Slow poke

My children move at vastly different speeds. This is especially apparent on the mornings when they are not allowed to leave their room and start breakfast until both of them are dressed. They choose their clothes the night before, so one would think getting dressed would be easy. But, Kate always finds a reason to change her clothes- something itches, the waist is too loose, the line on the tights hurts her toe etc. When we went to her four year well visit I had the pediatrician talk to her about how much time she spends trying on clothes every day. She would not even look the doctor in the eye! Meanwhile I can hear Grant running around the room saying, "come on, Kate! Hurry up, Kate!" When they do make it down Kate eats her eggs ever so slowly. Again, Grant is not allowed to leave the table until she is done. Today she looked at him and said in an Eyore type tone, "I'm just a slowpoke, Grant. That's the way God made me."

1st Day of School

Grant and Kate headed off to a Montessori school this fall. They are in the same classroom. It is for ages 3-6. One of the main reasons I chose it is because there are 13 kids and two (amazing!) certified teachers. Grant will be going 4 days all day and 1 afternoon and Kate will be going 5 afternoons a week. It seems like a really good fit so far and they are thrilled to be together!

Last Day of Summer

Tomorrow Grant and Kate officially start school. This week they have gone in a little bit each day for orientation. (It is a Montessori school.) I am still not feeling well so we've been trying to come up with activities in the morning where I can sit and they can play. This morning I sat on the front porch and Grant climbed a tree while Kate washed a truck that was parked in front of our house. Yeah for grandma Koss who picked them up to go bowling before they got too bored!

Random Pictures

Kate's 4th Birthday

I really thought Kate would like the Princesses a little more than she did... a little awkward...http://youtu.be/TCYRIh8ON20

Cousins

Here are Grant and Kate with all of their cousins on my side- Oliver, Ben and Willa. What a cute crowd!

A Trip Up North

When Jim was 5 years old he met a very special friend named Corey. They were neighbors until they were in high school and Jim moved away. They have remained the closest of friends ever since. This weekend Jim drove the kids up north to where Corey and his wife, Katie live with their twin 3 year old girls and 5 year old son. Jim just sent me this picture of the girls. I called and asked for a photo of the boys and he said he couldn't get them to slow down enough for a photo. Like father(s) like son(s).

Fun at Grandma and Grandpa Ned's

Grant and Kate had an amazing weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Niedzinski's house! Jim took the kids there on Friday and they stayed until Monday (with a Saturday stay over at cousin Ethan and Sami's house). They played with the goats and chickens and kittens. They swam in the pond, climbed trees and did somersaults down the big hill. Best of all they got to play with 13 of their 20 Niedzinski-side cousins! It is so good for them to enjoy country living (30 acres!) and escape from their condo in the city. They loved snuggling with their Grandparents as all the adults sat around at night and talked. Hard to believe they actually sat still. Jim said he's not sure if it was because they were so tired or because they were allowed to snack on the bottomless bowl of chips while the adults caught up. Thankfully, I was able to join them for the day on Sunday and have been able to get lots of rest in a quiet house. I sure do miss them though!

The Patient

This morning we were playing beauty parlor and Grant announced that he wanted to be a barber when he grew up. I asked the kids if they knew what I was before I was a mom. Grant replied, "I know! A patient!" Epstein Barr continues to plague our summer but it has not taken our joy. I am in bed as much as possible...18 hours a day or so.. and when I'm awake I have horrible muscle/joint aches, headaches, nausea, and rapid heart beat. It is pretty miserable. The doctor continues to remind me that this is a "normal" response to the antiviral medication and a good sign! It is supposed to last 2-6 weeks. I am on week 5 of the meds. Please pray that it ends soon. Can't wait to get back to normal life!

Fun with Peggy

Do you all remember Peggy? God brought her to us when I was on bed rest with Kate. She hung out with Grant and became a very special part of our family. She recently had the kids over night and took them to the park, Chuckie Cheese, Detroit Kid City and did plenty more things I don't even know about. Grant told her that he was allowed to sleep in her bed, which I anticipated so I left a typed up note saying he could not. The kids had so much fun and the next day Kate cried for several hours that she wanted Peggy back. They certainly felt loved!

