154 of 365 – June 4, 2021 – I had asked Florence and Julia if they’d like to share a bedroom with Louisa, and they both gave enthusiastic yeses. Since the school year was winding down (and bunkbeds were finally back in stock at Ikea), I thought it would be a good time to make the change. This is a portrait of their last night in their room for two. After our bedtime routine was done every night, Florence read, and Julia spent some quiet time alone playing with her Calico Critters. My general post-bedtime rule is if I don’t see you and I don’t hear you, you can do whatever you’d like and they took full advantage.

155 of 365 – June 5, 2021 – The first day in the room for three was not without its hiccups. I knew it might take some adjustment, and that was confirmed when I heard Florence screaming through our shared wall, “STOP TALKING!!!!” That may seem kind of harsh. Who can blame Lou for being excited to finally have company for bedtime? But apparently, she had a lot of questions that needed immediate answers. And she liked to repeat those questions over and over and over again even after receiving those answers. For example:

“Florence, what does a cat say?”
“meow”
“Florence, what does a cat say?”
“meow”
“Florence, what does a cat say?”
“Meow”
“Florence, what does a cat say?”
“STOP TALKING!!!!”

Fair enough.

156 of 365 – June 6, 2021 – First day at the pool of the season really wore Louisa out.

157 of 365 – June 7, 2021 – Strawberry face.

158 of 365 – June 8, 2021 – Louisa helping me water the plants while her sisters are in school…enjoying my final days home with just Lou before summer and all the kids are in school in the fall!

159 of 365 – June 9, 2021 – Florence’s end of year assembly looked a bit different than usual. We all gathered on the playground with our masks and spaced out picnic blankets to look through all their work from the year. And yes, it was different, but I feel so grateful for her amazing teachers and how much work they put in to making sure the year ran as smoothly as possible and actually felt kind of normal. From full virtual, to hybrid, to in person, Florence sampled it all and the teachers made it somehow still seem like just a regular year. The heart award feels very appropriate for this girl who loves school and never complained about online learning or wearing a mask or any of it. She just showed up ready to learn.

160 fo 365 – June 10, 2021 – Julia’s last day of school in this crazy year called for a bit of a celebration, so we took a little walk after dinner and had ice cream in the sunset. That pretty light is my kind of celebrating. It was a long, strange year, but I am so proud of how this girl did not miss a beat.

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147 of 365 – May 28, 2021 – So, I’ve obviously fallen quite behind if in real life it’s almost August and I’m still talking about school days, but here we are. Julia begged to go along to pick Florence up from school every single day this year–rain, snow, heat–she would not be deterred. Once, I was in a huge rush and had to leave her behind and the breakdown that ensued was unparalleled.  This day Florence got out at 12:30, so Louisa wasn’t napping and got to come along! They kept their eyes glued to the doors and when Florence emerged, ran to give her a huge hug.

These were the first flower buds that I spotted on my nasturtiums that I planted from seeds. The kids and I were all so excited.

148 of 365 – May 29, 2021 – I asked Jason to take a picture of me and my snuggle bug who still wants to be my little baby. I’m soaking it in while it lasts, before she becomes a three year old with all the attitude.

My view.

149 of 365 – May 30, 2021 – The look of anguish of someone who is having the knots brushed from their hair. I remember this feeling from when I was a kid.

150 of 365 – May 31, 2021 – My little paper dolls and I coming home from the park.

151 of 365 – June 1, 2021 – I love my nerdy little children who make up tests for each other and pull workbooks from the shelf on their own. I also just love this photo of Julia looking like an artist at work.

152 of 365 – June 2, 2021 – Here is the completed garage after all of my painting. I don’t think I get any greater feeling of accomplishment than completing some kind of physical task like this.

153 of 365 – June 3, 2021 – I looked up the stairs and saw these two, not so patiently waiting for bedtime.

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140 of 365 – May 21, 2021 – I wish it weren’t frowned upon to strap all of your children into chairs at meals until they graduate from high school. I’m starting to lose hope that dinnertime won’t always look like some version of this.

141 of 365 – May 22, 2021 – Goggles are required for playing at a water table obviously.

