Summer's finally waning

For a good part of the last six months I've seriously contemplated "finishing" the blog.  But then I went back and looked at all of the years that are documented here on this page.  We've come a long way since we were the Virginia Winegars!  And so I'm back.  Here's a summer recap:

Spent a lot of time on the boat this summer. Virginia likes to drive.  She's pulling Savannah.  That Uncle Derek is such a softie.  He'll go for just about anything.  

I had a birthday, and baked myself some delicious Texas Sheetcake Cupcakes.  They were
just as good as I had hoped.  Happy birthday to me.

We hung with the Willards a lot.  Clara and Charlotte are shaping up to be great buddies.  Just another year or so and they'll be just as thick as the older ones.  On a side note: Charlotte has only worn shoes twice in all her life.  As a result, she doesn't care much for them.  Hoping the cooler weather will help her to see the utility in them.

Charlotte had a birthday.  She's one.  Wowza, the time flies!  Still not walking at 14 months.  

The big girls FINALLY talked me into a lemonade stand.  It was at least 100 degrees that day.  Savannah had to wear her pioneer bonnet that we got in SLC this summer.  Pretty sure that at least 50% of the straws made it into Virginia's mouth at some point before the sale was over.  

We went on a date for my birthday.  It was so fun.  

Savannah started first grade.  She hated it at first.  She wanted to go back to Kindergarten where they play and sing and have rest-time.  First grade was just to hard, she said.  It's all work.  Math, math, math!
As an act of desperation, we had an after-school party to celebrate the end of being sad about going to school.  The party even included gifts and cupcakes.  Worked like a charm.
Now when she starts to complain I just say,"Oh wait!  Remember the party?!"

Life in TX

Suckers and boating with buddies.

3 Months

I'm three months old today!

Fall in SLC

We made one more quick stop in SLC for the Utah vs. USC game, and were lucky enough to catch LDS General Conference that weekend too.  

Virginia colored a Sleeping Beauty coloring page for an HOUR of the flight.  It was fantastic.  Still totally crazy about Sleeping Beauty--not the princess, but the whole package.

Went to the game.  It was 55 degrees and I was wearing a hat and two fleece blankets.  I still froze.  I am SO soft from living in warmer climates now for 8 years.

 Savannah had to miss a day of school while we were gone.  It happened to be the day of her school's annual Teddy Bear Picnic.  She was devastated about it, so we had our own Teddy Bear picnic with Grammy's Oswald and Beary at the newly rebuilt Evergreen Park.  It was perfect.

Sad day--Mom retired from the Tabernacle Choir after 15 years.  We will miss the bonus of seeing her at Conference as we watch from far away.  We had a little party for her.

 Charlotte is just starting to giggle a tiny bit, but ONLY for Trevor.  I hate to be jealous, but I am her only food source, nighttime companion, etc. etc.  Maybe one of these days the giggle will be for me.  (Hard to see her grin in this picture because of the shadow, but it is there.)

Charlotte has also started sleeping through the night--HALLELUJAH.   I like my babies, but again, I start loving my babies when they sleep through the night.  (And I am not going to feel badly about that.)  She goes to bed with the big girls, and wakes up with the big girls.  Nice.  Cross our fingers that it will last...

October is upon us!

How is the time passing so quickly?  C is nearly 2 months.  I am bleary-eyed, but having fun.  Here are some pics to prove it:

School started, Savannah is officially in Kindergarten. We are lucky enough to live only a half mile from school, so we walk--the WHOLE crew.

Virginia is totally obsessed with Sleeping Beauty.  Totally.  I wish you could ask her yourself about it. Her favorite character is Malifecent.  Is that bad?  I say great, as Malifecent is definitely the most complex character.  Let's hope it isn't a strange attraction to the naughty girl.

We tried swimming.  Fail.

Trevor is still flinging children around.  I have to keep a close eye on him when he is holding the baby.

I have lost some control around here.  Things like this and the next two go unnoticed for a while:

Why not wear rain boots to go swimming?

We are still trying to resume normal family life and get out and about every now and then.

 Virginia is so lonely for Savannah while she is at school.  I love to watch their reunion every day.

 Resumed boating.  Success.

Blessed Charlotte --Can you guess which day we did it?

Have been loving on baby.

 C is starting to grin.  I LOVE the grinning.  It makes me feel like I am slightly more significant in the world when she at least acknowledges my presence in her little life.

For the record, we are alive and well!!

Hello Miss Charlotte!

She made it!!

Charlotte Beverly Winegar was born August 10 in the afternoon.  The labor was short, which made giving birth without the luxury of an epidural a little more bearable.  (Ugh.  I wouldn't wish it on anyone.) Charlotte was 7 lb 8 oz. and 20 inches.  She has been a delight so far.  The sisters are beyond thrilled about having her home.  

I've had good intentions

They just haven't come to fruition.  Here is our life in pictures lately:

We laid sod in our backyard.  Yes, we are renters.  Yes, it's crazy.  We want to figure out which kind of Texas grass we prefer.  (There are many, and NONE so wonderful as Kentucky Bluegrass or Fescue.  This has been a serious source of sadness for Trevor.)  So, why not experiment on someone else's yard...who didn't care much for it in the first place. :)

But just think how excited the landlord will be when he discovers FIVE different varieties of grass in the back yard!  What a great adventure!  he he he.

Some days this child wakes up with such beautiful hair, I can't bear to comb it.  Other days, it is a TOTAL wreck.  This was a good day.

Savannah "graduated" from preschool.  This proof came home from school and I laughed out loud.  I mean, really???  A cap and gown?  I am not big on this concept.  But it is worthy of a good laugh, not $25 for the purchase of the actual picture.

We have officially started soccer.  It has been so great.  We laugh through the whole game, every week.  There is a little hispanic kid who TOWERS over the other kids on the team.  He scores at least 3 goals every week and can "flop" and feign injury just like the professionals.  It is awesome.

 One week I volunteered Trevor to be the referee.  I'm not sure who had more fun, Trevor or Savannah.

We got some new baby cousins!  SOME is exactly two.  We clarify nearly every day that Cara had TWO babies, but I have only one.  Phew.  Thank goodness.  We LOVE the babies.

We play on the lawn nearly every day and night.  Best rental investment ever.

Does this picture even need a subtitle?  I know you are SO happy for me.  No diapers for at least the next 12 weeks.  Hallelujah.

There was a really cool bike race in our little downtown in Georgetown.  We were enthralled.  They went around a 1-mile course 64 times.  So fun to watch.  

The pool opened.  The goggles still work.

Everyone needed a cleaning.  It was V's first.  She was a champion.

Most recently, ALL of the Winegars came to Texas.  We had so much fun!  It has been so long since we were all together, and it was a blast.  The kids had so much fun.  We celebrated a milestone birthday for Grandma Jacque and I think it was great fun for her. Come again everyone!!