It has been another really hot day with out rain. The other evening I stayed up really late, excited about the coming storm....it was lightening and thundering and I was waiting to hear the wonderful sound of rain....but it passed us by! It would have saved me alot of work! Yesterday morning I woke up Ryan to keep Venesa for me while I went out to set up the sprinkler over the garden.

         I am enjoying a small carton of frozen Greek yogurt. This kind is original tart, not quite as good as the blueberry kind. I got a few flavors for a treat for a date night. Maybe I am tasting the carton on this one?! (since it has been in the freezer for awhile...)

         This week was fuller than usual it seemed....leaving me feeling so behind! Some times I try to think ahead to what might leave me feeling defeated if I don't get it done; and then try to make sure I do that thing! (What ever it may be) Yesterday I knew I should clean out the vehicle, because it is so unpleasant to find all this 'stuff ' from previous car trips! So that is what I did last evening, washed it too! Now we are back home from our Weaver gathering and all the things we took along today need to be brought in. I am enlisting Ryan's help with that right now since he seems to need something to do.

          On Thurs. we went to Shady Lawn to visit for awhile. This is one of the places that the children aren't very excited about going to...so I remind them how much it blesses the older people to see and talk to children, and they love when we sing. They did really well this time, patiently waiting around while I talked with some ladies. Well, mostly listened to what they had to say. Oh yes, and I think I forgot to tell them how much I appreciated that!

When we left there I took them to Orrville Library (their favorite one) We use Massillon or Dalton most of the time. On the way, we stopped and picked up Jerry to go with us. A lady comes in to the library with her dog and encourages children to read to the dog... Jennika loved that! and read several books to 'Molly'. Eric warmed up to the lady, and she wanted to take him home. :) She was amazed how she could have a conversation with him....he got up to get another book, but the dog was in his way. He said, "scuze me, dog." Then tried to get past her. We just laughed...and I told the lady that she can't have him; we'd all miss him too much! Like I always say....every house needs a two year old! After the library, we went to the park for awhile...
          Then on Fri. it was my turn to go to visit Jason's Grandpa. It is getting more difficult to carry on a conversation with him. His mind is pretty sharp, though. I am used to talking with folks that can't respond very well, but can understand what you are saying. I just try to talk about things that might interest him. Too bad I know so little about farming! :)

         The girls are finally moved out of the 'nursery' to the downstairs guest room. It is great to have a girl's room and a boy's room, but I am finding it so unhandy! It was rather nice to have them all in one room. Gathering laundry and bedtime routine is more complicated...but we'll have to adjust! We took the toddler bunk bed apart, so they have matching beds with a tiny dresser in between. It is cute, and fun to be so girly.

         Too bad, Venesa hasn't been falling asleep so easily; I usually just lay her down in my room when she is getting tired, and she drifts off to sleep. She started crying about that. Be back later!

         I'm back; holding her some more. My, she was fussy, and squeezing these big sad tears out of her eyes!

Does she ever have a loud cry...she opens that big mouth of hers and lets loose. Thankfully she is happy most of the time, though. She is just under 15 lbs. at almost four months. Suddenly I have a big baby, not a tiny one anymore!

And I can't figure out how she is chubby, since she sleeps so good and doesn't nurse that much! She is finally asleep, and I think Eric needs an earlier than usual bedtime. He slept in church, but not since then.

         The mini barn we got is repainted and re shingled, and looking ever so much better. Thanks, Honey. I bet the neighbors appreciate it too! :) I started cleaning it out inside; sweeping ect. but didn't get it finished. One of these days....

        We have an appointment at the Baltimore Hospital for Eric the middle of June. Just a yearly checkup on those feet. When a whole year passes by, we find ourselves anxious to hear from the doctor how he feels Eric's feet are doing. We are faithful with the braces....believing that neglect could make the difference of whether or not he'd have to have a surgery. Some nights I finally get the braces on about 2 am. (felt too tired earlier) but like last night, I forgot to put the bar on after he fell asleep.....alot of good that does! :( I will say that I don't do a good job of putting them on if it is the middle of the night...sometimes resulting in sores on his feet that I see in the morning. "Mommy's sorry!"  Jason puts them on also some nights. Eric almost never resists it, except he doesn't want the bar on... We have it on video, "I can't walk!"

         From Maryland, Washington DC is just 3 hours (half hour by train!) so we are making plans to go there for two days! We welcome any advice you might have for us; neither of us have ever been there.  It works to stay at the house beside the hospital for several nights, so we'll take a train into DC and come back for the night. We have our train tickets paid for; we still need to learn more about the area before we go. I made a list for Jason of a few places I think would be fun to see...everything is free; except for extras like Imax films and the food of course. I got a pile of books at the library to learn more. But the most helpful is the internet, and you know it is up to date.

So we are looking forward to getting all school finished up just before our trip, and then having a BIG field trip.

         Did I say an earlier bedtime for Eric?! Almost done here.....I think.

         One thing I decided is a very important part of my day(for the rest of my life) since I turned 30! is morning exercises. I get out of bed and down on the floor...for 20 min. I am all stretched out after that! I will not give up if I don't seem to see results, cause it has got to be good for my body. (just think how much worse I might look without them!:/ Hee Hee

          Have a great Memorial Day. We are having a family gathering at our house early tomorrow evening.

A supper of sub sandwiches and whatever else others are bringing and Simon's are making homemade ice cream!

I am looking forward to seeing Kylie( Marnita's little girl) again. She sure makes my baby look all grown up!

                                                          -From Christine's keyboard

                                                                    to your computer!

                                                             (from my house to yours)