To think that at the beginning of September, Charlotte wasn't even here yet, just seems so hard to believe and seems like a lifetime ago! The month has been full of incredible things: obviously at the top of the list is the birth of Charlotte, but also included a great visit with Lindsay and Finn, the celebration of Julia's 2nd birthday, the beginning of preschool for Ella, the start of full day kindergarten for Joseph, Julia being potty trained!!, Rich receiving confirmation for his entry to the Boston marathon, the start to soccer season for Joseph and faith formation at church for Joseph and Ella and other fun activities as well as just the daily happenings at home. Here is a snapshot of the month in pictures:
My necklaces and clothes are often found strewn around the house (which drives me a little crazy) but they make up for it by looking so cute and by seeing them enjoy dressing up in my clothes so much.
Ella needed a haircut badly; however, for whatever reason she did not want to go somewhere to get it cut. I tried just about everything-bribing with cake pops, taking Sydney, having Aunt Laura, Nani, Aunt Lindsay take her and the list goes on but she wouldn't budge. I finally told her that I could cut it at home and at first she wanted no part in that either, but finally on the morning of her preschool orientation she said that I could cut it so I took advantage of it and prayed that I cut it straight and did it. I didn't try anything fancy just tried my best to keep it stright and get rid of the dead ends and thankfully it ended up looking ok. I had to get a picture of the longest strand...it was definitely needed!
On Friday, September 2nd we met up with the Ozecks, Nani, Poppa, Aunt Lindsay and Finn down at Mission Bay for a walk on the boardwalk and time to play at the playground. Joseph was at school so it was a fun last outing with just the girls and a great way to enjoy the beautiful day!
Ella and Julia have really been into playaing restaurant and are always taking my order. Ella started with writing in a notebook and it has been so sweet to watch Julia follow her and now do the same.
They play really well most of the time together although are starting to have their moments. Julia can be a bit of an instigator and knows how to push Ella's buttons, especially when Ella is tired or something is bothering her, but thankfully most days they are best friends. *Note that both girls are wearing my clothes!
These pictures are all post Charlotte!! On September 7th Laura, the kids and Nani and Poppa all came over for the afternoon and we had our first outing to the Westwood Club. Charlotte cried and had to be fed there but we all survived and it was nice to get out of the house for a bit.
On September 8th, Lindsay and Finn came over to help and hang out and Charlotte and Finn were down on the floor next to one another and the rest of the crew decided to join them. Too funny!
I don't think that I mentioned that Rich had to go to Atlanta on the 8th for the night!! Nothing like flying across the country when your daughter is 5 days old but we survived thanks to our awesome family and friends. Lindsay, Nani and Poppa all came for dinner and then Nani spent the night and stayed for the entire next day and our good friend, Libby, took Joseph to school in the morning.
Sweet sister love on September 9th.
Joseph had his first soccer game on September 10th. His team is the Black Widows and crazy enough his coach is a friend of mine from high school. Rich has been recruited as the assistant coach, a job that he didn't necessarily want but is having fun with it and glad it worked out that way. The girls and I opted to stay home for this first game but Joseph came back all smiles, despite their loss and we have enjoyed going to the rest of the games this month.
After his soccer game, Rich took Joseph and Ella to the Westwood Club for their annual campout. They had a BLAST!! They set up the tent, swam, played with friends, had dinner, played some more, watched a movie and then had breakfast the next morning. Everyone slept great since they were so tired from all of the playing and Joseph and Ella totally loved it!
After a few weeks of checking out the Halloween costumes at Costco, Joseph finally decided on a costume. For the first days he wore it every day for part of the day...hoping he still likes it come Halloween!
Just hanging around on September 12th.
Crafts with Charlotte on September 15th.
Our cul de sac/neighborhood has been such a blessing especially since the arrival of Charlotte. We are outside riding bikes or playing basically every weekday afternoon. It has worked out so well since I don't have to load anyone up and on most days the other neighborhood kids come out, too.
Julia definitely misses Ella and Joseph while they're at school. She was giving her hugs before school! Rich has been a huge help and doing the drop offs for both Joseph and Ella in the morning and Julia always goes with him to take Ella (and Ella always goes with him to take Joseph!) Jules will cry if she thinks they are going to leave her and totally loves it.
