This afternoon before putting Luke down for a nap I put his boots on and just let him fo wherever and I followed him.  At the end he kept telling me a story where he "jump" off a curb on his scooter.  I went over to the lawn and did a cartwheel.  He started smiling so big and said "again".  And "again" and "again".  Then he started trying to do it.  Then I showed him how to somersault and he laughed so hard.  And wanted to do it over and over--even on the cement.  

Fast forward an hour and I read him some books and was tucking him in (he likes to lay down on the pillow and then points to his blankets so we can pull them up over him and tuck him in like a burrito) and then he lays there thinking for a few seconds and then looks at me and says "mom, walk.  fun." and then motions with his hands like he's trying to show me a somersault.  And my heart melted.  He loved that.  And I loved that he went down for a nap thinking about having fun with me.   Such a cutie. 

I found a piece of paper in the van today with Aubrie's handwriting on it and she had been driving the van yesterday.  And I LOVED her "pick me up" note to herself so much I had to go find her and say "keep doing this...its Awesome!" We all should do this more--internally or in written form. :) SO good!

Mid January 2021

 Lucas wanted my attention a few days ago and kept yelling "mom....mom" and finally "Ammer, LOOK!".  This morning he came into my room and got in bed and laid down (always for 1.5 seconds he cant hold still very long) and then said "ewwww".  Are you stinky Luke? "Yes".  Do you want to change your diaper and then get dressed?  "No, eat".  So we changed him and then sat him on a stool to have cereal and he yells "COLD!" , so we went down and got his fluffy red robe from Henny (I wasn't baout to put church clothes on him yet) and he got so excited and yells "team!" and points to my robe I was wearing.  But then points to his legs and says "cold" so we got on his pants and he ran into get Clara up and pointed to her robe and then held her hand the whole way upstairs and to eat breakfast.  

I noticed Lucas filling up a glass of water and drinking it and then skipped the cup and had his mouth under the faucet and his cheek was all red.  He eventually came up to me and kept pointing to his mouth and saying "owie!" and I asked him what was hurting and he came and put my hand in his and walked me back to my room on my night stand pointed to a bottle of essential oils he had opened (how?) and apparently tried to drink or something.  He is so good at communicating and his vocabulary is expanding everyday.   We did go find some regular oil to rub on and make it stop burning.  He just lives life to the fullest.  Always busy. 

Aubrie is rehearsing several hours a day (including Saturday) and is soooo excited to be doing theater.  she is just eating it up.  Shes in a musical again and will perform in Feb.  She has a choir concert this coming Wednesday we are excited to go to.  PSAT are in  afew weeks.  ANd we are crossing fingers they will let the kids go back in person to school at AMES the third quarter.  Aubrie and HAllie are currently at Life Church (Presbyterian) to support one of Aubrie's friends from school that is performing (singing with a band) today.  (post note: they told me that they had never felt so strongly how true our church was while there--the swaying and yelling out during speaking etc they said was so different--I actually like it;)- and I am really glad they could have the experience to go.  I hope it won't be the last.  I would love for them to go to as many different churches with friends as possible. 

Robbie started up with baseball practice this week.  He and Aubrie have to be tested every 2 weeks for Covid to participate in their school stuff.  They both tested negative this last Friday.  He is really really really hoping to go back to school in person.  He has gotten closer to his small engine repair teacher and he and Elliot had been (before baseball started up) going in after school and working and asking questions in the shop for an hour or two.  He is often out in the garage tinkering around with his bike.  I love it so much

Hallie started painting lessons and she comes home so happy.  I love that we can afford for her to do them.  She painted a canvas of penguins for Lily for Christmas and spent many hours on it and it was pretty incredible.  Lilly loves it since that is her favorite animal. 

Blake is playing basketball and has a soccer tournament in St george with his team he played on in the spring that was so good.  Itll be fun to see how they do against teams more regionally.  He is such a tease. He is just in constant motion for good or bad:)  Kormac, Henry, Thomas and James and Blake were all playing soccer and football in our yard on Friday--even though its 45 it was sunny!.  I loved watching them!

Clara still is doing ballet and loves to dance and prance everywhere.  I just bought her a new marker set and she has been coloring up a storm.  She is still Luke's best buddy. Her reading is just so remarkable to me.  She reads the scriptures now with relative ease.