142 of 365 – May 23, 2021 – Portrait of my nephew, Shane, or as the kids call him, Baby Shane.

143 of 365 – May 24, 2021 – Two peas in a pod. At night, when they are both overtired, all I hear is constant giggling, of course speckled with bits of fighting, but mostly giggling.

144 of 365 – May 25, 2021 – For our season of virtual dance, we had the leotards, we had the tights, we had the ballet shoes…and we had exactly one pair of tap shoes.

145 of 365 – May 26, 2021 – Since Julia and Florence saw me wearing a towel in my hair after a shower, they have been obsessed. My kids never miss an opportunity to add an accessory to a look. Here it’s for the post-bath rendition of Let it Go.

146 of 365 – May 27, 2021 – Even though she still wants to be called a baby, Louisa is seeming like a very big girl all of a sudden.

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133 of 365–May 14, 2021–My babies brought their babies to the park. Also, one of my babies is a witch…in case you didn’t notice.

134 of 365–May 15, 2021–My little plant watering buddy has graduated from following me around with a watering can that she repeatedly demands that I fill (thank God) and she can now hold the hose all on her own! She is even proving herself to be an excellent multitasker; watering while she simultaneously holds her baby.

135 of 365–May 16, 2021–Dancing under the stars.

136 of 365–May 17, 2021–I was thinking that when I am old, I am going to have a lawn that is all weeds. The bees will be thrilled and so will the little girls and boys. There is nothing that makes my kids happier than coming home with bouquets of weeds.

137 of 365–May 18, 2021–The only “real” picture I took this day was of my name on the ballot, running for Judge of Elections at our local polling location. I happened to be very busy through the whole day since I also worked as the Judge of Elections for the first time ever. I’d worked at the polls before, but being the judge felt new and intimidating. When I wheeled up 5:45am to wait for the building to open at 6, with my old stroller that I had converted into a makeshift Judge of Elections cart (see cellphone selfie below; I was extremely proud of this hack) , I was beyond nervous.

But when it was all over? It was kind of the best. The people who worked with me all day were great and everyone who came in to vote was generally kind and appreciative. As a mom to three kids who take my instructions as gentle suggestions at best, this was one of the few times in my current life where I felt like anything approaching a boss.  In conclusion, if you’ve ever thought about it, get involved. 10 out of 10, would recommend.

138 of 365–May 19, 2021–Lou Lou making her current best picture face next to her stroller of essentials (water, baby doll, makeup bag, mirror). And the bouquets that her sisters put together to decorate her room.

139 of 365–May 20, 2021–When the three of them take a bath together now, I always wonder if it will be the last time. At this point, the battle for space has reached a Game of Thrones level and I will no longer be sad to see this phase end.

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126 of 365–May 7, 2021–This little nugget still comes into our bed on occasion and she is either exceptionally polite and lays quietly awake cuddling with me on my pillow and letting me continue to sleep, or she is an absolute nightmare who screams bloody murder like she is trying to raise the dead. There is no in between. This early morning was the exceptionally polite variety. She calls this look her sideways eyes and it is her go to if I try to take a photo of her anymore.

127 of 365–May 8, 2021–If you saw my post for week 18 you may be thinking, “thank goodness you are done the garage!” But I have news for you, because I brilliantly finished the garage one side at a time. I have a very logical explanation that involved wanting to paint the portion of the garage where the flowers would be first, but regardless, it was probably not the most time efficient method. Here is my dad helping me repair a rotten board on the bottom of my garage doors and cracking up at his audience.

128 of 365–May 9, 2021–First post-pandemic indoor hangout for these cousins was Mother’s Day 2021!

129 of 365–May 10, 2021–I wish Louisa would let me give her “bear buns” in her hair every day, because nothing makes me smile like this little silhouette.

130 of 365–May 11, 2021–Our sunset watch parties are back!

131 of 365–May 12, 2021–I wish you could smell these lilacs through the computer, because they are heaven. I can smell them floating on the breeze on the opposite side of my house and I wish they bloomed all year long.

