Keeping up with Kate

I cannot believe how fast Kate can crawl. She may even have baby Emerson beat! I cannot put her down for more than a second without having her speed away. She is so hilarious. I still cannot believe how lucky we are to have her. The other night she was up from 3:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.. After she fell asleep AGAIN and woke up AGAIN (around 7:00 a.m.) we put her in bed with us. In spite of the fact that this little human alarm clock kept us up most the night we just could not stop gushing over how cute she was. The poor baby constantly has 4 people who will not give her a moments rest. My sister and I were recently talking about how much we just love our children and how blessed we feel to be their mothers. Danielle said that she often wondered what the world would be like if everyone felt that way. I wonder.

The crazy thing about motherhood is that in some ways in makes no sense! Yes, you have these little things that mean more to you than your own life. But at times, motherhood is akin to being a zookeeper. And yet, no matter what your day is like, at the end of it, all you want to do is hug your babies and make sure that they know that they mean more to you than anything in the universe, even the rings of Saturn (ask Emerson about that).

Helping rake the leaves.

Pumpkin Festival with Sarah

Sarah took us to the Keane, N.H. Pumpkin Festival. I have never see anything like this. There were the most eleborate carved pumpkins. Sarah was saying that Keane's Pumpkin Festival was in the Guinness World Book of Records. The entire town is lined with pumpkins. All the streets are lined with pumpkins, there are 3-story pumpkin pyramids, the town squares are brimming with them. They even put real jack-o-lanterns in the trees.. It was incredible. We were in awe. Thanks so much Sarah for introducing us to this!!!

Sarah and I have been friends since our first semester at BYU. She's probably more like a sister now. We love living so close. Sarah has the most beautiful home in New Hampshire. There is so much to do there and so many kids to play with. My daughters worship her daughter, Hannah. Hannah is always so sweet to them.

Happy Halloween

We let the girls pick out their own costumes. Emerson is "Barbie, Island Princess". Rileigh is a Hello Kitty princess. Kate is our little flower. This time of year gets really hectic for us, between parties, school fairs, and other Autumn festivals. I still cannot believe the social lives of 3 little girls can keep us so busy. What will happen when they get older and have even more activities??!! Yikes!

We always take pictures of the girls in the same spot, in front of the fireplace. I take a picture about once a week so we can watch Kate progress her first year. I think that it is so funny that in every picture we have of Kate she is either trying to get away or crying. She is usually the happiest baby, but boy, does she hate to have her pcture taken.

Kate's first Halloween. Candy will have to wait.

"We Believe!!!" Again ...

In honor of our beloved World Champions Red Sox (and yes that is a replica Fenway scoreboard).

We're off to the World Series ... AGAIN!!!!

We may have been down 3 games to 1, but that didn't stop us!! We love the Sox!!!! Emerson last night in the dinner prayer prayed that the Red Sox would win last night. Yes, someday we will explain that praying for outcomes of sporting events is not appropriate. But last night, Mike and I thought that the Sox needed all the help they could get. So we didn't say a word and just hoped it might help. So Lyons boys, would you like to make a bet against the Chatwins girls?????

One little, Two little, Three little monkeys ...

Oh' Rileigh!! When we drove into my friend Becky's driveway to pick Rileigh up this is the scene we found. Rileigh was playing with Light Sabers with Becky's son and his friend. She of course, was the "bad guy". She always wants to be the bad guy. Becky has the cutest little daughter who Rileigh LOVES! But no, not even playing dolls would deter her from playing her favorite game of "Bad Guys".

Kate is FINALLY starting to get her fist tooth. I am taking as many pictures of her while she is still our little baby. I always get a little sad when their teeth come in. And not just because teething is no fun. But I love their little toothless smiles. She is growing too fast.

I went to check on Kate after her nap and this is what I found. I just love these monkeys!

Enjoying Autumn

The past few weeks have been both good but trying. We are so grateful for the love of our family and friends. We will keep you posted on things as we hear more.

We love Autumn in New England!!! It is so beautiful. I wish everyone could be here with us and see the most majestic sights that we see merely by walking out our door. New England has a special spirit in the Fall. There is so much to see and do and we have been trying to do it all!!

APPLE PICKING

Last weekend we took part in a time honored New England tradition of apple picking. The girls had a blast. We went with our good friends.

(I cannot get enough of this baby. We are calling this year "the year of the Kate Lovefest")

APPLE BAKING

What to do with all those apples? Apple tarts and pies, of course. Here we are baking an apple/almond tart. The girls LOVE to bake with me. Together we are becoming gourmet cooks.

