The kids are doing well. Kierian is mostly over his flu and back on the skateboard again – all is well in the world. He’s really been working on several new tricks (something about a double stuff oreo??) and they are coming along nicely. One of his friends broke his hand at church on Wednesday. I had akdoc take a look and we made the boy call his mom – he didn’t want to because he thought she wouldn’t let him stay for Youth Group. Praise for wanting to be at church but sometimes we do have to miss. She let him stay. Kierian also just did Discovery Weekend at church. He was with his small group from Friday dinner time to Sunday noon. They did several mission works, had several worship services, and just spent the whole time in worship with God. He enjoyed it more this time since he knew what to expect from last year. His small group had several of his friends (who don’t usually go to church so it was very cool to watch him minister to them) in it so they all had things in common. He hasn’t been doing much of his computer work lately with our crazy schedules but that will get going again soon. He’s wanting to do some of the skate camps at the skatepark this summer so he’s getting me that information. We’re anxiously waiting for the next series of guitar lessons at church. He is really picking up nicely on that. I’ve listened to him play several times and if I didn’t know it was him, I’d guess it was someone who’s played for many many years. He doesn’t have a large number of songs yet but he sure is enjoying the ones he does play. Kianna is busy as always. Her tumbling (and Aiden’s) recital is next Friday so we had picture day today. Chaos would be the word. It took her class 3 hours to do individual pictures, a class picture, and go through their routine a few times. The head lady just wanted to do something different with their costume so they had to sit while she figured out what she wanted done – while handling a million other things, mind you. I finally went back and told them I needed my kid – we had other things to do today. She’s very excited because she is front row center in their formations. For one of them, the rest of the class is doing backbends with partners and she’s up front doing back walkovers by herself. Can you say over achiever?? She also loves that at one point the whole class is in a line holding hands (boy, girl, boy, girl, etc) and they take 2 steps forward and the girls do a front flip. I hear all about that one after every class – who made it over, who didn’t land on their feet, etc. We are having someone else do her hair for tumbling recital. My shoulder can’t take doing french braids just yet. Dance is coming along well. She knows all her dances for production in 3 weeks. We had our first company meeting tonight so those classes will get scheduled for summer soon. Her summer classes are: company, pointe, ballet/tap/jazz combo. She’s doing really well and loves every minute. She’s also going to a week long summer camp. She’ll be learning about handling horses. She’s well into chapter books now and making her own. She keeps getting slowed down when it’s time to leave the house because she’s writing another book. We’re learning how to use a dictionary tomorrow so she can learn spelling. She does fine but she’s asked to do better so we will. She and Aiden have their choir recital this Saturday and Sunday. Aiden’s laid back as always but Kianna’s a bit nervous. She has a solo and it’s a true solo this year. Last year was a duet but this one is just her. She’s a bit worried she’ll forget the words so we’ve been practicing a lot. I know she’ll do beautifully. Aiden is getting ready for tumbling and dance recital also. He’s a hershey’s bar – brown loose body suit with Hershey’s in silver sequins on the front. He’s really progressing in his tumbling. I don’t hear much other than “yeah, I did well in class today” so I can’t say exactly what he’s doing but he’s having fun and walking around the house in a backbend so I’m good. He has been working hard on his splits and is mostly there with his center ones. Maybe during next dance season he’ll have it. His dance class is going to steal the shows at production. The dad’s are dancing with the boys. They’re dancing to Boyz II Men. I really like seeing Paul out there dancing with Aiden. I know Paul really misses dancing and it’s great to see him and Aiden doing many of the same things. They really are 2 peas in a pod. They’re both unnaturally skinny but strong as an ox – so not fair. Aiden saved $10 of his birthday money this year and is buying items to send to Malawi with our missionaries this summer. You can pick from several items they need and he chose to send seeds. He’s VERY anxious to put the envelope with the money into the offering plate this weekend. Kianna and Aiden will do VBS at church this year. I’m taking time off but they’ll have a blast as always. Lycan is keeping up with everyone else. He has decided he does like his dance class so goes without fuss now. (never mind that snack bag of animal crackers I have to bring each week.) I made his vest for production and he looks so nice with the girls in his class. Boy, does he love to wear those ballet shoes! He got very excited when I asked him if he wanted to dance again next year and do tumbling as well. He wouldn’t be in a tumbling recital class but he can do a non recital class which he’ll love. He’s in a mom phase right now with all the running I’m doing. He just wants me to sit still and hang with him for awhile. How nice that would be! My shoulder is coming along. I’m doing rehab three days a week with an OT that comes to the house. Paul got fed up with me not ever doing my exercises so he got someone to work with me. I just have too many projects and things to get done and exercises didn’t fit my schedule. So, now I have to because she comes to the house. I am gaining motion in the shoulder which is progress. I can reach the steering wheel with both hands now. I can ever start the van with my right hand if I lean forward to do it. We all have no doubt it will get back to normal. It will just take a while. I’ve been working in the church nursery a lot this past month. It was nice because that paycheck took care of the enrollment for tumbling for 3 for the fall. That’s what I use that money for – to pay for tumbling. Work at church (when I’m already there anyway) and pay for tumbling. Work at the studio (when I’m already there anyway) to pay for dance. It’s a win win.