Valentine's Day

Alia was absolutely delighted with her first Valentine's party. The Student leaders sold cans of crush for the kids in the school. Each kid received at least 3 cans of soda. They also received lots of candy. She is having a great school year academically. The class dynamics were ideal for the first quarter with 4 adults for 13 kids. Now with less adults (the student teacher left) and more kids it's a little harder. I'm thankful she is academically advanced and able to read and do math well so her learning is able ot progress. It is also motivating to get Merle prepared. He is sounding out words slightly and starting to read independently a bit. 

More pictures of Jake and his accident. He got a bit of a goose egg so we applied foot cream. 

We sure loves this big guy. He always has a support crew no matter what is going on. I'm so pleased with the the big man he has become. 

This day for a few minutes he was on the floor. We try to get some tummy time occasionally but he mostly likes to be held. 

Time is flying Jake is finally giving me some time while he sleeps I am finally feeling a little stronger to want to do things. Life is very full. The Valentine's part of the month was long stretched. We are thankful to have these days in our home. We are thankful to be together. It has been good to watch Jake grow, to learn there is some discomfort in that process. That it's ok for him to cry a bit. That we can take turns trying to meet his needs. He's survived his first crash, his first long time home without mom (Greg & I went to the temple). This month we face a lot of travel. Everywhere we go people want to talk to him and some want to hold him. Babies are very rare nowadays in the general population. Some I let hold him so me we just talk to. Its always interesting to be with a baby and all the reactions and people that come up to me. 

We have been working with Addie to prepare for her run at a State Degree office. One of the people is my old advisor. He and his wife never had children. She loves to visit with Jake. I'm impressed with Addie's ability to manage all she has heaped on her plate. We try to let her rest as needed and have plenty of potato left overs as she is always hungry. She has worked tirelessly on scholarships and is starting to see those efforts return her significant money. We are thankful for that. Life is very full and we are blessed.