This made me laugh!Julia seems to have grown up so much this month. She is always pointing out "E for Ella" everywhere we go-she definitely idolizes her older sister!
Joseph began full day of kindergarten on September 26th, so it has been another adjustment to the full day, but he is loving it! The girls and I miss him for those extra few hours but it is nice to get into the routine as to what the remainder of the year will be like. When you ask him about his favorite part of the day he always says, "Everything about school". He is learning so much and not all of it is academic. At the beginning of the month he asked me, "Mom, what does 'fart' mean?" We normally refer to it as "piggy" still and we were laughing saying that I guess "piggy" doesn't cut it in kindergarten. Homework began for him at the start of going full day but thankfully he doesn't have too much and it isn't overwhelming (I am definitely a fan of all of the current research that shows that homework in elementary school is not a necessity!) He has to read his guided reading book, read for 20 minutes, spend 10 minutes on the online reading program (Lexia), practice his sight/snap words and has a month to finish about ten pages of math so it isn't too bad...plus, he LOVES it! He comes home and right away wants to do it so we are in a good routine of snack, homework, iPad/watch a show for 20 minutes and then we go outside. Having the cul de sac has been so great and we normally spend about an hour outside with the neighborhood kids. Then it is dinner, bath, books and bed!
Getting some energy out one afternoon
Joseph is loving soccer! He hasn't had much luck with scoring a goal yet but is learning a lot and having a blast. They changed the age groups at the last minute so he was moved up to the Under 8 team since the cutoff was changed to 12/31/10 so he barely made it. He is learning a lot from the older kids (soccer related and not soccer related-ha!) but we are happy that he is playing in this division to push him and to see what he is capable of.
Gotta love swimming in September! The pool is definitely a bit chilly but they love heating up the hot tub and going back and forth between the two...polar bear plunge! Rich often says to the kids, "Don't mess with the bull, or you'll get the horns" while playing around with them and the kids were all saying it to him in this picture as he was swimming up and grabbing them to take them into the big pool. Hearing Julia say it is one of the cutest things ever!
Our friends, the Littons, came over to play and to meet baby Charlotte and the boys were having a good time pretending that they were the baby.
I have started doing the after school pickups and we walk home most days which has really worked out great. The kids burn off some energy and it is nice to get a little exercise, too.
Ella continues to be enamored with Charlotte and such a doting, big sister.
Indoor picnic one afternoon.
Thumbs up for another pool day on September 25th.
Ella is going to lunch bunch (an extended school day for two hours) every Wednesday and on September 28th she came home very tired and the next thing I knew I found her like this in the family room.
On September 27th, Julia literally woke up that morning and told me "No diapers, big girl." I actually tried talking her out of it because I wasn't sure if I wanted to take on the task of potty training with Charlotte only being weeks old but decided to go with it and she has been doing amazing!! For the first week she only had 2 accidents!! She goes back and forth between using the little potty and the regular toilet but is so excited every time she goes, wanting everyone to inspect it, and we are just so proud of her! She is still wearing a diaper, or a pull up, for naps and nighttime but cutting out the diapers during the day is such a treat! I brought out the little potty one afternoon when we were playing in the cul-de-sac and had to snap this cute picture...I'm sure the neighbors love looking out the windows and seeing this sight ;)
Joseph brought home his class bear, Sugar, for the last weekend in September so we had a movie night with him on Friday night.
Sometimes Julia pretends that she is a baby now, too, and likes to be swaddled like "baby la la"
And, finally, my favorite picture from the month taken on September 22nd at bedtime. Overall, I have to say that the month really went very smooth. I am so thankful for a husband/Dad who is so involved in the daily routines and always such a good help and the help from my parents and siblings who have also made the transition to 4 kids much easier-it would be a whole different ballgame if we were still in Texas without their support. The days are definitely full and at times it can be overwhelming but I just try not to get hung up on anything and then move on. Every night I am finding myself just being so thankful for these four sweet blessings, but also a bit in shock as well, that we really do have 4 kids?! It is crazy to think about the upcoming years and what our life is going to look like but we are soaking up this time now and really enjoying every messy, chaotic minute.
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