Last traces of summer

The nights are crisp, the days grow shorter. Fall is at our doorstep, so we snapped a few shots of the kids in their sundressed playing in the yard on what will probably be one of the last few warm days.

Baby E 7 1/2 months

Where does the time go? Baby E is growing up fast. She sits, she plays, she puts anything into her mouth that she can. She loves to pull hair, to play in her exersaucer, and loves her big sisters. She eats baby cereal three times a day and lots of fruits and veggies. Surprisingly enough, she doesn't like pears, but we haven't given up on them just yet. She's tall... at her 6 month check up she was 85% for height and 35% for weight. I have no idea what she weighs or measures now, but all her 6-9 one-piece suits are stretched at the toes and the onesies are pulling at her shoulders, but then we have to roll the waistbans of her jeans because they're too loose. Dresses and leggings are her best friends right now... they're so forgiving. She is the smiliest baby and has the most infectious laugh. Her only obvious weakness at this point is she is still a horrible sleeper. She's still waking up at midnight, 3 and 5, much to the detriment of her mother. I finally added a scoop of formula and some water to some milk I had pumped to help her last a little longer. She made it to 4am, but unfortunately my body is used to waking up, so I was wide awake from 2 until 3:30, only to wake up a half hour later. She is a joy and we're so grateful she is a part of our family.

Gretters in the Garden

Our precious Gretters sitting in the garden. All she needs is a tea set and fan.

She looks so relaxed. It's hard to believe this calm child is the same one who: squirt diaper cream all over her feet, used the toilet brush to mop the floor, and used a pink crayon to draw all over my bedpost... and that's just in the last three hours. She loves to scrub the kitchen floor, with a toothbrush, like the ones we use on a daily basis. Thank goodness for dishwashers. And thank goodness she is so darn adorable. It's hard to stay upset with her because she's just so charming. I really love this girl.

School Spotlight

Bell was the spotlight at school last week. The whole family went to watch her and were happily surprised when Daddy was asked to do the honors. All her classmates asked lots of questions. Afterwards we went out to pizza for lunch. It was a fun day. We love our Bell.

FHE: Dinosaurs

One of the girls' favorite places to go is the Dinosaur museum, and it's really amazing. It's a fun place to play and learn.

Shark attack!

Too cute for their own good

First Day of School!

Two VERY excited girls
They've got their backpacks and they're ready for their first day of school

What could be better than going to school with your best friend?

Tearful Mommy can't believe babies are growing up

Waiting in line with the other big kids. Gretters also waited in line. She was determined that she was going to school, too. She kept saying "I'm 5... I can ride the bus and go to school with the girls!"

Here comes their bus

They didn't even flinch, no tears, nothing. They were off. I asked the driver if there would be a teacher to help them get off. "oh, the kids just get off the bus and go into the school." With that, Daddy and I grabbed Gretters and the baby and raced back to the house to get in the van and drive to school. What amateur parents we are... what were we thinking letting them ride the bus the first day? We should have driven them. Instead we raced to the school and I met them as they got off the bus. Lady said "what are you doing here mom? I know what I'm doing... I don't need your help," and off she raced into the school. Bell was grateful to have me there and asked if I would walk her to class. We had already met their teacher the previous week, so I said hello and watched them hang up their backpacks and meet the other kids in their class.

Gretters 1st Professional Cut

Tuesdays is family day at the kids' salon, so I had all three girls get a cut. I've only cut Gretters hair once, and with her cute curls, I thought she could use some layers... something I wasn't willing to go alone.
The first cut

Love those curls!

So pretty!

The payoff...

I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

Wet Lemons turned Lemonade

The girls are so helpful with Baby E. Today while I was busy doing something, Lady was taking care of E. I could hear her laughing and reading to her, playing dolls, etc. She placed pillows around Baby E to protect her from falling, and even set up pillows so Baby E could practice standing while holding on to the ottoman. It's very cute to watch her interact with her sister. However, a few moments ago, Lady brought Baby E to me and the baby's hair was soaked. I said "Lady, what happened to her hair... did you spray detangler spray on it?" Lady was hesitant to answer. I smelled the baby's head and it was definitely not detangler spray; it didn't smell good, but I couldn't place what the scent was. It didn't seem like plain water, but the baby's head was so wet I couldn't imagine what else it could be. Finally Lady said "I brushed her hair." And I said "Well that's sweet of you, but how did it get wet?" Lady replied "I wet the brush with my spit and brushed her hair with it." AAAAAHHHHHHHHH. I can't even imagine the amount of "spit" it took to douse the scalp, but without reacting, I said "Well, that's certainly creative, but let's not do that again. I'm going to need to wash her hair now." I really couldn't bring myself to take a picture. I washed the baby's hair while Lady and I pretended to we were at a beauty shop, and I was the beautician and she was the baby's mother. Not bad lemonade from some wet lemons!

