"Happy Birthday to us!"

New princess dolls with all the extras - what fun!

Avery and Presley sang the birthday song together several times on their birthday, coming up with "Happy Birthday to US". Thanks to their big brother, they had been anticipating the day they'd be 3 for much too long!

Here they are trying to peek at their cakes before it's time to reveal them.

My neighbor and friend, Tiffany, decorated both cakes after I baked them. One vanilla Dora with a pink shirt, and one chocolate Dora with purple. It was a nice 75 degree day, so we had all our neighbors over to eat up ALL the cake. Everyone sang to Avery and then to Presley, and it was a party on the driveway!
These are the nine kiddos that live nearby and are so close in age. So fun! Almost as good as a bunch of cousins - almost!


My three-year-olds! Can't believe it! Here they are sporting their new bike helmets on their trikes, a pretty big girl thing to do. Speaking of big girl things, I guess we have to take binks away and transition to big girls beds soon. OHHHH MAN! What should we do first?
Lately, my most favorite moments have to do with what the girls say to each other when they're playing well together. The other day Presley said, "Avery, let's play duck duck goose!" Avery's response was "That's a good idea!" It was so amusing to see them try to play the game with just the two of them. Presley would touch Avery's head three times and say "duck duck goose" and then she'd take off and run. After laughing to myself for a few minutes, I finally offered to be a third person and showed them how it would work better. I think they would have played all morning if I had been willing!

Season of change

My kindergarten boy. Gone from 9 to 4. What an adjustment for all the girls in the house!
I got teary as I walked out the first day, only because I was so proud of him and wondered how he could be so brave and trusting to a new adult in his life.
This is Blackie, his bear he chose to take with him the first week of school. The only time he showed any anxiety and got a little emotional about starting school was when he was choosing which animal to bring. We decided it was his way of communicating his uneasiness about everything new in his life.


His most favorite thing about it all is riding the bus. He rides it home everyday and the girls and I walk up the street to meet him.





And because our summer keeps on going and going and going, the girls and I can do things like this!



The other day I was looking back at my calendar for the last half of July and August and reminded myself of all the things I did with the kids. I worked hard to have something planned for each morning and then also something for the afternoon. Even if it was just making cookies or playing a board game. 5 year old boys like to have something to do at all times. So when school started, my days became a little more relaxed. Yes, the girls and I go to the park and sometimes storytime at the library and oh yea, their dance class once a week, but there are lots of days when we just hang out all morning in our pajamas at home.





Avery and Presley have loved their dance class again this fall. Same teacher and same group of little girls. I'm convinced Avery's made to move around, whether it's some sport or dance I'm not sure. She's pretty coordinated and capable. Presley likes to observe what's going on around her more than anything, and if she's in a good mood, she'll run, jump and leap right next to her sister.



We don't have more than one TV in our house, but we do have an awesome computer. I took these pictures to document what kinds of shows everyone prefers lately and how we have to work it out because of the new school schedule. Obviously Caleb's TV time and been reduced, but he lives for his show before dinner, and because he has great habits, so do the girls. He's into Phineas and Ferb and the girls love Dora. So, I split them up and everyone is happy, including and most importantly mom, who can't get dinner on the table any other way!