Has it been a month already???

Let's see...where do we begin?
I turned 30.
Hazel turned 9 months.
We had our 1st Thanksgiving that we actually hosted (thank you Ricky for smokin' the turkey).
Hazel learned to crawl (or fish dive across the floor) and pull herself up on to things.
Oscar lost two more teeth, he is beginning to resemble a really old man or a jack O' lantern. One of his lost teeth he thinks he swallowed during snack time at school.
Poppy started dance classes again and is treating the world like it is one big stage.
Ricky is busy with with work and training for another marathon with a couple of his teenage rivals, I'm constantly in awe at those boys speed and determination!
I have completed two R.S. activities with a very small committee.
Auntie Rosa is finishing up her senior year here with us, and we get to have a built in helper around the house...very handy especially when running Oscar to school for early morning Spanish and reading buddies.
What more can I say? Things have been a bit busy and although I have been checking my email, I just hadn't downloaded any of our pictures from the month until today...The memory card was full. Therefore, I had to empty it to make room for more pictures today.
Maybe I'll get back into the blog world...I now have candy train decorating pictures to download. Supposing my children don't go into a sugar induced coma, I may attempt to post those tomorrow. We shall see.
Life is good...we are gearing up for the holidays and I am seriously amazed that my kids are suddenly so big!!! How is it possible that we have lived here for almost 4 years??? Crazy!

Off to bed I go to start the last week before winter break...bracing myself for the overload...ah, but then we get two full weeks off of school. This may be a blessing or a curse...we may be spending a lot of time at the pool, science center or the library.

Did I Mention She's Eating Solids???

Really Fun Project

Visit this sight for a fun paper doll template.

October...Catch up style...

Grandma and Grandpa Edge came to town just before Poppy's birthday. I believe this may have been the first time in many years that grandma Edge has had her toenails painted. Poppy was pleased to have her undivided attention. It was great having them in town for a few days.
How I missed blogging about Poppy's 4th birthday I don't know, but she had it. She is now a four year old. Which basically means she gets to eat four bites of her dinner, instead of three. It seems to be working...she suddenly has now grown out of the clothes I just bought her last month. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the four bite rule...
Auntie Rosa has come to live with us for a while, and followed Poppy by turning 18! We had a grand ol' party to ring in her adulthood. It's been fun having her around. It's always nice when you have one more reader to read books!

Grandma and Grandpa Dilworth came to town to bring aunt Rosie's stuff. The kids enjoyed getting to see them for a short little visit. I think we need grandparents to come visit more often! (hint...hint)


Oscar in now officially a hillbilly...he's sporting his new look around town. I can't believe he is 7 1/2!!!! He is such a great kid! Who ever thought that I would have kids that actually loose teeth?? It seemed like it would never happen to me!
More Documentation that the girls are loving having auntie Rosa around.

Ummmm...chocolate chip cookies...

Hazel has managed to make it to her 7th month! She is eating real food, loves drinking water from my glass, can semi-crawl, gives some great belly laughs at her siblings and the dog, and is such a fun girl. And she has mastered the stand on hands trick.
Oscar is in his last week of fall soccer and although he is going to miss his awesome coach and really fun team, I am pretty ready for soccer to take a break. It's getting colder and darker outside, and it will make getting homework done so much easier!
This is his first year where I think he has really learned to love playing soccer as a sport, rather than a recreational playtime. One more sign that he is getting older...
Overall things are going well, busy but good.

Change...

Here's my recent bonus check(see link for details) ...at least I have one right?

Each year about this time, I play the game of wondering at what point I should bring in the remainder of my garden to protect it from the frost. I bask in the harvest and try to delay the laying of my garden to rest until the last possible moment.
It begins with the shortened days, followed by a distinct familiar crispness in the air. My hunger for fresh tomatoes and salsa subsides (but never leaves) and I begin to crave the comfort of warm soups and a fresh baked loaf of bread. Apples suddenly are the fruit of choice, and the strawberries and raspberries of summer have been laid to rest in the depths of my freezer. I eat one more bite of watermelon knowing it will be sometime before I truly appreciate it's refreshing cool on a summer's day...on and on it goes, each piece in exchange for another.
I often think of my life in the same way, a season of experience/change that will be followed by another. Each one with a distinct flavor and familiarity, that when gone, will leave me with a sense of longing and fondness. They may hold a distinct touch of sadness, excitement, joy or pain, that when laid to rest will linger in my being for the rest of my life.
I enjoy change, I enjoy the blank canvas that gets placed before me, ready for that first brushstroke. I often fear the uncertainty of the stroke, but generally marvel at the completed picture.
A wise woman once told me (Merilee George) that her grandmother told her to embrace every season of life because when it is gone we are unable to get it back. This I too believe, and hope to embrace. Because much like the change in the season, I believe we can feel the change in the air and we can prepare ourselves for the season that is just around the corner. Let us soak in its warm and bundle up for the cold. Whatever the season, let us greet it with a open heart and a willing hand. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Hazel bird...six-plus months

Ummmm...Solid Foods...Peas are the favorite so far.

Still loves the Bjorn! Transitioning more to the pack pack...(to grabby for the bjorn) I fear she may burn her hands while cooking with me.

Loves to suck her thumb...especially with a blankie.

Still loves her mamma...I pretty much adore her too! I can't help but snuggle and kiss her sweet little face. She also loves to grab my hair and pull my face into her mouth. It really is like a big wet kiss. It's like she can't help but attack me too. Symbiotic snuggles.

(Click on the picture so you can see the thumb and blanket in action)
...and yes, lucky for us she still loves the bike trailer/stroller.

Oh and she has her first tooth.

We all seem to gravitate to her. Poppy tried changing her diaper yesterday (without my knowledge) she actually did a pretty good job. I was pretty glad however that it wasn't stinky.
Oscar loves to make her smile. Today after school he took her out of her swing and downstairs so that he could have her all to himself. I finally made him share her with Poppy. The two of them have competitions to see who can make her laugh and smile the most. It usually ends with Hazel crying in confusion.
Hazel can roll both ways and can do a great shoulder bridge. I think she may be a future Yoga instructor. She doesn't quite sit unassisted yet but is working on it.
I can't believe it has been six months! Where has it gone? Why haven't I posted all of the cute stuff you do??? It must be because you are baby #3. Gradually I am resuming normal mother mode...it just seems to have become a bit busier.
Hazel, if we have any more children it will be because you are so adorable! She truly is a great babe and I am so grateful for my three really great kids.

Poppy's Golden First Day...

THE GOLDEN SHOES...

The Golden girl...

This is how I left her...completely content.

I either raise well adjusted children who have no problem leaving their mother...or I have terrorized them so much that they are happy to escape my company. I'm thinking the latter. Howeve,r I do love that they are excited to see me at the end of their day. After biking over to get Poppy from pre-school (I got held up at a light, yes the one light between here and there, I was the last parent to arrive)...she asks me "why did it take you soooo long to get here?" I was only 2 minutes late.
She had a great first day. She said on her note that they sent home, that she was special "because she is nice". What a cute girl.
When I arrived back home and put Hazel down for her nap, it was eerily quiet. So quite in fact, that instead of surmounting my abundance of stacked up projects, I took a nap. I like to think I was much more productive after said nap, but probrably not. It did feel nice though.