Adios Summer!

... and that was it! Summer has come and gone. I am now home with an almost 6 month old (I can't believe I'm nearly at the halfway point!) as my Kinderprepper and first grader is at school. I'll be honest, it was brutal when my alarm went off at 6:55 this morning. Yes, I did snooze it once so I technically rolled out of bed at 7:03. I never, ever get a chance to walk my kids to their class on the first day of school because I'm in my own classroom. This may be the only year where I can do that. So, was it worth waking up early to do this? Sure was!

I'm going to do this every. single. year.

My little firstie

My little KP-er

So, before school started, we had some fun. During the first part of the week, the two older kids were at the grandparents because I had to go in for work. Life with just one kid, much less a baby, was so easy. The house was also much, much cleaner.

Eating ice cream without the older kids

It was so quiet after dinner we seriously did not know what to do. Most of our after dinner activities have been going to the park with the kids. 

One happy "only" child

Those three days without the kid went by way too fast. It wasn't really much of a vacation anyway since we were both working. It was nice to take a break from cooking though. 

Took the kids out for a mid-morning dessert when they came back

Our weird smiles

Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles

What life with five children would look like

Charlotte and her BFF

Charlotte's preschool BFF is going to a different school this year. They're both bummed about not seeing each other all the time, but we're making up for it by having back-to-back playdates over the weekend. And then there's Lucas joining in with the girls. I've had boys come over for play dates, and I've had girls. There is a HUGE difference! 

It's no Cirque de Soleil...

 Daddy's favorite peripheral

On Saturday, we went out again (with baby) to Michael Mina's tailgating party. It was awesome. Food is the way to my heart... and it was glorious! My favorite? The waffle bowl nitrogen Mexican vanilla bean ice cream. Mmm...

 Free Photo Booth... I might've gone a bit crazy with pictures

Baby girl was the star of the show

... and now it's Monday and it's just me and my baby girl

I figured out the secret to feeding Evangie solids. I was getting a bit freaked out when she refused to eat solids and I had to stuff it in her mouth. One day, when her brother and sister where in the other room playing, she started to throw a fit. I asked the older kids to come and play in the same room as her and she was fine. They didn't even acknowledge her. She just wanted to belong. Poor third child... so I applied it to feeding as well. As long as someone is at the table eating, she'll eat as well. It was the first time she willingly opened her mouth to eat. Yes! Problem solved. So now we're continuing our streak of adding more and more foods to bar diet. She also got introduced to Mum Mums, puffs, and water. Oh baby girl, you're growing up so fast.

Last, Last Week of Summer

I thought last week was my last week of summer. I'm going in randomly this week for presentations, but it's been pretty relaxing overall. The older kids are at the grandparents right now, so things are quiet, organized (soon) and relaxing. I should really soak all this in before the chaos when they come back. Although I should be taking advantage of the kids not being home, I can't help but clean. I think I have a problem...

 Missing the two loud rascals... but loving the quiet

Soaking in warm summer nights @ Rita's

Play dates at the park with school besties

Always a nice surprise when you run into your bestie unexpectedly at the mall

My babies

The three amigos

These three get along pretty well overall. After breakfast on Sunday morning, the two older ones decided to play and entertain their baby sister. They're super loving towards her and that just warms my mama heart. Even Lucas speaks in a baby voice to Evangie. 

"Rest time" - haha

On to more serious matters, we went to visit my Mom's grave this Saturday. It was her six year anniversary this year. It's crazy that six years have gone by just like that! The older two are asking more questions - how does her body fit in there? How do you burn her body? Explaining that her earthly body is here but her soul is in heaven. Lots of deep stuff, man. And it was also Evangeline's first time here (of course she'll have no idea what's going on till maybe two years from now). 

Visiting Po Po's grave

I never thought I'd be a girl mom. I always wanted a boy first and my wish was granted. Then I had a girl (duh) but didn't really think much of it till now. At 4.5 years, Char is awesome! Although she doesn't look like me, she has my personality and is my favorite sassy girl. Besides her appearance, she is my mini me and I love it! I can't wait to share life and do cute/fun girl stuff with my two girls. Sisters forever!

Girls rule

 Can't wait for pedi and spa dates with my girls when they're older

 And finally, there's my baby, baby girl. The almost six month old who is probably nowhere near sleeping for 12 hours at night. Why girl, why? We started solids roughly two weeks ago and I don't think she even cares for it. Unfortunately, I think she's too young to do that whole self weaning thing where I just steam up veggies for her to eat on her own. However, when she sees me eating ice cream, it seems like she'll gladly open her mouth. Oh girl...

 My favorite big brown eyed girl

 12 hours... please... I'll even take 11

 She's checking my Powerpoint presentation

 Still loving those feet

 How can you not love a face like that?!

Growing up quickly...

The Last Week

I know I say it every summer, but this summer definitely felt like it breezed by! The majority of this summer consisted of juggling a baby (literally sometimes), grocery shopping, cleaning house, and transporting the kids to camp and back. I have two presentations to put together for Teacher Orientation next week, then things should simmer down a bit once school starts. The biggest dilemma is figuring out how to get the kids to school on time. Oh well, there's still two weeks to figure that out!

Another thing to look forward to this Fall

I can't believe I'm going to have a first grader and a Kinderprep grader in a few weeks. The uniforms have been washed and folded. School supply lists and new lunch boxes and backpacks are labeled and ready to go. I have to work on my lunch game though. Anyway, we're just soaking in the last of these (hot) summer days. 

Park days with the bestie (who's going to a different school)

Sister tummy time

Quality sissy poo time

Look at how much Evangie has grown

Tuesday and Thursdays are more tiring than other weekdays cause Charlotte is home with me too. Although we don't do anything that crazy, there's not a lot of down time cause that girl's always talking and coming in asking for help. I'm sure that I'll eventually miss her talkative self when I'm home alone with a sleeping baby this Fall. Although she talks quite a bit, she's also a good helper. Not only does she help take care of her sister, she's also helping with folding laundry!

In charge of socks and underwear

Enjoy those stretchable legs, you won't be able to do this in 20 years

 Soon Evangie will be all by herself

Maybe we'll take some trips to Apple

But most likely, she'll just play with toys at home till she's tired

Ms. Smiles 

 Lucas chooses to go to camp every single day. The boy loves it, and it's one less kid for me to take care of... it's a win-win for me. Whenever we're out, everyone just assumes we're a female dominant family (which we sort of are). But we always have to tell everyone who says "oh, two girls!" that the oldest is a boy. Weekends are for eating out and going out... so that's what we did this weekend too.

 Apparently my Chinese cooking isn't authentic enough

This is what our family would look like if Lucas was an only child. I don't really think he'll be that bored. He likes to do things alone.

 Unfortunately for him, he's surrounded by two sisters

Yup, that was our weekend. Family time and food time.

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.