September Photos

September was a busy month as we began to enter my favorite season, Fall! It was still brutally hot most of the month but we managed to enjoy quite a bit of outside time nonetheless, with plenty of reading, crafts and indoor games sprinkled in as well.

I even did a little sewing last month and made Echo a special dress to wear for her Birthday party in her favorite color!

Signs of fall

We are still spending lots of time at Natural Learning Alternative, the kids' preschool coop where I am now teaching two days a week!

Echo had a Birthday and turned a big 4 years old! We had a family party and a bigger party with friends.

Fall is a very busy time for us so there will be lots more photos coming for the month of October!

Our big 4 Year Old

Our amazing first born is turning 4 today...4! Every day I look at her and am startled by how grown up she is. Her limbs are becoming long and lanky, she is losing the soft roundness of toddlerhood and quickly becoming a young girl.

When I think of all we have been through together it seems like longer than 4 years but at the same time it feels like she was just born. I remember the long sleepless nights of her infant days, the excitement and wonder as she turned one and started to walk, the trials of the terrible twos and the amazing emotional and physical growth of year 3.

I'm so excited to watch my strong, confident, smart girl in her fourth year of life.

It's been amazing for me to see how unique each of my children are. I kind of expected her to be a little me but Echo is very definitely her own person. She is sweet and cuddley, complex and emotional, and oh so bright and curious.

What an amazing gift it is to be this girls mommy. I love seeing the special bond she has with her sister and how well they play together as they grow.

Happy Birthday to my dear girl! I'm lucky to know you!

August Photos

In spite of the brutal heat we've had this August we managed to get out quite a bit. We checked out the new children's section at the Botanical Gardens as well as the Dale Chihuly exhibit that is there right now.

 Our big Birthday girl Clover turned 2! We took her bowling and had ice cream cake and presents.

 We played in the creek with our new homeschool coop group.

 And with the same group we had an olympic themed field day. Rhythmic gymnastics was the only event my kids were at all interested in (that and face painting).