May!

My sister pretty much demanded a blog update. So!  What sister wants, sister gets!  Unfortunately I've only edited pictures through May (and really, only just sorted them, not really edited them) so we will have to do a recap.  And let's hope the June recap doesn't happen in... October.  Oops.

So back in May.... still taking the daily preschool pictures!

And this little guy turned.... 8 months old!  Man that seems like forever ago!

I'm slowly (*SLOOOOOWLY*) getting our house put together how I like it (which usually involves changing my mind at least 5 times. In each room.  But Cole's room is petty much done!  It's missing a few things on the walls, and the closet is not really organized at all, but everything is mostly in its place.  Well, until he pulls it all off the shelves, that is.

With the hot weather the kids have been doing a lot of swimming, which has been... interesting.  Riley LOVES it and is actually getting really good at swimming by herself!  Jackson has developed a fear of the water, particularly going under water, and therefore, does not leave the step. Ever.

In case you couldn't tell by the picture above left, Cole is less than impressed.  Further evidence below:

May also brought me Mother's Day (evidence below of me as a mother) ;)  Best shot we could muster.  I'll take what I can get!  My husband bought me a Roomba (vacuum robot) and it's seriously the best thing ever.  That man.  Oh I love him so.

Cole became a crawling machine, which is just another way of saying he is getting to trouble all the time.  As babies do, I suppose.  He also discovered "fishy face" which sends Riley and Jackson into fits of laughter.

Fave place to hang out: under the table, scrounging for scraps.  In case you were wondering (1) yes that table was a DIY project and (2) no it's not done and (3) since this photo was taken the table is now facing a different way and on top of a new rug.  Only the fifth time I changed it, and I think I like it now in its current spot. :)

This goofball and her freckles!!!  Love love love them.

Cole loves to play in the curtains.  And loves to chase the robot vacuum.  Two favorite things.

Jack is not one to stop for the camera very frequently, but sometimes he can be convinced.  Cole is my easiest subject (mostly), especially when i can stick him in the swing for the first time everrrrrr.  He wasn't totally sure what to think but I think he liked it?

Cole is like what IS this stuff?  Also, back before it was really summer and allllll  that grass died a la drought California.

This little dude.  All boy, all crazy, run and jump and hit and be outside and dirty and sweaty and crazy fun.

One thing we definitely miss from my parents' house (aside from their entire backyard) is the hot tub!  My kids LOVE the hot tub!  They had no trouble convinving Aunt Jennie to go in with them when she was visiting :)

Clearly Cole has an older sister.  He is frequently found wearing hats, headbands, bows, and being named girls names "just for pretend."

Riley takes casual piano lessons once a week, and I'm thoroughly impressed.  I just wanted her to sort of get exposed to piano, nothing too intense, and she loves it and is learning so much!

Fave activity these days: riding bikes!  Jackson still has yet to get his own bike (hello pink tricyle!) but he's pretty happy with that one so we just go with it.  And also- yes that is 4th of July decor from LAST year's bike parade.  Now we're all ready for this year's parade a few months in advance!

So at the end of May we all went to Colorado for my best friend's wedding!   Got to see old friends, and meet baby Zoe (born 6 days after Cole!)  Arranged marriage?  Check.

We also got to visit MY old babysitter when I was little, who now has two kids of her own!  We hung out at her house and all our kids played together for hours and hours!

Gah Colorado is such a beautiful place to live!!

But, all good trips must come to an end, so back to little old California we came.  To our wonderful new house (obviously this was pre-SPEED crawling, since, well, he'd be half way up the steps now if I left him down there to take a photo!)

Cole learned how to carry toys with no hands, a vital skill for a crawling baby.

Riley and Jackson finished up their spring soccer, which was a success!  It's funny because Riley would often run around somewhat aimlessly when they were scrimmaging, and Mark gave her a little pep talk about what she should do, and then BAM, out she went like a little soccer pro!  Apparently she just needed a little explicit instruction (i.e. go get the ball!)

Then as May comes to an end, we approached the end of school and beginning of Summer!  Wooohoooo, all the kids home with me all the time!!!

Obviously that means riding bikes down the street.  Over and over and over again.

Go Riley, go!!

As always, stay tuned for more current months. :/