September Salutes

Finally!  Our kitchen is all red!  There is still work to be done....but it does feel so much better to have this huge step done!

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Shiloh had her first one on one date with Poppy to the library.  Here she is waiting for her date.  They both had a blast!

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One positive thing that I have been looking forward to a bit is more one on one time with Shiloh when Zoe is in school.  This is new for us and something that I think she has been craving even more lately.  The middle child syndrome is kicking in and I often think how I need to fill up her love tank, as her empty sign blinks very apparent sometimes. 

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My girls love fruit....and to help momma in the kitchen.

We brought this yummy bowl to a friend's house for dinner.  Happy birthday sweet Sophia!

Rene captured this loving picture...anticipation of birthday treats!

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And then, how did it get to be my birthday already?!

I just wanted a day to relax and enjoy time with my family.  Of course that meant cashing in on a free sub at Firehouses.

Then it was off to the park for a picnic.

 Although not the amazing weather I had hoped for....I was glad for a break in the rain.

Having more rain that night didn't stop me (and Zoe) from going to another food swap!  Some of the rewards:

Then it was back to the house to enjoy the end of a great USC game with the littles!

The next day we had a great family celebration.

Of course I had many helpers for present opening.

And mom knocked it out of the park again with a awesome birthday "cake".

So blessed to count this 35th birthday with the ones I love the most.

 Oh, and Danielle had a little one on one time with Shiloh which included making a card for this mommy!

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One thing that is so fun about football season is it is a good chance to get together with friends.

Ezra helped with some teaching of how to handle having a baby....as there will be a new one in the Wells house come December.

They will do great!

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So apparently Zoe has one day off from school a month.  And with a cooler not (as) rainy day, we headed for some cousin time at the zoo.

Zoe is never dramatic (she heard a funny noise).

Peek-a-boo Addy.

So apparently Addy and I did not know where to sit to make this a cute picture with the gorilla statue.

Ez hung out with his sweet self.

Having little crowds there meant that we fed some of the giraffes the lettuce that we found on the ground.

The girls were quickly scared, though, and the mommas tried to show how this was a fun experience, all the while taking some pictures.

They weren't really buying the fun aspect....but we did. Addy finally fed a giraffe a leaf while being held and looking the other way.

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This year we participated in the Okra Strut Parade.

Addy and Poppy joined us and Ez stayed with Grammy (this year).

Shiloh began crying bawling, at one point during the parade, but cheered up when she could ride in the truck.

We handed out many flyers (except for this one that Addy held on to the entire time).

We all enjoyed the experience quite a bit, even when I knew I looked silly having to run alongside the truck pulling the wagon.

You will have to watch for us next year for more filers and coffee candy!

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Danielle continues doing a awesome job babysitting my two littlest and taking some pictures of their time together.

These precious girls are bonding even more!

It makes my heart swell knowing that they are well cared for and getting to spend so much time together!

Dad has been helping, too, in filling in with watching the kids some.  He is loving it and getting pretty good at the selfies!

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Randomness of a beautiful morning to finger paint outside (excuse Shiloh's finger of choice).

And healthy food can be really fun sometimes!

  

See you next month!

.5 years old!

Dearest Ezra, a very half birthday to you!  And the cuteness and love continues!

You got to meet your Grandpa and Grandma this past month with their awesome visit.  Of course they didn't forget you will all the treasures they brought and you now get to rock out your own car.  It was perfect timing as your becoming more stable in sitting upright.

You still love your floor play time through.  Sometimes your daddy teaches you how to crawl.  You're beginning to get your little booty up to start the crawling process, but we probably have more work to do on that.  Rolling around gets you around a lot now!

You now grab anything in front of you....this has caused mommy to spill her coffee in her eggs and get her hair pulled a few times when she forgets!

You have been a bit more of a struggle at night time.  Not sure why but the swing is just not doing it for you anymore after the girls go to bed....which means more holding time for you.  Sometimes this makes mommy and daddy go to sleep too!

I LOVE to hear you giggle.  You seem to enjoy being tickled just as much as your sisters.  Although they can just make you laugh by doing silly things at times.  I love that, too, and how you get to interact more now together.  Your even big enough to sit in the stroller, too!

You love to catch someones eye and give them the biggest grin!  They seem to like that about you, too, and get excited for such a reaction.  Even when you came with me to the bus to pick up Zoe from school....all the students came to the door just to see you!

Your first word = Dada (and Daddy, too).  So clear and so precious!  I swear I, also, heard you say momma once....but we will wait to call that one to when it is consistent!  

I love you so much baby boy and try to soak up all our moments together!

And so it begins....school house rocks?

This little piece of paper represents one that holds more emotion than any other I've experienced. 

 What to do with Zoe this school year was a huge question in my mind.  Yet, now that we have three children....childcare is even more of an issue.  For the longest time, Zoe has constantly asked about when she would start school and why she couldn't go.  So when there was a chance that she could go to the 4K program at the elementary school near our house this year I decided to get her evaluated.  I know that she is so smart but there are, also, areas that are a challenge for her, as she doesn't like to write or draw.  When I took her to the school for the evaluation in May...I had a strange peace come over me that I was not expecting.  And I felt God telling me it was okay, that this could be okay.

Well she did get into the program and I felt that was God's open door in the direction we should start.  In the back of my mind I told myself that I could always pull her out if it turned out to be terrible.  I went to pick a backpack out for her to attempt to check another thing off of my to-do list and found myself just staring at the wall, only later to return to the store with Zoe for her to pick one out.  Somehow it seemed like such an important choice and Zoe is so selective and passionate, I knew it needed to be hers.

She loved doing so and sitting in the car on the way out.

I greatly anticipated the open house and meeting her teachers and seeing her room.  Zoe didn't really talk to them but I made her take a picture with them in order to go outside to the playground.  I'm sure it won't be too long before they get to see her strong personality come out.

Shiloh wanted her picture taken, too, of course!

I question still, though, if I'm doing the right thing.  (This has nothing to do with the great school or great teachers.)  Should I be homeschooling her (even though that doesn't seem to be really realistic with my work and our clashing personalities)?  Should I just have her not go for a year?  How I wish I could look at other options, but just can't due to money.  I have never wanted to be forced because of finances to make decisions about what may be in the best interest for our children.  And perhaps I would have come to the same conclusion (although I seriously doubt it) but it's hard not having that option.
Handing over my first born soul to the hands of strangers is so very hard.  It is like another huge part of my heart walking around and I don't know what's going on.  The only thing keeping me sane is knowing that I have a loving Heavenly father that is watching over her and loves her more than I could ever love her!