Here we are, 4 months later. How can it be that Abby is 4 months old already? It’s crazy! She smiles and talks and is starting to laugh. She managed to roll from back to front for the first time, just one day shy of her 4 month birthday. She likes holding toys, but only if she can get them into her mouth. She goes with the flow with almost no complaining. And she’s still a champion sleeper. She’s the perfect third child!

Except when she’s NOT perfect, like last week when we had a babysitter here for just 2 hours (Chris had a wedding and I was at work.) Abby cried for almost that entire 2 hours. No real reason, she just cried. 2 days later, at Aunt Karen’s house, she did the same thing. Hysterical, unexplained crying. We drove 40 minutes home with crying all the way. In hindsight, I think she might have been overheated both times. I guess she’s more like me than I thought – she doesn’t like to be hot and sweaty! We still think she’s great and we’re going to keep her!

The whole family enjoyed our trip to Blue Harbor last week. Maggie loved to do the “big kid”

slides, while Katherine was happy enough to stick with the kiddie slides. She tried the big ones, but was happier in the kid pool. Even Abby got in on the action, sitting on my lap for a ride in the lazy river, and splashing in the baby pool. We were happy to enjoy a 2-bedroom condo, which gave us a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and plenty of space for all of us. It was just a short walk to either the Lake Michigan shoreline, or the hotel and waterpark. Chris and I each enjoyed an hour massage at the spa. That was about the only relaxation we enjoyed –as taking 3 children to a waterpark is not exactly relaxing, but anytime you can get away from home for a few days, it feels great!

The trip offered education as well. Our wonderful, daytime sitter, Linda, came to visit just before we left. She brought Maggie and Katherine each a digital camera. They are basic, and child-proof and very exciting. However, they do not have a display screen, so the girls were confused as to why they couldn’t immediately see the pictures they were taking. Chris and I tried to explain the concept of film, and went so far as to say “when we were kids” and went on to describe taking pictures with a 110 or 35mm camera, bringing the film to the drugstore, and then waiting 3-5 days to ever see the pictures. I’m not sure they really grasped the concept, but it was fun to talk about.

The other “life-lesson” from the past 2 weeks was learning about convertibles. Maggie noticed a “car with no roof” while we were driving, so we talked about how some cars have roofs that can hide when the weather is really nice. Maggie really liked the WORD convertible, saying “Hmmm, convertible, Con-Ver-Ti-Ble, That’s a hard word Mommy, but I like it!” Every car ride is now more exciting as both girls shout “CONVERTIBLE” when they see one.

Next week is back to school for Chris with teacher in-service on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Then Maggie AND Chris are back to school on September 1. Katherine gets an extra week before APL school starts. I think we’ll all appreciate the return to routines, but we'll certainly miss the lazy days of summer as well!

It's 8AM and already over 80 degrees with a dew point of 73. Let's stop for a moment and thank the inventor of air conditioning.

And while I'm feeling grateful, I'll say thank you for 3 year olds, who are amazing at stating the obvious.

Me: Katherine, please pick up those toys and put them away in the other room.

K: Ok, Mommy, but I have to do it only a little at a time. I only have two hands! See?

(holds up 2 hands and wiggles fingers) People only have 2 hands Mommy, so I can only take 2 things at a time.

And how about a thank you for 5 year olds, who are experts at annoying their little sisters.

Maggie: Well, if you were an OCTOPUS you'd have more hands.

K:But I'm NOT an octopus

M: You could PRETEND to be an octopus

K: I don't WANT to be an octopus

M: But you could be faster if you were an octopus

K: NO! I just want to be a Katherine!

Yup just another day at our house!

Usually, they only get annoyed with each other after too much time in the house.

Luckily, with Daddy around, we aren't in the house too much. In the last 2 weeks they've been to the Zoo to feed the birds, to a Brewer's game, to Lake Geneva for a day in the sand, to the State Fair, back to the Zoo for 'Zoo School' and swimming lessons every morning. Not to mention plenty of time in the pool/sprinkler, riding bikes, creating chalk art in the driveway, and spilling bubbles.

This week we're off to Sheboygan WI for 2 nights at Blue Harbor Resort. With a Waterpark, Lake Michigan, parks, and massages for Mom and Dad, we may never come home! I'll keep you posted!

Here's one I want to remember forever!

At dinner tonight, Chris was asking the girls which movie they chose to watch during non-nap time while he was at church this afternoon. It was a Disney Princess Christmas movie. He was asking them questions about who was in it, and what the story was, and which princesses didn't get to be in the movie, and why,etc.

After a few minutes, he suggested that he wanted to watch a movie with all the scary, bad guys in it, not the princesses. He thought the scary/bad guys could sing just like the princesses. Maggie laughed at him and told him he was silly. But Katherine's eyes got big and asked in all seriousness, "You mean da ones wif da shawp teef?" Because of course, all bad guys have sharp teeth!

After I composed myself (it was really funny to see her face and hear the concern in her voice) the discussion continued, with Chris asking Maggie which was her favorite scary/bad guy. She didn't miss a beat before replying "Magnificent!" I'm pretty sure she meant "Maleficent" the evil witch from her favorite, Sleeping Beauty. But after further discussion, it is clear, she fully believes her name is "Magnificent!"

The things they say - it felt good to laugh like that!