The entire reason that we were in Alabama was to be there when my brother got married. I couldn't be more happy for Nicholas, and I think he has some how caught the sweetest girl.  It's exciting to have a sibling join the ranks of the married, and it's really exciting to get a sister.  As excited as I am, I think the kids were even more excited to "help Unca Nick and Aunt Alex get married."  I can't wait to see the official wedding photos but we got a couple of really cute shots as well.  One of my favorites is one that Alex's sister Renee got of the two "sign bearers," and another favorite was Britt and Ruth's photo booth pictures.



Of course we all had a good time visiting, but the kids really had a great time.  They danced with pretty much everyone we knew, and some others beside.  Britt finally got up the courage to go and give Aunt Alex a hug and ask her to dance with him.  I think he was more than a little intimidated by her magnificent dress, as it took him several hours to get up the nerve to go all the way up to her. Haha.






















The ball ended too soon (according to Ruth), and we hit the road about nine and drove as far as Knoxville before stopping for the night.  We drove the rest of the way home after Church on Sunday.  It was a really wonderful night.

As you might know, Britt choose the stars for our next unit study after our long Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year's break.  We went through all the planets (there are 12 now, and maybe another 2, so I learned tons as well).  We studied the ice dwarfs in the Kuiper Belt, the comets in the Oort Cloud.  We talked about black holes (Britt's favorite part), and different kinds of space probes and telescopes.  We spent alot of very cold nights with snow on the ground, looking at the winter sky (which in my opinion has the best, most easily discernible constellations).  We spent alot of time looking at Stellarium on the computer, and NASA's website for kids.  We spent alot of time doing experiments and making things to help us study the stars.  Britt built a constellation box, for learning constellations, a night vision flashlight for consulting our maps during stargazing, and a mini telescope, that doesn't remotely work, but has made for a great spy glass when he is playing pirates.  Ruth helped him to paint his planet model and we hung them all from his ceiling.  They also picked out their favorite constellations, and I hung the stars they got for Christmas on their ceilings.  Needless to say we have had a lot of fun.  We studied dinosaurs because he wanted to, but I was heavily influencing his desire to study the stars.  We were excitedly looking forward to the end of our space unit, because it meant a trip to Alabama to look through Grumps's telescope AND a trip to the Space in Rocket Center.

















Now, I have to explain that I loved the Space and Rocket Center growing up.  My first trip was our third grade field trip from there.  I've been when we carried cousins who were interested in aerospace engineering in college.  We've carried other family members when they've been in the area, just because it's really cool.  Britt has even been before though he doesn't remember it, and I was pregnant with Ruth at the time.  They are constantly expanding their exhibits, and everything is in a pretty central location, it's really great.  There are also several interactive things, where you can walk into the quarantine trailer that they had to hang out in after the first Apollo missions, or fly the shuttle lander simulator, or lay down in the cockpit, and pretend you are Ken Mattingly trying to determine the right startup sequence when everything went wrong for Apollo 13.  Let's just say it's a really cool place, and I was really looking forward to sharing that with the kids.


I talked it up alot, and the kids also know that "Grumps writes stuff that goes to space."  So, by the time the day rolled around to go, Ruth was convinced "Grumps is taking us to work with him in space."  The poor kid was terribly disappointed that she didn't actually get in a rocket, and she still thinks his daily commute to work each day involves a rocket launch.  Aside from that small disappointment (which she and Britt are still attempting to rectify by building a rocket in the backyard out of sticks and their swing set), they absolutely loved it.  We got to see several different suits used in space in different time periods.  They got to stand under the giant Saturn V rockets, and once Britt went running thinking one was about to take off, but I'll save that story for Grumps to share on Facebook, when he has time.  At the end of the day, I told them that they could use their birthday money, and other money in their savings accounts to pick out one souvenir.  Britt decided on a space suit, he insists he still needs to buy a helmet, but he's wearing that thing all over the house, and insisting that we refer to him as Commander Britt. Ruth chose Astronaut Hello Kitty, both of them spent just about everything they've saved up, but they have really enjoyed them.




