I'm back

It seems like so long since I've actually blogged!! To be honest, with all that's been going on with my Grandma, blogging has totally fallen off the priority radar, but now I'm back!

Quick update on my Grandma... She likes the nursing home where she's living, and *REALLY* didn't want to move to hospice, or anywhere else for that matter. We agreed, and thought that moving her would only make a bad situation even worse. So hospice is going to come into the nursing home several times a week and we'll only move her to hospice when the pain gets unbearable for her.

We're going up to Holly's studio on Tuesday afternoon (right during naps, but it seemed to be about the only time that worked for everyone) and having pictures taken. It's going to be a four generation photo shoot, with my Grandma, my Mom, my sister and her two girls, and then Katherine, Caleb and I. We want to have then taken ASAP before her tumor gets too noticeable, and physically she's able to make the trip.

OK -- enough of that... On to other things...

Wednesday I took the kids to the Science Center, and for the first time in AGES, we really didn't have anyone to go with us. I've got to tell you ... IT WAS WONDERFUL!! The kids and I had a great time, and it was so nice to hang out -- just the three of us. We played in the toddler area for about an hour, and while in there, Katherine was trying to teach all of the other girls how to do cartwheels in the little padded jump area. It was hilarious!! She's been practicing non-stop for the past week, and was so proud to show off her new skills. She was just beaming with pride! There's nothing more rewarding for a mother than to watch her child be successful!! She didn't stop practicing until she got it, and if there's one thing Katherine is, it's determined!!

After lunch we went upstairs to the star lab, and right outside of it, they have this cool gravity demonstration. The kids have always loved playing with it, and today I gave Katherine a little lesson in how gravity worked and why. She's now our little gravity expert! She goes around asking her friends either to give her an example of how gravity works, or she'll look at them and say, "what goes up, must come down is the principle of ______________". So yea, gravity is her newest thing...

Yesterday Katherine and Caleb were running around the living room playing a game, and she tripped and fell. All of a sudden, she got up, rubbed her little hands together, and said, "Gravity is not a good thing"!! I couldn't help but to laugh at her, which of course went over well!! LOL!

Thursday we went to Backyard Adventures with Michelle, Nicholas and Caden. It works out perfectly as Katherine and Nicholas are the same age, and so are Caleb and Caden. The kids played on the swing sets for a couple of hours and then I had to make a Target run. Old Mother Hubbard's cupboards were bare!!

Last night I watched Morgan while my sister was in class, and holy cow, she had a GREAT time!! I know I've mentioned this before, but our neighborhood is overflowing with young kids. It's great!! There's rarely a night when under 20 kids are out, so it makes for really fun nights for all -- adults and kids. Morgan was in heaven!! She didn't know what do with herself. She was running around, making new friends, playing on swing sets and riding on bikes and in little motorized cars. She had such a great time. So great, in fact, she asked if she could come over every night!! LOL.

Which reminds me.... Katherine is turning into such a homebody. At night, there's nowhere else she'd rather be than at home. Tonight Matt and I decided to take the kids out for ice cream, and all Katherine could think about was getting home and playing with her friends. I love the fact that she values friendships and is gaining independence. I love that she ALWAYS includes Caleb and WANTS him around. And I love the fact that she's comfortable in her own skin, and loves going home... to our home.

This morning we had playgroup over at Kristin's house (she's the one with a total of 5 kids and just had the twin girls before Christmas). Usually, playgroup ends around lunch time, but today, we all had lunch together and didn't go home until 1:30. Kristin had out the sprinkler, so the kids ran though the water and played on the swing set for a while, and then went inside and played until most of them were begging for naps. Ha-ha!! Not my kids though! We went home and I gave them baths, and they took a late nap. Matt came home from work early, so we all slept until 6 and then went out to dinner. It was heaven!! Aren't naps one of life's little luxuries??? Yep!

Tomorrow morning I'm watching Julie's two kids (Jenna is 5 and Nate is 3) for a couple of hours, so Katherine and Caleb will have have fun playing with them. (Julie is one of my neighbors and a playgroup regular for anyone who's wondering). Matt had a bunch of rock/gravel type stuff delivered today, so he'll be working on the patio in the afternoon. Later that night, we're getting my Grandma and then going out to dinner for Laurie's birthday. Should be fun!!