I before E...

Drew can spell his name now, first and last. Not necessarily via letter manipulation but by doing it out loud. Kate is pretty much a professional bike rider now. We told her once she is comfortable, she can forgo the kneepads. Sure, that'll lead to scrapes, but those just build character.

Ben is currently a human pogo stick in his jumper. He's part kangaroo apparently. Also, he has yet to turn his nose up at any type of baby food. I think he'd eat sticks if you could puree them.

Go speed racer, go

Drew, on our most recent hike whilst riding on my back in the backpack "I like to go fast daddy, yeeha!"

Random stuff

Hiking around Stone Mtn today, we were fairly deep in the woods and Drew asked if we were on "a secret package". The other day while exercising he asked if I was slimy. I had to inform him it was sweaty.

Ben has realized that when he does things, he gets attention and smiles from people.

Kate said she wished she was a parent because "they get to stay up later. They get to eat more and they get to be parents and have kids."

While at the thrift store, Sherri told Kate and Drew they could each pick out a book to buy, something that looked interesting. Drew picked this one.

Three kids, three updates

Drew's goodnight routine is to tell me "hasta manana" and then we salute.

Ben can clap, he seems quite pleased with this newfound skill. He's also currently trying to attack Sherri's computer.

Kate is most proud of her new silly bracelet that Andrew gave her. I think she likes it because it's a bracelet more than that she got it from Andrew.

Played at Gram and PopHank's abode this evening. Kate and Drew rode bikes, Ben drooled on everything within mouth reach.

Say what, Kate?

Mommy, I really want to go to Disneyworld. I mean, can I do gymnastics?

Catching up

Climbed Stone Mtn on Sunday with the Niemann crew. Kate and Andrew did a good job together and sort of spurred each other on when tired. Drew still does not like the wind, especially on the top of the mountain but he may finally be getting past it. He climbed the steeper top part under his own power rather than in the backpack.

Ben has at least 5 teeth pretty clearly poking through. If I had to guess, I would predict he will talk before he walks. We are OK with this.

Went to the Dekalb Farmers' Market where the kids knew they had to pick one thing to try they have never eaten before. Ended up coming home with a casaba melon. Not cooked and eaten yet, but it is lurking.

Kate has decided that artichokes are grosser than brussel sprouts, so we may have a new food to mock. More bike riding (and crashing) but a better attitude about not doing it perfectly right at first.

Ben does not like flying like Superman. On the flip side, Drew really likes his Superman jammies.

More malaprops with Drew

"Batman is my favorite superhero in the whole live world."

"Na nanny boo boo, You canta catch me"

Kate's a bike rider (sung to the tune of Paperback Writer)

Who's the girl with the happy smile?
Riding around for lots of miles?
Spinning wheels, wind in her hair
She wants to speed along and be a bike rider.
Kate's a bike rider.

In Alexander Park on the grass or trail
She'll pedal along without fail
Walking's fine, running is too
But Kate's decided that she wants to be a bike rider.
Kate's a bike rider.

Kate's a bike rider.

And so on, I am not a songwriter for a reason.

Look ma, no training wheels

Kate had her 2nd go around without training wheels today. Yesterday was a somewhat controlled descent on a grassy slope. Lots of courage building needed, and lots of talks about her brain needing to think positively and make her body fight through the fear. A few bumps and bruises later and she had done a really good job of practicing.

Today, she rode on the street completely unencumbered. max distance of about 150 feet. And, she wanted to quit and definitely cried at junctures, but fought through it and had some really good rides and showed that she is starting to get more comfortable up there. A few more days of good practice and I think she'll be in pretty good shape.

Malaprops with Drew

On your mark, get set, go = Uncle Mark, get set, go
Yellow = Lellow
PopHank = PongKank

Favorites

Might do this once in a while, just listing out some of the kids favorite things at any point in time.
Kate
Movie - The Princess and the Frog
TV Show - Ninja Warrior
Song - We will, we will rock you by Queen
Food - Moe's burrito
Color - Pink
Friend - Someone from the Dylan/Katie/Andrew triumvirate

Drew
Movie - Mulan
TV Show - Ninja Warrior
Song - We will, we will rock you by Queen
Food - Broccoli
Color - Orange
Friend - Andrew or Dylan

Ben
He's 7 months old, he couldn't care less

Also, don't think I have mentioned yet that Kate's pet name for Ben somehow became Mississippi. I have no idea why this is, though she hasn't used that in a few weeks.

Random updates

Kate has started a new trend of wanting to end her day by reading in bed, by herself. As in, she actively shoos us out of the room. She read a book listed as grade 2.8 by herself. She has decided she doesn't really like T-ball. The gist of her reasoning is that T-ball has a lot more stuff you have to learn and work on than soccer or basketball, both of which seem to be much more straightforward.

Kate is totally a night person, Drew is totally a morning person, Ben is not yet defined.

Ben looks good with his 3 teeth.

Stone Mountain day

Kate did her 11th solo ascent up Stone Mtn today, with her most driven pace ever. She didn't even want to wait on Sherri to catch up. Drew continues to not be a fan of the wind, so the top of the mountain was not his favorite place to be. Ben was just bob-bob-bobbin' along for the ride. No skinned knees or head bonks so I would consider that a successful trip.

Drew may be moving past the need for a nap, at least as an every day event. We may be close to shifting him to an every other type of thing. Ben only wet through one outfit today.

Ben at the Atlanta Hawks game

3rd row seats, courtesy of Jana Schmidt and Harland Clarke. Niemann's to the left of us, random overweight people with a little too much plastic surgery crowding our personal space to the right of us. But, super fun and Ben's flirting with the cheerleaders did get us some more free stuff.