Do I Look Tired?

 

Because I am.  At least, I was on this Friday night trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  With 3 little ones, the days and weeks are flying by and I am exhausted by the end.  But I wouldn't trade it for anything.  Being tired never felt so good. 

 

 

other happenings

C and SJ are taking ballet from Ms. Shelley.  Ms. Shelley says Clara is doing really well... who knew that two ungraceful parents could make a child with some talent for dance!?!  

Here is SJ all dressed for her first class.

She likes to practice at home.  "Point-fwex (flex)-point-fwex"

my kitchen helpers

Congrats to Greg on finishing a marathon... 26.2 miles on trails.  It was a crazy day and we were so sorry that we missed his finish, but are proud of him.  Here are the girls giving him a good luck kiss before the race.

 and cheering him on at mile 9

 

Topsail Island 9/12

Our annual (sometimes biannual) trip to Topsail Island

 

 This time with baby S along

 My parents joined us

 

 

We had hoped Greg's would be able to, as well, but it didn't work out.

We were lucky to have some friends...

 and beloved family fill up the extra room

 we had a wonderful, relaxing vacation and made lots of memories

almost 6 week old sweetness

Photos by the lovely and talented Toni Walker.  When baby S grows up I will tell her that Ms. Toni saved her from the 3rd child no- baby- picture syndrome.  Photos taken 9/4/12

 

C and SJ have made up their own nickname for Baby S.  They call her "Silv."  It sounded strange, at first, but now we think it is pretty sweet.

 

When SJ hears her cry, she comes running... "Don't worry, baby, I'll save you."

Her favorite song to sing to her is "Old MacDonald."

 Often out of nowhere she says to me "Mom!  Silv is bery calm, today!"

 I overheard C trying to comfort her, one time.  "Don't worry, baby, God will bless you." - funny and cute
Baby S's first real smile was for C... S loves the girls, and they love to make her coo and smile.

 

She is as sweet as can be and we love having her in our family.

Silvie's blessing day

catching up... I'm more than a few weeks behind on blogging.  Here are photos from baby S's blessing day, September 9th 2012.

Starting Kindergarten- Spanish style

Big changes around here... our baby girl started school.

 

 

I took her on a special shopping trip to pick out an outfit for the first day of school.  It was hilarious.  She was very particular about what  she wanted... a light blue dress, with flowers, and pockets, she said.  We went to probably 8 stores looking for this, but couldn't find it.  We finally found a store with lots of dresses with pockets, and she tried on probably 15-20 dresses, but wasn't satisfied with any of them.  I started asking what is was she didn't like, so that I could help find what she would like, so she came up with a new excuse for each dress.  "Too short, too long, too ruffley, too fat, the flowers are upside down, and my favorite, "too crunchy" (I think she meant stiff).  We finally went back to the first store and settled on this cute number.  not light blue, no flowers, but it does have the all-important pockets for her collections.

check out this excited smile!

 

This teacher has gotten GREAT reviews from lots of former students... we are so happy Clara got in her class!

She is enrolled in a Spanish Immersion program, and it is all Spanish- all the time, right from the beginning.  I think she is a little overwhelmed with the long days and the new language.  It broke my heart a little bit when she came home on Tuesday a little weepy, saying "Kindergarten is boring, because I don't understand anything they are saying.  Everyone is speaking Spanish and I don't speak Spanish so I don't know what anyone is saying and so its really boring" (I think her word for frusterating). 

She was a good sport, though, throughout the first week.  She is excited about being able to learn Spanish and is willing to keep working at it!  We are proud of her for persevering. 

Adjusting to Life with Three

We are loving our new little addition.  The girls are adjusting well, and we parents are trying to keep up.  Life is definitely more hectic, and also more joyful.  

For a week after the birth, Greg stayed home and took care of the girls and I. That week was a little bit of heaven. I got to stay home and snuggle my new baby while he managed the big girls.  We got great meals delivered to us every night from our church family, and so we were able to spend lots of time together celebrating being a family of 5! 

