Listening to Conference Means . . .

Working on puzzles of all sizes. . .

Listening for themes . . .

Eating other sweet treats . . .

Keeping our hands busy . . .

Tagging the speakers . . .

And if you're lucky . . .

School Pictures

I'm guilty of paying way too much and ordering my kids' school pictures but I do it for one reason only: the class picture.  I want them to have that keepsake and unfortunately have to buy a whole package to get that.  I don't feel like they give their best smiles though (Jossy's looks absolutely forced!), so I take a couple of my own as soon as they get home.  Lacey wanted hers, too, just so she could get into my candy bag I have for photography subjects.  So I didn't even take the time to brush her hair, just stuck it in pigtails and called it good. 

Fun is always involved. 

The Downfall of Being #4

Poor Alice gets the short end of the stick sometimes being kid #4.  (She'll always have my sympathies though since I myself am girl #3 and child #4 just like her.)  I forget to take everyday pictures of her as she grows since I'm so busy all the time.  But after a bath one day she and the lighting were particularly cooperative so I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pictures.

As a bonus, here's one of Alice and her BFF, cousin Gia.  Just 2 weeks apart and living less than 10 minutes away, these girls are destined to be great playmates.

Lacey's PJs

Lacey was helping me get my camera settings ready for a photo shoot.  She's always in her pj's and always has dirty feet.  I figure wearing pajamas is better than her running around in just a diaper or even less. . . which is also a specialty of hers.

Such a cute stinker.

Third and Kindergarten

While it was sad to have summer end, Matty was thrilled to go back to school.  I, on the other hand, worried what I would do without my oldest and biggest helper with the little ones.  (Maybe that's why he was excited to go back, so he wouldn't have to run and get me diapers all the time!)

I don't know how it's happened, but time is flying with this kid.  I realized that in just a couple months he will officially be halfway through his elementary experience.  *sniff, sniff*

 He said to me, "Hey Mom!  Why don't you put one of these on Facebook!?"  So I obliged.  I get overwhelmed when I think about the world they'll grow up in. 

Jossy started kindergarten a week later.  She was excited and very nervous.  I took her into her class and she was totally fine until another kid got upset, then she clung to me and got watery eyes.  I eventually got out of there but my heart broke for her because I know how hard a new experience like that can be for my shy one.  But she did great and loved her first day.

Sleepy Toes

I could eat baby toes all day and never do anything else.