Happy First Birthday

It is so strange to think that a year has gone by. That we are done with the sleepless nights and teeny tiny baby clothes, the crawling and snuggling and sleeping on my chest. No more baby food. No more bouncy seat. No more exasaucer. It went by so quickly and as baby number four, wow, just remembering yesterday is a chore.

Miles is obviously the youngest and thus must prove to everyone what he should be doing. There is no, "I am too small for this" going through that baby's head. He is 100% sure that he should be doing and eating exactly what every person bigger than him is doing and eating.

Happy first birthday baby and welcome to your second year!!

Halloween

Sadly, it was about a million degrees on Halloween. Okay, more like 85. But that is no way to usher in the fall. It makes me crazy when my poor little ones bundle up in these hot costumes and then sweat all night long. Although I am sure all the candy made up for the uncomfortable temperatures.

Ethan keeping his hands as fall away from the pumpkin "guts" as he can.

Anxiously awaiting dusk.

My yummy little skunk.

Big Old Stepping Stone...

Okay, so I know I am writing this little blurb after being absent for two months.  And I know that there are not any pictures to make you smile, but I felt that I just HAD to document two little events in our household.  Yesterday Evan figured out how to buckle and unbuckle his car seat.  Now while some of you will "ugh, oh no" I am about jumping out of my chair!  That is ONE less child to buckle in.  And by the time I get the baby in and myself and then check to see who still needs time to buckle up- he is about done.  Can you see how happy this makes me.  My second wonderful event is that my oldest has found the true, wonderful, exciting world of books.  Not books that you have to read, or books your mom reads to you before bed, but honest to goodness read to yourself until you can barely keep your eyes open books.  It isn't that he couldn't read to himself, I just don't think he ever really found it interesting.  Well now, the boy can't stop.  He is finishing chapter books in two nights.  One night I forgot he was reading, was going up to bed and he was STILL reading- ten o'clock mind you.  As a lover of books this makes me smile.  It makes me excited to share with him the curl up, read till your blind, addictive stories that are out there.  Yeah Ethan!!!  And not to leave out my others... Miles can climb the footstool and turn on the bathroom sink (nice) and Mads stabbed a cruton with her fork.  I know, I know.

Bowl of Beans

As we were clearing off our table from dinner, Evan decided he wasn't quite done. He just dug into the bowl of beans.

My Shadow

Mi-Mi, Miley, Miles Jensen, or Bean always follows me around the kitchen when I am trying to clean up dinner. There are times when I out run him because I am trying to get things done. Here he just gave up and I caught him from behind. Once he knew I was taking the picture he was back on the move again.

Our Little Bee

Mads got to wear her bee costume for her fall ballet recital. She was quite the ballerina- so good that she gets to move up to the big girl's class. She has quite a memory for french ballet terms.

Fall Leaves

On a sunny, warm weekend in October we took the kids up to the Sierras to look for brightly colored fall leaves. We packed a picnic and had a great afternoon together.