We run a little Lily heavy these days in the pictures

Because she's so darn photogenic... and because she holds still.

Daddy's method of putting the babies to bed.

Lily poured some water in her flask, swirled it around, then drank from it. Mad Scientist Lily!

Snuggling!

It was too quiet, so I went to check on Lily. She had emptied a container of diaper wipes cleaning her dinosaur because he had "poopoo". Well, of course!

#stuffElliesays

I've been trying to incorporate more beans into our diet so I was cooking garbanzo beans today. The kids really liked them (the novelty at least) and so at one point Ellie came running into the kitchen.

Ellie: "Mom, can I have more babonzo....garbarzo... rapunzel beans? ...Are these magic beans Mom?"

Summer peeked back in

Jackets not withstanding, it was lovely! We drove out to the Mercer Slough and went for a hike on the boardwalk.

Then we stopped by our local animal shelter for hands-on practice on how to treat animals. No puppies or dogs for young kids sadly, but lots and lots of cats!

There are three cats in this little "cat condo", one up high, one in the box that Lily and Theo are peering into, and one in the nest Ellie is investigating. They did great at being gentle!

Theo especially liked the cats - he was kissing the windows and saying "bye-bye!" to each one as we walked by.

Then popsicles at home.

In the evening I pulled out our latest laundrypocalypse and all four kids helped me (to varying degrees) sort, fold, and put away laundry. It's a new world!

First of fall

We've just been hanging around this week, not doing any major outings. 

My little lumberjack.

This is him checking on Lily (for the fiftieth time) after she fell and hurt herself. Aww.

Love that rain jacket.

Took the kids on a 1.5 mile trail hike near our house... great for getting out the wiggles!

Theo loves this Brachiosaurus. He rides it, has epic battles between our T-Rex, and ... feeds it.

Avy was very proud of how carefully spaced out she'd placed these beads.

Lily asked me to put on her jacket and shoes and then.. vanished. Finally peeked out in the backyard and saw this. She is little but she is fierce!

Indoor play (Autumn is here!)

The rains are here so I took the kids to one of our local indoor playgrounds. Was that ever a success - the babies are finally big enough to keep up with the big girls.

Theo kinda hung around me for the first half of our time there; Lily took off after the big kids and never looked back.

Goof :)

She could baaaaarely pull herself up, but heaven help me if I try to help her ;)

After, boba tea!

And hanging out on the ride-a-coinslots.

Not a baby anymore :(