Having Fun

A huge thank you to friends and family who are making sure Grant and Kate have fun while I sleep. And sleep. And sleep.... (I started the antivirals on last Friday my body is responding just the way it is supposed to. By feeling exhausted as it fights this virus.) Healing is on the way!

Sack race

Grant and Kate signed up for summer reading because they love to read (and win prizes). There was a cool festival at the library with games going on when we signed up. Kate insisted on wearing her princess dress. This is the first time I've ever let her wear her dress up clothes in public, but I have a feeling it won't be the last. They wanted to do the sack race over and over again.

Adventures

The kids have been enjoying lots of new adventures lately. They had a blast at the fair a few weeks ago. I'm not sure what Grant liked better- the mini coaster or eating an entire bag of cotton candy himself! Kate was content with riding the slower rides with her friend, Eliza. The school year came to an end and Grant enjoyed his "graduation" ceremony from preschool. They will continue to go to camp a couple mornings a week at the same school so that will help them make an easier transition to their new school in the fall. Meanwhile as the kids and I maintained our busy schedule I have been growing more and more tired. I wrote it off as typical "moms of young children" stuff and napped as much as possible and pressed on. But, a few months ago I started getting terrible muscle pain in my back and neck. I finally made an appointment with a specialist and after numerous heart and blood tests I was diagnosed with prolonged Epstein Barr. The good news is that I'll start antiviral medication and I should be back to my normal active self in 6 mo-1 year. The bad news is that I'll most likely be pretty tired and achy for a while. But, as we have seen, God is in the business of doing miracles, so pray with us that I defy the odds and am healed much more quickly than is predicted. Thank you!!

Grant, the prophet

As I've written before when Grant wakes up in the morning he declares what/whom he is going to be for the day. Yesterday he said he was a prophet and this is what he started the day doing.

Grant's first tooth out

Where are they now?

A few things about Grant: -He is starting to enjoy floor puzzles. -He goes to preschool M,W,F morning. He says he doesn't like it but seems happy when I pick him up. -He calls Kate his best friend and always wants her around...but she is still not allowed in his top bunk. -His favorite toy is his Playmobile castle. -He loves riding his two wheeler through the woods with dad. -He can read simple words like "hat," "pop" etc. -He loves when dad reads him the Boxcar children at night. -He is very active but incredibly obedient. A dirty look is all it takes for him to change his behavior. (Most of the time.) About Kate: -She is into babies, shoes and all things girl. -She goes to school M,W and stays home with me on Fridays. After we get housework done I let her choose what we will do. Last week it was to play shoe store. Today it was playing Star Wars. -She has learned to write "Kate" but is struggling with "Niedzinski." :) -She loves to sing. She combines different songs to make her own. -She enjoys knocking over Grant's towers and kicking him when she doesn't get her way. -She loves to snuggle with me and tell me about her friends from school. -She copies everything I do. Today she told me she can't wait to drive a minivan.

Kate on two wheeler

How does your garden grow?

Our kids have never been into fruits and vegetables. At the pharmacists suggestion we blamed Grant's aversion to fruit on the fact that all of his medication was fruit flavored. But, this couldn't be carried over for Kate. Until recently Kate only liked peppers and peeled apples and Grant liked the same plus carrots. But, out of the blue a month ago Grant started saying he wanted to try new foods and has since added pears, cauliflower and oranges to his palate. Oh, and salad. But, only if we are at a Japanese restaurant and it is iceberg with ginger dressing. :) Over the weekend they both tried grapes and liked them. I thought I'd capitalize on their new interest in food by telling them that their cousin Oliver and Grandma Ned were growing gardens. They said they'd like to grow some vegetables too. I got very excited and asked what kinds of vegetables. Kate said, "peppers, grapes and sandwiches." Grant said, "ice cream." I guess we have a long way to go.

Movie with Grandma

I hope nobody tells my mom about all this junk food grandma bought me!

Sleeping Like a Baby

Our kids have funny sleep habits. The best is Kate, who sleeps with two purses, a jewelry box, a baby, a water bottle, a book and a blankie. Grant cracks me up because he takes his shirt off right when we leave the room, no matter how cold it is. He told me the other day that he's big enough to sleep without a shirt on now, so I should stop giving one to him before bed.