The Big Party

What started out to be a "small party with a few family members" blossomed into a huge birthday bash. The day started with a big train ride and picnic (scroll down for another post), swimming at the grandparents hotel, and then a BBQ and birthday party hosted by Grandma Bonnie and Grand-dad.
There were balloons, parties hats, lots of yummy food, a pinata and lots of family and friends.

Uncle P manning the grilling machine. The grilled veggies were extra delicious!

Daddy and Uncle D having a jam session

Everyone joined in for a big sing-a-long

Aunt B, Aunt A and our good friend Lori with her newborn baby (2 weeks old)

Cardon Cousins and crazy Aunt M who must have forgotten to take her meds again

Presents!

The girls got so many great gifts: pjs from Grammy, doll castles and princesses from Grandma Bonnie and Grand-dad, dresses and tutus from Grandma Goldenstar and Papa, Pippy Longstocking Books from Aunt M, Princess Painting Kits from Cardons, princess dresses from our Chicago cousins, Piggybanks from Gretters, pink towels with their names on them from Great Grandma and Grandpa, pink back-packs and new clothes from mom and dad. Thank you everyone!

The twins told me it was the best birthday ever. Thanks to everyone who made it such a fun, fun day. It was a lot of work, but so worth it.

La Pinata!

Bell injured her foot earlier in the day, which took off half her big toenail and caused lots of ugly swelling and blood. A minor setback on a birthday, but she still found the strength to continue on and even hit the birthday pinata.
Where there's a will, there's a way

Lady takes a wack

Mommy sets Gretters up....

... but she kept taking the blindfold off... so when you can't beat them, just let them hit it however they want

Cousin D takes a swing with a little help from Ellyn (who also got a turn)

Cousin C taking a swing with the "2 and under" plastic bat

Cousin B couldn't be bothered with the blindfold either. He thought it made a better scarf, which is all the rage this season.

Cousin R, blindfolded, but with perfect aim every swing, one has to wonder if there might have been some funny business going on. If not, sign this boy up for the majors! All the cousins and the girls and their friends had a turn with and without blindfolds and we could not get that pinata to break. Daddy swung at it several times, and finally a small hole was made. With a bit of "help" the pinata finally broke. Inside was candy, bracelets, and toy animals of all kinds.

Birthday Cakes

The girls had three requests for their birthday: party hats (check), a pinata (check) and a butterfly cake (check, check and check). I ended up baking two butterfly cakes and 24 cupcakes. Unfortunately, Bell injured her foot, so I could not decorate them. Fortunately, they have two older cousins who stepped in and took my ideas to a professional level. Thank you Aubrey and Ellyn!
Lady's cake, because she wanted the pink candy middle. Lemon cake with creamcheese frosting, skittles to enhance.

Bell wanted a rainbow middle, same lemon cake and creamcheese frosting (really delicious)!

24 chocolate cinnamon cupcakes, orange slice wings, skittle heads, Mike and Ike bodies. They turned out really cute!!! Thanks to my friend Suzy who gave me the idea for what candies to buy to create these butterflies, and Ellyn and Aubrey for making much more attractive butterflies than I had planned.

Birthday Express

For the twins' 5th birthday we went on a big train ride through the valley (picture above was view taken from train window). Grandma Goldenstar, Papa and our Cardon cousins joined us for the train ride. The weather was perfect and so was the company. We encountered a train robbery and ended our trip at a park where Grandma Bonnie and Grand-dad met us with a huge picnic lunch. It was a bit too windy at the park, but otherwise it was a perfect outing!

Their first train ride and they were super excited.

Hanging with their daddy in the outdoor car.

Aunt D and Cousin D

Gretters and her Cardon cousins

Lady, Grandma Goldenstar, Bell and Stevie Wonder... uh I mean, Papa.

Cousin D and Gretters enjoying their first train ride!

Five years old going on 15. My first baby isn't a little baby anymore. She's so thoughtful and concerned with the feelings of others. She loves helping me cook and playing with the baby. She's left-handed and can write her name so beautifully. She's very fashion-conscious and loves... what's that fancy word?... oh yes, Accessories (she also loves Fancy Nancy). She made me a mother first and has touched my life forever. I love you, sweet Bell. Happy 5th Birthday.

Lady is so adventurous, quick to try new things. She loves dancing, playacting, and carrying her baby sister around (with adult supervision). Her favorite princess is Sleeping Beauty and wished we had named Baby E "Sleeping Beauty Crystal Earth." Lady loves to draw and is an excellent artist. She also loves to play beauty shop and request fun hairdos. I'm so grateful for you, my dear Lady. Love you! Happy 5th!