Some More Birthday Stuff and a Preschool Graduation...

Finally, summer has arrived.  We had an awesome Memorial Day weekend, filled with time outside, at the pool, doing yard work, playing with our neighbor, and just generally resting.  Was just what we needed to kick off summer.

We planted some flowers a week or so ago and Margot likes to help Mark water them.  On this particular day she got herself in her bathing suit to do it...as she's not great keeping the hose just on the flowers.  This is one of our new suits for this summer...a little big, but so cute and patriotic.

 This girl loves to be outside.

 Sawyer and Isla made Margot some birthday signs...with no prompting from me or Mark.  Sawyer went big with the sign across the room, Isla's is a bit smaller down below.

 So excited to be 3 years old!!!

 Hugs from Sawyer

Last week was also Isla's last day of preschool.  She said from now on when someone asks her what grade she's in, she's going to say Kindergarten.  We went to the park by our house here they had a little preschool graduation ceremony complete with songs performed for the parents and time for the kids to run around/have snacks.  Our graduate before the concert began...

 Lined up and ready to sing.

With her teacher...getting her diploma and class picture.  We think this will be Margot's teacher next year too...so they have two more years of Harris girls, though I am willing to bet Isla was the easiest of the two.

 Standing with her diploma

I literally ran over for a half hour to see the ceremony, songs, and make sure my girl knew i was there, but also had a crazy busy week so had to run home to get on some calls.  On one hand it's amazing how I can have that flexibility with my job, and on the other, it's crazy that I'm sprinting from one to the other...modern day working I suppose, at least in my world.

Isla has a good friend from school who she has play dates with.  She has a little sister that will be in preschool with Margot next year, and both sets of girls have become fast friends.  We were out to lunch near their house a few days ago and decided to invite both of them over for some sprinkler and bubble fun.  Having B over was Margot's very first playdate and she loved it.  She spent the whole car ride home trying to make B laugh, and B happily obliged, which in turn had Mark and I giggling the whole ride home.

Best thing to do on a hot day is hit up the sprinkler and ours has been on a lot lately before we get in the swing of the pool schedule.  These bubbles had four girls running around the back yard screeching.

Thanks for the birthday present Grandma and Grandpa...we are going to go stock up on more bubble refills because this was a huge hit!

Sawyer is now in her last day of school - with a trip to the zoo today, field day on Thursday and last half day on Friday.  Can't believe the year is over, but everyone is pretty geared up for the summer activities and a few trips we have planned along the way....

A Happy Early Birthday to Margot

So, I fully anticipate that we'll be celebrating our girl's 3rd birthday a couple of times.  She's asked to go to Pump It Up for open jump, which we're planning to do next weekend.  And, we decided to celebrate on Sunday because I'm due to be home late on Tuesday - #parentingfail..I know.  I don't have control over this particular meeting, so I wanted to be there when Margot opened her presents, had her requested dinner - cheezgaburrs - and had cake.  We opened one present on Saturday and broke out lots of outdoor sidewalk paint and chalk from Alicia, Jon and Harlow.  The girls were digging it...and fighting over it, of course.  It didn't matter that it was Margot's present, everyone wanted to do it immediately.

 Sawyer getting in on the action

 Margot using the air sprayer...up and down the driveway

 And Sawyer's flower creation...

That was yesterday, and today we allowed her to open her remaining gifts.  Her sister's bought her some play doh and a Frozen microphone.  It plays one song over and over and is quite annoying but she told me tonight she loves her microphone so what can you do.  Here she is singing...so serious.

 Opening other presents - Sawyer and Isla were on top of her the whole time

She LOVED her backpack.  She equally loved the lunchbox and already wants to fill it up.  The backpack looks funny right now but she'll grow into it same way that Isla did.

She also loved rocking her new Anna dress.  I couldn't decide which of these pics I liked better so I included them both.  Her smile is just so big.

 She's a poser, but we think it's cute.

