I need to start up again...

It has been four months since my last blog, and sadly I have had sooo many things to blog about.

First of all, Jake has left for Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He started there March 1st and will be graduating on May 7th. The girls and I already have our tickets and hotel reservations made. I'm getting really excited, because once he's done with Basic Training and on to Advanced Individual Training, at Fort Hauchuca, Arizona, the girls and I will be able to fly down on an occassional weekend to see him :).

I have been keeping myself busy, to the ponit of exhaustion. Between trying out new recipes, making dresses for the girls and I, and working out at the gym, I barely have a moment to stand still. It was really fun to make Lizzi and Maddi's Easter dresses, even though they turned out to be quite wide on them, and long on Maddi. But, none the less, Lizzi and Maddi, both loved running around and twirling in them, which is all that matters.

Lizzi has been growing up so fast these last few months. She has started to take on responsibilities all on her own. She will come and ask me for a wash clothe to wipe up something she has spilled, without me having even noticed it had happened. She knows when I start singing the "Night-Night" song, that it's time for bed and she walks right in and lays down, pulling her covers over her. She even helps to clean up her toys at the end of the day. I think her favorite thing is to help with Maddi. Lizzi will bring Maddi her blanky, if she sees that it's been left behind. If Maddi is crying, Lizzi will going over and try to ask her what is wrong or give he a hug and kiss. She even shares with Maddi now, which has been quite a struggle to get Lizzi to understand what that ment.

Maddi, not to be left behind, is growing up so fast too. She knows the"Night-Night" song and when she's ready for bed, she grabs her blanky and starts singing the song. My favorite thing is that Maddi has started to understand and use some of the sign language we've taught her. She can now say, "Please" Thank You" and "Drink", which helps me out A LOT :). Maddi also helps with cleaning up around the house. She loves helping me load the dishes into the dishwasher and picking up their toys at the end of the day.

I must say, I'm really surprised at how well they both are doing. I thought it would be year before I could get them to do half of these things. I just hope that the cleaning part sticks around through their teenage years, here's to hoping :).