A different night before we left Alabama, Grumps got out his telescope and the kids were able to see a sliver of the moon, the Orion Nebula, Jupiter and the Galilean moons, and the Pleiades.  Britt was really excited, and asked Grumps if we would see the Great Red Spot in his telescope, and Grumps had to laugh and tell him that his telescope wasn't that powerful.  Britt is anxious to see some of the summer constellations like Hercules (he's seen the Disney movie a few too many times, I think he'll be disappointed), and the Milky Way, so Grumps has promised to bring up his telescope when they visit this summer.

Apparently a purse is really important for a lady.  Momma carries this one every time we leave the house.  Ruth carries one all day, carries one when we leave the house, and Momma makes sure that it gets back home.  I don't have one yet, but sometimes I steal Ruth's, and I love to take everything out of Momma's especially the shiney cards with pictures.  Daddy was complaining that for some reason, he doesn't like that Momma has a card with all his money on it, and he really didn't like me trying to use it.  Not only am I practicing, but I'm getting some pretty good muscles working on carrying this thing around.

I like playing Wii, it's the best game I've ever tried.  I almost beat the levels.  My favorite is running the obstacle course.  I'm going to steal the golden crown from Daddy.  I'm going to win.

(Tonight the boy played an hour before supper, and nearly another hour after supper.  I wish I thought to put him on this at the beginning of winter.  He sleeps better when he is worn out, and he's much better behaved during the day with the promise of wii time later.)

It's just been one of those weeks.  On Monday, I had an appointment to get my eye looked at.  My tear duct may be blocked, but apparently my vision is 20/20.  Then I had an appointment on Tuesday because I had a rash come up over the weekend.  It was really bad for 3 days, barely visible for two, and long gone now.  Apparently, best guess is that it was a measles rash from the MMRV vaccine I got 10 days before.  I didn't want to eat anything on Wednesday, and after naptime I had sprouted my first molar.  And according to Momma, I have been unbearable fussy this week as she has needed to wear me in the Ergo almost all my waking hours.  Maybe, next week will be better.

It is very fun to make cookies.  It is very good for Britt to help us.  We made Gingerman cookies.  I wanted to make them look like little men, but Momma said she didn't have any cookie cutters.  The best part of making cookies is putting sprinkles on it, it's even better than eating them.  I even shared a cookie with Rebecca.


First I had to count how many ingrediants to scoop.  Momma had a 1/4 cup and a 1/4 teaspoon, and she would say I need 3/4 so how many times do we need to fill it up?  I would tell her three.  Britt would tell her too, and who ever told her first got to scoop them in the bowl.  One time we needed 8/4!  After we mixed it all, then we through it on the ceiling, and it cooked there. hahahahaha.  And an elephant gave it back to us.  hahahahaha.  No, me roll the cookie like this, and then I put sprinkles (sugar) on it.

I was a king superhero - King Britt.  But I wasn't a bad old king, just a good, good king.  My weapon was a pipe because my stick blew away.  Without my pipe I wouldn't have any power, but just a sad heart.  No one can pick up the pipe but Britt, no one else is able to pick it up.  My pipe controls the lightning on earth, and it's so heavy, but it could carry a whole house.  One more power my pipe is that it can freeze an ice block into a winter animal like a snow bunny or a winter fox or wolves.


(As you might imagine, Britt has an endless amount of energy, and after the last several weeks being too bitter and miserable to let him out of the house, with temps today in the 70s, I let him have at it.  The back yard in places, especially around the steps is nothing but a muddy mess from the rapidly melting snow, and he found a use for all of it.  I just told him to wear his snow boots.  Maybe I'll invest in a pair or rain boots for the boy.  I would say Spring is on it's way, but we are suppose to be back below freezing in a few days.)

