The Titlers: The latest

I feel like we have been MIA for a while. Here's what's up: I have been working pretty consistently as a Postpartum Doula since the beginning of 2015. It is such a joy to be able to help families succeed in those early days. Eric has interviewed with several companies in hopes of finding a better job. This can be draining on him and the family...full of ups and downs when things look like they are going to work out and then they don't. Also, we moved! After over two years of renting, we dipped our toe in the home buying process only to find a lovely home in our school district at the right price. It is perfect for us--not too big/not too small, updated kitchen and baths, pretty yard, nice neighborhood. Hooray! We REALLY don't want to move again! I have been keeping busy with a few DIY projects like painting our brick fireplace and painting a dresser. I love playing around with low cost, big impact decorating!

Kai...funny: He recognized Dick Van Dyke when we were watching "Alexander and the No Good, Very Bad...Day" movie. He said, "Oh, that's Cecil (from "Night at the Museum", one of their faves). Only he has one more wrinkle!" Thus ensued a conversation about wrinkles in which he counted 5 on my face. Don't let that boy get too close to your face; encouragement is not one of his gifts. Other random notables: He calls his big toe his "thumb toe". Instead of saying "at least", he says "acleast".

Although he loves school when he's there and has a 3-4 really good friends in his class, he has a hard time mustering up the motivation to get ready each morning. "Prince Kai" is his nickname because he has a tendency to get lazy and expect others to do everything for him. If I list off 2-3 things he needs to do such as feed the dogs and put your backpack away, he whines, "Oh it's too much." My favorite thing about Kindergarten is how the kids' reading skills develop over the school year. He now picks up Level 1 or 2 Easy Readers and reads with ease. Such a delight to see! He definitely has an aptitude with math. It just makes sense to him and he blows us away sometimes. Yesterday, Madelyn and I were discussing a real-life story problem requiring her to multiply 15x3. As she was working that out, Kai's brain went to work solving the problem a different way and he shouted, "45!" He is playing coach's pitch t-ball and Eric's his coach. He's so competitive and works really hard to play his best. Only rarely does he throw his mitt in the air or dig in the dirt during play!

Rylie's had 3 orchestra performances this school year. It is so neat to see how the 6th graders have improved over the school year and I love that she has developed skills that she can use for the rest of her life like playing an instrument, reading music and performing in front of a crowd. Notable songs she's learned, among others, are the Star Wars theme and Clocks by Coldplay. She has adjusted really well to the challenges of middle school and has two really good friends to spend her days with. Her school is so large (1000+ students) that it's got to be hard to meet people and establish friendships. Lockers gave her a difficult time at the beginning, but she's a pro now. She joined the school's Rock Climbing Club (also climbs with Eric) and is participating in our church's youth group. She's taking 2 Honors classes and has done a great job keeping up with the demands of 6 teachers and an odd/even schedule. Funny: she had a boy who likes/liked her and she said with exasperation, "Mommy, there's another boy who likes me. This happens every year." Poor baby.

Madelyn has been busy with her first experience with standardized testing (our state's SOLs) and trying to establish good work/study habits at school and with homework. Things get a little tougher and the bar is raised in 3rd grade, it seems. She's doing well in school and has met some good friends. She takes ice skating classes and is working through a program of eight 8-week sessions. She will start Session 6 in the fall. Skating backwards, spins, so fun! She also had a speaking part in our church's Agape League play. This is her 3rd play and, boy, do those play performers put in a lot of hours!! She loves it and lights up when she's on the stage. Not only does she know her lines, but she knows everyone else's, too! She went to Monticello recently for a school field trip and is getting interested in Social Studies/History.

Over Spring Break, we went to Indiana and celebrated my great-nephew Sullivan's first birthday. We loved spending time with our family and completing the 3 Dunes Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park. I loved being able to celebrate my 39th birthday by spending the day with my dad and step-mom and then dinner with my mom and sisters!

Just last weekend, we hosted my bro and sis-in-law, Brian and Sandi. We saw Blues Traveler at a cool outdoor sports festival (rock climbing, slackline competition, etc.) and spent a day in Washington, DC seeing the monuments, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution...plus, good pizza and microbrews in Old Town Alexandria, VA.

We are all looking forward to summer with only 14 school days left! We joined our neighborhood pool and can't wait to rest, relax and splash! We are going to keep the summer pretty low key: hoping to host a few visitors, go camping, take some day beach trips, go hiking along the James River, go to VBS and travel to Charlotte. What else will the kids add to our Summer Bucket List?