Michael
** Traveling to ATL this month
** Looking forward to yet another BEACH WEEKEND this month as our last one was cut short due to HURRICANE IRENE.
** Won the BIGGEST SPLASH CONTEST at a community pool on Labor Day - and came out singing "Fat guy in a little pool!" Hey, got a free round of golf out of it!
** Starting FANTASY FOOTBALL again - and even after 35 practice drafts, still didn't get the teams he wanted (imagine that!)
** Excited for FOOTBALL in general, both NFL and college - GO GATORS and COUGS!
** Got to go to a WRANGLER COMMERCIAL SHOOT this month - and his "football throw" to the models in the commercial might even make the cut!
Shelley
** Finished reading both PRESIDENT HINCKLEY'S and PRESIDENT MONSON'S biographies - and am inspired to BE BETTER. Would love to say that I actually am better, but inspiration takes time!
** Enjoyed my GETAWAY with Michael (see above), even if we did have to cut our trip short because of HURRICANE IRENE.
** Start teaching PRESCHOOL and BALLET this week. Both one day a week.
** Finding that BEING 30 is no different than being 29
** Had my first EXTERNAL EAR INFECTION and it HURT! Probably got it from what I did in picture above. If so, still totally worth it.
** Adjusting to sending my oldest to school almost EVERY DAY - both from a scheduling aspect and an emotional one.
** Happy happy to see the onset of LOWER TEMPERATURES - and finding myself outdoors more often as a result.
** I LOVE: coloring and reading with Shaelyn, snuggling and singing with Rachelle, and nursing and holding Christian.
Shaelyn
** Has started a big NEW PHASE in her life with PRESCHOOL 4 days a week
** Loves playing "BABIES" - a creative, yet very annoying game where she and Rachelle take turns being a baby of any age, and the other one is the mother. With Shaelyn's great acting chops, this game lasts WAY TOO LONG throughout the day, and I have to constantly remind her that she actually is a 4, almost 5, year old.
** Taking her turn with the CRAZY BEHAVIOR - Rachelle's rotation just ended, so someone needed to pick up the slack!
** Loves, loves, LOVES to DRAW and has become very DETAILED in her artwork. I am in love with this hobby and greatly encourage it.
** READING EVERYTHING she can get her hands on - which means there are no more secrets. We've reached that phase of "what does 'love triangle' mean Mommy?" while we're standing in line at the grocery store. LOVELY.
** Actually WANTS TO HELP CLEAN when Michael and I are doing it - most recently has helped me fold some clothes, helped Michael spray the Windex, and helped vacuum. Just doesn't want to put anything away.
** Favorite "center" at school right now: HOUSEKEEPING
** Loves the fact that there is a little girl named "Jazmine" in her preschool class - I think she thinks she is PRINCESS JASMINE.
** Favorite new show to watch: SHAUN THE SHEEP and, much to my consternation, DORA.
** Has worn the dress that I sewed her EVERY DAY to school so far.
** Starting BALLET AGAIN, this time at home with me!
Rachelle
** It is so funny for me to read all the ways she was DRIVING ME CRAZY back in July, because now she is such an easy kid! Like I said, she and Shae SWITCH OFF with the CRAZIES!
** Still only wanting to wear DRESSES, but will pick a dress and wear it all day, sometimes a few days in a row. Will also wear SHOES and CLOTHES and DIAPERS all day long. Thank goodness!!
** Loves playing LITTLE PEOPLE and plays with the little people doll house daily
** Makes the BEST FACES on the planet and keeps me laughing on a daily basis
** Uses LICKING as her mode of self-soothing right now. From getting into trouble to falling and hurting herself to being overwhelmed, she will LICK WHATEVER'S IN SITE to calm herself down. Sometimes it's just the AIR.
** Has developed major SOCIAL ANXIETY and wants nothing to do with crowds.
** Starting PRESCHOOL at home this month - has 5 little friends in her class this year.
** Has greatly matured in her BEHAVIOR TOWARD CHRISTIAN - I was even able to get rid of the baby jail that was protecting him!!
** Back to sleeping in her own bed ALL NIGHT - I think our "new baby" transition is ending.
** Says her OWN PRAYERS all the time now. They are always the same "Heavenly Father, Thank you for the day. Please bless I go to (insert name of Shaelyn's school here). In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
** Misses Shaelyn while she's at school, but loves PLAYING WITH THE TOYS ALL BY HERSELF!
** Has started showing interest in POTTY TRAINING. Has some new "Tangled" panties. Rapunzel starts with "R", just like Rachelle, and both princesses love the color PURPLE. A match made in heaven!
** So SOFT and WARM and SWEET
** GALLOPS everywhere she goes.
** Starting BALLET with Shaelyn's class this year and couldn't be MORE EXCITED!!!
Christian
** Has moved into HIS OWN ROOM and is SLEEPING IN HIS CRIB - the earliest I have done this with any of my babies. He is very happy with the arrangement as his sisters are no longer waking him up.
** Has FOUND HIS FEET and is constantly shoving them in his mouth.
** Is officially a THUMB SUCKER and prefers the right thumb, with the left hand grasping the right hand or wrist somehow.
** ROLLS OVER onto his TUMMY as soon as you lay him down, and at first got VERY MAD about this because he would then be stuck. But now sleeps on his tummy and is starting to figure out how to flip back to his back. So the "stuck tummy" crisis is over.
** Can GRAB AT TOYS now and also shove them in his mouth.
** Favorite toys: his MOBILE and his ELLIE THE ELEPHANT
** Won't take a good nap unless we are home, but he is SO HAPPY and PATIENT, even if he hasn't slept all day. AMAZING! He's got some lessons to teach me about happiness and patience in spite of lack of sleep.
** Loves, loves, LOVES HIS SISTERS!
** Is getting more talkative and just COOS his way through the day.
** Does not SLEEP THROUGH all of my Sunday School lessons anymore, but still will sleep through part. But is silent and happy in my wrap while he's awake.
** Has started PAYING ATTENTION to the TV when the girls are watching it.
** Trying to SIT UP.
** Still just has little CHICKEN FEATHERS for hair - see above photo.
