Daisy at dance

Rosie at dance

Five

Daisy turned 5 yesterday. She had asked to go swimming on her birthday - she had a hard time understanding why she is the only one of the four that has a birthday during the cool months. Thankfully my aunt has a heated indoor pool!

Halloween - the boys

Lake is at the age of trying to decide whether or not he is too old to dress up for Halloween. I told him it was completely up to him - if he wanted to dress up, I would try to help him with an idea. We've been listening to 1980's hip hop - thus the rapper.

Oh, and in case you don't know Lake.... He is so NOT this serious. In fact he was trying not to laugh while I took this.



Tate knew for months that he wanted to be Indiana Jones for Halloween.

Halloween - the girls

Minnie





Pippi Longstocking

While we were at the beach

On the day before we left for the beach, I discovered that an internet friend was going to be in the same general area at the same time. Of course, we had to meet. She has three children (her girls are the same ages as mine.) It was funny to watch the girls size each other up and then pick the one that looked their same size and then begin playing. Way to cute!



At first, Daisy and her new found friend just played near each other.



Then, they moved in a little closer.



Daisy had to check the size of the hole that they were digging.



After three hours, these girls appear to be fast friends. Since we have been home, Daisy has asked several times for this friend.

Soon, we hope.

Rosie jumping

On our last day at the gulf.

Daisy jumping

I think she likes the beach....

ten

What a great birthday weekend! Lake turned 10 on Saturday and we spent the day doing the things he loves. His best friend and his friend's brother was with us.




He asked to eat lunch at Lulu's in Gulf Shores.



He asked to ride go-carts at The Track.



He wanted to visit the ocean.



We finished the day with birthday cake.

On his last day to be 9

That's right. Tomorrow Lake will be 10. Double digits. Yep, that's him fresh out of the shower ready for school this morning.

When he was asked whether he would like to have a big birthday party or go on a trip somewhere he chose to go to the beach. So, that's where we are headed this afternoon. He invited his best friend and his best friend's brother. We will have six kids with ages ranging from 4 to 10 years old. Hopefully we will be so busy playing that I won't dwell on the fact that my firstborn son is 10. Ouch.

Letter to the neighbor

In case you don't know Tate very well - there is some thing you should know to fully understand why my heart feels like it may burst over what he did yesterday afternoon. He doesn't like to write. Anything. Getting him to do homework that involves handwriting is like pulling teeth. Permanent teeth.

Yesterday afternoon the only homework he had was reading. So, you see, I was surprised to find him at the kitchen table with paper and pencil. Writing. I peered over his shoulder and could make out the words, "Dear Mrs. Dot," A few minutes later, he folded the paper and asked me if he could go to Mrs. Dot's house for a minute and take the letter to her. I said that he could but asked if I could read the letter first. He handed it over. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. Oh - never mind - it DID bring tears to my eyes.

Dear Mrs. Dot,

I love your sweet heart. You are so nice to people and animals. I know you must get lonely living by yourself. When you get lonely you can call us and we will come and play with you.

Love,
your friend,
Tate

Mrs. Dot is a neighbor that lives two houses from us. She is older and lives alone. The kids visit her for a few minutes in the afternoon about once a week. We've never really talked about her being lonely. Tate did this completely on his own. When he came home I asked him if she hugged him. He said "No. But she did say she was going to keep the letter for the rest of her life and look at it every day."




I don't post this to brag. I just want to remember these sweet, tender moments.

stall talk

Lately, Daisy has been saying some really thoughtful, and sometimes funny and cute things and I really should post about them but I usually forget.

Last night we were at dinner and the girls needed to go to the restroom. We usually go into the same stall (mainly for security but also if one of the girls needs help.) However, Daisy sometimes asks to go by herself. Last night was one of those times. I felt is was safe - the restaurant was not crowded and our table was the first one near the restroom door. Once she got her door closed she realized the lock was too high for her to reach (I agree with her as I had to reach to lock the door that Rosie and I were in.)

In her quick thinking she said, "Oh, Mommy that's OK. I'll just keep talking so someone will know I'm in here."

And she did. She talked the entire stay in the stall. She never panicked that someone would walk in on her. I may be out of line but I think that she was being very resourceful for a four year old, don't you?

Catching up

I foolishly thought that once all four kids were in school, I wouldn't go so long in between posts. It seems that since Daisy started pre-school two weeks ago, things have only gotten busier. I've been spending time with Rosie's class, I cooked 78 meals in 3 hours with some friends last Friday (and did prep work leading up to that busy morning!) and I organized the kids rooms last week. Oh, and I had a few lunch dates with John Henry scattered throughout the last few weeks. We celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary on the 4th of this month. Who'd have thought....

The boys are playing soccer this fall. Their team has a web site - if you're interested, e-mail me and I'll send the link. I have some incredible 'action' shots of the first game but don't feel comfortable posting them because other kids are in the picture.



Before the first game. Can you tell it's an early game this Saturday morning?



Both girls are taking dance this year. This will be Rosie's fourth year to dance and Daisy's second year to dance. They both took gymnastics in the summer. Rosie decided she's not that interested in it but Daisy loves it. The kids have been doing homework while Daisy takes her hour long class of gymnastics once a week. So far, it's working out well.

