Happy birthday Oliver!

I don't have many pictures of our Oliver. If there is a camera nearby, you can be sure that he is quietly staying in the background, hoping to not be noticed. Today he turns nine. Oh, Oliver, he is such an obedient boy! I never have to ask him to do something twice. He is such a good brother that he doesn't even mind when Elliot climbs into bed with him and wakes him up at the crack of dawn. He is generous and kind, smart and helpful, and is really, just the best boy in the whole world. We're so lucky to have him in our family.

We let him skip school today and now we are off to Denny's for lunch (his choice).Happy birthday, Oliver!

last day

We did it! We made it to the last day of school! Phew. I am so looking forward to this summer. We have some fun trips planned, but mostly I am just relieved to have Mabel and Oliver home all day. Life is so much easier when they are around. But first, I think a celebratory dinner is in order. Or at least maybe a cake?

Welcome summer!

mommy blogging

Oliver wrapped up his baseball season last night with some awesome plays at third base. Good thing, because it's starting to get a little toasty, even in the shade. I teared up just a bit when his coach gave him his award. Oliver is such a great kid, and a good baseball player, too.

Some exciting Mabel news: for the fourth year in a row, she has won the Star Chart Trophy at piano! Stars are earned for having a consistent piano lesson performance: completing theory homework, being on time, practicing and passing off songs, and for having a good attitude during lessons. I have to say, I am not surprised one bit. Our Mabel is a wonderful girl.

And now I will end the brag fest and wish you a very happy weekend!

(Thanks for indulging me.)

party planners extraordinaire

A few weeks ago, Mabel, Oliver, and Stella disappeared to the basement. I didn't know it, but plans for Stella's fifth birthday party were being discussed. Activities and a theme were decided (princesses, of course). Invitations and decorations were assembled. The guest list was finalized:

cousins Stella, Sophie, and Ellie

There was pin the tail and horn on the Unicorn, by Mabel.

A magic show + scavenger hunt, by Oliver.

A tea party lunch, with real tea cups and place cards.

A Pink castle cake (for the third year in a row!).

Make-up and nails with Mabel.

Three happy, fancy girls.

And dancing on the stage!

Mabel and Oliver pulled it off in a major way. From the planning to the execution, they did it all without any help from me. Oh, I am grateful! Stella and her cousins had such a nice time.  I don't know what I would do without those big kids. They are patient and kind and always willing to drop what they are doing to help. I am thankful for them always, but especially today.

oh, halloween

 cowboy Elliot, minus his hat, vest, boots, and gun

 princess fairy fashion girl Stella, complete with sass

 indian Oliver, with self-applied war paint

 hippie Mabel, who had fun trick-or-treating with friends

Phew, now that we've survived another Halloween, let's start thinking about what kind of pies we're going to make for Thanksgiving. I'm partial to pumpkin and german chocolate.

What are your favorites?

Oliver's happy day(s)

It started on Wednesday with a bb gun and new church shoes.

Then he opened a set of scriptures at breakfast on Thursday and had a lunch date with Me and Stella and Elliot in the school cafeteria. That night: a pogo stick + pancakes with Mike. While he was sleeping, clouds rolled in and cousins arrived.

Friday was spent mostly not at school, with a family dinner out + cake and a backyard campout.

And then Saturday! The big day. Oliver was baptized by Mike and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was a special day for such a wonderful boy. He had lots of family there to support him, and afterward we all celebrated by eating enchiladas.

We didn't even plan to coordinate, I promise.

Last night, it was back to eating vegetables again for our Oliver. No more free birthday passes. :)

We had a pretty great weekend over here. I hope you did, too.

Oliver

Oliver arrived on a sunny Labor Day Monday in Newport Beach, California, eight years ago today. My c-section was scheduled for 1:00 pm, but my doctor must have been loathe to leave his Labor Day festivities, because he didn't get to the hospital until after 2:30.

We waited and waited, and then just like that, there was our chubby, dimpled baby boy. Where Mabel had been pink and delicate, this baby was round and grunty. I feel like I really got into the swing of things as a mother once we had Oliver. Life was easier with him around. He was such a good baby.

He is bright and kind, quiet and resourceful. He always has a stash of boxes and things under his bed in case he needs to build something. He is friends with everyone and he has the most fantastic laugh. He is a good partner to Mabel, the best big brother to Elliot, and he puts up with Stella. :)

He better not shoot his eye out with that thing.
(It's a birthday bb gun.)

The soup can survived. For now.

Happy birthday, Oliver! We're so glad you're ours.

back to it

Well, they're off.

I can hardly believe it, but school started today. I think we could have all used a few more weeks of summer. Poor Mabel had her eyes dilated yesterday at the optometrist. It was supposed to wear off by this morning, but it didn't quite all the way. Luckily, there's a heat advisory in effect so they probably won't be going out to recess in the scorching bright sun. (113 today! Yuck.)

I decided our family needed a theme this year. After lots of thought, I chose "I can be courageous". Because it takes courage to try new things, and to meet new friends, and to stand up for the right. It's something I hope we'll work on all year. Do you have a family theme? Do you choose a new one each school year?

Now it's just me and these two monkeys. Oh dear.

I spy

a dimpled boy

and a brave girl.

When we went swimming last night, I got my hair wet! And went off the diving board! And did handstands in the shallow end with Mabel! It was so fun. I hereby promise to get my hair wet for the rest of the summer. No more sitting on the step, just watching all the fun, for me.

