Updates for everyone!

Kate is learning so much lately. She is rolling over more and more, and has grown Abs of Steel doing her version of stomach crunches. She does this whenever you lay her down to change her...she just keeps her head off the floor. She has started sitting up by herself (for about a minute).

She also LOVES food...big surprise in this family :), but only wants to feed herself or help us feed her...very messy and fun times!

She also grew a bunch of red hair...ok, that is Grace's Build A Bear Ariel wig. I knew there would be a good use for it someday!

Tomorrow she goes in for her 6 month checkup to get weighed and measured. At 6 months Grace was 2o lbs 13 oz and 28 1/4 " long...I don't think Kate is anywhere near that...and Jack was even bigger by this point! I can't find Jack's paper from his 6 month check up but at 4 months he was just under 23 pounds!!! At 4 months old Kate was only 14 pounds! I always said I wanted a "little" baby but I was really referring to when they were born :)...so far I haven't had any little newborns (I guess I have to be more specific next time). She is our peanut and we are all so in love with her! She is starting to show her temper; especially when Daddy let her try one bite of ice cream and then cut her off....man oh man, her little head went back and she started bawling and screaming....we are in trouble! Her biggest news is that she now has 2 bottom teeth. She was not happy for about a day and then they were all in and she was fine. Hopefully the rest come in that easily!

Grace is doing better now that she is over the flu. She had a 103 temp for 2 days and just sat next to me and cried and cried and cried. I felt so bad for her. She is getting ready for the big dance recital at the end of the month so I will try to post that video on here if I can figure it out! She just got the PRO award at school (People Respecting Others). They chose 2 kids from each grade every month to recieve the award then they get their picture taken and put in the school newsletter....big stuff! She was just excited that she got a free ice cream from Culvers!

Valentines was big stuff this year for Grace because she is now in Kindergarten. Our friends Shawn and Lorraine bought her this adorable skirt for Christmas and I couldn't wait until Valentines Day so she could wear it. I asked if all the kids loved her twirly dress and she said "Yes, even Logan loved it". Logan is a little guy in Grace's class that loves to tease everyone so Grace was very happy that he even said he loved it and didn't tease her :). The lady in the picture with Grace is her wonderful teacher, Ms. Embling. Jack had her for Kindergarten also. She is a wonderful Christian women that loves the kids and is so patient and quiet natured. We are very blessed to have had her for both kids.

Grace still loves to match her clothes with Kates whenever possible!

Jack is doing great. He spends his time waiting for the snow to melt so he can get back out playing football and fishing. For now he plays with Kate and is constantly making her smile and laugh...I think he may be her favorite person (next to me of course!). He is doing really well in 3rd grade and this year has to learn the location of all 50 states, their capitals and how to spell both the state and capital....I am glad I am not in 3rd grade! I need to pin him down for more pictures of him. I will put up one that I think I just posted on facebook....maybe it was here...anyways that is all your getting because I don't have any recent pics of Jack.

Jared is keeping busy with the offices and trying to sell our house. We have had a handful of people look at it but no bites YET....we are hoping that once the snow melts and we can actually show off the lake and the surrounding property it will have a better chance to sell...at least that is what we are hoping. For now I can just be happy my house is ALWAYS clean :).

I got to partake in 80's night at the Melting Pot. It is a fantastic fondue restaurant that lets us dress up, eat chocolate and laugh for hours with the posse! I will show some pictures of all of us that went. If you want to join us next time you have to dress up and have fun :)

My big news is that I have officially signed up to do a triathlon this summer. Jared has started helping me train for it by running with me at the gym. I am up to 1.5 miles without stopping...that is the furthest I have EVER run...I hate running. For the tri I will have to swim in a lake (yes, with fish...pray for me) for 1/2 mile, then bike for 12 miles and run for 3.1 miles (5 K). I am going to do this and will be in better shape before then so I don't pass out! If there is anyone out there (women only for this one) that would like to do it with me let me know! Search under Trek Womens Triathlon and I am doing the Wisconsin "Chicagoland" tri July 12th. Sign up soon!

I am going to really try to do more frequent updates so they don't get so long! Sorry...but thank you if you got this far!