Somerset Turns 5!

My sweet family is growing up so fast! My Somerset shot up this Summer and not only does she have long, lean legs, can sing like an angel and swim like a fish, she is now 5! She wants to be a pony trainer, is learning to read and loves anything creative! She is an amazing artist and has quite the flair for fashion. She is 5 going on 15 and has really become quite a sweet, good girl. She still has her dramatic moments, but all in all, she has been a very good girl who loves preschool, her friends and baby sister.

Somerset had a great birthday, which is awesome since she has talked about her birthday for the past few months. Her birthday weekend started with a trip to gt her nails done and shopping with grandma, followed by a trip to the circus with Ellie! What fun the girls had!

Her birthday was a My Little Pony event with Rarity taking center stage. We had a pin the tail on the pony game, a pinata (big blue high heel), and a face painter! The kids all seemed to have a good time and Somerset received so many wonderful gifts: A headband kit, a make your own pillows, Beados, clothes etc.

Rosalie is now walking! She walks slow and methodically, but it is walking none the less. The beginning of October marks her adventures on 2 feel. She also loves books now and counts as she turns pages.

She also has started saying "ut-oh," which is one of my favorite baby phrases. She also pants like a dog and loves books. She brings me books all the time to read to her. She can also get a book when we ask her to,  so she is beginning to understand simple command.

Leo has started getting picked on for his height. This breaks my heart!

Oh how we have loved this Summer

 Maybe I was making up for the fact that I had a baby last summer and couldn't get the kids out as much as I would have wanted, but this summer has been one for the books. We have kept so busy with Villa Sport, swim lessons, Mathnasium, summer camps etc. It has been amazingly fun, at times challenging for me, but so worth it!

I owe so much of our fun to Villa Sport. I have cherished every minute there. The childcare staff is amazing, the classes are kicking my butt and the pool has been so fun! I want to stay so badly, but it is not an inexpensive endeavor.

Our Rosalie is changing so much. She laughs and smiles frequently, she also shows when she is unhappy by whining. She got a tooth this week too!! Bottom left front tooth, welcome, we never thought you would come. She also took one step today. She has been standing for a long time, so sh is ready! I am ready for her to get off the floor too, her pants are all so dirty from crawling.

Somerset is an amazing artist. Her drawings have so much detail and I love the style of her art. She is excited to start school, but will miss all the friends she has made at Villa. She is very popular. She will start preschool next week and will continue taking swim lessons.

Leo continues to love Mathnasium and is at the 4th grade level. He is also back into Pokemon. His obsession is deep again and his room is littered with cards....ugh! Leo has also started learning to ride a skateboard.

We also had an amazing visit with Jacob. The kids are in love with him, He spent the day at the Children's Museum with us, went to Villa, spent the night and hung out at the house. He is always a great guest and we love him so much!

I am ready for school, but will really miss the summer. I have loved the heat, the pool and the casual clothes.

13 Months and Summer Fun!

Camping, standing, pickling, swimming, smiling, soap selling,brewing, gardening. These are just a few words that have described our summer. We have been a super active group! The kids have enjoyed this exceptionally HOT summer by swimming a ton, both and Villa Sport and during swim class. Somerset is quite the fish and has taken so well to swimming. She is a natural and went straight to Level 2 after being in Level 1 only once. She has a definite passion for her swimming and I am considering how she can stay swimming year round. 

Leo also knows how to swim now, but we are still working on the proper technique. Leo still goes to Mathnasium and karate. He also adores the Villa Sport pool, especially the water slide and obstacle course. Surprise, he is obsessed with Pokemon again!!!

Rosalie is now 13 months and still has no teeth!!! We are a bit worried, but will wait until 14 months before letting Dr. Crowley know. She is also standing all the time. She gets into a stand position from a squat and will stand for extended periods, but still no steps. She is very proud of herself and loves when w clap for her. She has the hugest smile.

Rosalie also loves to wave and say hello to people in stores. She can get frustrated when she does not receive the attention she is looking for.

The big kids went camping with Daddy for 2 days while I stayed home with Rosalie. It was delightful to spend time alone with the baby and have the house so quite. I also had a lovely time with my mom shopping and dining...what fun! I can't believe I ever thought life with 1 baby was difficult! Joe and the kids had a blast and the kids were real troopers. They caught fish and enjoyed playing Uno and telling spooky stories.

I still sell my soap every Saturday at the Beaverton farmer's market. I also remain very busy selling wholesale to Made in Oregon. I am not trying to grow the business, but am so happy that y hard work is starting to pay off!

First Year Portraits

So much has happened this summer....we are a busy bunch. I have tried to pack so much fun into this summer.

This summer has been exceptionally hot, so it's a good thing we joined Villa Sport. The excellent childcare (2 hours free a day!), is like summer camp and Rosalie usually naps while she is there.. It's fantastic. We have used the pool a ton too and the kids are becoming good swimmers. Leo loves the obstacle course and water slide and Somerset loves making friends and swim class with Mommy. Rosalie is a tan little water baby too....she loves the water as much as the big kids.

Rosalie still has no teeth!!!! What is up? It seems like she has teething forever!!!! She does grow and develop in other ways though. She says, "I love you," and "I love you Aria." She yelled "Aria" the other day when the front door opened. I think that she thinks all visiting company should include Aria.

She also stands from a squatted position and has been caught standing for up to 10 seconds....wow!

She loves waving to people and saying "hi," especially at the farmer's market. She attracts quite a few customers to my soap booth.

Today, Joe heard her yell, "no way" when he tried to change her diaper and outfit. I was laughing so hard at the thought of this.

Somerset is my little mermaid. She is a really natural at swimming and she learned how to swim within a few lessons. We may have found a new talent of hers. She has really enjoyed swimming at Villa Sport this summer. She also has been taking swim lessons twice a week at Harman. She loves  her teacher Miss Maggie so much and is the star of her class.

Leo has been very busy with Swimming lessons, Mathnasium  and Karate. Leo wants to go to Mathnasium everyday. He really shines there and has found "his people," Leo also loves the basketball hoops at Villa. He is so good  at making baskets for his height and age.

Joe has become a bit of a carpenter these days, making all sorts of work benches for the garage for his brew station and for my soaping area. He also continues to brew, brew, brew and has loved watching the bats at night and tending to his gardening.

I continue to make soap daily, growing my business and having fun keeping the kids busy. This summer has been one to remember.