Also, dear Mike, can we maybe someday get a pool? It would make summertime so much more bearable.

some of my favorites lately

Did you used to make George Washington hair in the pool, too? Funny how it keeps going, generation after generation. This photo is destined to be a classic, I think. It is such a perfect representation of their three personalities. We haven't been to the pool since before we got sick and we miss it. Mabel's neon green chlorine hair was just starting to dim a bit, but we are looking forward to swimming again next week.

And then there's this guy. I always say that everyone should have an Elliot in their life. He is just the silliest boy, and such a bright spot in our family. Happiness radiates from his cheerful little face. He can get all of the kids playing together and following whatever game he has schemed up. They are good sports about it. Right before I snapped this picture, he was saying that he is "riddy handsome". I'd have to agree.

The only plans we have this weekend are to lay low and stay cool. How about you? Whatever you do, have a good one!

so far so good

We are settling into summer vacation. So far we've managed to keep the house from becoming a complete disaster, we've gone to the library, taken a trip to Ikea (pictures of our newly organized coloring area soon), and spent lots of time at my in-laws little pool. It is just the right size.

Usually Elliot runs full speed into our room in the mornings, always the first one up. But yesterday, he hovered at our door and pretended to be shy. I don't think he ever actually made it in. Silly boy.

Do you see that contented smile on Stella's face? She was so happy to be floating on that raft.

And I found my boys snuggled together on the couch yesterday afternoon. Elliot is still the most exciting thing that has ever happened to Mabel and Oliver. They are so sweet to him.

These are good days.

Happy June!

life lately

Mabel and Oliver have their piano recital this Sunday! They have been practicing away. I think they are ready. I love to see them play the piano. It is a skill that I lack, so I hope hope hope they stick with it.

I realized the other day why I am moving so slowly through my books (I finally finished Death Comes to Pemberley. It took me forever! I thought it was so-so.). Every time I sit on the couch to read, Elliot brings me one of his books. So my book gets pushed aside, because there are not many things better than having a little person snuggle on your lap for a story.

Sleeping in our car seat seems to be the story of our life right now. It happens almost every time we get in the car to pick Stella up from preschool (at 10:30 am!).

Is it summer yet?

baseball

We are smack dab in the middle of little league season. A few afternoons a week you will most likely find us spreading our rainbow quilt on the sidelines, cheering for our Oliver. His team hasn't won a game yet, but it sure is fun anyway.

This still happens almost everyday.

And it is my most favorite thing.

big hugs and happy kids

Now that the weather is nice, Elliot and I sit outside and wait for Mabel and Oliver to get home from school. I think it might be his favorite moment of the day. As soon as he sees them near the tangerine tree, he starts running. It makes all of us so happy! I am thankful for children who love each other, and are kind to one another. I know they have their moments, but on the whole, they are a very pleasant bunch, and I am just so glad.

a costume report

Stella started the weekend in pink as "Barbie as a rock star fairy princess". On Saturday, she decided to be a "wedding girl" instead. And that is why I don't worry about finding her a costume. I know she will change her mind a million times. Luckily we have a well-stocked dress-up collection. What will she wear to her preschool Halloween party this morning? Probably something else. For a girl who has multiple wardrobe changes on an ordinary day, Halloween is lots of fun.

Elliot didn't dress up this year. I mean, I didn't dress Elliot up this year. He didn't seem to mind, he was just pleased to find a bounce house. He had a lucky few minutes in there all by himself.

Mabel was a bat. Not Bat Woman. Just a plain old bat, thank you very much.

Oliver wanted to be a blue wizard with a slouchy hat. His wish was my command.

We rounded out our weekend with lots of candy and some face painting.

It was fun, but is Halloween over yet?

Oliver

 

If there could be a middle child in our family of 4, it would have to be Oliver. Mabel is the oldest, Stella is the most dramatic, and Elliot is the baby. That leaves this boy, quiet and easy, somewhere in the middle of it all. He turned 7 this month, and I can't stand that he is getting older. He is Mabel's best friend, Elliot's hero, and Stella's foe. And I'm not sure what we would do without him.

summer status update

We live in Arizona, where it gets really hot in the summertime. I know it gets hot lots of places, but I'm talking about the kind of hot where it's too hot to do anything outside but swim. And we don't have a pool.

So we spend most of our time indoors, reading and playing and drawing. Frequent trips to the library and art classes for Mabel and Oliver are seeing us through.

Less than three weeks til school starts. I think we can make it.

The start of something good.

So far day one of summer break has been fantastic. We haven't gone anywhere or done a single thing. I don't think anyone is happier about it than Elliot, though. He has Mabel and Oliver wrapped around his finger. He need only point and they will take him wherever he wants to go. He has been smiling from ear to ear all day, loving their attention.

I think it's going to be a good summer.

It must be spring.

Because my wisteria is blooming. And Arizona smells like orange blossoms. And I'm tired of wearing jeans. And I've started applying sunscreen. And Oliver had his first little league game tonight.

This week I have been cleaning out closets and cupboards. (I was trying to be like Sarah, but filled fewer than ten bags before I ran out of steam.) I took my bags to the DI and it felt good. Along the way I've been wiping down my baseboards. Dirty baseboards are probably my least favorite thing. A vinegar and water mix has been just the trick.

A trip to the fabric store is on my list for tomorrow. I like sewing, but I really love it when I am in the mood to do it, you know? There are a few dresses I'd like to make. After five desert summers, I've learned that a dress is the best way to survive the summer heat.

Happy spring!