Catch up

April was a great month! Other than having to stay inside a lot, we had a lot of fun. Here is a little bit about what we did:

Stuart worked quite a bit. One night I woke up to him changing and getting in bed. When I asked what time it was, he said "4:30." He was up by 8 am to get to work the same morning! If that isn't crazy, I don't know what is. Now, many people think that because he is an accountant, he was busy because of taxes. He actually doesn't do taxes, as he is an auditor. Auditor have a slightly different busy season, but auditors prepare financial statements for companies, and assess their finances. Just a bit different than taxes. Companies must have financial statements audited if they are either a) a public company or b) have a loan from a bank. So now you know! :)

I have been trying to keep the house clean and the girls happy. I'm also trying to work on positive parenting skills. I got to a point this month where I realized I was just getting frustrated too often, bribing, threatening, and begging Alana to stop whining. So I'm working on some techniques that I already knew, but that I forgot (Love & Logic, and positive discipline type techniques.) I'm also teaching our neighbors kids' piano, and I love it! I forget sometimes how much I love teaching, but I'm so glad to have a piano, both for playing and teaching!

Alana is the cutest little chatterbox. And her imagination is out of control, in a good way. Last week she was playing outside with our neighbor, who is 8, and he shut the back door to his family's minivan. Alana began crying about her puppy that was trapped inside (she was genuinely distressed.) I asked her which puppy it was, as the girls have several toy dogs. She said "My pretend one." I "retrieved" the puppy from the minivan and "handed" it to her. She was appeased and continued to play with her "puppy." She also handed our neighbor, Annie, a "ladybug." Annie didn't know if Alana was joking, or if the ladybug had dropped. Oh, and one more thing that we find hillarious, and which I should mention: Alana's name is now "Katie." At least, sometimes. And according to her our baby's name is Joy. :)

Charlotte is the wackiest little toddler. Oh that bundle of chub just melts my heart! She makes the funniest facial expressions and has a sense of humor that I find to be beyond her years! She's also started with some minor attitude, and when she's mad she either throws a fit, or scowls and hits her arm to her side to let you know it! Her talking is phenomenal, I love to hear all the new words she learns each day! She will assign herself a task, such as stacking books or putting clothes in the hamper, and when she's done she claps and says "DID IT!" Oh what a cutie!

Our girls are getting along with each other well, most of the time. We just love them and I am getting so excited to meet this new little sister. I can't wait to see what she will add to the mix, but I know the girls will just love her to pieces. I already do!