Ezra loves creativity

Tonight we had a little free time after dinner and Ezra created this darling family portrait.  We are at church--notice the brown steeple on top.  Dad is sporting a fantastically huge bow tie, Maren is pretty in all pink, and I have the coolest head adornment and "tip-toe" shoes you ever did see.  Dad is also carrying the keys, the church bag, and Jonathan, which is what usually happens; Ezra is so aware of details!

Ezra has been invited to a Friday art club that starts tomorrow.  His kindergarten teacher will keep interested students for one extra hour after the normal dismissal time for stories, music, and art; an hour of fostering and encouraging creativity!  I am so thrilled that she is committed to that kind of learning.  Ezra loves art, loves books, and has a great ear for good music, so I am excited to see what comes from his special class.

Catch-up

Please forgive the blog writing drop-off.

Ezra's seven-day hospital adventure over two different weekends in June and July upended our life for a few months.  But, with a clear diagnosis, and a wonderful treatment plan, we started to get back to normal life, and then school started.

Now, almost two months into the school year, I am still feeling upended.  The lazy toddler/early preschool days--when every day felt like Saturday, expectations were low, and the schedule was loose--are gone.  Ezra goes to school five days a week in the morning, and Maren goes to school four days a week in the afternoon.  Add on time for swim, dance, and music lessons, and we are definitely more structured.  Structure isn't bad, just different, and this Mommy is slow to adjust, not very organized or efficient, and still trying to find a good balance for other important family needs.

Also, for the first time in their lives, the children have alarm clocks, and on weekdays we have to be walking out the door dressed and ready at 7:15, which has been a huge game changer.

Earlier this year, Jonathan was sleeping for most of the day and night, and had low needs.  Now, as an eight-month old he is more active, and attention-seeking, eating baby food, starting to discover his mobility, teething, and very vocal.  So, I am making adjustments there too!

Life is good!  But, all the change equates to the blog ball dropping flat.

Here is a little bit of our picture family history, from the two months or so:

Look at my handsome boys!

We love our temple!
A favorite Saturday activity is taking a family temple trip

An awesome, and very successful family hike in the mountains.

We had some family R&R in early September in Breckenridge.

My fancy girl, just being herself.
She is a little fashion diva!

Jonathan went in for surgery in mid-September and charmed all the doctors!

Ezra loves swim lessons.
Goggles were a much hoped for birthday present.

Ezra and Maren full of genuine sibling love.
Hooray!

We love to do lunch outside in the shade of a maple tree.

Ezra-Mommy time: put together a 300-piece dinosaur puzzle.