First day of first grade!

M was so excited about starting first grade we went ahead and started this past Monday. I had everything ready to go so I figured we'd try the balanced schedule that a lot of schools are following around here. The first 3 days have been great! We are loosely following Mother of Divine Grace again with some additions. We started Miquon math orange book, we are continuing with modg poetry, religion and art, Getty dubay handwriting, story of the world for history (ancient times), Kids Nature book (and various encyclopedias) for science, then all kinds of literature including Aesop's fables, fairy tales, and classics like Robin Hood, Secret Garden etc. I'm really excited about this year and so is she! Jp is doing reading lessons and so far so good! 

What JP wore Wednesday

Summer days

Sometimes it gets really frustrating around here.  It seems like I'm constantly breaking up fights, listening to tattling or whining, cleaning up messes, doing laundry, and it NEVER ENDS.  There is always more to do.  I get one meal done and served and cleaned up and it's time for the next meal.  Someone always needs something from me.  Someone is always making noise.

Then sometimes I get a glimpse of a peaceful loving family.  Kids who play nicely together and make up elaborate games in the backyard.  Kids who love each other so much.  Leo who adores his big sister and wants to do everything with her - including their new favorite chore; collecting the trash.  A big brother making his baby sister laugh and laugh.  I know these are sweet days that won't last forever.  Days when all my kids are little, days when my kids fight over who gets to sit in my lap and hug me.  Days when we don't have all kinds of scheduled activities and can pretty much do what we want every day.  Days when I can bring the kids to the candy store, spend $1 and make their day.

I remember once putting my kids in the car at the grocery store, and an older lady came up to me and said, "I would give all the money I have just to spend one day with my kids again these ages."  My friend's dying grandmother was talking about when her grown children were toddlers - that was what was on her mind in her last days.

So Im enjoying these last few weeks of the summer of 2013.  These days will never come again and I will miss them when they are gone.

7 months

Is it just me or does 7 months sound really old??  It's closer to one than birth!  Sarah is such an awesome baby.  We've been going a lot of places with my friend who is a nanny for a family, and she says Sarah is the most "portable" baby she's ever met... meaning, we can take her anywhere and we barely know she is there!  I wrap her a lot on my back and she just hangs out, taking everything in, hardly making any noise.  There's been a few times we've gone somewhere for several hours and M or JP didn't even know she was with us!  (They're a little oblivious but still!)
I take back everything I said about her being a good sleeper though.  She goes to bed around 7:30-8 and then usually gets up around 12, 3 and 6 to eat.  Luckily she is an awesome napper, takes 2 really good naps, about 2-3 hours.
Lately she has really started liking playing with toys on the floor.  She can roll and pivot herself around but cannot sit up on her own yet.  We started solid food and she has had bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes and a bite of watermelon.

She adores her big siblings and just lights up when she sees them.  They all fight over who gets to talk to her and play with her... good and bad!  Mom stayed with all 4 kids when we went out for a few hours on our anniversary.  I tried to pump throughout the day and leave her a bottle but I only got 1.5 oz.  I fed her and put her to bed right before I left and she never went to sleep.  Mom got her up after she put the other kids to bed, she sucked down the bottle no problem, and played on the floor til we got home.  Maybe I should try to pump a little more ;)

She's finally getting a little hair!  And it's very light.  I just love her so much.

Same outfit

6 years ago and today. Poor M. My photography skills and camera were sorely lacking back then.

11 years

4 kids, 2 houses, 3 cats, 3 hermit crabs, 1/3 of my life. I wouldn't change a thing :)