Writing

Parker has started reading and writing a little bit-

I think this early stage messy writing is cute so I took a couple pictures from our recent lessons.

First he wanted to write Popcorn:

That big 'X' is actually a K. He spelled P-O-P-K-O all by himself and I had to help him sound out the last two letters, which are in the bottom corners

Then, the next day, I was feeding Terra and told him I would do a writing lesson with him in a second- but he decided to get started without me. When I got into the loft I found two words that started with 'H' (which he knew was going to be our next letter) He told me I had to sound them out and read them.

How cute is that?

Parker is so smart and so fun, and I love getting to teach him at home.

At Last!

Anybody remember this post way back when? (two years ago....)

Well my plan was to get to my pre-baby weight after having Aria--- and I finally did it!
Aria is only two and a half and I finally no longer carry any weight that I gained during her pregnancy. Now, 2.5 years may seem like a long time- but since I've gone and had another baby since then- I'm calling this a win!

Last time I weighed this much was about here:

November 2008- when I got pregnant with Aria

P.S.- can you believe how tiny (and cute) Parker was?!

That awkward moment...

When you've learned to stand up

But haven't figured out how to get back down.

Cute Baby!

Just some more pictures of my super cute baby girl!

She's has enough hair for a little pony tail

Eating leaves... and in shorts and a t-shirt in January (I love AZ)

Hilarious

Cute, in her footy pajamas

Chillin' in the stroller

 I have terrible news...Terra has a tooth.

Can you see it? 

It breaks my heart just a little bit when my babies get teeth. 

And this is the youngest one of my kids has gotten one (6 months)

Relaxin

My big kids watching a movie (I think it was Aristocats)

For some reason they really prefer the older Disney movies: Peter Pan, Aristocats, Dumbo, Snow White. 

Cars, Finding Nemo, etc were not really big hits with them

In Aria's Bed

Resting on the stairs 

Parker Lately

It's hard sometimes to get a good picture of Parker, he always tries to hide, turn around or run away. But I do my best, because he is just so stinkin handsome!

After breakfast

He loves baby food peaches!

So cute with his sisters, in his 'warm pajamas' 

Parker is such a good brother, he's always trying to make Terra laugh or smile,and giving her toys. And he plays with Aria and tells me when she's starting to do something bad if I'm not paying attention.

Finger painting 

Stuffing trains into his backpack 

Crazy!

Preschool: cotton ball clouds making it rain

Preschool: using the fan to blow balloons around and learn about wind 

Drinking a smoothie 

Looking at a DVD

Parker loves to look at DVD cases for movies he is going to get to watch. He'll pull out the stool and reach up and grab the case and just look at the case for 20 or so minutes.

Today, I said something was no big deal. He said "It's just a short deal"

He also used the word 'splendid' today. I think we can blame Winnie the Pooh (a recent fave around here) for that new word. Cute, right?

Pics of Aria

I love Piggy tails!

Drinking a smoothie... she is just so gorgeous!

She's also crazy 

Wearing my sweater and slippers 

Slippers off, socks and Mr potato head glasses on:

How she wanted to go shopping:

Shirt with a spill on it, upside down sweater, orange tape on her forehead and slippers.  

I made her change the shoes and sweater and remove the tape, but then after we got stickers at Trader Joe's I let her finish shopping like this:

Helping me cut up veggies for dinner 

Still a thumb sucker.... 

How she ate breakfast one morning 

We love our crazy Aria. 

And yes I mean crazy. She's fabulous, but she's also a whirlwind. 

I Quit!

So for anyone who didn't know- I quit working. And I couldn't be happier!
Okay so maybe it wasn't that bad- but I am truly glad to be done working.
I started working full-time in February last year and hoped it would be very very short term. I cried a lot leading up to my first day and cried almost everyday as I drove away to work. I really hated leaving my babies.
Then I had Terra in June and Jason was still unemployed. Those six weeks that I was home were actually pretty awesome.
With my 3 babies and Jason all day? Yes, please!
Then Jason got a job... well, two jobs. But both of his jobs still paid less than what he previously made-- could we afford that? SO I worked part-time at night while Jason worked full time at Maverick and Part time training to go into IT.
We spent almost all of our time apart.
Jason got up at 5 and left to start work at 6. Then, some days he would get home around 3pm, but many days it was almost 5pm. So we would have quick dinner/clean-up so that I could lave for work at about 5:15. I would work get home from work about 10:40pm and then I would have to pump before going to bed.
I only worked 5 days a week, but Jason worked 6.
During this period- I felt, for the first time, that going to church was an inconvenience- I would much rather nap, or just spend time with Jason, on our one day off.
It was hard, but we knew it was temporary.
Well, I put in my two weeks notice, and my last day was December 23rd.
I'm so happy to be done.