The End of July

July is officially coming to an end. New school supplies are being bought. I'm labeling everything. It looks like school is back in session... soon. 

 Shocked that summer's nearly over

Tuesdays have been our Ranch 99 shopping days. I promised Charlotte I'll try to make her some chicken feet this time.  Hopefully I don't disappoint... 

Chicken feet! 

We didn't really do anything that special this summer. I would like to blame this summer of laziness on having a baby. I can't even say newborn anymore because Evangeline's no longer a NB. But more on her later... One thing we did do this weekend was go to Land's End for our first family hike. I would say it was a success. 

Pretty good family picture

Looking at "turtles" in the ocean

Crazy CoCo

I'm not really sure why her name is CoCo. Charlotte wants her nickname at home to be crazy CoCo. Anyway, this girl was able to walk the entire hike by herself. She usually complains about being tired ALL. THE. TIME. 

Shopping sister/fashionista

Living the good life

Meow

Evangers

Little Evangie isn't that little anymore. She's on her way to turning six months old! We started solids this week (not a fan of oatmeal - don't blame her, she's getting accustomed to peas). She likes to "stand", grab everything and stuff it in her mouth, smile, and people watch. 

My favorite baldie 

 Daddy's favorite peripheral

Little Miss Shortay

 Lu-Bear

I wouldn't say he's a handful right now - but his ears need some cleaning. It takes Lucas a while to get things done, and he's kind of testing out what he can get away with. 

With the Shinn trio

I wish it wasn't so foggy... 

And that wraps up July! Two more weeks till orientation time.

Life Lately

Summer life is HOT! Why is it getting so hot lately?! Oh yeah... it's nearly August. Char is with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She says she's content just staying at home and running errands with me as long as I don't make her nap. Fair enough... as long as she gives me along time too. Last Tuesday, she accompanied me to Ranch 99 and we had dim sum with Daddy afterwards.

Daddy and the girls

We found out Char likes chicken feet!

After being loaded up with MSG, Daddy wanted to show off his newest offspring at Apple. 

Evangeline's first time here #prouddad

Before I forget, we had one last "party" for Lucas two weeks ago... been late on the uploading. I'm so glad the parties are over now! 

Super simple party... didn't even have cake

Back to life at home with the girls... I never would have guessed that Charlotte would make a great older sister. Honestly, she sometimes sucks at being the younger sister. Out of everyone in the family, I think Charlotte is the biggest extrovert. She doesn't like alone time and always wants someone to hang out with her. She can't wait till Evangeline is older so she can have tea parties and play with her while Lucas has his alone time. Whenever Evangeline cries, she would be the first to pop up and comfort her... even if it's at 4am! She's a totally different person around her baby sister. 

Girl house

Always wanting to hold her 

What Char chooses to do when her sister is sleeping

 Baby toys are taking over the living room

But look at that cute face...

My favorite shopping buddy - totally un-opinionated and quiet 

Evangeline is almost five months old now! She is an alert and curious little baby who has gigantic poops! She also likes to roll and kick around a lot. She usually ends up in weird places when being left alone for a period of time. Yes, the third child will often get left alone for a period of time!

Example 1 

 Example 2 - I think her big belly saved her from going in...

Total head control, great tummy time = photo op!

Spoiled baby girl

 The family is addicted to Apple products

 Dad is now in pictures because he doesn't want people to think I'm a single mom

 ... and that was our week in pictures!

End Of Summer Countdown Begins

During this time, I'm usually crazy busy thinking of different ideas for the upcoming school year. This time around, I'm still thinking of ideas, but will be much less stressed. Why? I'm taking a year off from teaching. If that's not relaxing, I don't know what is. (I guess you'll only understand this time of the year when you're a teacher.)

 The reason I'm taking a break this year

She's growing up so quickly

It's almost like she's an only child when her siblings are gone

Enjoying her kingdom of toys

Can't believe this beauty is 20 weeks old

The only complaint I have about this 20 week beauty is why she isn't sleeping as long as her brother and sister were at the same age. Both Lucas and Charlotte were sleeping till around 6 at this age. She's only sleeping till 3 or 4 and she still needs a feeding. Still waiting...

My (red) crew

Enjoying free 7-11 Slurpee Day 

Free Chik-Fil-A Day too 

 Execute Order 66

 Sometimes I wonder how easy life would be with a 6 and 4 year old. While waiting for our food, they just sit and color. Sure, there's the typical bickering and what not... but they're self sufficient.

Getting along 

Still getting along 

 Hand rolls!

Note: Dad is still in the picture (well, not literally). But he's at work while I'm lugging these kids around so we can enjoy the good life. =)

Life Lately

I think we've already hit the midway point with summer. We've also hit another heat wave. I can't wait till the weather goes back down to the comfortable 70s. Summer has been going by both fast and slow at the same time. Need proof?

 Baby girl is already four months old!

I was a bit behind with posting this, so now she's closer to 4.5 months old! Yikes! The crazy planner in me is already thinking of first birthday venues to get the best bang for our buck.

 She is so, so, so close to rolling over

If she was my first born child, I would encourage this rolling over mess. However, as a third time veteran, I'm not encouraging any of this mess. When they first roll over, they're unable to roll back. When this happens in the middle of the night, that means I have to wake up to roll her back. No thanks. But speaking of sleep...

Look who's finally in her own crib

The first night, she slept from 8-6. That was purely amazing! However, the past couple nights, she's been waking up at 12... then 1... then 3... then 6... why? I only nurse her once a night just to relieve myself, but why is she doing this?! Could this be the much dreaded four month sleep regression? (The other two never had this... so this is new to me.)

Her own little baby corner

I forgot how much space baby toys take up. They're the biggest toys ever! With baby toys, and the older kids toys, our house is being overpowered by toys. I really have to get the older kids to purge one of these days.

Proof that they have too much stuff

Proof that baby stuff takes a LOT of space

During this time, baby discovered her feet

More feet

Feet for days

Since Lucas is an Osmo tester (Charlotte has to wait a few more months till she can be a tester too), I found a mom and pops bookstore in MH where Char could test out some Melissa and Doug toys. Before the "testing" began...

 She found the cute stackable beanies!

 While Char was testing, Evangie passed out

 Sister-sister time

Lucas chooses to be in school every. single. day. He must really think home life is boring. Oh well, I'm not offended. It's easier having one less kid to "entertain". However, Charlotte gets pretty bored at home without Lucas. It's a catch 22. Every once in a while, I take Char (I mean, the girls) out for some treats.

 Vitality Bowl

 On the fourth of July, we decided to bypass the beach. Instead, we opted to go to Watsonville to go strawberry picking. The weather said that it was going to be 20 degrees cooler and cloudy. Wrong and wrong. It was sunny and hot there. Boo.

 Strawberries!

Lucas has overcome his shyness and pretty much plays with any boy around. While we were munching on some goodies, Lucas and Charlotte went to the sand area to play with some boys. While they were playing, us parents munched on food and took "glamour" shots with Evangie. 

 Big brown eyes <3 i="">

 Char wanted a picture of this

A PB opened up near us. Finally! SSJ is finally being embraced with Asian-ness. I'm still waiting for a Ranch 99 to come back. Once that's there... everything is complete! 

 mmm... patbingsoo...

Ending this with lots of love

Yup, definitely no sibling jealousy here (for baby). I can't say the same for sibling jealousy with between the other two though...