2/5 - Coming home late in the evening with the kids. About 2 blocks from home, Ilea speaks up out of the blue - Mom, when we get home I'll stop picking my nose.

2/7 - Kyler pooped twice this morning. Then about 15 min later he comes toward me with his pajamas off, already unsnapped his onesie, and is saying POOP! I knew he couldn't have done it again, so I said to come here and I'd check. I pick him up to find out he also took his diaper off already!!! Danger! Danger! After reassembly, I tried to convince him he is NOT dirty, and PLEASE leave the diaper ON!

In the fall, I disciplined Ilea with a spank - she knew what would happen, she chose to disobey, and only got one swat, not out of anger. That night she prayed, "dear God, please help mommy not to spank me!" Obviously missing the point of both what to pray for and what discipline is for!

You want cold? This morning while I took the girls to school (8:15am) they were very chatty, so after a few blocks I turned the radio off to listen to them. It was 29 deg out. As I was pulling back into the garage, I noticed that the antenna was stuck up about 3 inches. I thought Bummer! Another thing broken on the car! I turned the radio on to make the antenna go up. I could see something on the edge of the metal, sticking out a little. I then turned it off to try to see if it would go down again. It did this time, pushing off the 3 inch piece of ice that had formed on the front of the antenna!

Kyler has become pretty insistent on some things. If I sit down to relax, he usually tries to climb in my lap, even when I tell him no. If I'm reading, he will sit on my book. If I try to ignore him, he will take his book and push it into my hand. If I'm at the computer table, he climbs up over the edge of the chair and sits in my lap. He can climb pretty much anywhere now, except out of his crib.

Ilea continues to do well in school. She loves it and her teacher. She had her second assessment, which seemed to go a little easier. She is still doing well academically, and has blossomed so much socially. She doesn't have meltdowns anymore, and is playing more with other kids. She does very well at following rules, and is communicating more, and responding to questions more. They've noticed what we knew, that Ilea is probably listening to every word you say, even when she doesn't look like she's paying attention to you. The two teachers have talked about class, with Ilea nearby. Then later, Ilea asks them when they are going to do such and such. They finally figured out that she was overhearing them, and of course understanding & remembering everything they said! They do seem to enjoy her, and we both feel this class has been very good for her. Next year she will be in their Jr. Kindergarten class, 4 afternoons a week. A different teacher, but I hope she will be as good as Mrs. Kinney.