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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
A Summer Tea Party
I created a wonderful memory book of a Tea Party we had this summer at Shutterfly.com and embedded it here. My grandmother is 97. Enjoy!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Changing Before My Eyes
This time I have arisen from bed at 12:30 am unable to sleep with something that has been on my mind all day. Now it keeps me from sleep. CHANGE. My children are changing before my eyes. Growing up. All too fast. Many have said they will grow up before you know it. Today I know it is true.
In chronological order of arrival...
ALEXIS. She is of that age when the body is changing. She informed me this past weekend she has been shaving her legs for two months. "Could I have my own razor instead of using yours?" (I actually bought one for her weeks ago but did not give it to her, thinking maybe I would save it for Christmas) I guess its time. Outwardly, she looks more and more like a young lady. She needs guidance with what she can wear and what she cannot. The days of having to force her to wear undergarments because she needed to are over. She has the shape of a young lady. And acne to prove it. And big feet! She now wears a size 8. Wow, when did that happen?
CHARLEY. His body is growing taller. He is finally applying the much needed deodorant daily without being told. He too has a bit of acne. He has graduated to mens size shoes. And his thoughts are more about cars, his first job, and potential profession. I keep telling him he needs to start a journal. His thoughts are many. Mostly voiced to me, hopefully the voice of reason. He and Alexis will need to share that first car so lets be practical.
XAVIER. He is also growing taller and his feet longer. And skinnier! I am frequently amazed at what this boy knows or remembers in regard to detail. He reminds me of brother Nick. Smart as a whip if only you could get him to apply it to something meaningful! He is reluctantly reading the Hunger Games. And secretly enjoying it I am pretty sure. He continues to be impulsive. As not to have a special blog post regarding his latest feat I will type it here. About 3 weeks ago at 4 pm Alexis witnessed and Steve heard a thud/plop. Xavier had jumped from our second story balcony onto the couch in the great room. Thankfully not hurt. Why? "I don't know!" This prompted a family meeting to discuss the possible awful things that could have happened. Fractures, spinal cord injury, etc. etc. Oh my! Thank you God for watching over my family.
JOSEPH. Joe is reading. And he is initiating reading. He tries to read signs and notes I write. Its so awesome!! He knows he knows and its so cute to see. And his vocabulary is off the charts. We sometimes have to do a double take to see if that is really our almost first grader coming up with words and sentences of what we think is an older child. Joe is a big follower of Xavier and one to watch. He especially loves his bike and goes faster than anyone down a hill given a chance. Lord, please watch over my sons.
CARIYANA. This little miss is too big for her britches more often than not. Quite the entertainer. We call her Nosey Rosey. Always in others business. Often we tell her to "tend to her own knitting!" There is nothing this girl misses.She too is doing some attempts to read things. She gets stuck easier but continues to try. And SO PROUD of herself when she gets it right!!
And me, nearing my 49th birthday...49? When did that happen?
In chronological order of arrival...
ALEXIS. She is of that age when the body is changing. She informed me this past weekend she has been shaving her legs for two months. "Could I have my own razor instead of using yours?" (I actually bought one for her weeks ago but did not give it to her, thinking maybe I would save it for Christmas) I guess its time. Outwardly, she looks more and more like a young lady. She needs guidance with what she can wear and what she cannot. The days of having to force her to wear undergarments because she needed to are over. She has the shape of a young lady. And acne to prove it. And big feet! She now wears a size 8. Wow, when did that happen?
CHARLEY. His body is growing taller. He is finally applying the much needed deodorant daily without being told. He too has a bit of acne. He has graduated to mens size shoes. And his thoughts are more about cars, his first job, and potential profession. I keep telling him he needs to start a journal. His thoughts are many. Mostly voiced to me, hopefully the voice of reason. He and Alexis will need to share that first car so lets be practical.
XAVIER. He is also growing taller and his feet longer. And skinnier! I am frequently amazed at what this boy knows or remembers in regard to detail. He reminds me of brother Nick. Smart as a whip if only you could get him to apply it to something meaningful! He is reluctantly reading the Hunger Games. And secretly enjoying it I am pretty sure. He continues to be impulsive. As not to have a special blog post regarding his latest feat I will type it here. About 3 weeks ago at 4 pm Alexis witnessed and Steve heard a thud/plop. Xavier had jumped from our second story balcony onto the couch in the great room. Thankfully not hurt. Why? "I don't know!" This prompted a family meeting to discuss the possible awful things that could have happened. Fractures, spinal cord injury, etc. etc. Oh my! Thank you God for watching over my family.
JOSEPH. Joe is reading. And he is initiating reading. He tries to read signs and notes I write. Its so awesome!! He knows he knows and its so cute to see. And his vocabulary is off the charts. We sometimes have to do a double take to see if that is really our almost first grader coming up with words and sentences of what we think is an older child. Joe is a big follower of Xavier and one to watch. He especially loves his bike and goes faster than anyone down a hill given a chance. Lord, please watch over my sons.