She also spent some time outside playing baseball with her new tee and bat.  And in the midst of all that we had our cheeseburger diner and then cake.  The cake kind of looks silly - she wanted strawberry so we decided to do a pink cake with chocolate frosting and strawberries on top but the strawberries kept sliding off the sides.  Haha - I couldn't stop them - even an hour in the fridge didn't help to get it to set.  So it looks a little disastrous but tasted incredibly good if I do say so myself.

 My goodness these girls know how to fight, but occasionally they pretend to be best friends...

Margot wanted to sing Jingle Bells to us first - the version with Batman Smells...and then we were allowed to sing Happy Birthday to her.  She blew out the candles like a big girl...

And was so happy after she got them all out.  We ate cake, took baths, and I'm sitting here hoping that all children are now asleep.  I know Isla is - she came downstairs, laid on the couch, and fell asleep within 2 minutes.  God help me if the other two are not asleep - after all the running around we did, how is that possible?!?!

A Bit about our Weekend

So....it was pretty much the most amazing weekend here in Chicago.  The weather was perfect and we didn't have too much planned but did a lot anyway.  The week ended rather uneventfully with Sawyer delivering a glass of wine to me while I was still on a late afternoon....thank you Mark for arranging that.  It had been a BUSY week where not much got done other than lots of work, and I was TIRED.  So really, Friday was pretty uneventful.  Kids went to bed early-ish and Mark and I watched a movie.
Saturday was filled with all the usual items but when it's 75 degrees and sunny it makes you smile. We walked to the farmers market, did laundry, some grocery shopping, and went to Sawyer's softball game.  The game was mid-afternoon so the two youngest spent most of the time at the playground running me back and forth between swings and jungle gyms, etc.  Mark helped out with the game, pitching or being one of the parent helpers in the field, and Sawyer had a great game - she loves hitting and playing catcher.  We came home, grilled out and ate outside, had some showers and relaxed.

Most importantly, before the game, Sawyer organized her sisters into having an iced tea stand.  It was the first time they'd tried this, and so Mark and I weren't sure they would get a single person since our street isn't hugely busy.  However, the neighbors came out in a big way and they sold out, making $6.45...They were SO excited, and Mark said at one point he was overwhelmed by the number of people.  Isla was excited because they got one "driver"...haha.  They decided to spend the money on a birthday present for Margot which was nice.

This is my soon to be 3 year old and I taking a selfie on Saturday.  She is a free spirit and hard headed.  She learned how to spell her name "MAR...GOT..." we have to say it very rhythmically so she remembers it.  The girl can't write a single letter - she can do a circle so perhaps we can call it an O, but in reality we've failed this third child in the writing department.  That said, she's smart as a whip and so I'm thinking preschool should be helpful and she should catch right up.

While we were out at the farmer's market on Saturday we swung past the running store and picked up some race packets for a run in town that helps race money for a great cause.  Isla and Sawyer were signed up to run the 1 mile fun run and Mark signed up for the 5k.  I ran the 1 mile with Isla, and the stinker switched from sprinting to walking.  She also took off from the start line like a jack rabbit weaving in and out of people to keep up with Sawyer so I started about 50 ft behind her and had to keep an eye out until it started to break up and I could catch up to her.

I'm happy to say that all three of our racers did great.  Sawyer finished in just over 9 minutes, Isla finished in 11 minutes, and Mark finished in about 25 minutes.  Awesome job by all three.  Here's a picture of Sawyer about to cross the finish line.

 And very proud of her medal...

The 1 mile race was first so we stuck around and did some activities while waiting for Mark to do his race..We got faces painted, tattoos pressed on, watched a magician do some crazy tricks - he pulled a ball out of Sawyer's arm pit and a ball out of Isla's ear that had them AMAZED, and we waited an incredibly long time in a line for balloon animals.  Nothing against the balloon animal guy - he was a machine and made amazing things, but I never thought I'd wait in a 45+ min line for balloon animals. That one was for you Isla - you said you HAD to get an animal and so we stayed...

Margie got a monkey on a tree...