Saturday a week ago, we were notified by a statewide homeschool group about a field trip opportunity.  Now, I need you to understand that 5 minutes after we left the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, the day before we moved out, Britt started asking when we could go to the zoo again.  With the move, and working on the house, it just wasn't going to happen, then it got cold and miserable.  We had considered going to Zoo America in Hershey on Britt's birthday, because they were free that day, but it was just BITTER cold.  So, when this opportunity to go to a local Natural History museum came up, I knew we should jump on it.

Rebecca had a great birthday, last Saturday.  I thought I would share a photo or two and some video of her eating cake.  We skyped and facetimed the grandparents, and while it's better than nothing, and it's great that we can do these things, with all the new amazing technology.  I sure did miss getting through a big party.  I was day dreaming about how much fun we would have had back in Florida, with a cook out, kids running around the yard, and every body we know from Church hanging out for several hours that afternoon.

















Anyway, she didn't know the difference, and I did a few things to make it special.  We had a family field trip that morning, and I decorated the kitchen for her birthday.  I had trouble finding owl stuff, the really cute ones I found on line were back ordered, so I found some little birdies in pink and teal.  She loved the attention.  The best part, I didn't even get on camera, was when they sung Happy Birthday to her at Red Lobster.  She bounced and clapped, and grinned and everyone.  Then of course she tried to grab the candle.  Gary thought she might be one that would, and he was right.  She is still enjoying playing with the balloon, when she can fight it away from the other two.

I had my 1 year doctor's appointment this week.  I now weight 19 lbs 11 oz, and stand at 2 ft 3 and 1/4 inches tall.  I will be going to see a specialist in a few weeks about my clogged tear duct.  I did not like getting shots, and I have been informing everyone, ever since in my most complainy voice, while insisting on being held all day long.  I also have forced Daddy to sing pretty much every moment he is in my presence.  Maybe if I complain enough, next time they will think twice about giving me shots.

"Rebecca put Momma into a Cage"

Us painted at the library yesterday.  Us painted with strings and with paint brushes.  Us swirled them around.  It was very fun.  Me make pictures of Momma in a cage, and a rainbow.  Us read some books about painting.  I want Momma to get me some more art for school.  I like pink and purple art best.  I want to learn about mixing colors up.  You put your paint brush in one then two.  We have mixed blue and white, and it makes another blue.

Today we started learning about my favorite planet - Saturn.  Grumps and I are going to eat cacorn and watch it.  It is my favorite because it has all those rings made of ice.  Maybe the rings came from a moon that bumped into Saturn and it would be destroyed.  And now it makes all those beautiful rings.  It is a round ball of different kinds of gas.  The white clouds are made out of cleaner (ammonia clouds), and they have small great white spots that are storms like Jupiter's great red spot.  Saturn only has one really big moon - Titan. It is yellow like Io so I bet it has sulpher.  It also has two special moons - shepard moons.  They keep the rings together.  This guy found Saturn and thought it had ears.  He was wrong.  Someone else had "highscray telescope", that means a telescope that could see more far away, and found out that they were rings.

Rebecca,

I sit here typing, while trying to rock and hold you, humming our go to song when you are being pitiful, "When Sorrows Encompass Me Round".  I am astonished to think that you have been with us an entire year now.  You have such a open loving personality.  You prefer me, but aren't clingy the way Britt can be.  You are very happy, but have a fire about you that Ruth doesn't have.  Unlike the other two - one who is just like Daddy, and the other who is just like me in personality - you really are more of a blend of the two of us.  And yet of course, you are your own person.

You look up to see what Britt is up too, before burying you face back into my shoulder and sighing the way you've heard me do nearly every time we cuddle.  Then you pop that thumb back in your mouth find your taggie.  You are such a fun age now.  You can walk, but are still light enough to be carried.  You can entertain yourself or play with the other two, but still want to be cuddled.  You are finally done with breastfeeding and formula but aren't picky about what food you eat yet.  You aren't talking yet, but it's getting easier to figure out what you want, or don't.

