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It's been a while . . .

 . . . and I apologize for the short blogging hiatus!  The past week has been one big "catch up from the trip to Texas."  On top of that, the church kids' choir program that I co-direct started back up this week, and there was a ton to do for that!  I promised you reviews of the activities I put together for Levi's plane ride, and that post is started, hopefully to be finished tomorrow evening.  In the meantime, a few thoughts from the past two weeks:

--It was truly wonderful to have five whole days with my dear friend Rebekah (and her family).  I didn't realize how many days go by in which the person I talk to the most only answers in letter, color, or number, and to have another human being (and a kindred spirit at that) available to chat chat chat through every meal and every nap time and long walks in the pretty weather and all the rest of daily life . . . how refreshing!  Would I choose to live with another adult female in the house on a permanent basis?  Probably not.  But for a few days, it was great!

--Levi has doubled in energy in the past week.  My quiet, sit-on-the-floor-and-do-puzzles kid is now running in circles all day long.  If you have suggestions on how to use up that energy during the winter, I'm all ears!  (Owen's just a step behind him all the way, too.)

--At the recommendation of Katey at Having Fun at Home, Isaac brought home the book Does a Cow Say Boo? from the library, and Levi loves it.  It suits his toddler sense of humor just perfectly, particularly as he has started saying "no" and loves to say it jokingly at every opportunity.  4 stars!  Speaking of the library, we continue to attend story time at our local branch, and Levi gets more comfortable with the other kids and Miss Kelly each week.  I was so proud of him when he got brave enough to go up front and get a scarf and then some claves from her basket all by himself!

--I've started thinking about Owen's first birthday (mid-November).  Levi's summer parties are so easy: slice up some watermelon and go to the pool.  Anybody have any fall/winter ideas for special celebrations (for toddlers and younger)?  I'm leaning towards a teddy-bear cake, since Owen adores stuffed animals, but who knows how my mind might change in six weeks.

--All in all, I'm feeling quite content these days.  Isaac and I have had some really profitable discussions on important topics.  Bible Study Fellowship started back up (studying Acts and the Epistles this year) so I'm getting back into some regular Bible reading.  Owen is (at my insistence) sleeping more consistently through the night.  Levi is a handful but such a delight (and the funniest person I've ever met).  Those few days in Texas will last me quite a while on the kindred-spirit front, and my friend Jen is moving to Indianapolis at the end of the month, cutting the drive-time to see her to less than half of what it is currently!  (I see many day-trips to Indy in my future.)  It's always nice to feel at peace -- even if the feeling only lasts until the next short nap/late meal/brother fight/toddler tantrum/etc. . . . .   :)
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