Bunches of stuff

Plain ol' precious

Banning the highchair for her bar stool. Notice, it's back there she just wont use it.

Building volcanoes in our sandbox.

George. Nothing more to say when you know this awesome little boy.

This is Riley.

So to begin, I must talk about precious little Riley Clair. Although tiny and yes, super precious, she is by far the biggest handful of the three. She is more agile, more curious, more loud, more demanding... more able. I've been struggling with her because she is so opposite of both boys that none of my parenting instincts even touch her with a ten foot pole. She accomplishes more in a quarter hour than I ever thought possible. Although hard to keep up with, I do find myself in awe of the things she can do. I'll list just a few off the top of my head. Keep in mind she is only 19 months old. She can climb the rock wall along with the actual ladder (with ease) on our swing set out back. She takes the tray off of her highchair, lays it on the ground and climbs into her highchair when she is hungry. After saying that, Im reminded that she has now decided she doesnt want to sit in a highchair and so scoots a bar stool up to the table, climbs onto it, sits down and eats with the boys. She puts on Joshy's underwear..correctly. When it is time to go outside, she brings me her sweater, goes to the shoe box and picks out a matching pair of shoes, sits down and waits for me to help put them on. It really is fun to watch her. Tiring to clean up after, but fun to watch nonetheless. She does ALL of this, yet doesn't say a word. Only in the last two weeks or so has she really started talking.
Onto George. George has really blossomed this winter.His biggest milestones have been learning to spell his name and learning to ride his bike. A weekend spent away from the kids, and upon return, Jamie had taught him to ride. Such an accomplishment for Georgy. How very proud I am.
Now Joshy Joe, my vulcanologist. He, like so many other times has found a passion. This time for volcanoes. He loves reading about them, watching footage on the computer of actual lava flows, listening to different peoples' stories of living with volcanoes, scientific research of vulcanologist and the like. Jamie and I listen, watch and talk each night about Joshua, knowing he is special. He loves to wonder and discover. And he is so good at it.
Below are clips of Riley showing off some of her verbal skills, Georgy riding his bicycle, and Joshy chopping wood in Virginia.