African Market

It's hard to believe but the school year has drawn to a close.  The twins loved Kindergarten this year.  T. Michelle was kind, loving and so supportive of my girls and our family.  The twins made good friends, solid academic progress and grew emotionally as well.  They are such big girls.  Their days were LONG!  Out the door by 7:45 a.m. and not home before 3:30 p.m.  Each day included an almost an hour of drive time and sometimes more.  There was OT, PT, and Speech to squeeze in before school, during school and after their long day.  It just depended where we could fit it in that week.  For the most part, the twins grabbed their backpacks and hopped in the car happily
.  What a blessing.  This year certainly wasn't the year we had planned for and I am happy to say the twins rose to the occasion.

One of the most exciting events in Kindergarten is the African Market.  This falls at the end of the year.  The kids work all spring to put the Market together.  There is an incredible amount of knowledge gained and crafts made.  The students sing many songs, put on an African dance and pair up to teach the parents and other students about their learning.  Lila was in charge of African games and Adeline, round houses.  I was very pleased how Lila stood strong and worked to converse the adults.  Speaking isn't easy for her.  The words aren't always available and her articulations makes her hard to understand.  She knows this.  Adeline, on the other hand, loves to talk.  She went on and on about round houses.  Miss Belle is quite a character.

Here they are performing and in the dances and their stations. 

Crafts. . .

 

 At home with their robes, beaded necklaces and woven goods. I didn't get pictures of all their pottery.

The Big E really enjoyed herself that morning.  

Mother's Day 2013

I am working hard to back track over the past two months.

Mother's Day is a day worth mentioning.  It was an amazing day for our family.  Everyone in our family ran a race with the exception of the Big E.  The day started with the Mother's Day 5k that I had worked hard to train for.  I started running four weeks after I had Evelyn which was very hard but quickly got easier.  Savannah and I had planned to run this race together but plans changed when she had her own race to run that night.  She wanted to save her legs.  Instead, my family lined the streets and watched me and some other mommy friends run.  My girls hopped out and ran with me as I crossed the finish line which was very sweet.  I really couldn't have been a happier mommy.  Surrounded by these four beautiful girls and back on my running game!

I was pleased to run 9:20 mile pace six weeks after giving birth.  Unfortunately, I later paid the price when a pain in my heal wouldn't go away.  I have been in a boot for a stress fracture ever since.  That's a different story though.

Soon after my race, we were on our way to the last run of the girls' running series.  I know I mentioned that Savannah won the trophy and that Lila showed much promise this season.  I will also re-post some pics from before so when I look back, I remember everything we did this day.  Alex ran to the girls' delight.  He did quite well and came in third overall. Savannah decided to run it too since it will be the course she runs next year.  She did great, especially after just running her half mile. Check out the picture below where she is leaving some of the adults behind. 

We ended the day with a dinner out with good friends.  It was just the perfect day.  Good exercise,  good time with my family, and a dinner with friends. 

I feel very lucky to be a mommy to these four amazing girls. 

Two Months (really almost three!)

I am sure you all have detected that I am running a month or so behind.  I had hope of catching up over the last two weeks but having the kiddos home from school quickly squelched it. 

So. . . before she turns three months next week! I thought I would post month two. 

My sweet baby girl.  I love her more each day. 

What Saves Me and What Sinks Me.

These two girls can either save me or sink me.  For the most part, they save me.  They are still best of friends and partake in the most imaginative play I have seen.  They know each other better than I know each of them.  It's strange to say that but it is true.  I am so thankful that they love each other deeply, have each others back, and crave time together.  Summer will serve them well.  The school year was crazy which took away a lot of their free play.  Now, they have days and days of free play ahead. I LOVE watching them together.  It warms my heart and makes all the hard work of twins in the early years worth it. 

Let's just pray my tolerance for mess is strengthened.  They are a tornado that flies through my house each and every day!  Sometimes, the tornado sinks me.  Yesterday, I locked them OUT of their room.  I just needed it to stay clean for one day.  Doesn't that seem backwards?  Don't most parents want to secretly lock their children IN their rooms.  I am a neat freak.  Blame it on my mother.  May my children not inherit this gene. 

Dance and T-Ball

Goodness Gracious!!  It's June already.  Things just keep getting busier and busier which means I am more tired by the minute.  Sitting down and catching up with this blog doesn't seem to happen.  Some days, I think I have mastered how to sleep while sitting up with EYES OPEN.  Beat that people!  Who said I don't have a hidden talent?!

On to more mainstream talents. . . T-ball.  I guess I use the word talent loooooosely.  There are days where both girls hit the ball and then there are times when they are identifying cloud formations as rockets and ducks when out of the field.  T-ball wasn't all that it was last year.  The coach, although an admirable volunteer, wasn't super organized and relied heavily on parents running the games and practices.  It felt far from official to the girls.  I really wanted Lila to like it but with the less than structured/official setting, t-ball was kind of a joke.  And yes, I recognize that t-ball is inherently fluff baseball to begin with.  But there is the structured fluff that makes your kid feel like a heavy hitter and then there is the t-ball that makes your kid gaze at clouds and ask, "Where is first base?"  Sad but true.

Here are my little Cubbies.  They powered through all sorts of weather this spring.  I couldn't seem to get the camera going during an actual game.  Nor did I ever get a picture BEFORE a game.  Their appearance seems to change over the course of an hour.  Oh well, the bar is slowly lowering in many areas for this family.  Don't feel bad for us.  We are perfectly happy to lower it so that we have more time to squeeze the baby!


