Is Spring here yet?

  So this has been a very strange winter for Erie.  We have had hardly any snow at all (only 44" so far), but still have the chilly temperatures.  The only snowman we made was on our deck and only measured about 1ft high.  We got our one sledding trip in for Isaac's birthday party in December, but no snow forts this year.  We usually have chances of big snow storms until April, so we still have a little time.  I have decided that winter is not worth it at all without a few really big snow storms.  So bring it on!!
  I guess it is time to get ready for spring if winter won't really show up this year.  I saw some tulips and daffodils starting to peek out of the ground this week.  And I decided to buy artichoke seeds to plant in the garden this year.  Nathan and I just planted them inside yesterday.  They are only supposed to produce artichokes the second year, so we are tricking them into thinking they are going to go through their first winter in our mudroom. :) We'll have to see if "they" believe us.

  Nathan has been really enjoying school. He is learning to read, which makes me just amazed.  They have this program called Accelerated Reading, where he brings home a simple book.  We read it together and then he learns to read it.  He takes it to school with him when he is ready to read it to a teacher.  After he completes 6 books, he gets a prize.  He is on his 3rd book and is doing so well. Nathan is also doing great with his piano lessons.  He is learning C position with both hands and is reading music.  Before long, he will be able to play better than both Joe and me.  It has been fun for all of us to practice the piano.  Joe got me two piano books for Christmas.  Isaac like me to play the bible songs so he can sing along.  And Isabella's favorite word is Please - she uses it for getting up to the piano and for everything else - especially chocolate!
  Isaac has surprised us in being shy at his tumbling class.  When has he ever been shy, not wanting to sing and not wanting to do stretches?  He just sits there for the first part and says he doesn't want to. Once they start running and jumping - he is all smiles and can't stopping jumping!  The only thing he doesn't like of that part is the high bars.  He is scared of heights and almost flipped out last class.  I have a feeling it is going to be a challenge to motivate him for sports and  school, if he doesn't want to do it. :)

  Isabella has had one cold after another all winter long.  She has been on antibiotics twice so far for a double ear infection.  She had to have a chest x-ray in December a few days before Christmas, because of chest congestion.  So far, we haven't had to take her to Pittsburgh.  There were a few nights we considered it, but decided to wait it out.  All of her future appointments are set, starting in March and going through April.  She also was fitted for an AFO (foot brace) to help her left foot to not turn out while she walks.  It should be ready for her this week.  We were told that it should take about 6 months and then we will have to see if we need to use it longer.  Isabella is walking everywhere and has quite the personality!  She is either laughing or throwing a fit or saying "Please" which really sounds like "eeezzz".  Her speech seems delayed, but we haven't decided if it is worth putting her into speech therapy.  Oh, and she now has 14 teeth!
 I guess that's all for now.  Hopefully, I can be better about blogging now that we have faster internet speed. :) We'll see if that is motivation enough. :)