Family News

I get so busy with the pictures sometimes, that I forget to give updates on everyone, so here goes.
Nate is busy on a weekly schedule of publishing the Patriot M-W-F and doing his office duties. He really enjoys the guys he works with, so much so, that for a while they were having trouble getting all their work done! He instituted a lunch break so that they could chat and share funny videos, etc. during lunch. That seems to be helping. The Patriot is about to launch a new website, so that's keeping them all busy. He's starting back up with choir on Wednesdays and he's continuing his early Tuesday morning Bible Study. They're studying Hebrews this fall.
Olivia: I'm getting used to being the chauffeur. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays Naomi has school from 8:45 to 12. On Tuesdays and Thursdays Jacob has school from 9 to 2. I'm carpooling with another mom so that I either take or pick up each week. I've already had a few "Is it my day?!?!" moments. On Wednesdays we all go to Bible Study 9 to 11:30. Then we're back to church at 5 for Naomi's kid's choir, dinner at church at 5:45 and then Nate goes to choir from 6:30 to 8. In a couple of weeks I'm starting a little ballet class for a few girls and Naomi. Sometimes she even says she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. Next week I'm going with my small group girls to a Sarah Groves concert. Believe it or not, this will be my first ever pop concert to attend. A night out, Sarah Groves, and a new experience. What fun!
As for Nate and me, we just celebrated seven years together!! We had a babysitter and went out for a nice meal. We agreed that the highlight of the last year for us has been having Bethany, and we can honestly say that we're more in love now than we were when we got married.
Naomi is learning to read! She excitedly pulls out her A Becka book to read to me every day after school. She's mastered the short vowel three-letter words and she's ready for more! For every A Becka book that they master, they get a paper ice-cream scoop on their ice cream cone on the bulletin board. According to Naomi, she's tied for the second most scoops. Way to go, Naomi! We've also added a chore chart to Naomi's wall and she's keeping up with that pretty well.
Jacob is enjoying his Mother's Day Out program. He comes home tired, BUT I'm phasing him out of his afternoon nap. As long as he sleeps well the night before, he's just having "time in his bed" with books and toys (at the same time as Naomi does the same). So far he's been about every other day without a nap. He loves copying Naomi as she reads her books and he's very serious about the added maturity and responsibility that comes with being three.
Bethany is still our smiling baby. Pretty much if you smile at her, she'll smile back, even when she's crying. Sometimes it's as if she stops to say, "I'm not mad at you, Momma, I'm just tired (or hungry or wet, etc.)" She loves her bath and she loves her toys, especially a small bug that rattles and has crinkly paper wings. She's also very verbal--she often coos when you talk and laugh with her.
So that's what's up with us. We're learning and loving and hopefully growing God's kingdom every day.