1st grade

Téa started first grade on Tuesday. She has been counting down to this for months. She had Ben walk her to the bus stop and wanted me to be at the school just for that little reassurance. When she saw me in the car, she started to come see me and then decided that would be a little uncool in front of the 5th graders and just kept walking. When she got home and I asked her how her day was she just said, "uh, AMAZING."





POST SCRIPT:
I wanted to take her picture in the backyard and promised her the sprinklers wouldn't get her. The amount of trust she has in me just shines through, doesn't it.

These are her "Cheetahs"

Avery didn't do so hot on her kindergarten eye exam a few months ago. Instead of calling out Boat, Cat, Plane and other pictures on the eye chart . . . she just kept saying Dot, Dot, Dot. I couldn't believe it, I had no idea. My heart broke when I realized how bad her eyes were. So, off we went to see our dear friend Kurt, "the Eye Doctor." She was pretty nervous around him until he started talking about playing with Rocco in our backyard. She loosened right up after that. After an hour-long eye exam, Avery came home with a special treat. . . glasses. She loves them and I love her.

Ben Put the Girls to Bed. . .

. . . and whenever he does, the girls claim their pajamas are dirty. . . so that he will let them wear these beauties straight out of his closet.

5 Weeks Today

We've been surrounded by family for the past few weeks.  It has been so nice to have everyone around.  Most of our family lives out of state.

On the 28th, we all got together with Ben's side of the family for fireworks at his uncle's house. 

The 4th of July - 

We had 22 people over at our house last Thursday.  Eleven of them were kids.  We all rented the world's largest waterslide bouncehouse, put it in our backyard, and didn't see the kids for about 5 hours.  Genius.


My oldest sister, Megan.
Avery, Quinn, Elle
Charlie and Avery

Bull Shirt -

Ah yes, my husband.  Megan called about a month ago and "informed" Ben that he would be running a 10k with our family the morning of the 4th of July.  Ben happily agreed, but on one condition.  Pictured below is "the one condition."  Yes, he ran a 10k in jean short cutoffs ("Jorts" as Justin calls them.)  Here he is just as he returned home.
Park City -

We headed up to the golf course in Park City for the fireworks.  

We had a "pool" at my mom's house.  Apparently, if it is a pool, it doesn't matter the size or temperature. . .they are all getting in.

Well - I have not been as long winded as I normally am. That is because I am typing with one hand and Eden-holding in the other. For a more aesthetically pleasing look at our weekend over The Fourth, visit my sister Amy's blog.

Bull Shirt

I bet you'd like an explanation for this, wouldn't you. 

Maybe tomorrow.

And yes,  I am proud to say that is my husband.

The Honeymoon is Over

I woke up in a daze this morning to Avery shuffling around my nightstand.

What are you looking for?  A binky.

Where's your dad?  He's at work. 

Where's Eden?  Téa has her.  

Ok, I'm awake.

The honeymoon is over.  It is definitely over.  I am home alone with 2 kids and a newborn with no plan, no clean laundry, and no breakfast to speak of.  

You cannot imagine how spoiled I've been the past 3 weeks.  

My dad and Diana came up for 4 days and played with my girls until they couldn't see straight. Then my mother-in-law came up and continued to watch the girls and clean, clean, clean!  My mom has been here making sure we have food and someone to hold Eden.  

The girls have been to the zoo, Hobble Creek, Children's Museum, movies, and Kangaroo Zoo. Friends have come and taken my girls for the day. We've had a birthday party here, housed (and killed) a caterpillar named Shrekapillar, and ridden bikes for hours. Ben's entire family was here for a week for a family reunion on Saturday.

Now it is over and I am alone with the girls. . .

until tomorrow when my whole family comes into town for the 4th of July.  

 

Eden Eden Eden

So life has pretty much been turned upside down and been pretty much skewed in one direction. . .Eden.  We are all so in love.  

Here are a few photos from the recent days.  I've been a little slow at getting things done.  I have been exhausted and not believing there was ever a day when I was showered before 10am. Until then, the girls will continue to happily live off of popsicles and go to bed with chlorinated hair.  

Baby Eden

I've said that June 10th would be a perfect day to have a baby (my due date was the 17th).  The neuralgia in my back wasn't letting up, so at my 39 week appointment on Tuesday, the doctor said, "Are you ready to have this baby?"  I half-jokingly said "How about two o'clock?" A few minutes later he had booked me for a 3 o'clock induction.  I had about 2 hours to get my things in order before we checked into the hospital.  

We took this picture together right before I left for the hospital.  Roz was so great and took the girls for the night.  I went over to give Téa a kiss goodbye and she said, "Mom, get out of here and go have the baby!!"

The nurses knew I wanted her to be born on the 10th.  At 11:56 pm the doctor ran in and the nurse said to me, "You have 4 minutes to have this baby."

She was born at 11:57.  I'm not one to dilly dally.

Ben and his 3rd little girl.

As you can see, my favorite thing was having Téa and Avery meet their sister.  They were so so excited.  They would have stayed in the hospital all day, but after 90 minutes of passing the baby back and forth every 3 minutes, Eden needed a break.  




She is beautiful and perfect in every way.  I am always surprised at how love is able to multiply. I couldn't be more in love with my family.