January 2015.

Faye started a two-day-a-week preschool in January. She goes to the YMCA, so we are usually there for me to work out or teach anyway. Her teachers are amazing, she has made lots of friends, she brings home the cutest crafts, and her handwriting has improved a ton! On her first day, I had to run downtown and pick up produce for our co-op before school. That makes for sort of a hectic morning, and I had no time to do her hair or help her get dressed. She wore the lovely (favorite because it makes her look pregnant) blue shirt and red sweatpants below. Ha! I had to take pictures again her second day because she was a little more put together.

 We had some really nice weather in January!

With Faye in school two mornings a week, I get to have a little alone time with just Isla! I was pleasantly surprised to find that she knew most of her letters, and now she's got them all down. (In the background is operation no more pink curtains, to be replaced by white.)

Some nights everyone just looks so cute sitting there eating their dinner that I have to take a picture. (Those are not the nights when everyone is crying or pouting about not liking the dinner.)

Just some normal day-to-day activities in January:

This girl loves blackberries!

On this particular day, the creatively dressed Faye commented on my (mostly black) outfit: "You look crazy, mom."

 Carson's latest reads include The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley. He often had a really, really hard time putting the books down and would be caught reading at 11 p.m.

Not exactly sure what the punishment should be for reading late into the night! Also, I think Carson might be the only kid in second grade who hasn't lost his two front teeth!

They haven't forgotten about Aunt Mackenzie's horse ride. Here Faye is playing the part of Mackenzie, leading Isla on Mellie.

Having some sort of discussion with Everett on the kitchen floor. I think he was showing me something they had done in P.E. Chats with Everett are the best.

SO MANY LEAVES. One Saturday I challenged everyone to fill up as many leaf bags as they could. One bag earned chicken nuggets at Chick Fil A, two got you fries, and three got a kids' meal. Everyone earned theirs. (With some help from me for the little ones; I was sore the next day!)

Another day, another pregnancy.

Lots of reading with this girl.

While I read (listened to) Unbroken, I regularly told Carson about the story. He was quite interested in it, so when he received an assignment to do a biography project he chose to do it on Louis Zamperini. Such an amazing person!

This poor child had a really painful ear infection that lasted for over a week. In retrospect, I should have taken him to the doctor and actually treated him for it! We usually just let things like this heal on their own, but this was pretty bad.

If Rick gets home and Carson is still awake, they often play a little catch.

Isla recently moved in to Faye's room, and the two of them are the cutest little roommates ever. Faye frequently helps Isla go to the bathroom and to fall asleep. When I was rearranging their things, I had the great idea to convert their closet into a little nursery for their dolls. It has turned out to be such a fun little space! If we have lots of guests over and Faye disappears, I know she's up in the nursery caring for her babies.

We got to celebrate Christmas all over again when packages arrived from Grandma GJ! This is in Isla's old room, now referred to as "the empty room."

 Faye turned four! She has become such a delight. Faye's birthday landed on a day she had preschool, so we brought fruit kabobs and Rice Krispies treats to share.

 On her birthday we had the treats with the kids, and she opened her presents: tennis shoes, and a Moby wrap!

 Faye invited friends over for a "Little Mommies" party. The guests brought their baby dolls, and we handed out homemade sleeping bags for each doll. We played games like "Pass the Baby" (hot potato) and "Guess What's Missing" with baby items on a tray. We also had Baby Bingo and Pin the Pacifier on the Baby. The girls enjoyed a lunch of pizza and sides and a sprinkles cake. After presents, all the girls and their babies went home with the Little Golden Book, Little Mommy. Such a fun time!