We are back!

The computer has been wiped clean and is now working very well. Hopefully it stays this way and we'll be back in the blogging world. I still need re-install my program for my camera so no pictures right now.

Updates on us...

Kirill loves his rock climbing class, is getting better and better at reading and recently took two AR (Accelerated Reader) test on Magic Treehouse books (chapter books) and did great on them. He has decided that he is going to be a reader, and we are very excited. He is getting better and better at his math facts and still lives for playdates with his buddies from school.

Alex is turning 5. Just ask him. His birthday is fast approaching and we're planning a big birthday bash for Feb 20 and cupcakes for school on his real birthday. I need to get his invitations sent out tomorrow. He's having a science/dinosaur party. We're making volcanoes for the party favor, having a pinata, playing "duck, duck, goose" and a few other requests. He still loves his TV and movies, but really is enjoying swimming at the YMCA and is getting better and better. He is still pursuing his quest to learn all words. "What does reproduce mean? I heard it on my dinosaur movie."..

Gracie is little Miss Talks-a-lot. She can say most anything she wants and it's always a phrase "I want drinkofwater" "Hello Mommy chocolatemilk, please." She loves to "goswimmingatY" and "readabook now, bed later." Her hair continues to grow and she loves to eat cereal.

Courtney is talking quite a bit and she is litte Miss "Opinionated!" She wants to order the events for Caroline and Gracie and will not wear the clothes that I choose for her unless it is her favorite outfit (a pink shirt with flowers and magenta leggings). She wants to wear a dress every day. She takes her clothes off if I put on something she doesn't want and goes in search of something that she likes, it may be her clothes or dressups or Alex or Kirill's clothes. She tries to put on Caroline's shoes and can't understand why they won't stay on.

Caroline is crawling everywhere and pulling up. She celebrated her 9 month birthday during the computer virus hiatus so we'll have to post pictures of her at 9 months. She still loves people food and is getting very opinionated as well.

Matt is still working on his MBA, working hard at work and is hailed every evening as the returning "Daddy Hero" as he comes in the door. The kids all have to run and jump into his arms. It is quite the routine, but they all love it. Alex backs clear down the hall to run.

Liisa is holding down the fort, trying to come up with new, more effective incentives/punishments to keep the boys from fighting and enjoying the chaos that is life:)

We still have snow, but not a lot of new snow. I'm sure we have more on the way, but today the water is dripping off the roof because we've hit 40 degrees and we have some very long icicles. As we were leaving the church Sunday Alex commented, "I would eat one of those long icicles on the church with pleasure!" Matt and I were quite amused at his choice of words "with pleasure." It's "with pleasure" that I end this blog update and post it for all of our adoring fans to read.