there were quite a lot of decorations put up inside and outside the house for lauren’s party.  but the fireplace remained bare and rather stark looking.  that is, until the kids took it upon themselves to decorate that area with an allie-made paper chain as well as signs and pictures they drew.  it ended up being my most favorite decorations of all.  lauren is a very loved little sister.

trying to keep them independently occupied while mommy’s busy unpacking.  this particular idea unfortunately only lasted a day because we left them out the night we had a freak rain shower in southern california in july.  of course.

just this. this picture is my heart’s happy dance. that is all. thank you and good night.

and then my favorite little wrinkly-nosed squirt went and turned herself into a four-year-old! and apparently, if you go to trader joe’s on your fourth birthday and you tell the cashier that it’s your fourth birthday, she will come over and wrap tj stickers around you four times! lowenji’s birthday post coming soon!

the vast majority of my mornings begin the same way: around 4 or 5 am, a  little person by the name of lauren makes her way up the stairs and slips into our room.  clutching her favorite memory foam pillow, she pads over in the dark to my side of the bed, plops the pillow next to my head and urgently whispers, “I HAVE TO PEE.”  she then goes into our bathroom, does her business, then calls out, “i’m done, can you help me?”  which is then my cue to stumble over with eyes pretty much still closed to assist her.  afterward, she returns to my side of the bed,…