4 Months!

Mini Todd

We are finally in double digits with weight! 10 lbs 10 oz.

Height 24" - the only thing he's on the chart with being in the 25th percentile.

Alec is becoming more verbal with his cooing. It's so cute! He laughs only with Abby, gets excited when he sees his sisters, and is a happy little guy! He is starting to grab and hold on to things now too. Alec sleeps on average from 10:00-5:00 which is a good stretch of time but it's not consistent. There is a couple nights in there that he'll be up every 3 hours. He's still sleeping in the pack n' play bassinet in our bedroom and EVERY night around 1:00/2:00 he cries just a little and he ends up sleeping in our bed next to me. That boy loves to cuddle next to mom. We are enjoying our little guy and I'm still getting used to juggling four kids.

Chef Abby

While Kaitlyn and I were away for some reason I can't remember. Abby got creative and had the babysitter film this:

Mom Interview

About a month ago (Aug 9) I interviewed the girls to find out some of their favorites. Here's what they had to say:

ABBY age 7:

TV Show: Phineas and Ferb

Movie: Cars 2 - this surprised me but I think it's because we just saw it in the theater

Song: Firework and Vida la Vita

Food: BLT with no T

Candy: KitKat

Toy: Lizard

Activity: Chasing Boys

Color: Light Blue

Friend: Dani

Words that describe Abby: energetic, smart, artistic, competitive, stubborn, and imaginative

KAITLYN age 4, almost 5

TV Show: Word World

Movie: Toy Story 2 - it's all about Jessie

Song: Walk Away by Kelli Clarkson

Food: Chicken Broccoli

Toy: Doggie

Activity: Puzzles and playing on the computer, usually Webkinz

Color: Blue and White

Book: Disney books

She's happy when "playing on the computer"

Sad when: "Abby takes things from me and hurts me"

Words that describe Kaitlyn: shy, sweet, helpful, stubborn, clean

OLIVIA 2 1/2

TV Show: Backyardagins

Song: Dynamite

Movie: Tangled and Despicable Me

Toy: Polly Pockets, Princesses, Barbies

Food: Mac N' Cheese

Color: White

Activity: Swimming

Loves the song "I am a Child of God."

Words that describe Olivia: silly, loving, helpful, polite

1st Days of School

The beginning of a new school year. I was somewhat ready for the girls to go back to school. I wanted another 2 weeks of summer before I think I would have really felt ready. Time just went by way too fast!

Kaitlyn was very excited to start Kindergarten this year. I was hoping she'd get Abby's old teacher but as luck would have it, we did not. Todd and I debated back and forth whether or not to have her go to school or do one more year of Pre-K because she barely makes the cut-off. It seems as if most parents here hold their kids back a year to give them an advantage especially in sports. Obviously we went with putting Kaitlyn in Kindergarten and she LOVES it! She loves everything about school. She knew 3 kids in her class going in and they all sat at her table. I walked her in the first day and it was a quick "bye Mom!" and she never looked back.

*Kaitlyn tried buying lunch the second day of school. I wanted her to do it a couple times while everyone was learning too. Got a hamburger instead of what she wanted (fruit and cheddar plate) and said she didn't eat the hamburger because it looked yucky. Day 3 I pack her lunch but when I pick her up from school, nothing was eaten. She said she bought lunch but wouldn't say anymore to me. After a lot of coaxing I found out she didn't put her lunch box in the correct spot when she got to school, so when the class went down to lunch, she didn't have her lunch box so she got in the hot lunch line. I thought it was very smart of her to solve her problem - I don't have my lunch so I'll buy one!

Meeting her teacher, she's a bit nervous at first (hands in her pockets is her giveaway).

And now I have a 2nd grader! When did Abby get so big?! This was my favorite grade that I taught. There is just something great about this age of kids.

Abby's teacher is Mrs. B and she is expecting her first baby in November. I really liked her teacher, and can tell that Abby is going to have a great year. Listening to her teacher talk to us at Orientation made me miss teaching just a little bit - and I mean just a little bit. Abby is liking that she can now show Kaitlyn the ropes. Both girls don't want me walking them into school, we now do the car line drop off in the mornings. Abby wants to be the one in charge of dropping Kaitlyn off to her classroom on the way to her class. It is so cute watching both of them walk together into the school. I had lunch with Abby the other day and she was all excited that she passed Kaitlyn in the hallway and was able to wave to her!

A great year ahead!

Olivia at the Meet Your Teacher - explored all the stuff in the classrooms and every morning wants to walk Abby and Kaitlyn into the school. She's disappointed that we always do the car line. She now has just mom as a playmate during the day and is always excited when Abby and Kaitlyn have come home.

Look who's 5!

Kaitlyn finally turned 5! After asking, practically everyday, for the past 3 months how many more days until her birthday, her day finally arrived! She was so excited!!

Kaitlyn also shares her birthday with President Monson and she thinks that's pretty cool.

This year was an off year for a friend party but she was able to choose her activity for the family and Chuck E Cheese was the venue of choice. After a yummy breakfast of donuts we were off to work off all the sugar we just ate.

Getting into the game

A favorite ride of Olivia's

Abby was so wild we had to put her in a cage :)

One thing that was a really great moment for Kaitlyn was that I found her missing doggie. She has two of these matching dogs that she's had since she was a baby. While I was in the hospital, one of the dogs went missing, sometime in April. I was cleaning around my computer desk and picked up my bulletin board that rests on the desk, and there her doggie was sitting between the wall and bulletin board. A place no one would ever think to look for a missing dog. Oh happy day that this dog was finally found. We were searching eBay to find a replacement it meant that much to her.

photo taken by Kaitlyn

Family dinner party with Gma, Gpa, and Aunt Monica. Kaitlyn requested Chicken Broccoli for dinner - her favorite. Opening of presents:

Abby's gift of her lemonade stand money

the thank you for the money- so sweet

Thrilled to find swim fins

Heavy, heavy, hangover my poor head - I love her expression with the anticipation of the "bump" on her head.

Ahhh, what she's been wishing for for 6 months- a bullseye doll. When she's home, Jessie and Bullseye are constantly at her side.

Kaitlyn wanted a Toy Story/Jessie cake. She was happy with this result - that's all that matters.

Making a wish for a great year!