Home sweet home

We had a great time visiting family for Thanksgiving, but it's great to be home! Besides the fact that we have no food in the house...

The kids were GREAT on the drive up and back. We were most worried about Rowan since he doesn't fall asleep really well in the car, since he's used to sleeping on his stomach. But once I moved back and squished in between the two car seats, he was an angel. Ellie took a nap and watched a movie on the way home, so she was great too.

I just have to say, in complete honesty, Rowan did not cry at all while we were in Iowa! He fussed occasionally, when he was tired, but he never cried. Jason and I really lucked out with him! He now has two bottom teeth and can roll across the floor to get to anything he wants. And he's as smiley as ever.

Ellie was not so well-behaved. Partly because that's just how she is right now, but I think a big part of it was that she ate a lot of junky foods. So did I, but I think I controlled my temper a bit more :) My Dad and I went shopping early morning on Friday, and Ellie was NOT HAPPY to find me missing in the morning. The relatives were entertained though with her songs and stories. She told me a very fascinating story about how she was bit on her bootie at Grandma Knapp's house (a nursing home) by a bad man who was screaming (there really was a man screaming there). She also impressed them with her reading skills. She can read many 3 letter words by sounding them out. Now we just have to teach her the combinations (like th and sh) and tricky sounds (like the silent e).

Jason has only 3 weeks of class left, which means he's super-busy finishing up all his schoolwork. I'm amazed at how disciplined he can be, he starts his papers weeks, even months in advance! I always waited 'til the night before pretty much, but I never had to write over 100 pages in papers. I have only 3 weeks left of watching the two girls during the week. We won't be watching them next semester, mainly because the work is not really worth the extra money. Those girls are hard work! I feel a little bad because the older girl is Ellie's best friend, but we'll have to find a new friend for her. I'll still be taking Ellie to the boy's house on Thursdays, and Ellie loves going there.

It snowed over Thanksgiving, both in Madison and where we were. The snow is gone now, but I'm sure more is to follow soon. Ellie LOVED playing outside in it; we just have to get her some better gloves to play with. And I'm adding long underwear to my Christmas list!