Don't play memory with these kids!

 

Addy and Luke both love to play memory.  Scott lets them play it on his ipad sometimes.  Those two know how the game works.  You don't need to go easy on them either.  And the more they play the better they get.  I am so glad they are developing the ability to focus and concentrate.  Maybe that's why they beat me now.  I'm usually thinking about somthing else when I play them.  Whenever I turn over the wrong card they usually know right where the matching card is and don't waste any time making the match.  Sometimes Brooke plays too. They will help her make a match, because for some reason she turns the exact same cards over every time.  I don't know how she remembers the cards she turned over last time, but it's always the same cards! 

Baby Update!!

We had another sonogram to check on the cysts on baby's lungs.  They are still there, but they are getting much better!  The dr. was very encouraged and said they are smaller and less dense.  They are doing just what they need to do - going away!!! I don't have to go back for another sono for 8 weeks, and that will be just 1 month from the due date.  Dr. also told us that even if the cysts aren't completely gone by the time she is born we will probably just keep watching them until they go away.  It is unlikely that surgery will be needed!  He was very glad to give us the good news!  And he also gave me the okay to deliver her at the Birth and Women's Center because nothing can be done until she is a few weeks old anyway. 
We are SO thankful for the great news!  We are also really impressed by the machine that lets us look into the womb to see what's going on in there.  It has really been neat to see her in 3d.  We didn't get to do that with the other kids.  When we looked at her face this time we saw her hands up by her head, and then she put her thumb in her mouth and started sucking her thumb!  It was incredible!

Operation Christmas Child and turkeys!

 

If you are wondering what Operation Christmas Child and turkeys have in common, probably nothing.  Except that's what we've been doing lately. 

 If you remember last year, Luke was NOT happy about filling a shoebox for OCC.  He wanted all the stuff for himself.  He picked everything out and thought he was going to get to keep it.  It was a little better this year.  He still struggled.  Since he knew he wasn't going to get to keep anything, he didn't even want to pick anything out. 

 I did manage to get Luke to fill his box and smile.  Hopefully he will learn to give with a cheerful attitude someday! Addy loves filling boxes for OCC.  She had a hard time deciding what to get.  Not everything she wanted to put in there would fit! 

 We also have been making handprint turkeys.  I suggested it and they both got right to work.  They traced their own hand themselves.  The only thing Addy needed help with was how to spell Thanksgiving.

Luke came up with his own way of making handprint turkeys.  He used both hands!  I thought that was really clever.  I was impressed that he could trace around both hands.  This is by far the best picture he has made.  He even did a great job writing his name.  Good job Lukey!

 The kids had fun dressing up this year.  We went to our church's Harvest Party instead of trick or treating.  The kids had a great time playing games with all their friends.  We did trick or treat my grandma the next day though.  My dad came in from working for a bit to see the costumes.  Brooke was a ladybug.  My dad got to hold her for a quick second so I hurried and took a picture. 

 Here is Mr. Spiderman.  I bet you can't guess who's under the mask!

 And Rapunzel.  Addy and I made some long hair. For the Harvest Party we braided it in with her real hair so it looked sort of the same. Her clever idea!

 

 

 Brooke is sleeping in a big bed now, but the mattress in on the floor.  You can see why.  We had some guards to put on the bed, but she pushed against them in the night and they ripped, so they weren't doing much good.

 A package came in the mail the other day from Nana.  That is always so exciting for the kids.  They got busy making pictures and hand delivered them to the neighbors.  So cute!

 This is what happens Sunday afternoons.  Brooke fights it, but Scott doesn't.

 I was helping Addy with school work yesterday and Luke was in the living room singing.  I noticed that it suddenly got quiet.  I called for him and he didn't answer, so I thought I better go check it out.  He rocked and sang himself to sleep. 

Probably the neatest thing I am finding out about being a mom is that I love it more all the time.  The 3 kids are such good friends and playmates.  I can't imagine doing anything else than raising them.  They are always building and pretending something, and Brooke is just like the big kids now.  I'm so glad that a baby will be joining us in February.  Can't wait for her to get here!  But in the meantime, I will enjoy each day with these 3 little kids as they learn, grow and play.  They truly are a joy and a BLESSING from the Lord.