Call Day #100, 12/30/14

Eleanor didn't want me in the kitchen this morning--she wanted to get her breakfast and Oliver's ready by herself. She had her apron on while getting things ready, and Oliver insisted on wearing one too. Since she couldn't put him in his high chair, he got to eat at the big table.

Claire and Oliver asked to have their picture taken. Oliver knows he's supposed to smile for the camera. This is his version.

We just started using an online program that tests the kids' abilities versus core curriculum standards, determines their weaknesses, and then teaches and retests them on those points. They seem to like it and can earn minutes of game time. It's a nice supplement to what we do and great around holidays when we're not doing full-on school.

Proud of their tent constructed this morning. I just had to appreciate the irony that in the time it took me to pick up a few things and vacuum the living room they could totally rearrange and pull out everything in the play room.

Wanting to play dress up. The only dress up clothes available are princess dresses!

I got to grocery shop with just Oliver while the girls had some time at Nanny's. He was a fun companion. He likes to put things onto the conveyor belt at the checkout, and he handed me each item out of the bags as I put them away at home.

Meanwhile, Claire and Eleanor had had a drawing lesson with Nanny. After they were done, they took time to talk about each other's art--what they liked best and why.

A fun part of visiting Nanny's house is getting to get candy from the gumball machine before leaving!

Call Day #99, 12/28/14

Oliver's new trick--distinguishing the words honey, money, and funny.

There was a puppet show for the kids at church today. Claire happily walked in holding the hand of her friend Julia. The two of them in the front row.

Sunday Funday included watching the Charlotte's Web movie. Eleanor recently finished reading the book.

More Sunday fun--Nanny and Papa came for dinner, brought cookies, and read bedtime stories.

Call Day #98, 12/21/14

It was an eventful morning before Erik even began his shift. Claire had been sick and subdued all day yesterday. At midnight she had awoken and had said "I can't yawn" but her breathing was okay at that point. When she awoke at 4am crying and having trouble breathing, Erik said she needed to go to the hospital (hence, hospital bracelet in picture). She and I went and were there for many hours as they waited to ensure that the treatments given had resolved the issue. All this meant an early morning call to Nanny and Papa to come stay with Eleanor and Oliver because Erik had to leave for work at 6:15. So, so thankful to have them to call and know that our other kids were being taken care of!

Claire had been hardly able to speak to answer my questions on the way there, whispering her answers. I was thankful to watch her gobble down a muffin at the hospital cafe when she was finally discharged around 11. Another highlight was chatting with her as we walked the hospital hallways to give Daddy a hug before heading home.

All three kids are sick. Watching a Christmas movie. Oliver in princess dress.

We ate dinner by candlelight on this shortest day of the year. It makes leftovers exciting!

Papa reads Narnia to the girls before bed. Claire is still complaining of a sore throat as well as crying about "something stuck in my throat." Nanny and Papa are spending the night just in case.

Call Day #97, 12/14/14

After church we tried out an Italian restaurant.

Claire likes wearing some clip-on earrings from Mimi as decoration. See the big watermelon slice on her headband?

Both girls spent their quiet time downstairs for a change. Eleanor works on Christmas presents. (Family, don't look too closely at her projects or you'll ruin the surprise!)

After dinner we had sundaes. It's Sunday Funday after all. Oliver picks the sprinkles off the top.

Yum!