I knew this would happen

So, it's been several months since my last post. Life has a way of getting a hold on you and before you know it, you've neglected completing several of your tasks (like dusting; I can't remember the last time I dusted).

What's new? Let's see...its 2010. The boys are going to be nine months in a week. Their new skills include crawling, eating real food, and being real cute and coy. Evan was the first to figure out how to go forward even though Ethan had been on his hands and knees forever. Evan army-crawls on his belly. Now his clothes show a different pattern of abuse. Used to be the feet were dirty from jumping and the neck was dirty from eating. Now, the belly is trashed, as are the knees and one side of the sleeves. Ethan followed his brother in crawling; his crawl is hilarious because he doesn't always alternate legs (he's on his belly too) and so he looks like a frog. Also, he only extends one arm...well...I'll post a video.

Eating! Now that's fun. I didn't push real food, I just waited until they were good and interested. Both enjoy their food immensely and to my relief, they almost prefer to feed themselves. This is important because we still have to feed Elsa sometimes. She would rather not be interrupted from her important agenda for the boring, useless activity that is eating. I have to admit I don't remember if I really gave her the chance to eat herself or if I fed her all her meals. With the prospect of feeding two boys, you brace yourself for the millionth cheerio on the floor and just clean up afterward. Evan is particularly fun to watch eat a banana. He'd probably eat two whole ones, if I gave him the chance. He fills each fist with chunks and squeezes his hands to make the pieces pop out between his fingers at which point, he can get a piece in his mouth without relaxing his grip on the rest of the bits. All of this is done with great fervor and haste, as if the pieces will spontaneously disappear if he doesn't get his hands on them first.

To our joy, the boys have a very special place in their hearts for big sis' Elsa. They grin and laugh at her. She is also very affectionate and playful with them. She will entertain them at my request, when I need them distracted for a moment. She fetches things for them with a willing heart and has learned the rules of what makes an acceptable baby toy (big, round). Her idea for toys is usually beyond the scope of the toy box; she'll dig in the kitchen for measuring cups and give them her shoes.

I told Elsa that the boys probably wouldn't be able to say her name at first and it might sound like "El-da." She replied, "they can just call me Sissy." I didn't bother to tell her that might be harder to pronounce as it was such a sweet thought. Last night, we were talking about kids and she announced she was glad she didn't have a baby sister because she liked her two brothers. She calls them both "brother" because she can't tell them apart yet.

Elsa seems to get bigger and bigger every day. She's made a very successful start at reading, writing, and math; we work on something every day at home as well as with Nana during the week. My mom (Nana) bought the kids "Your baby can read" DVDs and Elsa has learned many words from that. The boys find the DVDs highly enjoyable. They grin at the girl at beginning who says "Hi!".

We started taking Elsa to the ice rink to learn to skate. We aren't particularly interested in getting her into hockey but thought she should learn how to skate. We bought a pair of used toddler figure skates and she seems to really enjoy it. She's only gone a couple times but she's getting the hang of it very quickly. Kids are amazing.

Well, that's all I have time for right now. I've got cranky boys with low-grade fevers and runny noses. Not sure if it's just a cold or if they are actually going to get some teeth finally...