So, since last August the kids have grown a mile.
Eli is almost 3 (in October) and is full of himself. He's a super fun little boy with so much personality it's overwhelming sometimes. He's going to be spending this coming school-year with me again. Our favorite days include dropping off the big kids at school, hopping on my bike and running a couple of errands and then going to the park or library with some friends. We try to get home in time for him to have a nap before we leave to pick up the kids at school at 2:50. He loves singing, dancing, riding his scooter, potty training (for now), playing drums and guitar. He also loves his siblings and playing with his little friends. He doesn't like sitting still, being told "no", going to bed or sharing, usually.
Emma just turned 9 and is enjoying being the oldest right now. She is going with Eric to 6 Flags next week and feels very grown up about that. She's sensitive, loving, funny and thoughtful. She would love to spend a day laying around reading for hours and then getting together with a good friend. She's starting to enjoy playing around on Garage Band and has a beautiful voice. She loves reading, riding bikes, horses, spending one on one time with her parents, elastic waisted pants, burritos and American Girl magazine. She doesn't like homework, arguing with anyone or spinach.
Caleb is turning 6 on Saturday and he's in love with football. Especially Alabama football. I saw him swell with pride yesterday when he was playing football with a 3rd grade boy and he "knew the game" enough to say, "no I think I'll block. I'll let Ivy run the ball". He is so sweet to me, loves giving me big hugs. He started out not enjoying school but by the end of the year he said he loved it. He's made several really good friends and will play soccer in the fall with some of them. He's kind and helpful to younger kids and really patient and attentive to babies, he likes to play sports and star wars. He doesn't like when anyone laughs at him or draws too much attention to him. Also, when he doesn't get something right the first time it really really bothers him.
Audrey is 7 now and a beautiful little girl with one front tooth missing! She is a hard-worker and when she sets her mind on something, she sees it through. She loves to design things like new bedroom decor or the lay out of furniture. She loves to dance, sing and perform for us and this fall she's going to be participating in a performance of Mary Poppins. School was a blast for Audrey and she's looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. She's attentive, responsible, tenacious, and artistic. She loves creating artwork and cards for friends and just for decorating the house. She does not like hurrying, being late, feeling overwhelmed (who does?), pants (only skirts for her) or tennis shoes.
Eric.....I suppose I should write something about him. He keeps us all laughing. He's attentive, he's patient and considerate and puts our needs before his own. I think a perfect day for him would include sleeping in, eating a huge breakfast, letting it settle before exercising, singing and working on writing a song at his leisure, playing with the kids, watching ESPN for a while, preparing and eating huge lunches and dinners and then going out with me while someone else cleans the kitchen and puts the kids to bed. I wonder what he would say about that. He doesn't like tomatoes, compost bags, small breakfasts, yard work and full email inboxes.
And for myself, I'm hanging in there. I have days when I love living here in California and days where I feel alone and sad. I love the weather (except today when it's cold and foggy in August....HOWEVER, for the record, I prefer this to 95 degree humidity) and the way the weather being so pleasant allows everyone to spend so much time outside in the community. I'm so extroverted that I love walking down to the coffee shop, to the bank, library, market and the park, seeing a bunch of people along the way to converse with. We feel like we're really part of the community. I love the people here...the way no one is pretending. You are who you are and we live side by side others who are so very different from us. But it's what you expect. I love the many cultures existing in Oakland and Berkeley, especially the Ethiopians we see every day. I've made some good friends and spending time with them often is a real gift.
So, Patrick.....here's my update. :) I really am going to try to post some more every day things in the future. I'm seriously falling off the wagon in the "keeping a scrapbook for the kids" department. The blog would be a way to record all this craziness.
( I didn't say what I don't like: I don't like whining (from my kids. I do it plenty), clutter, having more to do in a day than is possible, arguing, rainy days, chore time or taxes. Oh, also I don't like the greens powder Eric adds to smoothies. yuck.)
