Let's just disregard the fact that we're skipping from Spring to Fall on this blog. I have lots of memories to post but I'll just start with what we've been up to lately.
The fair is here and this is something we look forward to all year. It was a beautiful day so it was packed. It was a little miserable trying to push the stroller through the crowds but Rosalie was an angel - even with no nap. We ate so many different things, played midway games (some very healthy competition with the Lyle family), saw the largest pumpkin, went on rides and Daddy even dunked the clown. This year was exciting because Rosalie was able to go on some kiddie rides with a sibling.
Here she is on her very first fair ride...and the smile says it all!
Mouth open...she was so excited!
the twins
Lyle fam
say "cheese"
Hill was a little less excited than Rose
Nat
Mal Mal...she's looking a lot like Daddy these days
Nat and Rosalie - hanging out watching tv...Rose does not drink a bottle...I blame her mini-regression entirely on Auntie Kelli
The girls are doing great. The twins started Kindergarten this year and are in SEPARATE classrooms. I was a little worried about this towards the end of summer but didn't make a big deal of it. Turns out, it was a great thing. They love to compare stories about classmates, friends and teachers. And it's still only three hours a day, so it's not even long enough for them to miss each other, right? They are both writing up a storm and reading familiar words. Their teachers think they will be early readers (just like Daddy...he reminds me of that a lot). They have each started to lose their baby teeth. Hillary lost her first two at the same exact time...freaky twin thing maybe. She pulled them herself in front of a mirror and was very excited when the tooth fairy came. A few weeks later Nat lost one on the bottom. She begged me to pull it because she was sick of trying to eat gently on it (brave girl). Soon after, Hillary lost her top two and sounds too cute when she talks. Nat has got another one on the way and the tooth fairy better start saving up - these teeth aren't cheap!
Another change around here is the sleeping arrangements. We had all three big girls sharing a queen bed before - they just loved sleeping together. But we decided that it would make the most sense to split up into twin beds before school was to start. We couldn't leave Mal out, so they all got new beds. They are all in the twins' room now and it is too funny to see walls lined with beds. But don't feel too bad for Rose. She's not a loner in her crib in her and Mal's room...she's still in Mommy and Daddy's bed.
Speaking of Mal, despite thinking she's a "triplet" (like she tells people), she is still in preschool. Her teacher is always amazed at how smart and athletic she is (Daddy thinks she got his genes). She still loves any and all things girly and would choose clothes over toys any day. She asks me daily if she can have my bag/shoes/clothes/jewelry/you name it when she's a teenager. She is hilarious. She has been tormenting the twins lately. There is a boy in the twins' grade that all the little girls have a crush on. Well Mallory has decided he's her "boyfriend" and tells them she's going to steal him and take him to the prom. Are we really fighting over guys already???
They have all started soccer. Hillary is the most interested and is so determined. She loves any and all things with soccer balls on it. She calls herself a "soccer girl." Natalie really couldn't be bothered and was more interested in which number shirt she got. Mallory is a natural but her age group is a bit confused which end of the field the ball should go. It is super early on the weekends, which hurts a little getting up and out.
Mal also started gymnastics and her instructor kept asking during the first lesson if she's done it before. She asked Mal to grab the rings and swing her legs up out from under her. Next thing you know, Mallory has lifted herself off the ground and inserted her legs into the rings and was hanging upside down! She's fearless. Natalie will be taking piano lessons soon and Hillary, voice lessons. They'll also both be in Daisy Scouts. And I'll be driving all over town chauffeuring.
And we can't forget about Rosalie! She is such a big girl now. She talks in complete sentences, can follow directions and have a conversation with you. Her latest interests are popsicles, Elmo, coloring on her arms and legs, her binkies, of course, and my bras. Yes, you read that right. I will record this for memory's sake but it is a bit embarrassing. Rosalie has an obsession with Mommy's bras. It began as a way to comfort herself and get to sleep and progressed to driving in the car or carrying one around the house. In recent weeks, I've pretty much broken her of carrying them around. Now she just needs one to fall asleep. The doctor at her last visit got a kick out of it but wasn't too concerned. Though she had never heard of this particular object, she said children often choose odd things to focus on and it should be a passing phase. Let's just hope so or she's going to be a very peculiar preschooler.
Rosalie LOVES to dance. And that phrase is an understatement. She lives to dance. She will bop to any music she hears, even if you're just humming a tune. She immediately throws her fists in the air and bops along. But she wants everyone around her to follow and she'll say "c'mon" while shaking her body. It is really funny to watch and she is not shy! Any time we are in a store with music, she is in my arms dancing away and smiling at anyone passing by. She sings too. Her favorite song (whether we like it or not) is California Girls by Katy Perry. She will follow me around the house singing the chorus, with the remote in hand begging for me to put the video on. This song has powers over this girl, I'm telling you.
The things that she comes up with are pretty funny too. Daily, she'll tell you:
I want to take a shower
I want food/a popsicle
I'm thirsty
Where's Mal Mal/Hill Hill/Nat Nat? And that's what she calls them - too cute!
My personal favorite is when she tells me, "No, no!", "Uh huh" or "OKAAAYYYY" if I tell her to stop doing something wrong. She is so smart and I love having time alone with her while the kids are in school. I definitely need to remind myself daily that the baby days are passing me by each day and I need to savor it. But they'll always be my babies, right?
Wow, that was long! I suppose I should keep up so I don't continue writing these lengthy posts. I do have lots of pictures from Spring/Summer to post, so check back!
