The girls met their first cousin on the Wellman side on Sunday!
As we drove through Aunt Annette and Uncle Tom's neighborhood, we passed their park. Miriam said, "Do they take Catherine to that park now?"
"No," Mommy answered. "But maybe in the spring she'll be about big enough to push in the baby swings."
"No, no!" Miriam said in a rush. "I mean, on the slide!"
Perhaps the girls didn't realize how small and helpless a new baby really is...
They all got a turn or five holding her, kissing her, and smushing her chunky cheeks.
In between little girl turns, Mommy, Aunt Nichole, and Daddy got to hold Catherine, too.
Catherine pretty much slept through it all.
Before leaving Windsor, we had dinner at a diner/ice cream parlor.
Catherine slept through that, too.
Soon enough she'll be slurping down the cotton candy/bubble gum/cookie dough ice cream with her cousins.
We've said this week to several people that the girls are like puppies now - when Miriam comes home from school they just jump around one another, bouncing from snack to homework to play to play to play to dinner to bath - happy to be together after another day apart. They are just so familiar with those together days.
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They still don't seem to be quite used to this new "apart time". Vivian tries to be a good big sister and Felicity tolerates her heavy-handed nurturing. Slowly but surely, our two youngest girls are growing closer and closer.
But Miriam's personality offers them a balance and guiding presence that they are a little lost without at times during the day.
Vivian likes to mimic all of Miriam's homework - she will be teaching the other kindergartners next year.
Felicity has gotten wise on homework time and offers to take a bath. Alone. All the tub all to herself.
Labor Day weekend was wonderful - lots of Tim's family was here, our town has a great classic car festival, and we got a long weekend together as a family.
With all kinds of time at the pool wearing the girls out. (In the picture below, find Felicity stalking Aunt Michelle's birthday cake.)
We're starting to understand how wonderful all the days off from school will be because they mean a few more minutes of three little girls and their mom and dad together.
Well, no actual snow. But we did go to Canada for a day, which is almost like seeing snow.
But before that there was this little miracle where three little girls sat peacefully on the couch reading library books.
And Miriam caught this wide-mouth bass in Grandpa's neighborhood pond. Record setting fisherwoman.
We enjoyed one of the most fun parish picnics with good food, truly wonderful people, bounce houses, smores over a campfire, and more!
We've gotten into a new routine. Mommy, Felicity, and Vivian stand at the garage door and wave the Daddy and Miriam off as they leave for work and school...
...unless Miriam is riding the school bus - on Thursday mornings, Daddy goes to the adoration chapel and she gets to ride the school bus. It means waking up 45 minutes earlier, but she is always THRILLED for the adventure.
Mommy and the two youngest girls go about the day with activities and errands and naps until it's pick up time. After we get Miriam from school, sometimes we stop at the park to play for a bit.
Or we go to Mema's pool to burn off a little energy.
All three girls are getting to be great swimmers. Miriam doesn't need a life jacket anymore on the deep end. Vivian isn't afraid to jump in at all and can paddle around where ever with the aid of a life vest. Felicity will jump off the diving board now without holding anyone's hand. She still needs help getting to where she wants to go, but she'll get the hang of the doggie paddle any day now.
They're big girls getting braver and bolder and stronger everyday.
