Ok already, another post!!!

Melody promised more than one person that I'd update the blog today, and I certainly don't want to make her out to be a liar! So, here is the update...

The Twins are getting big. I mean really big. There are actually outfits that we never got around to using because they are now too big for them. Nearly 6 months old and they are showing more and more personality. The cooing is more common and I could almost swear that Eleanor says hi. She even waved when she said it (well, sort of... she often just flails her arms in a waving motion...) William doesn't talk as often, but he's got a short, deep growl at times. You'd have to hear it to understand. It usually happens when he is hungry and is accompanied by a dive towards Melody's chest.

Just yesterday William was rolling over on his back, then back on his tummy, then back on his back again. It was funny. He thereby moves around in a small areas with aplumb. Eleanor can also turn, but chooses not to as much. She has other talents like talking more often after all! With their tiny hands holding tight onto my thumbs, they both enjoy standing up and trying to figure out the next step to try to walk. That is usually when Melody tells me to stop and try to teach them to crawl first! Ok, I may be jumping the gun a bit there.... When we change Eleanor she likes to do half stomach crunches and try to see what we are doing. She can't quite get up, but she does try!

Any day now Melody and I have got to admit that they are growing up and we'll be moving to rice cereal. Today, Eleanor held a sippy cup of formula and actually drank some. This is a big deal as she has refused a bottle for a while now which means that I can't help her when she is hungry (I can't babysit for any length of time anymore for instance). Also, they are growing so fast that they are eating a lot, and often. Making for not as much sleep as Melody really needs....

Megan and Dustin finished up with soccer. They had a lot of fun and learned a lot about team work and listening to their coaches. And Melody and I has so much fun watching them. Now they are in swim lessons. Dustin is too fearless with water - he'll jump right in. He needs to learn some skills before he does something dangerous! Megan is better as the basic skills than Dustin, but he was the one who jumped off the diving board (wearing a life jacket) and loved it. They are going to continue to take lessons in hopes of time in swiming pools this summer and next year.

We have had a lot of fun on bike ride walks where Megan and Dustin ride and we walk with the twins in their chariott. Our kids love to ride their bikes. Also, Dustin has gone crazy and convinced Melody (with my suprised telephonic aproval) to get him a small skateboard. And he actually is pretty good at it. They love to play outside and climb a small tree we have and jump about . Dustin wants to climb mountains so much that we have to be careful that he doesn't tie a rope to himsel when he is trying to climb his tree. Megan is getting very good at her alphabet and can recognize simple words like "and" and "mom" and "dad". She is very ready for kindgergarten next year.

Since the last post we had a great Spring Break visit from Grammie and Papa (my folks) who came to see us and Great Grandpa DeWeese. We got to have some nice time and walks and spent Easter with them. We all had fun seeing the kids participate in the church's egg hunt at a little park right by the Sound. Beautiful sunny day to Celebrate Life!

We'll be moving this summer. Off to Charlottesville, VA for the JAG advance course (also known as the graduate course). For a year I'll be a student again and will get an LLM in military law. I am looking forward to it. It should be a great time for the kids (and for me to be with the kids). We've already got a house saved to rent. It is a four bedroom and has a big backyard with a huge play set that the kids will love.

Ok, what you really want are pictures. So here they come....

Typical William Smile!

Eleanor can match that Smile

Melody hanging out with two amazing kids

Geoff hanging out with two other amazing kids

Bed Time is Story Time

Dad and his sons

Soccer Champ!!

Future Soccer Gold Medalist!!

William thinking of crawling and walking and running... Oh my!

Such an amazing view!

Grammie and Papa come to visit and we go for a ride and walk

Grammie enjoys her four grandkids (and they enjoy her!)

A fun time hunting for eggs on Easter

Great Grandpa gets a visit from his Great Grandson on Easter

The Skagit Valley Tulip Fields in full bloom

A beautiful five year old Megan

A handsom three year old Dustin

Changing diapers on the go is a way of life!

William is such a happy boy

Eleanor's first drink on her own from a cup on 19 May 2007!!