Updates
September 28, 2009
It’s been six months since I’ve updated the site. There’s no way I can cover six months in one post, so I’ll try to hit the highlights.
Stats:
Andrew is 47 inches tall and 55 lbs.
Owen is 45 inches tall and 45 lbs.
Although they’ve slept since then, so they might be bigger.
The boys are doing really well in aikido. They are learning to concentrate and listen to sensei. They are also picking up new physical skills. They really like to roll and jump.
They have started back to preschool, but now they are in a Pre-K class. Last year they were in a 3-4s class. It is a big step up–the teacher is expecting more, especially because almost all of the kids were in a 3-4 class last year. Andrew was so tired from the second day of class that he was asleep by 6:30! Usually, we start bedtime around 7, hoping for them to be asleep by 8.
The boys can read quite a few words. We were at REI one night, and Andrew glanced at a sign and said “Exit Only”. Words they don’t know they can generally sound out. However, they still prefer to be read to, and we haven’t seen them read any books to themselves yet.
On their first day of preschool, one of the stations had little plastic birthday cakes with holes in the top for plastic candles. Each cake held a different number of candles. I asked Andrew, “How many candles are on that cake?” He said, “6, no wait, 9.” He read the label on the cake instead of counting the candles. I asked Owen how many candles were on the cakes, and he also read the labels. I told the teacher about it. She said, “Clever kids.” Both boys think Teacher Susie is high-energy 
The boys did really well at swimming this year. My parents took them to swimming lessons, and the boys are very comfortable in the water. They are still using floaties (Owen, mostly) and a noodle (Andrew) to help them swim.
I went camping with the boys one night in the backyard. Nancy joined us for a while, but she got too cold and went back inside. We’re hoping to get the boys out camping regularly next year.
Pictures
Owen climbing a wall at Black Butte
Owen wearing his own hat design
Owen found a spot where his bike gets stuck
Boys hiding in a blueberry bush
Boys in the Iris gardens
Boys at their preschool graduation
Cowboy Andrew at Buster’s
Andrew and Papa walking in Central Oregon
Andrew playing pinball
