We have been keeping busy around here. Music makers is back in full swing, which Sylvie seems to be enjoying. She loves the dancing part especially. Last week during spotlight songs she hustled her way up there and said "My turn!" Then she wanted EVERY turn to be her turn. Hopefully she will learn about being an audience member soon. I am also loving the one on one time with her each morning. She is a little sponge right now--she is learning colors and shapes these days. She talks all the time, but it is still really hard to understand her.
We also went bike shopping this week and I tried out some really fun bikes. I think I am settled on a Felt Z5. It is a pretty serious jump up from my little fitness bike, but I am excited to get it and start riding around.
We signed our refinance this week as well. We still have a few papers to drop off, but it is nice to know the big stuff is done.
Work in the bathroom is progressing. I am trying to choose a paint color, and you all know how long that can take!
Jens is still loving school. The structure seems to be very good for him. He is learning a lot and comes home singing new songs and telling me about stories and things they are learning, like patterns. We have also been practicing reading, which is fun for me.
Jens also had his 5 year check up recently. He is 42.5 inches tall (50%) and weighs 44 pounds (60%). He is doing great developmentally and was able to answer almost all of the doctor's questions, except for the fire department's phone number. We have been practicing 911 since then.
Saturday we had a big day. It seemed like we were coming and going all day long. I think Mike and I saw each other for about 15 minutes during the course of the day. It started out with a run for Mike (13.6 miles) and friends coming over for the kids. Then Mike came home and I ran to the farmers market, which is just amazing right now. Peaches, grapes, sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, lettuce--oh my! I have a hard time restraining myself, but it has become my main shopping venue these days, so it is okay to get carried away. Then I met Mike at Jens's soccer game. This game was fun because it seemed like the boys sort of figured out what to do. They weren't quite so bunched up (although there was still plenty of that) and they managed to score! Jens got a goal--he did a great job of running up to the ball and kicking it hard in the right direction. He was pretty proud. I wish I had a picture, but I missed his actual kick and only looked in time to see the ball roll across the line and Jens with a super cute look on his face.
I took Sylvie home shortly afterwords for lunch. After lunch, Mike and JP went to get a stump grinder. Our yard is stumpy no more!
Mike spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening helping JP at his house, and I headed out to do something about our rock pile. Hopefully I will be finished soon and have an exciting picture to post of the after.
My helpers:
I get a lot of comments on her looks these days. At Boa Vista Mike heard one lady stop her companion and say "Isn't she beautiful?" I concur.
Lucky the pony. I have a feeling we will be back. 
(I know, pretty precious for feeling lousy.)
I should have known we were in for a rough week.
My helpers:
When he got home from the hospital at 10:00, we all sat down and had some ice cream. I hope he doesn't make this a yearly occurrence.
The soccer season has progressed to games! Saturday was the Kung-Foo Fighters' first game, and while they did not exactly win, they had a great time. Jens ran and ran and complained every time he got taken out for a break. He had a couple of good runs down the field and got a few good kicks in. He even took a "shot," but as it was from just a little past mid-field and he stepped on the ball first, it didn't go in. It gently rolled into the goalie's arms instead. 
Sylvie was sort of a crank, but the rest of us really enjoyed the morning. Maybe next time the Kung-Foo Fighters will score a goal. 
We did have one heart stopping experience in which Sylvie went into the lake unaccompanied. Mike went in, shoes, compression socks, and all to fish her out. 
We have been reading a lot of the aforementioned Anatole, in which a mouse tastes cheese and gives the cheese makers advice on how to improve in hopes of earning an honest living rather than being a villainous mouse. Jens was excited by this idea and made his own little signs. One says "No gut" and the other one says something along the lines of "extra 'specially good." As he only made two signs and we only had two kinds of cheese, things worked out well. 