 ...super cute, but it popped on the grass while she was on the playground.  oops - luckily she was a good sport.  Sawyer got a turtle on a stick....also super cute.  it's leg popped in the wind on the car ride home...she burst into tears.  She seriously needs some coping mechanisms - Margie reacted far better.

And finally - Isla got a duck on a stick.  She loves it, and she squirrels things away so I have no idea where in the house this thing currently is, but it is presumably still "alive".

After the race we came home and baked a cake for Margot.  We also had our neighbor come over for 2 hours while Mark and I ran to a few furniture and yard stores.  It was incredible not to shop with the kids, and while she's a young babysitter, she is great with the girls and kept them playing for the whole time.  We came home to a dance party.  We were able to pick up our flowers, veggies, and herbs for the summer and are hoping for some bountiful crops.  We spent a lot of time planting and watering and then celebrating Margot's birthday - pictures to come.

Before I go - here's some from a few weeks back of the girls playing dress up.  Isla in particular was hilarious.  She had a ton of different things on - beret, lei necklace, tutu, butterfly cape, superman cape, and rabbit fur scarf.  I have no idea what she "was" but she had a great time flying all over the house.  Mark was a ballerina.  Fitting as the girl walks on her tippy toes ALL the time.  I think both may actually do ballet come the fall.  Isla seems to have renewed interest in it, and Margot just wants to try it.

 And one all on her own...

 And of our ballerina doing a twirl...

Pure Joy

A couple of weeks ago we had some early summer weather and we loved it.  The girls hit the playground almost every day and we brought out the sprinkler a few times.  One day in particular Sawyer and Isla were not interested but Margot went out by herself and Mark brought the camera.  I've not even included half of the pictures i loved and every single one shows the look of pure joy on our girl's face.  Love.

 Just a quick sip...

I know a lot of these are similar pictures but seriously - happiness in the eyes and the smile...

Time to Get Updated

It seems I'm no longer quite a blogger - more of a recreational writer.  I would love to say that I still had (1) the desire to update the blog more often, and (2) the time, but in reality both have fallen by the way side.  The girls are doing more things - art class for Margot, soccer, school, and lots of play dates for Isla, and softball and school for Sawyer.  Mark is in charge of keeping that ship moving in the right direction and does a great job.  Luckily my schedule is still such that I work from home a lot so I get to have lunch with Mark and Margot a lot, often Isla too.  I see the girls when they get home from school, but I also spend a lot of nights working after they go to bed.  Such is life I guess.

No complaints here though - we lead a privileged life, and spent time over the last few months on vacation - Mark and I went to New Orleans and the whole family went to Florida.  Our trip to New Orleans was a highlight - we were able to get away for a few days alone, walked many miles around that city as we explored, ate amazing food, and even ran through the city - a full marathon for Mark and a half for me.  I think we both enjoyed the days leading up to the race way more than the actual races themselves, but so be it.

I feel like we spent a lot of time indoors this winter - it wasn't a terrible winter - hardly any snow. However it was cold enough that we didn't have much to do.  So a few pictures I have from that time...us baking of course - always need to use our leftover xmas cutout dough to make some cookies for Valentine's day.

I'm not sure where Sawyer was - she would have been around for the decorating, but must have been gone for the cookie making itself.  Margot has rapidly taken after her sisters and hasn't met a dough she doesn't like to sample ahead of time.  She's actually the worst about it - the others will usually listen if I yell enough, but not this one.

 They love to do the cutouts...favorite thing...

Our girls set up their own indoor store - complete with fans selling for 25 cents.  They made something like 80 fans - I think because Mark was loving that it kept them busy for an hour or so, using every single piece of construction place we had.  The one problem is the workforce was 60% of the household so they looked to us to buy a fan, and after we each bought one there were 78 remaining.  haha - we threw a ton out eventually but we have been finding fans all over the house for weeks.