All seem to be adjusting to school and the new schedule. On Daisy's second day of school, a little boy kissed her on the head. She was not happy about it at all!

First day of school, finally

Daisy was beside herself with excitement about starting school. She had a hard time sleeping last night. This morning when we were coming home from taking the other three to school she said, "Finally. I get to go to school. This has been a long, boring wait."

So much for all the things we did together these last few weeks while it was only the two of us.....

Sunday afternoon at the park

It is very rare to get a picture of my boys smiling rather than posing with the strained "let's get this over with" smile.



Take this for instance: How often have you seen this smile on here? This is a "happy to be a nine year old boy playing outside in the sunshine with my family" smile.



I was using my zoom for this. She was not talking to me. Actually there wasn't anyone to be talking to near her. Oh, wait. Maybe Sarah or Grace.

Which reminds me of this quick story: Before I get started, do you remember Sarah and Grace? They are the imaginary friends of Daisy. One day last week most of Daisy's toys appeared in the living room. I asked her to put them up before we left to pick up everyone else from school.

Her reply: I didn't bring them out here. Sarah and Grace brought them out here. They have been so bad. I need to find some new pretend friends that don't make messes.

She came up with two new friends - Mia and Myla. They didn't last long, though. Sarah and Grace have been back (and better than before.) As Daisy puts it, they have straightened up!



And the ever camera ready smile. She did really well at school this morning. She actually wanted me to let her walk in by herself

homework

The kids seem to be settling into the school year routine. Daisy is anxious to start school but still has a few weeks to wait. Lake had lots of homework Monday and Tuesday afternoon. One of his supplies was a planner that was ordered through the school. He received his yesterday and in it, he listed his homework for the afternoon. He wrote very neatly, began his homework without any prompting from me and really enjoyed crossing off the tasks as he completed each one.

Tate's homework has been limited to reading for 30 minutes daily, finding an unfamiliar word in the reading and writing the definition. He took a spelling pre-test on Monday and since he scored 100, he is exempt from the spelling homework this week as well as the test on Friday.

Rosie has not had homework yet. She still reads with us every night. We have a couple of books going right now. As a family, I'm reading The Reptile Room to everyone. Lake has to read The Cay for school so I checked out a copy and am reading along with him. Tate is reading Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye.

Overall, I think the school year has started off well. This week started off rough with John Henry going out of town for the week and Rosie crying in the morning but this morning she went into the class without any tears.

On her second day of first grade

Bubbly

That is the only way I can think of to describe the attitudes of Rosie, Tate and Lake when I picked them up at school this afternoon. Rosie exclaimed, "I feel like I need to scream because I had such a good day at school!" I am trying not to dwell on the first day of kindergarten for her last year when she said that it was the best day of her life.

And then the second day of kindergarten was the worst day of her life. Ever.

The boys were just as happy with their day. Usually I have to really ask them lots of questions to find out how things went but today it seemed as if they couldn't talk fast enough to tell me everything.

If you are curious about what Daisy and I did today - she changed clothes 5 times and then got a blanket, a cup of chocolate milk and her blanket and curled up in my lap.
We stayed that way for nearly two hours. She will start preschool after Labor Day but seemed content to play with me today.

Back to school

First grade

My Rosie was the hardest to wake this morning. Once she got moving, she ate a good breakfast, got dressed, asked me to fix her hair (curling the ponytail, I might add), put her book bag on her shoulder and was ready to go!

Third grade

Tate has been excited about school for the last several weeks. He was the first to wake this morning - and he was in a good mood, too! He has a teacher that is new to the school so of course there are lots of questions.



Can't you tell that he is just about to burst with excitement?

Fourth grader

Lake is ready for fourth grade. I told him that this was my favorite year of elementary school. His best friend is in his class. They went to preschool together and although they have been at the same school, this is the first year for them to be in class together.



He was nervous and excited at the same time.

Last day of summer break

The kids go back to school tomorrow. They are all very excited. We met the teachers last night and it looks like we should have a good year. After running several errands (hair cuts, doctor office for medical forms twice) we went for a swim at a favorite pool. It's not the one we use (which is 5 minutes from home and includes an Olympic size pool, wave pool, kids area and beach area.) This one is about 15 minutes from home but there is just something about it that we love; therefore, it has become a tradition over the last three years to swim at this pool on the day before school starts.



Lake on his way down the slide, with his good friend following closely behind.



Tate was able to stay seated on his way down.



Of course, Rosie.



No need to have sympathy for Daisy. She had several turns on the slide while sitting on my lap. This was taken as we were drying off a bit before heading home.

ouch!

Tate was stung by a bee on the inside of his lip. I took this about 10 minutes after it happened. I have given him Benadryl and now we are waiting to see if it is going to get worse or settle down....

update: the swelling went down and his lip is looking and feeling much better!

looking back

I thought we might take a look back through a few birthdays...



On Rosie's second birthday, she fell and busted her lip. She still has a visible scar from that one.



On her third birthday, she was just plain silly!



I think she looks the 'most changed' going from her third birthday to her fourth.



Or maybe from the fourth to the fifth...

I do know this: The time is going by at lightening speed with these four children that I love so much.