Hmmm...

Last time I checked, it was still August, right? :) This was taken a few days ago at the grocery store...

Hawken goes to preschool!

Hawken started Preschool on Tuesday. He goes Tuesday and Thursday and it's the same style co-op as Matix's class. He is with other kids who have two years until Kindergarten, just like him.  His favorite Texas friend, Logan, is in his class, which makes it even cooler. Hawken has been ready for preschool for a looong time.

After his first day, I asked how it was. What did you learn? Did you have fun? Etc...  His reply was, "That school was silly."  I asked what he meant by that and he went onto explain that they did a lot of playing and not very much learning. :) I tried to explain that preschool is for playing too, but he wouldn't have it.  I also pointed out that he had practiced the letter 'A', and even written it, to which he replied, "Mom, everyone knows the letter A!"

He was excited to go again today though, despite it being "silly" on Tuesday. :) Hopefully he will loosen up a bit and enjoy himself. Silly boy. I mean, serious, learning boy.

preschool for Matix!

On Monday, Matix had his first day of preschool. 

Last year he went to a co-op type school for 4 hours a day twice a week.  I didn't have to share teaching, but there were lots of little jobs and fundraisers that the parents were expected to participate in. This year, a few moms from church got together with that same idea, only we would also split up the teaching.  That way it's free too.  We have a curriculum that we are following and lesson plans and everything. This is Matix's last year of preschool before starting kindergarten, so I want him to be ready.

He is so smart and excite about learning.  His first day went really smoothly and he is anxious to go again tomorrow (He goes Mondays and Fridays).  He filled out this paper about himself.  Too cute.  On the part where it says "I love..." he drew a picture of his daddy and a skateboard. Two things he really loves. :)

Hopefully his first day was an indicator of how well the rest of the year will go. He came home buzzing with stories and things he learned. He really thrives in social AND structured environments. Good job big boy!

snuggles

When the big kids get up in the morning, they are not all the way awake yet and want to snuggle a bit. Hawken and Matix especially.  Solace and I were still in bed one morning and Hawk came in. Solace started fussing, so Hawk put his hand on Solace's head and it put him back to sleep! It was so funny.

Then Lulli joined us and tucked her arm full of babies into bed too. I sent Paul these pictures while he was at work. I wish he were here to snuggle too, although there wasn't very much room left.

little builder

Lullaby loves doing whatever her brothers are doing. Including Legos. A toy that is supposed to be for children ages 6 and up. Partly for choking, partly because their chubby fingers are not (supposed to be) able to manipulate the small pieces... But Lulli loves them.

Thankfully the Lego store workers agree and will let her do the free build when we go. She would be totally distraught if she weren't allowed to. By the way, the free build is coming up on Tuesday the 3rd. If you have a builder in the family, you should go. It's free! :)

doctor appointment

Solace went to his first doctor's appointment on Friday. He absolutely hated being weighed, and cried himself red. Poor thing. He held his head up and looked around which impressed the doctor.  He is in the 99th percentile for height and 85th for weight. I wish they had a foot length measurer, because I am certain it is bigger than most kids his age. :)  Everything was looking good for Solace. No problems, no jaundice. He's just perfect.

After being wrapped back up and driven home, he fell asleep in the carseat (babies really do that?!) and stayed sleeping for a few hours. What a dreamy baby I have!

day off

Paul has Saturdays off this month, and every other Saturday we have done something exciting, like going to the beach or having a baby(!)... But with a tiny one week old, we were limited in what we could really do this last Saturday. First, Paul cut the grass. Solace stayed in his stroller, thinking, while the kids played in the cul-de-sac.

Then we came inside to cool down and watch a bit of a movie.  Paul got some snuggles and Matix built a Lego rocket ship. It was very detailed, and of course, symmetrical.

After lunch and naps, we went to the grocery store. Solace's first outing, if you can really call it that. I figured this was a good first trip for him, since people who are grocery shopping wouldn't want to touch him and get him all sick.  Still a few weeks before I think church will be okay.  We used two carts. One for the kiddies and one for the food.

This is how the kids are arranged in the car now. Hawken with Solace in the middle seat. Hawken opens the door for us to put in Solace, then Hawk climbs in and does his own buckle.  It's Hawk's job to be on paci patrol, in case Solace gets fussy.  Matix and Lulli in the back seat. First Matix does Lulli's buckles and then he does his own. This is going to work out really well, I think.  Both the big boys love having a little one to help.

