Merry-Go-Round

I have developed a new appreciation for the merry-go-round.  Something so simply really stands the test of time.  It has a magical quality to it with the painted animals and the music.  Add me to the list of fans.

Kindergarten!

We have an official kindergartener!  I am so excited for AJ to get the chance to go to school that I haven't had mixed emotions about it, just pure happiness and anticipation for him.  Maybe it helps lessen the sadness or anxiety of feeling like it is the end of his young childhood years to have another in preschool yet and a third still in daycare--there is no time yet for sadness.  I took AJ to school on the first day, and while he tried to humor me a bit for my first day of school photos, I think he was anxious to get started and quickly lost interest in smiling for the camera.  He has really loved taking pictures recently and quickly wheedled for a chance to take his own first day of school picture.  Very fitting for a new elementary schooler to want to be the one to explore something new, and it turned out to be my favorite of the bunch.

Gold Friends

We had a lovely visit from our dear friends Kaitlyn and Mary Kay in August.  Kaitlyn brought her sweet pea twin girls who are three and a half, and both Julia and Davey have not stopped talking about the girls since they left.

It's true what the girl scouts say:

Make new friends
but keep the old.
One is silver
and the other gold.

I adore the kind of old friends who you can just pick up with right where you left off.  We had so much fun catching up, working on decorating ideas and dreaming about a possible mother-daughter trip in the coming years.  My mom even played the guitar for Kaitlyn's girls one night while the girls were in the bath.  I hear the girls thought that was quite fun and now have two mini guitars they are practicing on at home.

Credit goes to AJ who took the last two photos in this post and seems to love being the guy behind the camera. Julia found my blush and attempted to be her own makeup artist prior to the group shot above.  Looks like we might need another six year-old to take over that job.

Then and Now

We made another trip to the apple orchard, which is easily becoming one of my favorite fall activities.    The orchard has a fun little board at the entry that sets up an annual photo complete with growth chart.  AJ is being a goofball in the picture with his head to the side, but he is now over the 4 foot mark.  Davey is definitely taller this year as well and talks at least twice as much as he did last year, which is no easy feat.  But I think the award for the biggest change goes to Julia...no more pacifier, no more baby girl. She is definitely a big girl now.  We also started potty training in earnest this weekend.  With her 3rd birthday coming next month, I feel like it is time to get serious about saying good-bye to the diapers.  Maybe by the time they are 18, 17 and 15 I will be able to get one of all three of them looking at the camera together.

Missing Something?

Pssst...notice anything different about this kid? Three weeks ago:

Today:

After weeks of hanging on by a thread, the tooth finally came out last night in his sleep.  I have been thinking quite a bit today about when the same tooth first came in, as I documented here six years ago and seen in photographic evidence here.  It's true what they say...the days are long but the years go fast.  And also, based on the location of the adult tooth that is starting to push through, I'm thinking a savings account for braces may be in order.