May

Well, the end of the school year is upon us and we may be limping towards the finish line, but we have made it.  We've made it!  What a year, what a year.  So crazy.  But the basement is finished, Joe is finishing up his ed admin degree next month, I've finally completed my fertility counseling training, and the girls are one year older and thriving.  As Caroline nears one year old, I am just now starting to get a handle on the routines around here with four kiddos... once in awhile, at least.  It's a great feeling to finally emerge out of survival-mode after a new baby is born, even if it take a year.  Beds are getting made.  Laundry is sometimes under control.  I even got around to printing and hanging some photos last week.  I still have a long way to go before I feel like our house is a well-oiled machine (still trying to figure out yard work and endless dinners), but we're making progress!  Summer is upon us soon and Joe has a great new job to begin in the fall, so we are counting our blessings in a big way this month.  We have had so many friends helping us this year and I truly don't know how I would've done it without them.  So grateful. Bring on the summer!

Siena was narrator for the Kindergarten production of "Who Stole the Farmer's Hat"

Another K tradition: the Letter People Parade.  Siena led the pack as "Miss A."

Libby's pre-K class sings at their final mass

Kindergarten quilt assembled by Grandma Yak!

Good buddies (and siblings!) at Kindergarten "graduation."

April

For such a Libby look-alike, she's reminding me a lot of Siena these days...

Miss Caroline has reached 10 months now and wow... is she a handful!  The relatively "easy" baby stages of 3-9 months are behind us for sure, as this girl is suddenly into everything: opening doors, emptying cabinets, playing in the toilet, unraveling toilet paper, upturning trash cans, climbing up (and down!) stairs, you name it.  Diaper and clothing changes have turned into wrestling matches.  She also likes to yell and scream for no apparent reason, unless she's run out of food in her high chair, and then she yells and screams for a very apparent reason.  She will loudly defend whatever she's playing with from any sister (or parent) who tries to take it away.  A mellow baby she is not, and I wonder what we may have in store over the next few years of toddlerhood!  Still, she is a joy and loves music, dancing, splashing in the bath, her daddy, and eating.  Especially eating.  Her clearest words are "Dada" and "uh-oh," though she's also trying out "bye-bye" (with wave) and "ball."  Her sisters still love her to death and little "Caro" is rarely without an audience.  It's hard to believe that her first birthday is just around the corner...  What a year it's been.

Fun with her sisters...  Libby is always up for a hug/tackle

Sorting "helicopter seeds" with Siena

Goofing off with Margaret

As for the other end of our kiddo spectrum, Siena is now 6 1/2 years old!  I missed her 6-year update back in October due to life's craziness, so I'll try to make up for it now.  The BIG event in Siena's life this year (and my life as well) has been her transition to every day, all-day school now that she's in Kindergarten.  As we all could have predicted, Siena absolutely loves school.  She has a great group of friends in her little class (12 girls and 3 boys!), and has formed a special bond with her big 8th grade buddy, Alex.  I think the more difficult transition was on my end, as it has been a strange adjustment having her gone for most of the day, every day.  I miss her!  Although I don't think I'm up for homeschooling (and I've thought about it!), I can understand the appeal of getting to be around your kids during the best part of their day.  By the time Siena comes home we're heading into the crazy evening hours when both kids and parents are getting tired and cranky.  It's sad for a mom to know your child is growing up over the course of a year but not really be there to witness it.  I know Libby has certainly missed Siena this year as well, as 2-year-old Margaret has been a much more frustrating playmate!  But I suppose this is just another of life's adjustments that comes with beginning new chapters...  Next year I'll have to make it all over again with Libby, which is hard to believe.  Still, Siena has had a great year and is thriving, and we have summer coming up to look forward to.  Fun times ahead.

Siena is certainly growing up quickly.  Suddenly she is not a little girl anymore.  Physically she is getting taller by the day, and behaviorally she acts more and more mature / "cool," using expressions like "seriously," "awesome," and "like" often.  Still, she maintains her sensitivity and thrives on doing kind works for others.  She continues to wear her heart on her sleeve and laughs and cries easily.  She still loves crafts, decorating, and playing with her sisters, Libby especially.  I am hopeful that she will maintain this innocence for a few more years, at least.

We love you, our sweet Siena.  Next stop: First Grade!