It is amazing to me just how fast you have mastered walking.  In a week you have gone from falling about every 6 steps, to not falling at all.  You aren't moving that slow either.  You have sprouted 2 new teeth this month, and I think you may be working on more as you are rubbing your gums in the back alot and tugging at your ears again.  You are completely on milk in a sippy cup and table food now.  Though, I am using the last of the baby cereal to thicken applesauce in the mornings at breakfast, at least until we use the last of it up.  You continue to love all sorts of fruits and vegetables best, though you've started eating a little more meat.

I have packed up all of the 6-9 month clothes except for a few dresses, and that's only because we only have one long sleeve 9-12 month dress.  Surely it will warm up soon, all the cute outfits are summer time clothes, and I am sick of winter.  You seem to agree with me, as you make faces anytime we go out into the wind, and you weren't enthusiastic about your first time out in the snow last week.  I feel for you, since we aren't suppose to let you wear any kind of real coat in the carseat, moving between the car and buildings isn't exactly warm.  You remain in size 3 diapers, but they are starting to be a little more of a stretch around your belly.  When we finish the current mega box, I'll probably bump you up a size.  I'm curious to see what the doctors will say next week at your doctor's appointment.  I feel like you've really grown in the last two months though I think you are still short for your age, you seem to finally be putting on some weight.  Your hair sure has grown too, it will stay behind your ear now, and as long as you don't pull the clip out, it doesn't get in your eyes anymore.  I think I'll be waiting on that first haircut a while longer.  Your eye hasn't cleared up yet, so I expect that we will be getting a referal from the doctor as well.

You don't really talk, though you are very expressive with your actions.  I am always amazed at how you play with your siblings.  I know they say that babies can't play "with" others at this age, but you really do.  Britt and Ruth have pulled out the tools and are working on my furniture now, and you were reaching for them.  I sat you down, and you immediately went and found a tool and started "helping".  I see this alot, you grab the little knife when the others start to sword fight, or get your little combine to drive, when Britt or Ruth pull out something with wheels to drive.  If they all jump on Daddy to wrestle you waddle over and grab a leg.  I even noticed this week, Britt asked Ruth "Do you want to play with dinosaurs?" And you went to pick one out before she could decide and came back to Britt with it.  I think you understand alot, and always want to be a part of the action.  You like to sit and turn pages in books, but don't care for me reading too you.  You always act real impatient to get the page turned, like you are bored with the entire process.  It's the only thing that you don't care to do with the older two.

I have no idea when you wake up in the morning, since you are always playing quietly in your bed when we check on you, sometimes even when Daddy peaks in before 7.  Around 9 or 9:30 you start letting us know you are ready to get up, eat, and get out of the bed.  You take a long nap, usually going down around noon or one, and sleeping till 5:30 or 6.  Then you eat supper and want to spend most of the evening being held, before heading to bed anywhere between 8 and 10.  Our days are pretty routine other than Friday and Sunday.  Friday we spend in town running errands, and you nap while I wear you in the grocery store.  Occasionally like today, we will all venture into Harrisburg on Saturday. Sundays are harder because you don't nap well unless you are laying down in your bed, and we are gone all day.

We hope you keep your laid back personality and determination.  I really do think that you can do anything you put your mind too, if you pursue it.  But being able to go with the flow is something that your Daddy has the market on, that I don't.  If you can hang on to that trait, you'll find that you have alot more peace than your Momma has, that you can make adjustments and still get to where you want to go.  We love you so much, Little Bit, and can't wait to see where you go in life.  You are a blessing, and we pray only God's best for you.

Love,
Momma

I painted Tinkerbelle and my Ice Fairy.  They came from my aunts.  My aunts are very sweet.  I got them for Christmas.  I like them.  I am going to put them up on my shelf with my things.  My like both best.  Britt got somethings to paint - Spiderman and a bad guy.

-Ruth