We also deposited a few checks from our parents and grandparents (Thanks for all the well baby and birthday wishes!) and saw a weird parade of sorts and went home.  It wasn't a thrilling day.  There wasn't any planned activity. But we all sat down to dinner (Thanks to our friends, the Newells) with smiles on our faces. I love our family for that.  There's no need for grand adventures or expensive activities, just time spent together is enough.  Paul has not been loving his rotation this month.  He has gone 6 days without seeing the kids in a row and it's been hard on us all.  Thank heavens for these little breaks so we can regroup and recharge and get ready for another long week.

Texas

Well, we officially live in Texas.  Traffic was held up by a random parade of people on horses in big cowboy hats...

It wasn't a holiday, as far as I know, but they had a police escort and flags. Weird. Texas, you are a strange place to live.

waiting

So, this morning Brianne took the boys to church, while Lulli and I stayed home with Solace.  (This is Hawken's version of heaven, by the way.  Brianne, HIS teacher, at HIS house, and holding HIS baby)

I thought the break from the boys would be nice. For me and for them.  But I have to say, after doing 2 loads of laundry, the dishes, reading my scriptures, vacuuming, playing every game Lulli wanted to play, nursing Solace several times, reading the Sunday School lesson online, figuring out how to use the cartwheel app on my phone and watching the clock waiting for the boys to return... I missed them. I know Sundays are meant to be about family and church and relaxing a bit and slowing down to enjoy the moment, but I need my family with me to feel right. I am super bored. 4:30 can't come soon enough! :)

Laurel meets Solace

Laurel came to visit on Thursday to meet the new little man and bring us lunch (Thanks!). It was so nice to see her and watch her be oddly nervous holding Solace. She held him the entire time she was here, which was a few hours, so I think she liked it, even though her face looked nervous. :)

She was so surprised at how small an 8 pound baby looked compared to her hand. So funny.

I love living so close to her again, I just feel badly that she is usually the one doing all the driving. Some day soon I will come visit YOU Laurel. I promise!

together

My mom took this picture before she left, but it's still what we look like about 90% of the time. Paul is at work, and the kids and I are all piled into one area. Climbing on top of each other and snuggling and talking and loving life.  Yesterday Paul had off and it looked just like this, plus Paul. :)

If there is a movie on, Hawken will ask for the baby to sit with him so he can tell Solace what's happening.  If Lullaby needs me, Matix will beg to hold the baby to help.  If I say anything about changing a diaper, Lulli runs to the box and pulls out the diaper and wipes and vaseline for the baby.  I love how close we all feel.  Paul, even though he is at work gets a million texts and pictures each day showing him what we are doing.  As much as I love this togetherness, I am looking forward to this afternoon when Brianne (Hawken's Sunbeam teacher, and my friend) comes to take the boys to church. She was so sweet to offer, and the boys are beside themselves waiting to go with her.  Lulli and the baby and I will stay home until he gets a little bigger.

biggest and littlest

I am loving watching the BIG kids with their new baby Solace.  They are so sweet and helpful and loving. Matix loves his new job of holding the baby while I make meals.

For some reason this is the only time that Solace wants to eat during the day, so Matix jumps at the chance to hold him and sing to him and make him happy. Hawken does this job sometimes too, but Matix is better at moving him into positions and re-wrapping him a bit. I love it.

good bye grandma

I wrote down a HUGE list of some of the things that my mom accomplished while she was here. It was a whole page long. She was such a help to me.

Thanks mom for being so wonderful. You kept the kids busy, which is the key to happiness around here.  Chalk coloring while grandma breaks down boxes for recycling.

Using the long roll of paper from my friend Brianne to color while grandma makes dinner. 

Do you see who else joined grandma up on the counter? 

Perfect spot to keep baby out of siblings greedy hands.  

When grandma left, it was okay until the van drove away. We waved goodbye and said "come visit again soon!" and all those things.

When she was out of sight though, this is what happened.

Hawk: "I'm not very happy about this."
Matix: "Now I'm feeling really sad for my grandma!"
Lulli: "bumma? bumma?!!!" (that's how she says grandma)

So sad. These little guys sure were used to her here and are going to miss her tons.  Next time they are requesting for grandpa Louie to come too.  Thanks again for everything mom.  Also, since you left Wednesday morning, we have survived. We had dinners dropped off to us by friends from our church. I did the laundry, gave baths, and was able to keep them all somewhat entertained. Hooray! :) Granted a lot of the entertainment I provide looks like this...

The boys get to watch a movie while I nurse the baby sometimes, which they are loving. Lulli gets to play on the phone when I change diapers, because otherwise she is a little TOO hands on.  But other than those changes, we are back to our regular routine. The boys love holding the baby while I make a meal, and getting diapers when I need them. Lulli loves reading to him and tucking him in and picking his outfits including which blanket to wrap him in.  I think this might just work out after all. :)