Life with the Lockharts: April 2012

Unfortunately it has been almost a year since I posted anything on this blog. I think about it all the time but when I think about posting, I feel guilty because I should be planning a lesson for Sunday school or working with the kids on school work or playing with Joanna, or doing laundry, or cleaning, or I am just too tired to think and I end up on the couch watching tv after the kids have gone to bed. It has been a busy and eventful year but one full of blessings and milestones. I don't even know where to begin. I will fill you in on where we are now and then put up some pictures for you enjoy.
The last post included pictures of Elizabeth finishing off her year in kindergarten. She stayed home this year and joined Caleb in homeschooling. At first she wanted to go back to school and wasn't sure she really liked it but if you ask her now she wouldn't want to trade it at all. It was a tough transition to add a second child as well as one that was in a completely different stage of schooling. It took us a few weeks to get a routine down and even a few months later we had to switch things up again to make things a little easier on me. We are moving along well now, especially as Elizabeth has gotten more comfortable in her reading and more independent in her work. We enjoy being together during the day and we especially enjoy special classes and trips as much as we can.
In December of last year, Heath sold his business to someone he had known for several years that had been pursuing him to work for her. She bought Begin Advertising and took him on to continue helping to run it as well as helping to run production in her business. He has truly enjoyed his new position especially because she has the capital to do the things he has always wanted to do but never been able to. It has also been a blessing to finally have a paycheck come in for the first time in our marriage. It has been an adjustment to having a boss and not having the same freedom as being self-employed but I think we have fallen into a groove and have learned to make certain things a priority.
Caleb just finished his third competitive season of gymnastics. He was on level 6 this year which was a new level with new skills but he did well winning several medals over the 7 meets we had. His team ended up as the Texas state champs as well as winning the Regional championship last weekend in Oklahoma, over 49 teams from 6 states! We enjoyed the competition season this year even with a lot of traveling but we are glad it is now over and we can sit back for a while.
Joanna...where do I even begin? She is now 15 months and just the biggest character! She brings so much joy to this house! She has been walking since just after she was one, she eats everything in sight, she talks up a storm even if you can't understand her, she follows her "bubba" and "sissy" everywhere they go, and has started saying some words: bird, up, momma, dadda, bubba, puppy, baby, uh-oh, hi, bye-bye. There may be more but that's all I can think of. She is definitely the smartest of the 3 for her age. It must come from having Caleb and Elizabeth around all the time. She is also my most social child. The kids adore her and she adores them.
Our house is definitely full of activity all the time but we love it. Of course we have out grown our house and are in the process of putting it on the market. We are hoping to get out of the cookie-cutter neighborhoods and get a house with a bigger yard with a room especially for homeschooling and another bedroom. We are praying for God's favor in the sale of our current house and finding the right one to suit our needs.
I am hoping to blog a little more now as I can fit it in, but for now, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Our cuties at Halloween!

Sometimes I could just eat her up!

Christmas babies!

After the Christmas Eve service at church

Today I am one!

Don't anyone take my cake!

Yes I know I made a mess with my cake!

One of Caleb's first meets of the season, on rings.

After winning a medal on vault!

Visiting Sea World while in San Antonio for a meet.

Elizabeth's 7th birthday. She wanted this Rapunzel wig so bad!

Joanna loves bath time! She is definitely a fish already!

Another meet...as you can see, Caleb is one of the smallest on the team!

Joanna was finally brought onto the trampoline! As you can see we needed a new net. One little hole turned into the whole net. We have since gotten a new one and Joanna can go on there without worry.