Needed Updates

Katelyn: 6 1/2 months 

• Still very smiley. Has a light about her that makes everyone smile and feel peace. She does get more anxious if no one is near her. She likes attention and cries without it. Her brothers like to give her that attention. Not sleeping well at all since we moved, but we are adjusting to a few differences and hopefully it will get better. She is a thin little bean. 
• Her 6 month appt stats: 13 lbs (9%),  I can't find her doctor sheet.. moving does that, but she was 14% for height and 78% for head. 
• Loves food now and can't get enough. Loves chewing on real food. Watermelon. She loves to crinkle anything and gets a little over stimulated by water bottles but don't you dare take it away! ;). 
• Loves her whole family including all of the extended. We just love our little baby Kate!

Liam: 2 1/2 

• ENERGY in a word. Never stops jumping or running or climbing. I'm so excited for him to play sports someday, but right now it's a task to handle! Throws everything you can think of and is pure boy when it comes to messy and dirt. Loves SOCKS. Insists on always wearing them and gets them for his sister too. 
• Great things: Speaks really well. Loves his baby sister. He will run in to her room when she wakes up, climb up the crib and scream,"Baby's awake!!!!!!" With a huge grin on his face. Yesterday he asked her,"Baby you want to get down? You want to get down from your crib? Okay!!!" Haha. Love the love. 
• He will also eat anything. Today he asked for carrots. Yesterday he asked for broccoli. And he ate a bunch of it!! It wasn't even out! Weird, I know. 
• In the no phase. No matter what you ask, the answer is no. But distraction works sometimes. He also thinks he is so funny. He doesn't whine or cry, even when he gets in trouble he will sometimes grin. I'm learning how to discipline a whole different way. I feel like I never know what I'm doing. Usually runs away with Troys toys but gave him his own toy when Troy got in trouble for taking it from Liam and was crying. 

Troy:  4 1/2

• Grown up. Talking so much more, understanding things he didn't before. Loves rescue bots more than life and its how we motivate to stop whining and maintain potty training. 
• He is such a sweet boy. Tells me thank you all of the time for random things. Gets a little obsessed with toys and shows. But he's learning how to share with encouragement/bribery/discipline or whatever I can think of. Loves to play with Liam. They definitely fight and Troy enjoys being bigger, but they love to wrestle and play toys together to. 
• Troy is really excited for the holidays. He can't wait for Halloween. He wants to be a super hero. He gave ideas for the rest of the family: Liam can be a super hero too, Katelyn a butterfly, daddy can be Spider-Man, and mommy a dinosaur. Oops, sounds like I've been roaring too much :) 
• Loving this 4 year old. Loves primary and only sings when I'm in there for singing time. He makes up words if he doesn't know them. His first primary program is soon. I really hope he will sing. I'm so excited! Kind of silly, but this is a mommy thing that I've really looked forward to. 

Family night: herding chickens. Seriously. We usually sing lots of wiggle songs, watch a short movie, try to teach and share our testimonies. Treat is the only thing running through Liam's mind the whole time and its Troys motivation to sit down. Not sit still, but sit down. Katelyn is usually good because she has so much entertainment around her. Ben is patient and I am so glad we are in this together! 

Scripture Study: Is more like scripture mastery. We have Troy and sometimes Liam copy us in reading a scripture mastery. We've learned that bedtime works best for us, but its hard to always remember! Trying to do better. 

Ben is working really hard on his job search. He follows up well. There are some prospects, but it's all about finding the right job and the right place. It's a really big decision and it takes time. We are grateful for our circumstances and to Ben's grandparents most of all! 

Ben is still Elder's Quorum President for a little bit and wants to take care of his elders. Our ward had a lot of flooding in their basements on Saturday, so yesterday the ward went to help. There will be a lot more of that this week. 

I am getting over a sickness and trying to get a routine back into our lives. I'm incredibly grateful for the Mormon Channel. It helps me keep perspective and grasp the big picture when I feel overwhelmed. I love my three kids more than anything and I show it through all of my energy and hard work to keep them healthy, happy, and close to their Savior. We are far from where we need to be, but we are trying and I feel the Savior's love for our family as we try to do better.