Joshua James (22 months)
My sweet, sweet baby. He fits right in with his three older siblings- rough and loud. But he is still knows how to snuggle ("nuggle a mama"), and still, yes still, gets rocked to sleep.
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Grace Kathleen (3)
If I had to choose one word to sum her up, it would be animated. She goes, and goes, and goes... There is no such thing as a nice, quiet car ride with our Goosie. "Mommy - I - see - birdie - I - want - hold - dat - birdie - I can't - hold - dat - birdie. Dat - birdie - fly - way. Mommy! - I see - doggie - I - want - hold- dat - doggie. I -cant -hold -dat -doggie. Dat - doggie - bite - me. Dat naughty. Mommy! I - see - nud one - birdie - I - want..." You get the idea. She is diligent in her studies (she insists on doing schoolwork like the rest of the kids) and is such a loving big sister. She cannot at all be trusted with him because she wouldn't think twice about putting a laundry basket on top of him and sitting on it :o but she means well. She is a lot of work, but a joy. She keeps us all entertained.
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Jacob Richard (7)
This kid could always make the strangest, funniest expressions. He is forever making us laugh with his hilarious comments. He also has a very serious side, and it's either one extreme or another. When he is not being silly, he is dramatic. While most kids come downstairs at bedtime and try to stall by saying they have to go potty or get a drink, he comes down, sighs heavily, and whimpers "I think I'm going to die..."
It's just a stage, right?
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Joseph Anthony (7)
The "big" brother
Though he is only the oldest boy by 3 minutes, he takes his title very seriously. He very much enjoys giving his little sister a hand, and has matured quite a bit in the last year, taking on more responsibility with ease. I have enjoyed our first year of school. He does his work quickly and enthusiastically.
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Courtney Lynn (12)
Hmm... what do I say about Court? ;) "It's three more letters. Are you that lazy that you can't spell out my whole name?" She is teasing, of course. She teases me all the time. She is quite the spit fire. She says she will be a teacher someday and I would be very surprised if she wasn't. When the boys were little, she played school with them every day. I remember listening to them in her room. "Now class, get out your pencils- no, don't put them in your mouth- put that down- no, no sit down- now boys, pay attention. I'm going to count to three. One..." (boys)- "five, seben, ten, four!" (Court) - "Ahhh!" Her students didn't always cooperate, but that never stopped her. It's good practice. She is a schedule maker (like her mother) but never keeps it (ah hum,like her mother), she plays the piano and has just discovered that she is artistic.
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Paige Elisabeth (14)
Always willing to serve and does so with a cheerful attitude. She will be the one (and the only one) that will get up in the middle of the night to help me with a restless baby. She can play any song by ear with her flute, and is extremely artistic. She is quiet, she is reserved, she is mature beyond her age, and she is a joy to be in the company of.
