We are the Kafkas: April 2009

Alright, I am slacker! I have no excuse for not blogging. Things have been so much less stressful and crazy, so I should have been updating the blog, but I am lazy! Anyway, I have posted a ton of pictures and will try to give a bit of an update. My disclaimer is that it will be filled with grammatical errors and typos, I am most definitely not a writer by any means. Let's see.... Robert is the same: serious, always in some deep thought. He is Honor Guard of the Quarter, got 100% on his PT (physical training) test today, studying for Staff Sargent, working on a masters, and playing drums for church. So, you can see, still an over achiever and perfectionist. : ) We will be married 10 years next month and I am so very grateful that God gave me to him. He is the best husband and dad ever! He makes dinner almost every night, gives the kids their baths, does the dishes, and puts up with my spunky, feisty self. Now some of you may be thinking, what the heck does she do... absolutely nothing! lol! I am busy, but am having fun and learning some great new stuff. I have a new digital SLR, Pentax K200D. It is not the greatest camera out there but it was what I was looking for in my price range. I got a book in the mail yesterday so I can learn how to use it. I mean really use it. I need to get creative again and this a great way to do that and have a record of my babies at the same time, because they are growing up so, so fast! I also started sewing. My mom gave me a new sewing machine and serger, so that has been fun. I have only made a couple dresses for Izzy and Mara. I am very excited to learn more. I think I am going to get the kids a children sewing machine for Christmas. How cool will that be? It is such a lost art form and skill among our generation and our children's generation even more. Radley is growing up so fast! He is gabber! Always asking questions and telling me his big ideas. He loves to be outside... playing with the t-ball thing, riding his bike, playing soccer, going to the park. He also loves to make things and paint and draw. I found a wooden easel with a dry erase and chalk board at a kid's consignment shop for $15 and he loves it! He is really enjoying his class at church and runs right in and could care less if mom and dad are with him. It took 3 and 1/2 years, but we got there. I am so glad we took a gentle approach and did not force it. He loves his sisters and is a really great brother, but still plays rough with them. They are tough little cookies, though! I have had so much joy watching them play together. It really is a fun age. Izabelle and Maraliese are so busy. They run! They dance! They sing! They tear my kitchen apart several times a day! They play together and get along good. They do snatch things from each other which results in this blood curdling scream! They blow kisses, wave, know the following body parts: belly, nose, mouth, eyes, ears. Can say: mama, daddy, radley (kinda), uh-oh, grandpa bob (honest, they do), and stop it! And I have no idea where they heard that last one. Maybe because I say it too much. : ( They love playing with Radley's cars, trains, and planes, making the appropriate sounds effects while doing so! When I say, "be gentle", they rub each others' heads. Too cute! They both have a blankie that they sleep with and when it is time for a nap, one of them gets the blankets and gives one to her sister. Izabelle is 1/2in shorter and 1lb lighter than Maraliese. She is a little actress and very silly. She has a really high pitched laugh! Maraliese tends to be more pitiful and she has this low giggle. They are so very similar in temperament and just when I think I have figured something out, they flip/flop. Well, on to the pictures.