What's up?

Fall has been busy in our household! School has started, we've been camping, we've been to the apple orchard as well as many other fun and busy activities. So we'll sum a few of them up right here.

First of all - we hit the apple orchard a few weeks back. Madeline went on her first wagon ride and the kids had a great time. The weather was perfect! Very warm and sunny.

Ok, and one funny story about the apple orchard. Mike bought a fresh apple pie from the apple orchard. He heated it up and had it sitting on the dining room table after dinner one night. He had one slice and then forgot to put it away. The next morning, we found the pie dish on the floor, licked completely clean - thanks to our dog Jake! He was one happy puppy after that one.

The kids love to dote over their baby sister and on this day, Dad was with them as they boarded the bus to go to school. Andrew has nicknamed Madeline "Maddle Taddles" or "Maddles" - since he likes to rhyme and all - but it has stuck.

We've done several camping trips this summer and this past month took two - one to Baker Park and one to Willow River State Park. Both times, the weather was wonderful. We played outside a lot. We took hikes, rode bikes - and played and played. The days were warm and sunny and the nights cool and clear - great for watching stars. And lots of campfires and s'mores.





Madeline is one busy girl! She is 4 1/2 months old now. She's working on adding a few teeth (all of our kids cracked their first tooth around 5 months and Madeline is on her way to match that). She's sitting up, wants to crawl, loves to be busy and loves to smile. Oh and she loves to be held....by anyone.


She also loves to eat cereal too! We just started with cereal and of course, most of it ends up on her face, hands, highchair - everywhere - as can be seen in this photo.

First Day of School

The older two had their first day of school yesterday.

Cailin was VERY excited to get back at it.

Andrew was more nervous about starting Kindergarten. He's a tough egg that one. He's always got a lot going in his brain, but it's harder to decode than Cailin. She's ALL out there. She will let you know anything and everything that's on her brain. So we weren't sure what to expect with Andrew. Sometimes he's excited for an activity, then refuses to participate or even go at the last minute for some reason unknown to his parents.


But he did great! And he came home saying "I want to go to Kindergarten every day!"

Hopefully that's truly the case.

Now, we'll see how day #2 goes.......

Checking in

We have been busy, busy, BUSY!

The two big kids are getting ready to start school TOMORROW. Gosh, is it really September?? We'll see how things go tomorrow and of course will report back.

Madeline is growing like a weed. She's almost four months old. Growing in leaps and bounds.

The latest is that she rolls over from her back onto her stomach. Which she usually does while in her bed trying to nap. Turns out that interrupts her sleep. Sooooo, we haven't been napping so much lately. I remember the other two going through this phase as well.

Here's a few pics taken this weekend of the squirt.



More on the other two tomorrow. No, we haven't forgotten about those guys...
;)

The Move

Madeline, as we found out at her last doctor's appointment, is tall. She's very tall.

Ok, and kind of cute too.
So tall, she won't fit into her bassinet any longer. She's been sleeping in the bassinet since she came home from the hospital, but as we put her into it last night (after returning from a week-long vacation) we found that her head AND feet touch the ends.


So we busted out the crib that Cailin used when she was a baby. That was one of the few things we kept. Most of the other baby 'stuff' we donated or gave away since we were done having kids.

Whoops!

But alas, we had the crib and all of it's parts and hardware. So we put it together and Madeline took it for a spin with a nap this morning.


Now, she doesn't look so big anymore...


But I'm sure that will change. Soon. Very soon.

Kamp Dels

We just returned from a week-long trip to our favorite summer water spot. It's Kamp Dels in Waterville.



The kids LOVE being in the water and at the pool.


Andrew, who last year was just getting used to being in the water, is now a full-fledged fish.

Madeline even tried out the pool briefly with her feet. She also took several naps pool-side. I thought that was a great idea too.


The weather was perfect, could not have been any nicer. It was hot for swimming and sunny for playing.

The kids are already counting the days until we can go again next year.


And by then Madeline will be a fish too I'm sure.

Annual 4th of July Camping Trip

This year we we returned back to a little spot that we usually go to for the 4th of July. It's very close to home, but far enough away that you feel like you are really in the woods.

This was also Madeline's first 'official' camping trip. She handled it like a little trooper. She is not able to have sunscreen or bug spray on, so she was mostly indoors.

The big kids had fun though.

They had the kiddie bike parade again this year. Only Cailin wanted to participate. Andrew was happier back at the camper with Mom and Madeline watching the parade as it passed.



Andrew also had fun playing ladder ball, going to the playground and just playing outside.

Jake certainly enjoyed himself. We got him good and tired.

Other than a big storm Friday night, the rest of the weekend was just perfect weather-wise.

All in all a great weekend away!

Andrew turned 5!

Andrew recently had his 5th Birthday.

We had a family party and he had a party at daycare.


We are planning a 'friend' party soon (when Mom gets her act together).

Andrew was most excited to get some of his favorite toys. Shocker!


But he also likes birthday cake too -
:)

Madeline - 5 weeks old

Well, here she is - she's 5 weeks old already....And since some of you have asked for some updated photos - here you go!



and yes, she does smile some now which is awesome!

Snuggles

Cailin loves to snuggle her little sister....

See?

Madeline's Visitors

Little Madeline has been a busy girl.

She went to the doctor for a checkup. At that time she was one ounce away from 10lbs (great job gaining weight kiddo!). Sadly, she did have to get one shot. That was no fun. But she was a trooper about it.

She also has had lots of visitors.

Grandma and Grandpa Friary came for a visit.


As did Auntie Wanda and Auntie Katrine.



Madeline also didn't mind being held by Auntie Buzzy (Rayna), Uncle Dan and cousin Christopher (choppy).



Whew, all that visiting makes a girl tired.....

Kindergarten Graduation

Last week, Cailin officially became a 1st grader. This rite of passage included a ceremony at her school where all the kindergarten students donned red graduation caps and marched into the classroom to the traditional graduation music of "Pomp and Circumstance".

Then they performed several songs that they had practiced for weeks and weeks.


They also posed with their teachers. Cailin had two teachers this year. Her primary teacher left part way through the year on a maternity leave, so she came back for a visit on the last day and to help with the commencement ceremonies.

She also loved her other teacher, Miss Hanson who was the long-term sub that was in the classroom since February.


It was a big day, one that was a tearful one for mom. What a softie! The days do go by fast. Seems like I was just holding a newborn.


Oh, right I AM still holding a newborn, just not a Cailin newborn.....