We are just chugging along, day by day. Can't expect more than that, can you?

Xander has been taking swimming lessons on Saturday mornings and is trying to get over his fear of water in his ears. He wears ear plugs and a band around his ears but he still has some issues. The other day while at swimming lessons he decided that he needed to go potty and got out of the pool (thank goodness) and then pulled his swim trunks down and ran for the mens room. Everyone got quite a show. We are working with him and reminding him that he really needs to wait until he's in the bathroom to take his pants down. He did the same thing at church during primary class, announced that he needed to go to the bathroom, pulled his pants down and then ran down the hall to the bathroom. *sigh* Maybe they will change the class name to moon beams instead of sunbeams.

Xander turned 4 years and he had "lots of parties". On his actual birthday, we went to our friends the Gho's house and had McDonalds Happy Meals, then we did preschool and Sister Gho made Xander a race car cake. Xander helped to frost it then we all enjoyed it. After that I had to go home to make a special order cake for "LOST" season premiere. Xander also got to decorate a little birthday cake all by himself. I never knew you could fit so many sprinkles on a 4 inch cake. It was impressive. Then we went to Grandma and Papas for our regular Tuesday night dinner where we broke out in a crazy pancake fight. Yeah, I said it. Pancake Fight. Fun was had by all.

The following Saturday we had an official Birthday party for Xander, his friends and their families. Someone had given us 3 gallons of Vanilla Ice Cream and 3 gallons of Chocolate Ice Cream and we decided that it would be fun to have an Ice Cream Sundae party(mostly cause I wanted my freezer space back as we don't eat ice cream too often). Xander helped me make some cupcakes with Lightening McQueen cupcake wrappers and "really hard, gross candies" on top that were shaped like Lightening McQueen and Mater. We also got a couple pizza's from Papa Murphy so there was actual food to go along with the sugar involved in the sundaes. We had chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, pineapple sauce, strawberry sauce, warm marshmallow fluff, warmed peanut butter, coconut, chocolate chips, all kinds of candy sprinkles, nuts, cherries, bananas and whipped cream. The kids were in sugar heaven. "Just give them a little scoop of ice cream, all they really want is the toppings"

Xander as usual has been testing me every day. Just yesterday he took his fork lift toy and poked Ruby in the eyes. I then sent him back to his room where he was told he had to clean it before I would let him out. He was back there for quite a while, and at one point yelled at me "Mom, I need some compassion here!" It's hard to be mad at that smart little kid, but I think he's been watching Veggie Tales- Jonah a few too many times.

Ruby is cute as ever. I just love to kiss and squish her. She is such a different little spirit than her brother. She is refreshing and sweet and I just love her to pieces. I always think of the poem about what little girls and boys are made of when I think of Ruby. Her brother is definitely made of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, where Ruby is made of sugar and spice and everything nice.

Ruby also talks up a storm and sings little songs. Sometimes she sings herself to sleep. We don't understand any of it, but it's cute just the same. She has her own little language and I can't wait until she learns English. I'm sure that she has all kinds of interesting things to say. Despite how mean Xander is too her, she still loves him and is always giving him hugs and kisses. She always has to be doing what we are doing, doesn't want to be left out of anything. If I'm sitting at the table reading cook books, she's got to be doing the same. She is also very good at coloring. It's fun to watch because when Xander was her age, all he was interested in doing was stacking the markers end to end. Ruby also LOVES food. She is always the first one ready to go at the dinner table, and her favorite place to play is in the pantry. She shakes all the cans and is often caught trying to get at the chocolate chips.

Well, It's time to go clean up the hurricane that has occurred while I've been typing away.