Off to School

Grant started his journey through school today. Off to Kindergarten he went at St. Mark Lutheran School. I'm so excited for him because I think he has a great teacher and a nice class. He is thrilled to be doing something, anything, for a full day. He goes every day all day. As excited as we all were, it was a bit of a fiasco getting there this morning.

Woke up...get dressed and think about a shower another time...get Grant's clothes out...feed Grant...nurse Charley...wake Molly...feed Molly...oops don't have time to change the girls as they fell asleep on the way home from Detroit the night before and slept in there clothes...at least they are in clothes and not pjs...get your backpack...where's your shoes...did you brush your teeth...clean up Charley's spit up...realized I didn't eat anything...take picture, click...let's go...OH SHOOT...forgot you need a lunch...quick make lunch...realize how not easy it is to get three kids up and out the door by 7:45...Charley will have to eat her cereal when we get back...let's go...remember about construction...take a detour...pull in to parking lot...PHEW, made it!!

He was exhausted, to say the least, when he got home. So hopefully we'll adjust to our new schedule soon! He seemed to enjoy his day though, and I was surprised that I actually did get a little teary-eyed as I watched him line-up, wave and shoot me a huge smile! I love you Grantster!

So now I think that I will have a restful day at home having just the girls with me...or not. I didn't realize just how much Grant entertained Molly in the mornings. Even though they fight every five minutes, at least they were doing it together. :) And little miss Charley decided she didn't want to take a nap at the same time as big sis and proceeded to scream in her crib instead. Got her up only for her to spit up like five times all over the place. Lovely.

So onto this next stage of life. School times! I'm sure we will adjust soon. What a busy life!

Life Shots

Some random shots of my kids and their life. Our family of five is constantly moving and changing.

Molly looking innocent...

Charley being sweet

Molly loves sweet treats

Charley eating her toes

Big smiles from Charley...always

Friends Ava and Molly

Grant enjoying a freezer pop on one of the few hot days we've had...wearing his patch.

Grant in the ER for an infected leg that may have resulted from a spider bite. Good times.

Auntie Lindsay

Matt's sister Lindsay was in town for a few weeks in August and we were so happy to be able to spend some time with her, as she lives in California. The kids had a blast hanging out with Auntie Lindsay. We're so glad we could visit and catch up with her. She was even able to come to Molly's

birthday party. Mols was thrilled! Hope she can come back soon! (ps - Matt is on rollerblades. :-)

Brrr....

So as most of you know, our summer has been pretty chilly this year in Michigan. You never know what you are going to get when you walk out the door. So one warm, sunny Saturday morning we headed out the door to head to my parents place on Lake Michigan. Well by time we got to Muskegon, the weather was chilly, windy, cloudy and just plain blah! So we stopped off at a local putt golf/go cart place. The kids had a blast!

Molly's Party

Here are some pictures from Molly's birthday party. Shout out to Rachel for helping take pictures!! (ps...don't click on the ad, just wait for slideshow to load)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

You're TWO!

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Molly girl! I really can't believe that you are two already. These past two years have flown by. I really feel like it was yesterday that I brought you home from the hospital. Everyone in the hospital nursery said what a sweet baby you were, and they were right. You really have started to come out of your shell now and are quite a bit more outgoing than I thought you would be. You'll strike up a conversation with almost anyone you meet. You also have figured out that you have a will of your own too and have become a bit stubborn. I love your laughs and giggles and silliness along with your bouncy head of curls. You're my little parrot and will say the funniest things. I love this age as you realize there is a big world around you! You have even begun to become a bit adventurous. It has been so fun watching you grow and learn. You are a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart. We love you so much and can't wait to see what's next! Happy Birthday Mols!

Mornin Charwee

My girls are 19 1/2 months apart. I'm watching and waiting on this one. Hopefully they'll be the best of friends! So far, they seem to like each other pretty well. Granted, Charley doesn't do much yet, but she smiles a lot at Molly. Molly always wants to hold her and talk to her. Every morning when we wake up and get Charley out of her bed Mols says "Mornin Charwee" in this oddly low but adorable voice. It's the cutest thing ever and I hope to remember it for the rest of my life. It's like she is trying to be an adult talking to a little baby, how we do that thing with our voice...you know...coochie coochie coo...in that strange voice. Anyways, we love it. "Mornin Charwee"...

Curls!!

So if you have ever seen my daughter Molly, you know she carries around a huge head of curls with her wherever she goes. Sometimes they are in knots, sometimes they are a perfect spiral, and sometimes I just don't know what to do with them so up in pigtails they go. Everywhere we go, and I mean everywhere, people comment on Molly's curls. "What beautiful curls, what gorgeous hair, isn't she cute" And yes, thank you, I think she is adorable. Somehow I think I pictured a little girl in curls before she was born. As I have mentioned in the past, Matt had curls and I have this kinky wave thing going on. I can't even imagine what she would look like if her hair were straight. I'm sure she'll think they are a pain as she grows up, as the grass is always greener on the other side, but for now, I love my little curly head Mols!

Charley ~ 4 Months!

