Field Trip

I volunteered to be a chaperone on the twins' first kindergarten field trip. We (along with hoards of other classes, schools, districts, and a few random non-school affiliated folks seeking a quiet, peaceful retreat to the countryside) headed north to a pumpkin farm for an afternoon of crazy. I made it home 5 hours later exhausted, but this isn't about me. A tour:

The slide -- loosely bolted together, crooked, shallow, and requiring a "spotter" at both the top and the bottom. I was thankful for the excess of hay at the bottom of the slide.

Jorja and her best friend Caleb.

Anders taking a turn with the duck race pump.

Jorja shooting out of a tunnel tube.  Not the best with regards to keeping track of your group of kindergartners.

The corn jumping room.  Anders came home with  a pocket full of corn kernels -- which ended up in our washing machine, dryer, and scattered around the laundry room floor.  Enjoy Comet!

Anders with his friends Lucas and Chance.

Anders and Jorja explaining that their pumpkins where the BIGGEST in the whole class.  Guess who ended up carrying them?

Decorating their pumpkins post-field trip.

Integration

Iver has done a great job integrating himself into our household -- we all adore him.

Comet's quite curious about our new addition. Zeek tends to disappear when things get busy or hectic or loud.

Jorja loves to "check" on her little brother.  She's quite the helper (most of the time).

Post-bath for Iver.  He had a great time hanging out in his mesh sling partially submerged in warm water.  It was a group effort.  Anders helped with the washcloths, while Jorja provided entertainment and organized his clean diaper, clothes, and hooded towel.

School Bus Initiation

Anders and Jorja have finally been granted their persistant, energetic request to "WE want to ride the bus! WE want to be with our friends! When can WE ride the bus? Why do WE have to walk?".  Farewell fears of separation anxiety that never surfaced.

Here they are ON the BUS (with me and Gailyn along for the ride to soothe their, ahem our, apprehensions).

They loved it!

Our New Arrival

Iver Theodore was born on Saturday, 9/8 at 8:16am.  Meg had an amazingly smooth labor and delivery and Iver was (in the words of the attending medical staff)  "a rock star" -- staying even keeled throughout the whole birthing process. 

Immediately post-birth. 

Mr. 9 lbs 1.3 oz and 21 inches long.

Swaddled and sleepy.

Getting to know our lil' guy.

Welcoming their baby brother.

And then there were five.

A little love before our hospital departure.

A happy Mommy and baby.

Iver buckled in and ready to head home.

Kindergarten

Day 1:

Anders and Jorja ROCK!

Celebrations

Between out-of-town visitors, preschool graduation, a soon to be arriving baby, birthdays, and corresponding parties, it's been an eventful past month.  And we've loved all of it.  A big thank you to everyone who joined us along the way -- your energy sustains us.

Out and about with our visiting cousin Lori

Admiring the lily pads, ducklings...

...and abundant sunshine.

Preschool graduation.  A wasn't too sure about the homemade cap, hence his odd expression.

Celebrating in Portland.

 Graduation cake cutting.

Cousins taking the opportunity to romp around the courtyard.

On our way back home from Portland.  This was taken 10' from leaving Grandma's.

Celebrating The Big 5 with face painting.

J's turn.

The final product.

Awesome people.

Lot's of lego building...

...and eating.

Hulk and Julie.

Goofing around.

The cake.

J's first bite.

A's first taste.

Pirate for a day.

Cousin Carrie transforms into a peacock.

In Search of Ice Caves

We've decided to integrate a bit of hiking into our lives -- especially since "kid-friendly" hikes seem to equate to "7 months pregnant-friendly" hikes as well.  Perfectly suited for our family of four -- soon to be five.

The ice caves hadn't formed yet, but the views of Big Four Mountain and the snow fields were awesome.

Gailyn, Julie, Jordan, and the two dogs joined us as well.

Jorja and Jordan checking out the upcoming views.

Anders at home in the woods.

Meg's belly!

Off-leash bliss...

The Influence of Friends...

for better or worse. Our friends since birth, N and R, hang out frequently with A and J. Weekly meetings at local parks are the norm, but today marked a new shared activity between this foursome -- climbing out the windows of N and R's family car.  (Hey Eric, thanks for your willingness to drive all four kiddos to our biking spot -- and "allowing" them to fling themselves out of your car!)

 J and N navigating out the window.

J celebrating her exit, while A and R gear up for their turn.

A on his way out.

Wheeling around in the sunshine(!).

Our crazy Comet.