Here are a few pics that I’ve wanted to upload but haven’t had the time:

From two weeks ago, Lauren sitting up on her own.  For about two seconds.  She likes to kick her feet, which isn’t a good habit to have the still feet are necessary for proper balance.  She can balance for about 10 seconds now as long as she doesn’t kick her feet!

I tried a split pea soup recipe.  It said to be very careful when blending the soup because the soup is hot.  I thought heat was the problem.  [I think] this is what happens when blending hot substances.  In Daddy & Tyler’s language, we had a blowout.  Here’s the aftermath.

Here’s a cute pic of Peyton and Lauren.  They really do look a LOT alike.

Peyton put his creativity to work to create this computer.  You’ll notice the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse, and even a webcam so he can Skype with Uncle Tyler.  He even told Grandma At about a conversation he had with Uncle Tyler on this computer.

And I’m going to bed now.  RIGHT now.

Yes! It’s the first day of school Or the second? Monday Peyton had an introductory treasure hunt with Mommy and Lauren so the new kids could warm up to the classroom. For JiYoung, our international student, yesterday was the official first day of school, and for Peyton, today is the first day since he’ll only be going Monday-Wednesday-Friday mornings.

My two youngest are currently sleeping…yes, you read correctly: Lauren and Will, 9 month old son of one of my co-workers, will be spending the school day with us. Things seem to be going well thus far.

Wow. I went from 2 kids to 4 in one extended weekend. That has to be some sort of record.

Here’s a pic from Peyton’s first day. When I get a chance I’ll add a pic from the first day last year.

We’re experiencing an early fall here – the temps were in the 60s this week and it’s been cloudy and rainy for the last couple days. 

James has been ridiculously busy at school, especially since the construction wasn’t finished on time.  When I see other teachers they ask me how it feels to be a widow or they suggest that they’re holding James hostage.

I was offered a one-class position at the high school, but after a serious struggle I decided not to take it.  I’ll be watching a friend’s little guy and would be bringing him, Lauren and Peyton to Miss Jenn, the lady who watched Peyton while I was working before Lauren arrived.  If it were that simple, I may have taken the job.  To save money, I could have switched Peyton into afternoon pre-school.  I’d have to drop him off there Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:00; I’d bring the other kids to Jenn’s a little after 2 (except on Wednesdays, when I’d have to be at school at 1:40).  On Tuesday Peyton would go to Jenn’s with the other kids.  On Thursday I wouldn’t have to work because of block scheduling.  Notice naptime didn’t quite make it into the plans.  Because I just can’t seem to make it all fit, I decided life will be happier if I stay home.  I really miss teaching – I feel sad when I hear Steven and his friends talking about which teacher they’ll have next year and I know I’m not on the list!  But I have enough things to do – I’ve been doing some serious cleaning and organzing here in preparation for Ji Young, our international student, who will arrive on Saturday.  Some of our friends had a lot of old particle-board shelving units (along with tons of toys etc.), so Peyton and I enjoyed our own personal garage sale without having to pay for anything.  Currently Peyton’s and Lauren’s closets are cleaned and organized, and there are a few more units in the garage that I’ve painted red and plan to put in the front room for toy storage.  If I have time and find a way to get several paint colors without having to pay too much, I want to paint roads and trees and lakes and train tracks on one side so the kids can play cars on it.  I also plan on painting two more cubes to place in the entry with a pad over the top so we have a place to sit down, take shoes off, and (most importantly) stow the shoes until we need them again.

Peyton is SO ready to go back to school.  He’s been excited for months, but now only a few more days are left before he goes back!  His favorite part of going back to school: getting to wear his new clothes and his new shoes.

Lauren is growing like a weed.  She’s been especially interested in jabbering and screeching lately – and Peyton is certain she understands what she’s saying.  Lately instead of crying she whines “mamamamamama.”  When she wakes up after naps, she jabbers “mama” for a while.  Today Peyton thought it hysterical when she looked at him and gleefully shouted “mama!”  I also mentioned screeching – I’ll try to post a video in the near future.  She gets SO excited about the cat that her entire body stiffens up and she screeches with the highest pitch and the loudest tone she can muster.  She also “talks” to Peyton in this voice, which is unfortunate because these screeches are ear-piercing!  Her teeth are almost in…hopefully they come in soon because she’s been grouchy lately!

Lauren likes chicken…and putting her feet up on the table.  Notice the mohalk-look over her slowly grownig hair.

Lauren is learning to crawl.  She scoots and rolls and wiggles to get almost anywhere she wants.  She’s close to crawling…I think Uncle Tyler was disappointed she hadn’t learned before he left.

Peyton is also growing up – here’s a picture he drew a few days ago:

From Left to right:  Uncle Ryan, Daddy, Peyton, Mommy, Lauren, Uncle Tyler.  He did a pretty good job on the hair.

Today was a bad day – goodbye to Uncle Tyler & Uncle Ryan, a LONG appointment for pictures at Sears gave mommy a headache by 12:45, but a forgotten wallet (ie hungry mommy no eat lunchy) topped it all off.  Thankfully Peyton didn’t forget his wallet, though he was restricted to two items from the dollar menu while Mommy ate granola bars on the way home.  And of course Lauren had just enough nap in the car to stay awake for a few more hours at home…

Alas, we did score a couple timeless shots:

I love this picture.  Peyton wasn’t actually going to be in the pics today, but he decided when we arrived that he REALLY wanted to be in the picture.  He’s been dressing himself in his desire to be an “adult” – yes, he uses that word – and he picked out a great shirt for today.  What you can’t see: white stains on the shirt from toothpaste, black socks pulled high up the legs and dirty brown shoes.  But hey, this pic turned out great, so I’m glad he insisted on being in a few shots.

We had a hard time getting Lauren to smile – the photographer was new (hence the LONG appointment) and didn’t know how to make the baby smile.  Peyton and I did our best, but Lauren didn’t seem terribly interested in smiling.  Here IS one of her cute moments.

Here’s another cute one – I LOVE this dress.  I actually bought it when Peyton was going to be a girl…that is, when the doctor guessed that Peyton was a girl.  Of course, the cropping isn’t good, so we didn’t actually order this one, but I thought I’d post it anyway.

The rest of the pictures are available here if you’re interested.

Check back in the next few days – I’ll post more pics from the last few weeks.

Taking feeding into her own hands:

Lauren in our new (new to us, anyway) double jogger that I got for only $25 on Craigslist.  She was watching Peyton and I wash my car.

Here you can almost see Lauren’s hair.  Yes, she does have hair, and yes, it is growing in thicker every day.  But it matches her head and it sticks up in fine little wispy curls so this is one of the few pics that show that she does in fact have some hair.

Earlier I caught Peyton explaining to Lauren the easy, step-by-step procedure for using the restroom:

First, you take off your pants, then you sit down.  Then you call someone to wipe your butt, then you put your pants on.  No, first you put your underwear, then your pants.  Then you flush the toilet, then you put soap on it and then you wash your hands.  If you feel soap on it, then you wash some more, but if you don’t feel soap on it, then dry your hands.