The BIG E

Every state has a state fair. But when you live in New England, your states are VERY small. So we combine all of our state fairs into one great big one called the "Big E". I remember going as a child, and now it is so sweet to bring my own daughters. Along with the normal state fair activites like rides and petting animals, each New England state has a building that is somewhat a replica of a famous building in that state. Each state's building highlights their agriculture and industry. It really is an amazing event to go see. Mike LOVES it! This year I really was fine to skip it with three girls now. But it was Mike who INSISTED we go. I am so glad, it was a great time.

BRIMFIELD

Martha Stewart fans should know what Brimfield is (she loves it and writes about it annually. For us once might be it). Brimfield is the largest anique show anywhere in the country. For one weekend a year, in the Fall, of course, this little town of Brimfield turns farm fields into a tent city with "antique" vendors. You really have to sort through it, though. MOST (and I really mean MOST) of the items for sale are garbage. But we had so much fun spending the day there together. Mike has been working so long and it was such a treat just to be with him. We did manage a couple of great finds. I found this beautiful silver platter with a monogrammed "C" on it dating back to the 1800's. I also find a silver plate and cup for display in Kate's room. Along with the antique vendors, there are also artisans. We bought the most beautiful painting of a girl walking the beach. It reminds us of our daughters and our great love, the ocean.

Here is the platter on display in our China Hutch

Kate ...

Our sweet Kate has been sick this weekend. It makes me so sad when our babies are sick. She is such a joy for our family. Her big sisters literally cannot keep their hands off her (as indicated in the picture above). Rileigh loves her a little too much sometimes. Emerson is always so gentle with her. Last night Kate didn't sleep very well. Mike went in to give her binky. Every time he tried to put it into her mouth she would hit it out. Mike said she looked at him like "Daddy, that is not going to work this time. I WANT TO BE HELD!"
She is such a cuddler. I love it when she wraps her little arms around our neck and hugs as tightly as she can.
The other night she was "talking" in her sleep. It was the sweetest sound I have ever heard ... "dada dada dada". It almost made me cry.
Now if only I could put her down while I made dinner then she would be the perfect baby. I hope she feels better soon.

Opera (Chatwin style)

So Emerson is quite the opera singer. It is the Italian in her (their love of all things cultured is their Italian side - wink wink!). So here are the girls performing opera. Enjoy!!

For Sophie:

Here is a story for Emerson's very best friend in the whole world, Sophie. Emerson dictated the words to me herself. Emerson and Sophie have been best friends since their first breath. We moved from D.C. when Emerson was only 2 1/2 years old. Yet, Sophie has still remained her dearest friend. Emerson has a little friend here who she is very close to, Miya ("Miya from church and school"). Emerson will say Miya is my new best friend (for the last two years) and Sophie is her "all my life best friend". I just love this little girl's loyalty. She includes BOTH her best friends in her prayers. Emerson talks of the plans that she has for Sophie all the time. "Sophie and I are going to go to the zoo together" or "Sophie and I like to make sand castles at the beach together"

So Sophie, this is for you (you may have to double click the pictures to enlarge and read better). We love you, Sophie:

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First Day of Pre-School

Rileigh started Preschool last week. She will be attending the same Preschool Emerson did. We LOVE our Preschool. Truly, we cannot say enough wonderful things about her school. The teachers are the greatest you will find. It is such a safe and nurturing enviroment. The children learn through play (I think that is the preschool norm). They really are so creative in teaching math and science. Which is what drew us there orginally.
Rileigh is in the Teddy Class and has Emerson's first teacher, Ms. Lucy. We adore Ms. Lucy!!! She is so kind and sweet. I think she may really be the greatest teacher in ALL the world (except Grandma and Auntie Danielle, of course). We crossed our fingers all summer hoping that Rileigh would have Ms. Lucy. Ms. Lucy's assistant teacher is Ms. Mona. She, also, is so wonderful. We are so grateful for these women who really could teach elsewhere but choose to teach preschool.

Rileigh was not even a little bit nervous for school to start. She was so anxious and excited. She told me the morning of her first day "Mommy only one little boo hoo today. And that's it!!!" When I asked if she was ready to leave she "Finally". Meaning, I was ready for school to start months ago.
Mike went into work late and along with Baby Kate, we brought Rileigh to school together that first morning. Although, as you can tell from the picture below, not only was she not nervous to start, we were obviously holding her back. As soon as we got to school Rileigh and Dante ran away from the parents and dashed towards school. There was no separation anxiety, no crying (except by Mommy, of course). She already loves school and is very upset that you cannot go on Saturdays.