Update on the Family

We had a fun Father's Day weekend. Matt and Leticia came up and we were able to spend time with them and Bryce and Cristie. We got in several games and some good meals. Unfortunately I didn't call my Dad (Grandpa Prete) soon enough in the day and the line was busy in the evening. Have to call you tomorrow, Dad.
Every day is an adventure around our house lately. It seems as though the energy level of the kids has been mounting since school let out a month ago. Three weeks of rain has something to do with this. It has been the rainiest spring anyone can remember. Should be good for our new grass which is getting greener every day. We should be able to play croquet on it by the 4th, or maybe even Canada Day!
Ali has aged about a year in the last few months. Now she can talk in completesentences like "I want a drink of wawa" and she is pretty good at telling us exactly what she wants and how she wants it. She has been pulling off her diaper a lot lately and has even shown a little interest in using the potty. However, I think we will focus on training the kitties before we try to train her.
Speaking of the kitties, their new home is the garage and fortunately it has a window. Pierce and Garrett love them, but aren't always gentle with them. Photos will be coming shortly of the yard and the twins with their kitties.
Paul and James have created their own LegoLand in their bedroom. I catch them building after bedtime and in the mornings before I even know they are awake. I think LegoLand needs to find a new home where it won't tempt the boys and where the pieces are not so available for little brothers and sister. Paul gave a talk in Primary today on forgiveness. The incident was when a little sibling destroyed a complex Lego creation and lost a piece or two. If Paul can forgive that he can forgive anything.
My energy level has finally returned over the past two weeks after being treated for an underactive thyroid. However, this past week has been full of insomnia and high emotion so I'm hoping my doctor's appointment tomorrow morning with lab results will give me some good answers and solutions.
Our family finally finished our passport applications on Wednesday, six weeks to the day that we plan to leave for Alberta. Hope there are no delays. We can't wait to see Prete family next month. We are looking forward to a Bryner reunion sometime soon when Garth can come up from Phoenix. In the meantime we hope to visit Bryan and Lindsay this coming Wednesday and maybe see Sarah too.
Anna is playing the paino a lot lately without even being asked. She can now sight read a lot of hymns and primary songs and is branching out to Disney songs. She recently played in Sacrament Meeting and played perfectly. She really has a gift and I am proud of her. I hope to see her continue to develop her love for music. Paul and James are at a little loss for things to do without a series of books to read. Any ideas for them? They spend a lot of time palying with friends after their chores are done. We have been spending a lot of time in the yard together and they are learning a lot of new skills. Paul is noticing that his parents don't get to play too often. We will have to show him the leisurely side of our lives (if there is one with six kids).
Garrett and Pierce are drawing amazing pictures lately. Tomorrow I will ask all the readers in our family if they will take the literacy challenge to help the twins read before Kindergarten. This has been a milestone met by all of our kids so far and with two months to go and twenty minutes spent each day with the twins by all of us readers, I think they will be on their way.