spend the weekend with them at my parent's house with a couple other siblings so Jared can have some peace and quiet for studying and resting up this weekend in preparation for his test.