Great kids!

The past couple of weeks I have noticed a phenomenon at my house. My children are constantly trying to surprise Sterling and I. They will make up baths, make us treats, get us a drink all the while flooding, spilling on and ruining the house! It has been very interesting because I sometimes am torn between being grateful for their thoughtfulness and being frustrated that I have yet ANOTHER thing to clean! Generally, I try my best to be grateful and just clean up later. The only problem is that our washer floods EVERY time I do a load of laundry. The pipes are apparently in need of replacing and the maintenance crew hasn't received the right parts yet to fix it.. so I either flood the house myself or go without clothing :) We recently had a HUGE tree cut down in our yard. It was apparently sneaking into the sewer pipes rather forcefully as well as lifting up our sidewalk so that it looks like we have been through an earthquake. I can't believe how much more space an light we have now that it is gone.. Yay! I got my hair cut and I dyed it super dark in an effort to go back to my original color. I might post a pic, one of these days. Sterling has been working like a crazy person. He has been working 14 hour days and then sleeping 7 hours and then eating or driving the other remaining ones. Poor Sterling! He did have Saturday off and we went to Hanauma Bay where Sterling and Hunter went snorkeling and I played on the beach with Kota, Braxton, and Kristjan and took pictures. I will post a few. Hunter had a rough couple of weeks at school. Last week something changed and he was amazing! Worked on his homework right after school without any prodding and his teacher even commented that he was ahead of where he needed to be in his school work (which has not been the case for months)! Dakota continues to excel at school. She is home sick today. She has a fever and a nasty cough... poor girl! Braxton is talking more and more all the time. He is still delayed (as per the Developmental Pediatrician's findings) but is making real progress! We found him a Wonder Pets pair of pajamas and are happy to say that he likes wearing them every bit as much as his sister's Cinderella dresses which is a major victory for us! Kristjan has finally moved past the honery cryee baby that he had become for last last month or so and is back to his happy self. He still won't let me sit down to the computer without screaming at me or talk on the phone..(he is sleeping right now:)) but has developed a "fake" laugh and this really goofy cute smile that he pulls out especially for the camera. He has also developed at love for peanut butter. As for me.. I think my brain has gone on vacation. I am having a hard time remembering anything that isn't written down. I am helping plan a wedding with one the Sterling's coworkers and between that and trying to keep the house clean, meals made, laundry done (ha!) and all the other stuff I am pretty busy! I am grateful that my kids are so sweet and have such a desire to be so thoughtful! Adios!