 

 Then my Mom came for 10 great days.  She helped me take care of everyone when Greg went back to work, and also helped me get my house back in order... doing the things that were neglected during my difficult pregnancy... scrubbing out my fridge, cleaning under rugs, sweeping the porch, cleaning out closets, etc.  She is the best.  I may be 33 years old, but I still need my Mom!

Baby S's first bath! (with lots of helpers)

I'm FREEEEEE!!! (three)

We celebrated SJ"s 3rd birthday soon after baby Silvie's arrival



Friends and family joined us at the sprayground for pizza and Team Umizoomi cupcakes




My Mom helped me make these "melly measure" headbands for SJ and C



Introducing...

Getting Ready...

My awesome sister invited our girls up to her house last weekend.  We came back home and spent 2 peaceful nights/ days relaxing and getting ready for the new baby.   We moved SJ's bed into Clara's room -now the "big girl" room- and got the baby's room all ready.  I loved washing and putting away these tiny onesies and nightgowns. 

I spent most of Friday lounging on the couch watching season 1 of Downton Abbey.  The day got even better when I found out Roger Federer won the semifinals of Wimbledon!  Greg and I went out for dates on Thursday AND Friday ... and even stayed out until midnight on Friday night.  It was wild.  :) 

So nice of my sister to anticipate my need for a break before the crazy begins... thanks, Suz!

When the girls got home they were SO excited to be roomates, or "team-mates" as C calls it.  Bedtime is now a big party every night.  Eventually they do fall asleep and we love to look in on them sleeping sweetly in the same room together.

Baby S gets lots of hugs from the girls... SJ likes to pat my belly and say "Baby S., come out!"

39 1/2 weeks...

It won't be long, now!

Showing off our almost 3 year old's swimming skills... learning to flip over to breathe.

And the cutest dive ever...

SJ LOVES to swim and is giddy every time she is in the water. 

Preschool- End of Year

May, 2012

Here is a video of our girls singing in their preschool program.  C is in the back and SJ is in the front (you can't miss her head bopping).  SJ loved to sing for everyone.  This program was towards the end of the school year.  Each day from this until the end of the year, SJ asked every morning.  "I go to school, today?"  If the answer was yes, then she would ask "Oh, I get to do concert?" 

C's preschool graduation.  She has grown up so much this year... we are proud of her and will miss her when she is at Kindergarten next year.  Here she is singing her heart out.

And getting her diploma from her beloved Mrs. D

Kids were here

(copying this post title from a couple of friends)



C and SJ needed 7 plates/bowls to set up for their "party."  If you look closely you can see why... there were 7 guests:  ponies, princesses, Big Bird- they aren't picky

 The girls love to draw in my calendar.  Apparently C is planning a trip to the zoo on Aug. 7th.

SJ couldn't figure out how I knew she got into my makeup until I told her to look in the mirror.  She got a kick out of her reflection and said "I wook wike a siwwy baaand" (I look like a silly band).

(Also, I love that she calls polka dots "polkanots" and pony tails "veggie tales).





C excitedly asked me to come into the playroom, bc she had drawn a picture for me on the chalkboard.  After a difficult afternoon, it brought a tear to my eye!  She is such a sweet girl.

A Day at the Lake

Greg's friend from work invited us out for a day at the lake. 

(love this beautiful girl)

 Greg re-lived his glorious bachelor days on the wake board

the girls went tubing and jumped off the dock 8,000 times

(Funny SJ story:  she fell on the dock and busted her lip.  All of the adults rushed to stop the bleeding and get ice and comfort her, but she pushed us all away to get to the place she was going before she fell and jump off that dock!)

and Nicolle and her big belly floated around in the water all afternoon.

An all-around great day

and now commences: 

Greg listing the 100 reasons why we should get a boat

Nicolle listing the 100 reasons why we should not