Thankfully it wasn't too long before we got out of dodge - on the road to Florida we go!!  Grandma and Grandpa were extremely kind to indulge us in a 10 day vacation at their house.  I think I'll have to add other pictures late from my phone as I may have more on there than our camera, but we did a lot.  We went to an Easter Egg hunt, which grossly under-describes it.  There was an amazing brunch that we all indulged in, there was an Easter bunny posing for as many pics as you wanted, there were balloon animals, horses, goats, and then...an Easter egg hunt.  Sawyer didn't make it due to an allergy flair up (pollen count was high) which caused her face to swell and required some much needed rest. Don't feel bad - we brought tons of treats home.

We hit up the aquarium, the beach, spent tons of time in the pool, ate out at some yummy places, and just spent time with Grandma and Grandpa, Grandpa Joe, Al, Jon and Harlow, and the O'Connors and Kanes.  It was a lighter group than we've had in other years but still fun.  Best of all, the girls got to spend time with their cousin Harlow.  Margot and Harlow are now besties which is great - they like to facetime each other these days, with Margot and then our fish being Harlow's first requests.

 All the kids took to the pool and Sawyer and Isla especially were little fish.  They picked up a lot of their skills right where they left off and are ready for a summer full of swimming at the pool.  Last year Isla used to use a vest every now and then but not needed this summer!  I think the pool will be less stressful knowing two of the kids know how to swim, and the third will always have a vest on.

We tried to give Harlow our favorite red polka dot swim suit - which she looked super cute in.  This was Margot's favorite, and someone it ended up back in our suitcase.  I think it was fate and Margot has taken to wearing it this spring on a couple of warm days when we broke out the sprinkler.

Somehow I don't have a single photo of Margot in one of her many cute suits.  Thankfully I got at least one of Sawyer.  She sure has grown up in the last year.  This girl is playing softball right now and is really quite athletic we think.  She was signed up for lacrosse too - something she really enjoys too and wanted to learn more about, but we had to take her out because they were at competing times so I think we figured out what to sign her up for in the fall.

 While in Florida we also dyed some easter eggs.  All four girls got into it with Grandma overseeing.

 If I knew what to do with all the eggs we should have gotten more just because it kept them so interested.

And one of the best benefits was having Aunt Alicia around to braid hair.  She loves doing it, and the girls like that I'm not doing it.  Isla was modeling hers off here.

 Also very important, the Easter bunny came.  We lucked out in that Grandpa had been given a giant easter bunny two days before, and it became the centerpiece of the girls basket.  For as big as it was, this thing did not last long.

 And now there's less to say.  We're back in the DG.  Doing the spring thing - loving when we have the super warm days.  We had some 80 degree days and Mark had the girls going to the park every day, playing outside a lot and it was a great preview to summer.  I feel like the older two have been off doing their thing a lot lately and that leaves Mark and I with this munchkin.  She sure is cute, but also heading into the torrential threes.  I always thought the 3s were worse than the 2s, and she is proving no exception.  This girl is head-strong and not afraid to express her position, or just flop on the floor crying because she didn't get what she wanted.  Boo-hoo.

Lots of people lately say that Margot is the spitting image of me, and while I think Sawyer has a lot of similarities to me, sometimes looking at Margot even scares me because I see so much of me in her.  Side note - one of the things that makes me laugh about Sawyer all the time is that she looks just like Mark when she sleeps.  He would often fall asleep, flip on his stomach, and lay on his arms/hands, and Sawyer does the exact same thing.  I find it such a bizarre position that it instantly makes me smile.  But I digress.  Love this girls eyes...if only she would let us pull her hair back more often.

 And one last shot - I tried to get Isla and Margot playing soccer in the yard and this is the best shot I got.  Isla is getting to be a good player, but Margot also seems to like it.  For a 2 year old, it surprises me that she understands not to touch the ball with her hands, and how to run/dribble the ball, and then kick it...prodigy i tell you.

And that may have caught us up a bit.  Now that the girls are in sports and we're outside more I hope to take more pictures - I've barely touched the camera in the last six months.  But it's always more fun to take pictures outside.  We've been planting flowers, weeding, and getting the patio all ready for time outside...come on sun...show us what you can do...