Charley turned 4 months old on July 20th! I can't believe it. I know she is still so young, but I feel like I can't even remember where these last four months went...probably because my life has become a whirlwind these days with three kids. Summer is flying by! It is hard for me to believe that the stage of life we are in isn't permanent, because I feel like this is how my family will stay forever. Matt and I in our early thirties, a 5 year old, 2 year old and a baby... They are growing up so fast, and I can't even fathom what tomorrow will bring! Here are some stats on Charlotte's progress in babyhood:

• Length: 25 7/8 inches long (95% - WHAT? you say...yes, i have tall babies...oddly enough)
• Weight: 13 pounds 14 oz (55%)
• Has been rolling over since the 23rd of July...Back to Belly. She'll do it over and over again and then gets really upset that she can't go back. Hopefully we'll get belly to back down soon too!
• She is SUPER smiley! Probably my smiliest baby yet. Her whole face lights up
• She sleeps well, usually about four naps a day with a couple long ones in there. She goes to bed around 8:30-9 and sleeps til 7-8.
• She sucks her right thumb...like her momma did. I know its bad for her teeth, but I still think its cute.
• She drools A LOT. Her shirt, neck, face, and hands are always soaking wet. I'm waiting for teeth to pop through, because she is constantly drooling.
• She also spits up a lot. She's a messy girl all around I guess, which is why I'm putting off starting cereal for a month or so, because I know if she is this messy now, eating solids will make matters even worse!
• She can be content for a while, but she can also be cranky. Her cry has definitely gotten louder as the months have gone on.
• I still swaddle her at night with one arm out, but that will probably stop soon as I'm afraid she'll roll over and get stuck without having both arms out (that makes me sad...I love a swaddled babe).
• She still doesn't have a lot of hair. I'm curious to see how it comes in...curly or straight, brown or blonde.
• She does not really look like my other two kids. I think you can tell that she is their sibling, but she definitely has her own look. People have said they think she looks more like me, but I think she just looks less like Matt, but we will see.
• She "talks" and "sings" a lot, just like Molly did. I think she will be quite vocal.
• She puts everything in her mouth. Grant and Molly didn't do this a ton, so this is new for me. Anything she grabs goes right to her mouth.
• I love to make her giggle. Although its not a belly laugh so much, its an adorable giggle.
• She has strong legs and will stand up with my help. Grant did this, Molly did not.
• She scoots on her back, sometimes into furniture...ouch.
• She loves her brother and sister. They make her smile.

We love you Charley! It is so much fun watching you grow and change!

Fourth of July

We spent the Fourth of July weekend in Muskegon at my parents lake place and had a wonderful time. The whole family was able to be there, so the cousins had a blast hanging out on the beach...and so did we!

Molly and her curls

Matt and Charley Girl

My Hub

Freaky ghost boat...cool pic

Matt and I took Grant to see the fireworks (girls were sleeping)

Happy Charley

 

Just thought I'd show some updated pictures of Charley.  She is always smiling and now is sucking her thumb too.  I know its not the best idea, but I much prefer a self soother than a pacifier.  Grant was a paci kid, Molly sucks her fingers, and Charley sucks her thumb...just like her momma did.  :)  She is so content and always happy.  Love you so much baby girl!

Slip n' Slide

What is better than Slip n' Slide on a hot summer day?!

Children's Garden

Since my parents are watching my nieces this weekend, I dragged them over to Meijer Gardens with me to enjoy a beautiful day at the Children's Garden.  I love going there and the kids do too.  The kids had a great time playing in the treehouse, maze, giant sandbox, and of course the water.  The kids always leave there soaking wet, but its totally worth it.

Molly, Grant, Sofia and Stella at the Children's Gate

Stella and Mols playing boats

What a good lookin' Papa

A distinguished tea party of course

Fia and Grant playing seadoos

And Charley is always happily along for the ride

Stel

Molly Girl

2 Months Old!

Okay, so Charley is more than two months old...I know.  But I wanted to post her stats since time is flying by.  She had her two month appointment about three weeks ago as she is 11 weeks old now.  She is interacting more and more every day and seems to be a smiley one.  I still have yet to get a real laugh out of her but she is a happy baby.  She is sleeping great and eating well.  She is a sweet little girl, and I can't wait to see who she really looks like!  Here are her stats:

Height: 23 5/8 inches - 90%

Weight: 12 pounds 3 ounces - 80%

Head: 39.2 cm - 65%

Trip to the 'Zoo'

Last weekend, we made a trip to Kalamazoo to visit our great friends the Leonards, as well as drag them to Binder Park Zoo with us!  We've been wanting to get down to that zoo and we are always excited to hang out with Ben, Carrie, Taylor, and Zach!  It was a perfect day for the zoo and a fun day hanging out at their house.  Here are some great pictures of our fun day (sorry there are so many...it was hard to choose). 

On the big ant

Taylor and Grant

Two monkeys in a tree

The daddies and the kiddos

On the big turtle

Feeding the goats

Feeding the giraffes (so cool!)

I mean really cool! Wild Africa was definitely the best part.  There are rolling hills with animals roaming around and a platform that the giraffes walk up to so you can feed them.  Crazy!

Carrie and I with Mols and Zach

Beautiful blue eyes on Zachie

Tay holding Charley...isn't she beautiful?!

Sisters