handsful

I thought I’d devote a quick post to a few random things…

** I was given the book “Multiple Blessings” for Christmas by my mom-in-law…it’s the story of Jon and Kate Gosselin and their journey in having a set of twin girls and then 3 boys/3 girls sextuplets.  I love their show “Jon and Kate Plus 8”.  I read the book in 3 days, finishing 2/3 of it just on the ride home from NC.  Their faith has been discussed slightly on the show, a little more as the seasons have gone on.  But, the book goes into much more detail…the last chapter goes into detail on 6 of the lessons that God continually teaches her…it was a blessing to me. 

I know she gets a lot of criticism for how she deals with her husband, and there are times that I agree.  But, their solid stance on not selectively reducing (isn’t that a nice way to put it?) any of their sextuplets mirrored our same decision years ago when our doctors also recommended reduction.  God gave them their children, and it would be His decision, not theirs, whether any of them would make it or not. 

Check out their book, and their family website is on our sidebar “Jon and Kate”.  :)

Abbey’s entry for our homeschool co-op’s yearbook – theme “Homeschool is Cool”

Here is Payton’s picture for the yearbook.  They’ll pick a winner and put that chid’s artwork on the cover of the yearbook.  All the other entries will be printed within it.  There are 200+ kids in our co-op, so we’re talking a pretty big yearbook!

** We’ve recently been enjoying the beginnings of a new level of attachment from our Miss Lainey.  Last Tuesday, I took Marley to her new 2-hr. gymnastics class and stayed to watch.  When we arrived home, Lainey was postively giddy to see me, yelling “mama!!”, running up to me, and excitedly telling everyone that mama was home.  It brought tears to my eyes!  I scooped her up and even got spontaneous “squeezes” from her.  The same thing happened when we returned home from homeschool co-op on Friday.  She walked into Randy’s office and just squealed with delight.  Since then, she’s given more spontaneous hugs and just seems to be getting it that we’re hers and she’s ours.  How I love it!! 

Lainey taking her baby out on a stroll..she has her new purse in case she finds something to buy!

** Speaking of Marley and her gymnastics class, she loves advanced!  Her new coach is challenging her more, and encouraged her to take an extra Open Gym class this past Friday night so that she could work on 2 skills that have been eluding her.  She was there for 2 hours, with one-on-one help from one of her previous (and our favorite) coaches.  When we picked her up, she could do both skills!  In case you’re wondering, she can now do a back hip circle and mill circle on the uneven bars.  She also did a back hand spring on the incline mat without assistance for the first time and her cartwheel on the balance beam is a cinch for her now.  We’re proud at how hard she is working at the sport she loves. 

Current gym girl with a future gym girl (might sign her up for a Mommy and Me class this week!)

** Last thought…there is something about the beginning of a new year that I love.  The newness of it all, the “clean slate” feeling that you get once all the Christmas decorations are put up and your house is in order (for however long THAT lasts).  Jumping into school lessons again, getting back into all our activities, winter cleaning (some do this in the spring, for some reason the nesting instinct hits me now!), and just looking ahead into the year at all that’s coming is exciting!  This one might seem a bit lame, but we look forward to all our fav shows returning with NEW episodes…we’ve been waiting forever for a new Burn Notice, lol.  So, 2008 was wonderful – the “Year of Lainey”.  Here we are 2009…let’s see what you bring. 

New shirt from Aunt Gail…she has great taste :)