The Big Update

Andrew is still loving school. He is quite the social butterfly and loves going to see all of his friends. He is taking piano lessons once a week and Miss Linda says he is doing great. It has definately helped with his attention span. Right now we are working on reading music. He struggles most with trying to not look at his hands while playing but has made great improvements. He is growing like a weed. There are days he wakes up and I swear he has grown inches overnight. He is a great big brother. He has definately embraced the role. He loves to sing for Noodle and tickle her. He lights up when she laughs at him. He loves his tools that Papa sent for Christmas and is constantly trying to "fix" the house. I call him my little man, he is growing up so fast. Andrew is my sensitive child and I often refer to him as the lover.
Joseph is quite a character. I don't think I have ever seen so much personality in such a little body! Joseph loves to entertain people. He also thinks he is adorable. He thinks he can smile his way out of anything. He is very strong willed. We have to tell ourselves a lot that one day this will be such a great trait. It is very frustrating at times though. He still loves trains, sometimes I think he may never grow out of that one. He is also quite funny and many times we find ourselves trying to hold back laughter so we don't encourage him when he is trying to get out of trouble. He is not growing quite like Andrew did and I think he will be our little short and stout boy; it definately fits his personality!
Elizabeth, well that little girl is something else all together. At seven months she already has an opinion about everything. She loves to sit in her exersaucer and watch the boys. As they run by her she screams and laughs at them. She is also compeltely in love with her Dad. Her face lights up when she sees him. She is definately a Simon; she loves to stick out her tongue and play with it; just like her Papa and brothers. She is growing a lot like Andrew did and is very long but has features just like Mo. She seems to almost be a perfect cross between the two boys. She is a lover like Andrew but has a temper like Mo. She has said Mamma, but stopped as soon as she knew I liked it! She is eating so well, her favorites are yogurt and pears. We recently discovered she is just like her dad and the boys and she loves Chipotle guacamole. She isn't crawling yet, but I think she is just being lazy! If we aren't looking she is up on her knees trying to move, but the minute she sees us she gives up and starts flailing. I think she just thinks she doesn't need to crawl becasue she can get anywhere she wants by rolling!
Scott has been busy at work. He has been working from home a lot. He just returned from his first business trip. He spent 4 days in Chicago, in a hotel room with no children or dogs. He is so lucky. The kids really missed him while he was gone but were so happy when he came home with presents for them.
I have been busy with work and the kids. We struggle trying to find things to do to try and fight off the cabin fever. We are looking forward to spring and being able to get out of the house. We have lots of plans for our yard this year and I really want to get the kids involved with the vegetable garden again. We finally got Noodle's door painted and the trim up on the door frame; just a couple of cosmetic things to do and the nursery will be done! Hopefully before her first birthday! We are updating the fireplace in February and are so excited to see the final results. One more thing we can check off the never ending list! We are so lucky to have found a great babysitter. Lexie has been with us since I went back to work after Noodle was born. The kids absolutely love her. It has been such a load off of our shoulders to be able to go to work and have someone we trust with our kids. She is great with the kids and they all light up when she comes in the door. It is so nice that she comes to our house, no wasted time packing them all up in the morning and driving them to daycare. That's more time I get to spend with them the days I work!
I hope this satisfies everyone's curiosity about us! We hope everyone is doing well!
Love
The Mom