Today was our last reading session with Cathy. I swear I almost cried when we said good bye. She has been wonderful and the kids loved not only the activities she brought and the books she read but her company too. It was so nice to have a once a week hour that I KNEW I would have someone here to help me entertain all three of the boys as well as chat with me a little. We have learned new rhymes and songs and tried out more advanced activities that the twins now love (cutting and pasting, painting). Today she brought a couple of Easter themed games – barrel of monkeys only with rabbits, hopping bunnies that you pushed on the back to make jump – I have seen frogs like that and some Easter themed books. The boys got to play with plastic Easter eggs and even decorate a couple of real ones (ok so we did the work and they watched but it was fun). Ken stuck around until we were done decorating. She even had an egg for each of them with some chocolates in them (Emanuel graciously gave his to his brothers). The 10 sessions were amazing and I am really sad to see them end. Because of Cindy I have started the boys with scissors and glue and even gotten them painting up a storm… today while the big boys did eggs Emanuel sat at the picnic table all grown up and played with crayons. The twins tried out markers and we made bunny ear headbands (Ken tried on Zander’s since he didn’t want to). Like she said Emanuel went from a baby to a big boy over the 11 weeks (she skipped one week for a conference).
Yesterday Ken and I did our taxes. Did you know not only can you write off mileage when you drive to the dr’s out of town but parking??? Although we found out that the Universal Child Tax benefit we get each month is taxed (ARGH why didn’t they tell us??) so this year we will either take it and suck it up or put a portion aside for when our taxes are done. At least we can apply the return to some of our debt!
I am a wee bit frustrated, I got a call today from one of the new moms (newer) who goes to our church, Monday morning a bunch of them are meeting at the church – of course during the time my brother is actually here for the first time in FOREVER. Oh well maybe the next time they get together? I have been asking about people meeting for years and NOW when I have plans… figures.
We got our kitchen sink fixed tonight – the faucet was leaking and rotting the counter it is on. Thankfully they were able to replace it and it seems to be fixed. There still needs to be something done about the window in the twins’ bedroom (which seems to be moldy though Ken bleached it). Ken thinks the wall needs new drywall. Hopefully they will fix it ASAP as it is getting warm in their room at naptime.
Emanuel played with the new fishing game we got yesterday at Zellars… he actually caught one! We took pictures and video that I need to get off the camera. I think this is a game that will require both of us to be home to keep the twins calm until they get the hang of it. Though Emanuel thought it was great fun and cried when it was time to put it away.
All in all a rather nice day. It was too windy for me to take Emanuel on a walk downtown once Ken got home so instead I shaved my legs. Which means I had a nice looooong bath (always a good thing) and tomorrow James and Cindy get here! Yay!!