CARIYANA. This little miss is too big for her britches more often than not. Quite the entertainer. We call her Nosey Rosey. Always in others business. Often we tell her to "tend to her own knitting!" There is nothing this girl misses.She too is doing some attempts to read things. She gets stuck easier but continues to try. And SO PROUD of herself when she gets it right!!
And me, nearing my 49th birthday...49? When did that happen?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Cummins Update Summer 2012
Life is moving along so fast! It seems there is barely time to do the essentials let alone document our life in this blogging kind of way. Yet, the documentation is very important to me, and to them. Therefore I have arisen early with this intent burned into my mind.
Alexis age 12 has found her passion. Swimming. This winter the junior high offered a co-ed intramurals option for swim team. All the kids have been taking private swimming lessons for months so it was agreed she could join. We also encouraged Charley to check it out. He joined as well. Daily practices. Two swim meets. A taste of swimming at a higher level. Several team mates also swam for Davenport Metro a local private swim club. After the school stint, Alexis really wanted to join "I like swimming!" And her swim instructor Amanda McCord agreed she was ready. Her strokes are nearly perfect, she just needs to build strength and endurance. Alexis was registered for spring and summer sessions for Metro. She loves it. She swims everyday and does not complain even when our schedule dictates she attend the morning practice at 0700 rather than the evening practice. She has participated in multiple local swim meets. She has a passion for swimming!
Charley age 12 found the school swim team to be enjoyable and will do it again next year. He's not so sure he wants to swim everyday like Alexis. Charley spends most of his time in scouting and music activities. He also really enjoyed attending Kid Fit at the YMCA all winter. Dodge ball is his favorite! This summer he attended a week long Jazz Band Camp playing his tenor sax. Alexis also attended on piano. Charley will attend Boy Scout Camp beginning tomorrow for 6 days, enjoying his time away from the family I am sure!
Xavier age 9 continues to be a challenge to parent. He successfully completed 3rd grade at Rivermont Collegiate. Mom is grateful for the summer and lack of phone calls or emails from the Assistant Head Master regarding one boy behavior or another. Whether its the ADHD or just plain attention seeking behavior I don't know. There is never a dull moment for Xavier. Xavier excels at being active. We will attempt to channel that into football energy later this summer with Assumption's Football Camp. Charley will attend too. Out of the blue one day in June, Xavier chose to jump from our great room balcony down onto the leather couch. Impulsive is one adjective I would choose for Xavier! Thank goodness he was not hurt. This action prompted a family meeting about what type of injuries might have ensued from this kind of behavior. He is one to watch!
Joe age 6 is turning into a mini Xavier! Smart as a whip. An excellent reader with an interest in sports. Like Charley he really loved Kid Fit at the YMCA and really hated to see it end in April. He is taking swim lessons along with Xavier and doing really well. He may be ready for daily swimming before too long. Joe still loves his trains but has a new interest. Cars and transformers. He spends hours on the floor with make believe this and that. Its awesome to see him take interest in something other than television and video games like other kids. Our baby boy is growing up. He continues to be the early riser in the family, often up at 0600 with an empty stomach "I'm hungry!" Once he is up, he is up. Leave him in the car long enough he will still take a much needed nap!
Cariyana age 7 is as cute as can be. She too is one to watch in a myriad of ways. Over friendly and very interested in the world! Believe me she does not miss a detail! Though often makes her own interpretation which gets her in the trouble zone! She has avoided all illness and hospitalization this year! We are so blessed. We continue to insert the nasalpharyngeal airway each night for sleep. I know this is benefiting her by her lack of need for a nap and her faster progression at school. The tube is allowing her to get much better rest! Sit down to read with her and you are surprised at what she knows. Cariyana is a girly girl. She loves to play dress-up with Alexis and she loves to come up with her own outfit each morning including accessories!! Look at her below--wearing beads while feeding fish at the lake!
Nick and Angie are living in Angie's parents house on the Augustana Campus for the summer while her parents are on sabbatical for the summer. Nick is staying busy working on some assigned projects at their house including building shelves in the garage and cleaning a storage room and organizing it. Along with those projects he maintains a part-time job on campus in the mechanics garage. In addition this summer he started his very first pre-dental internship. Most of his time will be spent at Community Healthcare. Very challenged patients to be sure. Already he is amazed at what he has seen. Angie is working in the speech therapy clinic on Augustana's campus with children. Both are studying hard for entrance exams for graduate school in hopes of both gaining excellent scores for acceptance to the University Iowa graduate school for dental and speech pathology respectively.
Alexis age 12 has found her passion. Swimming. This winter the junior high offered a co-ed intramurals option for swim team. All the kids have been taking private swimming lessons for months so it was agreed she could join. We also encouraged Charley to check it out. He joined as well. Daily practices. Two swim meets. A taste of swimming at a higher level. Several team mates also swam for Davenport Metro a local private swim club. After the school stint, Alexis really wanted to join "I like swimming!" And her swim instructor Amanda McCord agreed she was ready. Her strokes are nearly perfect, she just needs to build strength and endurance. Alexis was registered for spring and summer sessions for Metro. She loves it. She swims everyday and does not complain even when our schedule dictates she attend the morning practice at 0700 rather than the evening practice. She has participated in multiple local swim meets. She has a passion for swimming!
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