Weeks 37 & 38: Videos

Videos take a little longer to select, clip for the good parts (some are WAY too long), and upload. But we love to go back and watch them, so I thought I'd share some of the many videos we have from the last two weeks.

First up, three clips (shortened from over 10 minutes of video!) of Charlotte opening up her first LOL Surprise dolls. She spent birthday money on these and was so excited!

The boys spent allowance on Pokemon cards, and Zach was eager for me to record the unboxing. His Youtuber shtick cracks me up.

Probably the biggest news around here is that Gabe can ride his bike without training wheels. One weekend he couldn't quite get it and the next he could.

Charlotte went to her first ballet/tap/jazz class, and she loved it. She asked if we could go back the next day.

Weeks 35 & 36: Celebrations, big and small

I'm pretty sure that the last two weeks did not always feel so celebratory in the moment. The photos, however, tell the happy stories, even when the memories that are freshest to me involve lots of driving, herding kids, planning, and cleaning.

I took the boys to a friend's party with dart gun fights (and bought them the dart guns for said party!).

Charlotte celebrated her birthday at school...

...and signed up for dance class that evening.

Is it sad to say that getting a new washer is very exciting?

Zach started Band class

Saturday morning at the book store, then lunch at Chili's.

Everyone spent their allowance on kinetic sand.

Friends from out of town came to visit. These girls have been playing together since they were babies.

Charlotte has identified her Halloween costume for this year: Rainbow Dash, because she likes wearing "all her teal stuff."

I sneaked off to Ohio to hang out with Jen/go to her Zumba class/help her organize her office.

Frank was left with morning parent/bus duty. It's always good to shake things up.

Here's a bit of Zach's practicing:

Weeks 29-31: Playing catch-up

Before our trip:
the last swim meet, including teaching Gabe algebra because he was bored!
spin art/play doh/etc at home
riding bikes at the park
Frank and Zach's 3-night cub scout camping trip

During our trip to Kansas City and St. Louis:
eating BBQ
Kansas City Zoo
Fritz's train restaurant (video at the end)
Legoland Discovery Center
specialty donuts
Purina Farms
Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate factory tour
Cardinals baseball game (they won!)
Charlotte and Nathan birthday pool party
seeing all their cousins, including 6-month-old Jaden

We also spent our last days with Chloe. We all miss her a lot.