Update on our Kids

Camp at 2 Years, 7 Months

Height: 37 inches (He was 34 inches in September 2011.)
Weight: 34 lbs (He has gained 1 lb since his last visit in September.)

Camp is just a stinker. Period. I love that boy so much I can just eat him up most of the time.

Likes: Thomas the Train, playing baseball, playing in the backyard, watching Caliou and Thomas, playing football with daddy, wrestling, playing chase (especially with daddy and sissy), trains, balls, chocolate milk, juice, any kind of fruit,

Dislikes: being told no, spiders, eating anything that's not a 'treat', being left at home when daddy and sissy go out to run errands, Emma Claire interrupting him when he is trying to say something, he is terrified of anything in a costume, Emma Claire singing, water in his face, the shower head, and--at this point--the potty.

Vocabulary: Since Camp has started speech therapy his vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. Just today Emma Claire was trying to get his attention and he said, "I no want to talk to you, sissy!" Kind of rude, yes, but I'm sure he has really been wanting to say that for a long time! : 0 Jessica, his therapist, said that he has already mastered all of the long term goals they had for him so it was time to set new goals! This was very exciting considering he has only been doing it a couple weeks, twice a week, for thirty minutes. He is really thriving in this area.

-My big boy is wearing a 3T shirt (sometimes a 4T) , 3T shorts, and a size 10 wide shoe!
-Camp has really gotten into bugs. He tries his best to catch them and show them off to sissy.
-My boy is really ALL boy. He loves to rough house any chance he can. There has been multiple times that I didn't know that he was coming and I have gotten knocked right off my feet. He also doesn't mind to take his sister out whenever he feels the need. ; ) However, he never does it in meanness, it's just his way of playing.
-Camp has the best little heart. He is so loving and is the more tender hearted of our two. He hardly ever does anything to just be outright disobedient, but rather just being a two year old boy.
-Camp is a wanderer. When there is a group of children playing he is very content playing on his own and doing his own thing. This is not to say he doesn't play with other children, he is just content playing by himself. I say he is a wanderer because he is very curious and if you aren't on your toes he can get away from you very quickly. He likes to explore his surroundings.  And, if there's a snack table nearby, you can be certain he will sneak his way over to it and have a mouth full before you know it. 
-Camp is all about trains right now. He loves them. He enjoys watching Thomas the Train and will pull his trains out to play with them multiple times a day.
-He has really done well overcoming his separation issues. For months I have left him screaming at school and at church because he gets so upset when I leave him. For the last three weeks he has gone into his class at school and at church with no problems at all. Even giving me a kiss before he goes in. : )
-He is in a BIG BOY BED now!!! (I'll blog more about this later.)


Emma Claire at 5 Years, 3 Months

Height: 43 inches
Weight: 41 lbs (She weighs the same as she did in December 2010.)

Emma Claire is my little princess/tomboy. She will dress herself in her very best to go outside and chase frogs, shovel dirt, and catch insects. : ) Most days she just makes me laugh!

Likes: any kind of art, princesses, wearing dresses, playing with friends, having responsibilities, learning, giving gifts, playing in the backyard with Camp, taking naps in Mommy's bed, playing baseball, helping with chores, and asking questions (good ones!). 

Dislikes: being told to be patient, not being able to wear a dress, water in her face, Camp interrupting her when she is trying to talk,

-Emma Claire is very inquisitive. Once she gets something on her mind she wants to know everything she can about that certain topic. For example, we have spent more than one of our 30 minute rides to school talking about electricity. She wants to know where it came from, how it was created, how does it run through those power lines, how it gets across the sea to other countries, what does it taste like, etc. It's conversations like this that sometimes bring me to my wits end. Especially when she gets to questions about what happens after we die, if God is so good then why did he create Satan, & who created God. I find her challenging me daily.
-Emma Claire loves having responsibilities and helping with chores. We're letting her try some things independently and that excites her so much!
-She is still wearing a lot of 4T clothes, some 5T's, and wears a 10 1/2 shoe. (Notice how close she and Camp are in size.)
-She recently asked when her twelve disciples were going to come follow her around.  She also admitted that she hasn't decided if she will be a Queen or President when she grows up. 
-Emma Claire is quite athletic.  I'm not sure how much interest she will have in softball or basketball due to her LOVE for dancing.  But she runs, jumps, and is built like an athlete.  Is that from the Quinn side or the English side of the family???
-Emma Claire says that Daddy has to go to work everyday to pay our bills or we will be cavemen.
-Education: Emma Claire has really taken to learning. She enjoys writing, is learning a few sight words, working on spelling, as well as addition and subtraction. She is super excited about starting kindergarten in the fall and I think she will thrive in Mrs. Streit's kindergarten class.  
-Emma Claire loves her brother so much and does a wonderful job helping take care of him. Often times I will find her cleaning his room for him, fixing him a cup a water, or even giving him half of her snack just because he doesn't have any. She is going to be a wonderful big sister to two brothers and I think when their older they'll repay the favor by taking good care of her.  ; )