Busy Week. . .

Ok, I know that I haven't been writing as often as I usually do, but life has gotten busy!
First a huge congratulations to my sister who got engaged this past weekend and is now trying to plan a wedding that will take place in just 7 weeks! She really wants an outdoor wedding and they don't want to wait for spring so time is of the essence. 80) I am soooooooo excited for her! Her fiance seems like a great match for her and they have dated for quite awhile so know each other well. She got to go wedding dress shopping this week with my SIL and they had the best time. I wish I could have been there for it. I got to at least see links to her favorite wedding dresses-she's going to look stunning! It's been even harder this week to be so far away from family and miss out on these special things. But I'll be heading out to Seattle with the kids a week before the wedding so I'll get to be a part of the final preparations and of course the big "simple" event that Carrie wants. They are doing a wonderful job of keeping me in the loop of things too, I appreciate all their e-mail updates and phone calls to help me feel like a part of it all.
I'm madly trying to get the house deep cleaned so that it will just sparkle before an appraiser comes on monday to appraise the house for a loan that we are trying to get. With the market the way it's been we are saying lots of prayers that our work on the house shows and that it's gained some value in the little over 2 years that we've been living here.
Skye has had a rough week at school just with forgetting to write down, bring home his homework, "hear" instructions, etc. So we have stuff to work on. But he's had a great week at home. He's writing an oral book-meaning that each night he is telling us the next chapter of the book he has written in his head. He's enjoying weaving his story together and teasing us with the title of the next chapter as to what might happen next in the story. As much as he wants to be a volcanologist I think he might be an author when he gets older. He loves to tell stories and always has one in his head (probably part of why he forgets insignificant things like homework and listening when there is so much else to think about). He is such a special joy in our lives!
Both boys have discovered that other kids live around us this week. Skye found out that the new boy in his class lives just 1 1/2 blocks away and since that discovery they've been at one or the other's houses whenever possible. Isaac has formed friendships with the handful of boys his age that live on our cul-de-sac. Mason especially has become his buddy as they chase around together. I had 6 boys chasing through, around, over, and under the house yesterday afternoon as the whole block became their battlefield. It's just too much fun to watch!
Isaac started his new preschool this week. He was really nervous the first day, but came home disappointed that he had to leave to come home. He comes home very proud and talking of all that he did. I've been really nervous about switching him to a new school this year as we loved the old one, but the teachers and staff have been so wonderful at his new school I know that we made the right decision, and I am enjoying that it only takes 1 minute to get to pick him up vs 15 minutes just to get there with his old school.
Nicole has really missed her brothers this week. She can't quite keep up with the wild play in the afternoon, and she misses Isaac especially when he heads off to school. She is becominga percocious young lady. Very determined in how things should be, unfortunately that usually conflicts with how Mommy and Daddy say that things should be so we've had a busy time. She is so sweet though, and has a really caring heart.
Fleur is surviving having the kids drag her around to whatever they are doing. I'm surprised at her patience as they all just pick her up and make her do what they want. But she always comes running back for more.
Ok, I think those are the highlights of the week. Hopefully I can be better at keeping updated now.