dave & janet horsman ::: keepin’ it real since 1998

(I’m watching the National Spelling Bee as I do this post.  A Canadian from Alberta is in the final three!  It’s incredibly suspenseful and entertaining…I’m serious!)

I love this time of year in Minnesota.  Cool evenings, few mosquitoes and nothing else to do, but sit around and watch my three little boys enjoy being little boys.  They’re so cute.   And all so different…

Noah is our little athlelete.  He’s loved balls - kicking, throwing and just carrying them - since he was very little.

Zeke just cracks me up.  It’s going to be so interesting to watch him grow up.  He drove around in this car, all the while muttering to himself, as he proceeded to “crash” into imaginary objects.  This time the car was completely overturned! 

(The Canadian just said “Zed!”  I love it.”)

Elijah spent almost two hours searching for a beatle to put in his new bug container.  I had the worst time convincing him to come in and get cleaned up for bed without one.  There’s always tomorrow I guess.

(The Candian just took second place.)

And everyone had to gather around to see this…

A dead worm covered with ants.  Nice.

I read a long time ago - before I even had kids, I think - that it’s good for kids to feel bored.  This is the time when their imaginations, and creativity can be tapped into.  It helps me to remember this when my kids come to me saying, “I’m bored!”  Initially, I feel like I have to entertain them, and sometimes guilty that I can’t all the time, but sure enough, when they’re just given a little encouragement, they’re able to delve into what I call “real” play.  The play I remember playing when I was little.   It’s the best.

Well, I love the Morrisons, and their sextuplets, but they’ve been the top story on my blog for long enough!   Just kidding.  I do hope you all will take a few moments whenever you think of the Morrisons to pray for them.  They’re an amazing young couple.

But it is time for a new post…I know.  I’ve been preoccupied.  Still nesting, I guess…and this is a very busy time of year.  Elijah had his piano recital this past Saturday, (video coming soon…I think.  That’s Dave’s domain, not mine) he and Zeke started soccer on Sunday…   

…I had my now-weekly appointment with my midwife on Monday.  Everything is going as usual.  She said I definately had a “lot of baby in there” (crazy, I think, since I’ve gained so little weight this pregnancy…I guess I just make ‘em big!).   I finally feel totally ready for baby to arrive now…I washed the car-seat cover this afternoon, the final big thing on my check list.  Now…just the waiting!  Sigh 

Zeke’s big preschool graduation ceremony is tomorrow.  That will be fun.  And then Elijah’s school’s variety show is coming up…and his last “classroom visit”…my mother arrives soon for a month long visit (Hallelujah!)… and I could go on and on.   So busy!  I’m getting pretty worn out…pregnancy is most certainly different when one is raising three very active boys! 

So, I’m considering going on an early maternity leave from blogging.   Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to keep you all up to date on the very important, but my posts will be becoming fewer, and then we’ll see what happens when the baby arrives.  I truly love blogging.  It really helps me feel connected to friends and family, but it can start to feel like an obligation, and…well, my obligation quota is about to go up.  A big “Thank you” to all my faithful readers… a weekly check will probably suffice from now on. 

Anyway, it’s late…bed is calling.

The local CBS affiliate, WCCO, has picked up on the Morrison’s story now. So here is the latest from the news last night. All 6 kids are doing great! 2 girls and 4 boys, I think. To learn more about them and how you can help visit their website. Also there are some cool pictures on their Flickr page. Ryan is a great photographer.

“Uh…Mummy?  When Mummys are pregnant, they sure do look fat.”

“Zeke…let me give you some advice.  You should never, never tell a pregnant mummy she’s fat.  Even if you think she is.  Always tell a pregnant mummy that she’s beautiful.  OK?”

Silence and a look of thoughtfulness from Zeke.

“Zeke…did you hear what I said?…Zeke?

More thinking.  Then…  (And this isn’t this so male?!  …Completely avoiding the real issue!)

“Well…why doesn’t Grammie ever have any babies?  She’s a girl, isn’t she?”

Sigh…”Oh, Zeke.”

Elijah decided that he wanted to try out for his school’s variety show this year…very brave of him!  The try outs are today.  He’s a little put off by the fact that he may not get chosen, but I think it’s great that he’s willing to try, and hopefully this will be a good experiance for him! 

He’ll be playing his recital piece, Monster Truck March.  He practiced it this morning, before school, and I was able to get some photo’s of Noah doing some interpretive dance to it…he always does this when Elijah practices it!  It very cute.  I love his “mad face” (I want to get some video of it for you, but my hubby is the video-ographer of the family.)

Gotta run…we’re off to “sibling play day” at Zeke’s preschool today.  Noah get’s to stay and play.  Fun!

I love being a mother!  Thank you, boys, for a wonderful Mother’s Day!

P.S.  Here’s another photo taken today.  These three ladies are our neighbors in the dorm.  We’re all due within three weeks of each other!   It’s crazy… including the new Hills’ twins, in a few weeks, there will be six newborn babies in our wing of the building.

Can you spot the letter that Noah discovered - with great excitement - on this strange looking creature?  (I have no idea where this thing came from…probably from the Sally Ann.)   Yes, my just-turned-two-year-old can recognize almost all of his letters!   “Y” is actually one of his favorites!  Hooray, Noah!

We own a lot of letter-learning books, and for whatever reason, all three of my boys have gravitated towards them right around the age of two.  People are often astounded that my kids can recognize thier letters when they’re only two (and really, I think most people think I’m a little nuts), but it just boils down to a little interest on their part, and some time set apart each day on my part.  It’s so true when they say a child’s brain is like a sponge.  Learning to read is very important…too important, I believe, to leave in the hands of the schools they will attend.   And it’s super-cute to hear them say “W!”