Hola! This site is long overdue for an update, so here goes!
We've finished another busy month here in Iowa. Jorie had 11 jewelry shows in April, so things have been a bit crazy around here. So much for a PART-time job with Premier, but it is a good thing that business is booming, since summer is often a slower time. Fortunately for us, Silas has been getting over his ultra-dramatic stage the last couple weeks. It looks like he just got some huge molars that came in on top, so I think the teething was contributing to his lousy mood and oh-so-frequent tantrums. I've been busy too, with training for a half marathon. I am running the Dam-to-Dam in Des Moines the first Saturday in June. I've been steadily increasing the distance of my runs for the past 2 months or so. This weekend, I'll be running 9 miles!
Here's Joel and Silas playing at the playplace in Iowa City Mall. This is currently the most requested destination around here. Mainly because the Children's museum is there, but they do have lots of other cool stuff like a Carousel, an Ice Rink, and this kids' Play Area.
Cousin Annikah has been visiting us frequently this week, since she is staying with Grandma & Grandpa while Jason & Roxanne are on vacation. A week in the Caribbean with no kids - yes, we are jealous. Watching Annikah and Silas interact is always a blast. Silas loves to give hugs and kisses - Anni puts up with him for a while, but eventually she's like "Enough is enough, man!" We are sad that Anni will soon be moving to Africa for so long, since Jason and Roxanne will be going to the mission field. It is really hard to imagine her growing up through the toddler years and missing out on it. But hopefully we can do some online chats so the kids will still feel like they have a relationship.
Silas has been amusing lately with some cute antics. One thing we discovered is that he really is quite the little thespian. We tell him to do "Poor Silas" and he makes this pitiful face and says "Poor Silas" in a mournful tone, and then he can immediately switch back to laughing hysterically. One night around the dinner table we were all trying to do "Poor Silas" but we were laughing so much none of the rest of us could do it without cracking up. But Silas can throw a switch and go from laughing to pretend-crying and back again very convincingly and it is quite hilarious. He also likes to suddenly shout, "Oh no! A monster!" while he and Joel are playing and then he goes racing around the room waving his hands over his head and laughing like a loon. Pure silliness.
The boys showing off their new shark raincoats
A few weeks ago, the boys got to meet Bob and Larry at the local Christian bookstore. Silas was terrified, as you can see him clutching me in the picture, but Joel was cautiously interested. He said Larry made him nervous though, because he was "even bigger than Daddy".
Hot tubbin' with Grandma Rho
Here we are in the Lego room. See what Joel has chosen to play with? That's me, trying not to worry. Heh, just kidding around of course.
Jake has chosen to play with a more masculine toy. Joel doesn't care, he wants the princess castle. (more pictures that Joel will love when he gets older -- "DAD, why did you let me play with THAT?")
Amy and Mya are very cute and also very GOOD, which I'm sure is a major blessing to Dale and Alissa, given that there are TWO of them. I can't even imagine having two Silas's running around here -- total mayhem. The girls took good naps on both days we visited with Dale and Alissa and they seemed to be fairly in sync with their sleeping/eating schedules, but still, we could tell Dale and Alissa always have their hands full.
