Stand and Point

Grocery shopping just got a whole lot more exciting around here.  Catherine is way to busy now to just sit patiently in the cart and look around.  Now, if that seat belt is not on really tight, she'll stand right up and point at all the fun things she sees.  I'll sit her back down, and then the second my back is turned, there she goes again.  I guess there's just no keeping a good woman down.

Water Table Fun

It may be fall around here, but it sure doesn't feel like it with the weather.  Sure, we've had a few chilly mornings sprinkled in here and there, but mostly, we've had sun, sun, and more sun.  In fact, we've even had a few small heat-waves.  We decided to bring out our water table to beat the heat.  Since Catherine is so good at standing now, we all thought she's love it.  Turns out, she wasn't the only one.  While Catherine loved splashing around, Peter turned it into a car wash and Lizzy scooped out water to tend to the plants.  It was certainly a fun time for all.

Special Sisters

Lizzy loves to hold Catherine these days.  She especially loves to hold her when we go and pick her up from school.  I see the excitement and pride on her face, the "Hey!  Look at me!  I'm a big sister and I get to hold my little baby" look that she beams at all her classmates.  I'm glad she can hold Catherine for the moment, and drink in how special it is to snuggle another tiny person, because Catherine's "holding" days seem to be numbered.  She's getting so big, and more and more, squirming to get down, already showing her independence and desire to explore the world on her own.  Oh Catherine, let us hold you just a little bit longer.  Stay our baby for just a little while more.

Dancers

There is just something about little girls in their pretty pink dance outfits, fluffy skirts swirling and soft shoes prancing, that is totally adorable.  Maybe it's their sweetness, or their demure, shy smiles, barely masking how pretty and lovely they think they are.  Maybe it's just the ruffles and all that pink, pink, pink concentrated in one spot at one time.  Whatever it may be, it's lovely, and darling and so very, very sweet.

After School Adventures

Oftentimes when we pick up Lizzy from school, we join the long, snaking line of cars in the "car line" slowly inching along waiting to pick up their kid and then zip back home.  Sometimes though, if I need to pop into the office, we'll park on the street and walk over to pick up Lizzy.  The great thing about parking is that on our way back to the car, we can stroll through the gardens of the church, and there, if we take a moment, some magic can happen.  Lizzy and Peter are experts at turning an ordinary spot into an extraordinary, magical place.  The overgrown, often ignored garden right next to church becomes a magical forest.  Leaves, petals, acorns, and berries are transformed into fairy food.  Lizzy and Peter are off an adventure, and Catherine and I are enjoying watching, excited to see what will happen next.

Soccer Buddies

Lizzy loves playing soccer, but this year, an extra bonus is that she's on the same team as her special school friend, Tatum.  These girls really enjoy one another.  Often, after practice, they'll hurry to a nearby grove of trees, full of perfect climbing spots, and quickly play imaginary games or read books together before we have to go home.  We've even snuck in some very fun play-dates after games to keep the fun times going.  It's awesome to have a special friend to share team time with.  

Carpool Cuties

What's one of the best things about going to school?  Our carpool with our neighbor, and Peter's good buddy, Evan, of course.  Boy, there's just something exciting about having a friend join us in the car.  The boys love being silly with Catherine, Catherine loves smiling and pointing at the boys, and mostly, the boys love being super silly together in the way-back seat.  Our carpool makes school-days extra exciting and fun.