We're still here!!

I am not exactly sure what to say about a six month blogging hiatus, except that life gets busy, Blogger gets annoying and stops working sometimes, and I just got out of the habit of posting.  I apologize and I am touched that so many of you have emailed me and asked me to start posting blog updates again!!  It means so much to me that so many people care about the boys and want to know how they are doing.

Before I share any updates, I have to make sure that you notice the beautiful new header that my friend Calliope made for our blog!!  (If you are reading this in a reader, you'd better click through and take a look!!)  I told her that Riley is into trains and trucks and cars and that Rossy is into all musical instruments....and check out the fonts that she used on our blog title!  Is she amazing or what?  If you ever need a blog header, just click on the button on my sidebar and she will hook you up!!

So, how are Ross and Riley doing? AWESOME!!!! They are both doing so, so well these days. They just finished their first year of preschool and they loved every single second of it.   Unfortunately, their classroom is being closed and they will be going to a different room in a different building next year.  While I am feeling confident about their new placement, and I am certain that they will do beautifully there, I am just devastated that their current classroom is being closed.  This past year, the boys were in a LEAP classroom which was the absolute perfect setting for both of them. If you don't remember what that means, you can read what I wrote about it here.    We will miss the friends they have made, and we will miss their teacher more than anything.  She is a dear friend and I will be forever grateful for the start she gave both boys on their educational path.  I only wish we could have had one more year with her.  Here are a couple of pictures from their "graduation ceremony" from LEAP.   

Ross receiving his "diploma" on his last day of preschool.

Riley getting his "diploma" on his last day of preschool.

You may have noticed one of the other big changes....Riley is now wearing glasses.  Doesn't he look handsome?  He has two pairs and he loves to alternate between his red ones (his favorite color) and his Diego glasses, which have cool frames that look and feel like safari vehicle tires!   In the past few months, we have also learned that Ross has some vision needs and has a fairly significant vision loss in his left eye.  It's not the type of vision problem that is correctable with glasses, but he is getting fantastic vision therapy and is already making terrific progress.  Other than some issues with depth perception, you would never know that he has any vision problems because he compensates so well!  He's truly amazing!

  I can't possibly catch you up on everything that has happened since I last posted, so I will just share the biggest piece of news....we MOVED!!  It was time for us to move to a bigger home, with more room to play and have fun!  We went from a small two bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom townhouse with a fenced in yard.  Before the boys were born, our apartment was perfect for me as a single person and I always imagined that the second bedroom would make a beautiful nursery for the baby I dreamed of having.  Well, I hit the jackpot and was doubly blessed and had two babies!!   The apartment was still perfect, because I was always able to see and hear the boys and I felt that I was able to keep them safe in that small, contained environment when I was alone with two infants.  Then, it ended up being a great thing that we lived in a apartment and didn't have any steps, while both of the boys struggled with their gross motor development.   It was comfy and cozy, but now.......

Dinner in our house the first night we moved in.....amidst the boxes

    Now, those two babies are big nearly 4 year old boys who like to run and jump and wrestle, and there was just not enough room anymore.  So, it was time for us to move.  The boys are still sharing a bedroom and we are using the 3rd bedroom as our playroom.   We have steps, which both boys are maneuvering up and down quite well, although they have each fallen down them once already.  They love the yard and as soon as I can figure out which neighbor is letting their dog use it as a restroom and get them to stop, I will love it, too.   Actually, I already love the yard....we had a picnic dinner out there tonight on our new picnic table (thanks Melissa!!!)  and it was so nice and relaxing.

  So, that's our big news.  Now, we are looking forward to summer and FUN!!!  The boys will be going to camp while I am working at summer school and we will be doing tons of fun stuff with our family, of course.  We started off the summer this weekend by visiting two different fountains/splash parks and the boys had a blast getting soaking wet!    I will do my best to update much more frequently!  Thank you so much for sticking around and caring about the boys!!

Riley soaking wet

Ross and Reid having fun in the fountain