Wait, I have an picture from a game!!!  Look at that determination.  Did I mention that Lila played t-ball just so she could have the snack after the game.  I guess watching Adeline get a snack last season was enough to propel her into the sport.  I'll take what I can get. 

 And here is the proof.  She is pretty happy about that ring pop!

Savannah got to run some bases after a game. 

 Look at that fierce swing!

The last game.  It was blazing hot!!  Lila had already played in a piano recital.  This is the picture we got.  Don't trip over the bar.  It's fallen to ankle height.  Next year. . . there is always next year and the hope of better pictures.  The hope keeps me going. 

Possibly Lila needing to leave games early or arrive late, contributed to her lack of enthusiasm.  She was juggling dance and t-ball each Saturday for the months of April, May and June.  She loves dance!  It's her calling.  While she isn't headed to the stage later in life, for now she shines bright.  Lila takes dance seriously and works very hard.  This year, the recital costume was Popcorn Princess for the carnival themed show.  She was delighted when it arrived.  All yellow.  One of her favorite colors.

This girl loves to be fancy.  I am very proud of her focus and hard work. 

She looks way too old.  I still feel like she should look like this. . .

Catching Up

Time flies when you are a mommy of four busy girls (Sleeping, pooping, and eating counts as busy!)> Here are some moments that are worth documenting from April.

Savannah got the opportunity to travel to NYC with friends.  Typically, I would have gone with her but Evelyn was only three weeks old and I was barely back on my feet.  Savannah saw the Broadway show Cinderella which is said to have fantastic costumes.  She agreed and loved it.  Before the show, the girls went to the American Girl Doll store which was something Savannah had been looking forward to for months.  She eagerly did all sorts of jobs beforehand which resulted in a pocket full of cash.  She spent it all!  Not hard to do at the AG stores.

Don't these sweet girls look like true New Yorkers?!

While Savannah was in NYC, Alex and I took the other three (it still surprises me when I do the head count!) to Costco. While there, the twins fought over who was going to marry Alex. They weren't too happy that I get him all to myself. They decided they were going to marry him anyway.

On the way to checkout, Lila found some Easter clearance. She had enough money, $6.97 to be exact, so home came this hideous/too-big-for-my-liking chick.

Did I mention that my dear sweet friend lined up meals for five weeks? I have never been so spoiled! Can I just say the day after coming home from having the twins, I was in my kitchen cooking dinner! (Neighbors did bring lots of meals when the girls came home.) After having Evelyn, the kindness of so many overwhelmed me. Even Savannah's favorite teacher brought us dinner! This teacher is amazing on all fronts. May my girls grow to be like her!

Since I wasn't busy cooking dinner, I had a chance to squeeze in some baking with the girls. We had fun making this sunflower cake with Peeps.

Lila got to go on a special Mommy date and paint pottery. We had a great time. When you get this girl one on one she is a dream. She acts so grown up and sweet. Here she is painting her piggy.

 

That pretty much catches us up on the first month of life with four.   I will end this very long post with some cute pics of the ever changing Big E!  I love, love, love this baby.  She has moved into each and every heart in this house. 

 In case you wonder whether or not Evelyn Rose has a personality. . .

Back at the Races

Spring is always a busy time of year.  It is especially so for us now that we participate in so many running events. 

The girls just finished up their running series.  Savannah did extremely well and continues to prove herself as a runner.  Lila surprised everyone and came in 3rd and 4th out of 30 or more kids.  She is chasing after Savannah for sure!  Adeline still struggles and told us she feels like she needs more oxygen when she runs.  We have decided to let this be her last series unless she asks to do it again in the future.  She is just as happy cheering everyone on.  We also recognize that at some point, coming in last (although her effort is just as admirable as the first place finishers) will be embarrassing.

I can't say enough about Lila and her running these past five weeks.  She told me that she spreads her legs to make big steps just like Savannah does.  If you have seen Savannah run, her stride is amazing!!  Lila had nerves this time as it was obvious she had a goal of a first place finish.  She led the entire group of Kindergarteners and First Graders until the last 20 seconds of race last week.  Two girls were able to catch her at the end.  They were much taller and most likely in 1st grade.  Next year. . .

Savannah won the trophy again this year.  She also had the opportunity to run in a high school meet.  There was an open run for the elementary kids.  Savannah came in first for the girls.  She ran this race after running a very hard 5k for her Girls on the Run practice.  Did I mention this girl runs a lot?


Look at Lila getting her leg out there for a quick start.  

Two peas in a pod when it comes to running.  They have amazing strides.  The only picture I have of Adeline with her medal (my excuse for lack of pictures is that I have a baby strapped to me during all of these races.)

Savannah running on a track for the first time.  There were 1,000 people in attendance.  Good times for the big girl!

Another medal to add to her collection. 

The last week of the running series, the adults were given the opportunity to run a cross country mile.  Savannah has to run this same run next year as she bumps up in distance so she hopped right in with the adults and gave it a try.  This, after running her own race.  Daddy got third (6:07) and Savannah fell in the middle of the pack (about 8:30). 

 Look at her beating those adults!

 Medals and friends. 

 First place for the 2nd and 3rd grade half mile.  Best time was 3:12.  Not bad.