132 of 365–May 13, 2021–I may be the least athletic person you have ever met. Jason is not much better. So there is a very logical explanation for why Louisa does not know the proper way to hold a bat. But at least they’re having fun!

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April 30, 2021–120 of 365–I walked in the living room and found them sitting like this. Or rather, I was sitting on the other side of the couch and saw them sitting like this and then ran to get my camera and by the time I came back Lou had dropped her arm and I asked her to put it back and she begrudgingly obliged. But you know…the sentiment is the same. I found them sitting like this.

We tried something out that I dreamed up–three kids in one room. Three kids, as you may know, is an uneven number, and I have always had concerns about it going wrong in terms of unbalanced relationships. So rather than giving Lou or Flo their own room (poor Julia didn’t even qualify for consideration), I decided they should share and they were into it. I planned to get a bunkbed, but we tried it out with a thrown together trial run. Originally, the trial run was supposed to happen with an air mattress, but within five minutes, the three of them busted a huge hole in the air mattress. So mattresses dragged into the room it was. Is the busted air mattress a preview of future three-in-a-room troubles? Only time will tell.

May 1, 2021–121 of 365–First ice cream of the season.

May 2, 2021–122 of 365–The garage “AFTER!” But actually not quite. Because after I took this picture I decided I did not like the brown I had selected for the shutters and repainted them. Trials and tribulations of a DIYer.

May 3, 2021–123 of 365–post dinner yard run in front of the almost after, but not quite, garage.

May 4, 2021–124 of 365–Lou has gotten to be exceptionally good at stalling for bedtime/naptime. There is a Spider spray (it’s water) that has to be sprayed by her and then also you. I once tried to do an incantation to forbid spiders from entering the room when I could not find the spider spray and it was not at all well received. She wants three books and you never select the right books. She needs five babies and no matter how many babies you have, you never have the right ones. I have been in the other room as Jason frantically searched the house for a missing baby that he could not find and I have laughed until I cried (it’s much, much funnier if you aren’t the one responsible for finding the missing baby). We’re smart, but she’s probably smarter.

May 5, 2021–125 of 365–Florence read the Harry Potter series and now she will not stop reading. Which, I obviously love. So I decided it was time for her to get her very own library card! A super important rite of passage in my book (pun totally intended). I love this little book worm.

May 6, 2021–126 of 365–Having this kid home alone all day while her sisters are at school makes for a very relaxed day. She may be the easiest kid ever. She is for sure the easiest kid I’ve raised.

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April 23, 2021 – 113 of 365 – Friday mornings are for music class in the park with this little sweet pea. We’ve been going to weekly classes (although they have rotated from in a school, to on zoom, and now to a park) since Julia was a baby, and I realized recently that with my last baby starting school five mornings a week in the fall, this little tradition is about to come to an end. My kids have always loved it and I’m starting to feel a little melancholy in anticipation. If you are looking for a great kids music class, First notes is so, so good.

Me: Julia, I see that someone has drawn on the windowsill here. I also see that “Flo” is written next to it.

Julia: Yes, Flo did it.

Me: And she signed her name?

Julia: Yes. [Definitive answer, but starting to look a little worried]

Me: You know…it doesn’t look much like Flo’s handwriting. Do you know whose handwriting it looks like?

Julia: …

Me: Yours, Julia. It looks like your handwriting.

Julia: [with a guilty but shameless smile] Okay, I did it.

April 24, 2021 – 114 of 365 – They make the most adorable messes.

April 25, 2021 – 115 of 365 – My sudden book worm. This is how we find her morning, noon and night.

April 26, 2021 – 116 of 365 – Our garage has looked like this since we moved into this house five years ago – Peeling paint, deteriorating wood, all the good stuff. Over those years I have mostly been pregnant or caring for a small baby or a toddler who hates sleep. Last year in a bold move, I painted that door red and then I gave up. This year, this day, I decided to make it a priority. This is the before.

April 27, 2021 – 117 of 365 – Primer, check.

April 28, 2021 – 118 of 365 – Some of my children are more inclined to splash in muddy puddles than others.

Her cheek dimples are everything.

April 29, 2021 – 119 of 365 – Julia is a rain or shine bike riding aficionado recently.

