The Reuther Diaries: Life goes too fast

NEW GOAL>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOT LETTING PERSONAL PICTURES PILE UP ON THE COMPUTER!!!!!!

Yikes just when I thought I had it all together Anthony got laid off and life got crazy again. This is going to sound horrible and really it is not. I get in a groove with the kids, the house, work, etc. Then Anthony is home for a couple days and messes with it. It is purely becuase I can be a little more relaxed and not go go go! So I was doing good and then he was laid off for a week and life has just gotten all out of wack again. I LOVE that I am working! I also LOVE that my business is growing and I have been busy with other people's photos. I do love that. I have promised myself in this venture my kids and their photos would not be left behind. I would not be so busy editing I could not enjoy them. Sadly I feel a little like that has happened this week. So I sat down and made a few changes and even if Anthony is home he is going with our schedule. My blogging has been lacking severely and I MISS IT!! It is important for me to keep and remember these memories. I am running on little sleep and forget things easily, but I do not want to forget my kids at this amazing age they are at. Life goes by so quickly I want to cherish every moment with them even if at times they drive me crazy!

Bath Time fun! We spike Lilliana's hair every time we have bath well Eli requested it and a picture. He is very fickle about when I can take his pictures so I was taking full advantage of this moment.

The many faces of Ari.....he dominates the picture taking these days. He has to have his turn and well the other two are not so thrilled with picture takeing so he gets to endure the Nikon torture. I mean I know it is similar every time but I just LOVE all of his little faces.

Oh Ari is our late night tag along. He may sleep all night once we get him to bed but he thinks it is grand to be up until 10, 11, 12 at night. So while I may be getting a 7 hour stretch I am up way later than I would like! He is nice and happy while up though. He is sooo smiley and sooo vocal. He just talks to us and coos and loves to be tickled. He also is holding his head up so well lately.

Miss Lilliana is growing like a weed and talking so much these days. She also has the absolute most amazing curls!!

Her favorite word is "NO!" It was her favorite before she could talk as she would shake her head "no" all the time. Now instead of just "No, " it is "no, no, no, no" very fast and bossy like. She is a little boss. I am not sure who she gets that from?! Ahem....no comments from my family!

Eli is doing amazing as of late. I am so proud of him! He is so responsible and so good. School is going amazing and he still looks forward to it every day. He does not enjoy writing his letters so much. He told me the other day "Mom, this is exasperating!" I told him well that is good. It means you are using your brain and learning. Other than that he enjoys it. Some things I have learned. I have to be more patient with him and writing. I also don't need to be such a perfectionist. I was so worried he was having the perfect handwriting I had to step back and realize he needs to learn coordination first and worry about the fine detail later as he is only three. Since I have backed off a little he is doing so much better. The best part in all of this is we have not missed one day of school so far. I am proud of myself as I was worried things might come up but it has been a priority and we have started on time every day. The thing I am most proud of is the fact he has learned 3 verses in 3 weeks. He is a sponge and usually after the first day has it memorized. Tonight at dinner we drilled him again and he knew all three. I am one proud mom. At this point if he does not remember his letters that is just fine with me. I don't care because he is hiding God's Word in his heart.

A few things we have to work on with him is playing with other children. He does well at daycare but not so well at public places with kids he does not know. The couple times I have taken him to work and he has been able to go to PLAY next door he has been a bit rough and not used the nicest of words so we are working on that.

He lives to be outside and play in his sandbox.

We have been busy getting things ready for fall like cleaning gutters, taking the air conditioners out of the windows, vucumming spider webs, etc. We also have enjoyed some fun things like teaching the kids to play the Wii. We don't really play that much anymore but thought it would be fun to let them play and they loved it.

We also were able to enjoy a visit from Heather and her family. Eli and Hailey her oldest are the same age. Ari and her youngest Laila are about 2 months apart. Her oldest Nathan and Lilliana are different ages. She is an amazing friend and I look forward to her moving closer to us!

We also have taught the kids how to play Duck Duck Goose and Hide and Seek. We have played Duck Duck Goose several times before bed and they love it. The hide and seek is so funny to watch them play too. Lilliana is a riot and Eli always tells us whear he is hiding.

It is getting chillier and I love the fall sunlight for pictures. We have taken a couple trips to the park before the snow and cold weather deter us from going. The kids love it. Lilliana let me take lots of pictures of her!