Just a thought of the day!

WOW kids grow up so fast! It's funny just how quickly time flies, and how these little ones are growing and changing each day. It's a priviledge to watch them grow up, one that MOST people in their lives don't take for granted. We are trying to enjoy every moment, because they will never be this age again, even despite how busy we are. I guess I don't understand why everyone doesn't feel this way!

Carter can READ, and other stuff...

Carter can READ!!! It's such an exciting time around here, Carter is about to finish up his school year, and he is doing so well. I had a conference with his 2 teachers on Friday and it looks like Carter is kindergarten bound! They both gushed about how much Carter has matured in the last 3-4 months, and how he is really ready to move on to kindergarten. I have to say, I was a little worried, but around the first of the year, things really starting clicking for him. He's reading short, beginner books, and even this morning, he looked at the TV and said, "Hey, that says FOX!!" We are really excited for him, and looking forward to working with him over the summer to keep up the momentum, so that in August, he's still SO excited about school.

He's going to be attending the kindergarten program at his current school (it only goes to kindergarten) so there's really not a whole lot of transition that will happen, which is great. We LOVE the Montessori program, and while we know there are a ton of people out there who don't quite get it (they perhaps think that the program is too unstructured among other things) we feel it's SO beneficial, and our kids have truly benefited from it. They will all go to "traditional" schools after they leave the Montessori, so we are just trying to give them the best "base" to start. We aren't even, in fact, sure where the twins will go the following year, they may not stay at the Montessori, but move to elementary when Carter goes to first grade (it's really great, but REALLY expensive!!!) I guess we have a whole year to think about it, and weigh our options. But for now, we are so excited to have all 4 again going to the same school. Cooper will be in the toddler program, the girls in extended preschool, and Carter in kindergarten!! They are all doing really well, and LOVE school, which is all we can ask at this point!!!

Soccer and a New Swing Set!!!!

We kicked off our soccer season this week, I use this term VERY loosely, remember they are 4 and 5.  It's actually quite comical to watch.  Carter is CLEARLY the largest member of the team, and I think that his size is a bit of a problem for his competitors.  It's mostly unintentional, but he has a tendancy to knock himself and the other kids down.  The girls, are about 50% interested, and are done about half-way through.  Cooper just wants a shirt like everyone else and I think she would run onto the field if we let her.

Carter did score his first goal, it was AWESOME!!! Then, he scored another goal, but this time for the OTHER team, but it's all good, because keeping score doesn't really happen in Pee Wee.

When we got home, the kids were thrilled that their new play set was done.  They call it their "Park" and they were so cute about the whole thing.  Annabelle kept saying, "I can't believe we have a park, I can't believe we have a park."  They deserve it too, we have been talking about it for a whole year, and we made them "save" their money for it too.  Needless to say, I think we will have a nice summer with the new play set, and tons of outdoor play!!! :)

WOO HOO Cooper is 2!!!

Today was little Cooper's 2nd birthday!  We had a family celebration with pizza, party hats, and cake!  Cooper loved every minute of it!!!  She got some presents, she loved her Elmo & Zoe cake and was beaming when we all sang "Happy Birthday!"

Cooper is such a sweet girl, and it wouldn't be right not to brag about her on her day!  She came into this world, so calm, sweet, and serene.   I am not sure we really heard her cry very much at all for the first year or so.  The best thing about Cooper is she is HAPPY, almost all of the time.  She's now starting to have opinions on things, and sometimes thinks she's 4, but for the most time she is just a happy-go-lucky munchkin!!!  She loves school, loves her sister, and ADORES her big brother, saying his name over and over again.  We love her, and we think she is going to be a GREAT big sister, she doesn't want to be the baby, so baby #5 will certainly be nothing but a positive for Coopy!

The day was a fun success, and the best part?   It was all cleaned up and 4 kids were showered and ready for bed by 6:00!  This draws the end of the "birthday season" which is from January to April!  We are now just awaiting the actual "birth day" of baby #5 in June!!! 

Easter...with a cold!

The kids enjoyed their Easter Sunday, but a few were still a bit under the weather. Although, you might not know, Cooper was fighting a terrible cold that has bothered all of us over the last week or so. Everyone at some point missed a day or two of school this week. Quite frankly, it wasn't a big deal, I just feel for them, coughing, sneezing, and feverish.

So today, we started off with Easter baskets, which they all loved. Filled to the brim with a few toys, some chocolates, and such. Then, we headed off to brunch at the country club, were they dined on "awfuls" (aka waffles) and eggs, chicken and of course a donut (how could you pass up a table filled with colorful donuts?)

We came back to the house and did our first egg hunt, which everyone LOVED! They each got a couple of eggs filled with a Reese's or Hershey chocolate. We also stopped by to say hello Jason's parents, and then headed home to do some spring yard work, and cleaning and organizing inside. Everyone was pretty pooped, and we are hoping EVERYONE will be 100% tomorrow, so off to school they can go!!

Happy Easter to all!!! :)

Carter's FINAL birthday party...

The final chapter of Carter's birthday party took place yesterday at the Jump Zone! What a great time we had! Carter invited some of his friends from school, and then we had our close family friends join in the fun. The kids jumped until they couldn't jump anymore! Needless to say, the kids were all beat by the time the cake was served, which was perfect!

Carter had an AWESOME time, and so did the girls, including Cooper, who is a HUGE daredevil! She was sliding on all the slides the big kids were doing, with absolutely no fear! Jason spent much of the party chasing her around, she was NUTS!!! We all had some cake, opened some presents, and then happily closed the book, on the last chapter of Carter's birthday, WHEW!!!

Now on to Cooper's birthday! The first quarter is jam packed with birthdays for the Evans! Thankfully this last one will be born in June, at least we will have a 2 month break from all the birthday craziness!