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April 16, 2021 – 106 of 365 – I confess that I did not take a photo on this day, but I did come home from shopping to find Julia sketching the picture on the left. She said it was a depiction of how a chicken is born. I don’t quite see her vision, and neither did Florence, so she drew the picture on the right to provide more clarity on the order of events. And Julia writes “MOM” on all of her artwork, which is the very best.

April 17, 2021 – 107 of 365 – In more Julia art, she made this card game. I’m not sure how you play, and I think the irregular card sizes may be a problem, but I love her creativity so, so much.

April 18, 2021 – 108 of 365 – I don’t wear makeup so much anymore, but whenever  I do, Julia always seems to realize and shows up to get in on the fun. When I was about her age, I remember sitting at my grandmother’s kitchen table with her putting makeup on me. I have especially fond memories of a particular frosted pink cream blush that I just loved. So, I don’t mind indulging Julia. Her particular favorite is my red lipstick, but so far we’ve stuck to the pink tones for her. I think she’s wearing me down though.

Date night portrait of me and Jason taken by Miss Florence.

April 19, 2021 – 109 of 365 – I had to interrupt the girls’ spa day to call them outside to see the double rainbow. You can’t see Florence’s face in this photo (such a serene shot, right?), but just know that it is covered in a mask of wet toilet paper like Michael Myers straight out of Halloween.

Julia can bumpity bump faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. “Fastest bumpity bumper in the west” is the title she has earned in our home.

APril 20, 2021 – 110 of 365 – This kid works those eyes for maximum impact like nobody’s business. Let me tell you.

April 21, 2021 – 111 of 365 – Fully vaccinated and feeling free. Also of note, where Louisa colored on my wall. My bookmark that Julia made for me. This photo that Florence took. The library book–because taking books out of the library is my newest obsession. I almost get as much of a happy rush from taking home a library book as I do from getting a new book at a book store. This one was a good quick read from the YA section.

April 22, 2021 – 112 of 365 – Julia is happy most of the time. But when she’s mad, she’s really, really mad. If she is really, really mad, and you tell a joke that hits just right, this is the face you get–where really, really mad meets uncontrollable laughter.

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April 9, 2021 – 99 of 365 – Vi may not be able to get around much anymore, but the kids are happy to blow her bubbles in her face for her to attack. This remains a favorite activity of hers.

April 10, 2021 – 100 of 365 – Now that the weather is warming up and we’re almost all vaccinated (!!!) that means more outdoor (and soon indoor!) visits from the cutest little nephew, who my kids all call baby Shane even though he is quite a bit bigger than Louisa, and getting close to being as tall as Julia.

Me: Florence, will you pose for a photo under the tree with your sisters?

Florence:

April 11, 2021 – 101 of 365 – If anyone is interested in a television program delivered from a cardboard box that details the evolution of various Pokemon characters, do I have a show for you!

April 12, 2021 – 102 of 365 – It is not every day you find Peppa Pig routing through the box of legos in your playroom.

April 13, 2021 – 103 of 365 – Bubbles and flower petals might be my favorite combination.

April 14, 2021 – 104 of 365 – I like to call Trevor my dire wolf–always standing guard. When the kids come into our room in the middle of the night, he gets up and attempts to keep them out of our bed and herd them back to the door (a noble effort). We tell the kids it’s because the knows they are bad sheep who got out of their pen.

April 15, 2021 – 105 of 365 – Previous to this day, the window bench area in my room was the home of a pile of random items and a drying rack for our towels, so I gave it a little upgrade. Julia’s reaction was to tell me that I’m wasting all of our money on plants. Florence told me that our room was perfect now and all we needed to complete it was some kind of curtains. Only one of these children is speaking my language.

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I love all the sweet moments I captured of this new family of three at this session. I love the way mom and dad’s love for each other and their brand new little guy exudes from every photo. And I love that this baby gave me equal parts of his sleepy, calm side and his wide-eyed, engaged side. He was such a pleasure to have in front of my camera.

If you are interested in chatting about a session for your own family, I’d love to hear from you! So contact me today!

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