So Long Summer...

It just hit me that tomorrow is my last summer day home alone with my four kids. I'm totally bummed. I just can't believe it's already over. I feel like we did a ton, but had some lazy days too, it was a great summer. The twins will be in first grade, full day for the first time. I had a hard enough time with 2 1/2 hours, I'm going to be a basket case come Monday. My boys are my helpers and so obedient, such good examples for their sisters. I'll be so sad to not have them around. But I am excited for them, first grade was my all-time favorite. I know they'll love every minute, I just hate feeling like I lose a little more of them every year. I know that's a bit melodramatic, but can't they just stay little forever?

Oh, and yeah, not looking forward to making two sack lunches and getting everybody out the door by 9am. That should be interesting!

Happy 1st Birthday Mae!

Mae turned 1 today! We had a little family get together this evening with swimming and BBQ. Mae liked her cake, but was enthralled by the candle. She also actually seemed to like her gifts although she played more with the tissue paper and video camera.

I'm so grateful for my beautiful brown-eyed baby. She's such a sweetheart and so obviously loves her family. Happy Birthday Mae Mae!

Catch Up

We've had an eventful and fun week. This is a pretty vague overview of the past week, but there's too much to write about so, I'll do a picture review:

Dentist visit Monday - No cavities!









Fontano's here Monday afternoon through Wednesday. We LOVE our Texas cousins!

**Not pictured - 3rd trip to Chuck-E-Cheese's in three weeks. Yeah, I'm good for about 2 years.




Princess bad-a**es

Happy Birthday Jeremy and Abbie!









Mae FINALLY tried her first cup of milk. OF COURSE she didn't like it.









Since the kids were so sad to see their cousins leave, we tried to cheer them up with a living-room campout Friday night.

San Diego

I took the four kids down to San Diego last week to visit my friend Dana and my sister Kim. We had a fantastic time enjoying their company and the city. It really has everything, including the best weather! We hit the beach, the aquarium, Old Town, and the trip was complete with a Saturday birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese for my nephew's 4th birthday. Thanks to Dana, Kim and Mike for their generous hospitality! And Happy 4th Birthday Christopher!

Kisses!

Mae started kissing on command today! Baby kisses crack me up. It's like they're totally going to attack you.

P-Day

So, to cover up my sheer laziness, Tuesday turned into P-day. Pajamas, painting, and pizza for lunch. It helped me feel a little better about getting dressed at 2 in the afternoon!

After Elle's nap on Tuesday, I noticed a small problem. Elle has a habit of twirling her hair while she sucks on her finger, especially to fall asleep. Well, she's gotten it tangled quite a few times, but I'd never seen it so bad. It was a bonafide dreadlock. I thought for sure we'd have to cut it out, but Bud spent almost an hour going through it little by little and saved her hair! Nothing cuter than seeing a dad brush his daughter's hair!

My Kind of Town...

We got back from Chicago yesterday. Carol and Will celebrated their 2nd year in the mission. Only one more to go! With the exception of our brother-in-law, Kyle, the entire Stoddard clan was together for the first time in 2 years. What a great trip! Yes, at times it was a little hectic with 18 - 20 people in the mission home for a week, but it was a "joyful chaos". We ate ourselves silly with all the Chicago staples, went downtown, went to a White Sox game, saw hundreds of fireworks, but most of all the cousins played, stayed up late and played some more. We had so much fun! Can't wait to have everyone here next year.