Mommy+Daughter; Father+Son

This phenomenon will be cut short before it really takes off! This past weekend we enjoyed the cutest date night. We split up (for the first time) and Evans took Van to a UNC soccer game and I took Jeanie.  Evans and Van had a blast eating hot dogs, watching soccer, and listening to the band. 

 (After witnessing the pep band at the soccer game, Van decided he wants a tuba. He was in heaven observing the drummers at the Hopscotch festival a few weekends ago).

Jean-Margaret and I have been enjoying some girly time. I don't exactly consider her to be prissy-- she seems to find equal joy in running around in a football helment as she does playing dress-up-- but there is something so rewarding about taking a little girl to gymnastics class and on shopping trips.  She loves toting around a bag...whether its a real pocket book or a plastic bag...and dressing up in my jewelry.

Only recently have we experienced how neat it is to have one child each to entertain and give 100% of our attention.  I thought about this blog post and how a little over 2 years ago I was sentimental about splitting my time between two children and how overwhelming that must feel.  Now that we have settled into life with two children, I am growing sentimental about losing our one-on-one dates! Baby #3 was measuring two weeks ahead of schedule today (but right on time in my opinion). We are potentially looking at 4 weeks to go. Clinging to each little bit of time with our family of 4!!

Back to School!

Today started off a little differently than the past two years! For starters--both of my children are in school today. Secondly, I realized Van is no longer a toddler.  Van dressed himself (in 3T clothes that are getting too small...how is he almost 4?!?), put on his own shoes, and fed Sophie. He has evolved into such a grown-up helper recently...he delights in fetching my newspaper from the driveway each morning, helps Evans mow/edge/leaf blow the entire yard, and his new skill is vacuuming our entire house! What a big boy. He has been accumulating quite a bundle in his piggy bank, although 3 pennies still means more to him than 1 quarter. ;)

Contrary to her sassy pictures, she is quite the sweet heart. She loves snuggling and yet at drop off today, she poked out her lip but did not cry!! She was trying so hard to be tough and it just broke me to pieces and made me proud at the same time!!

 

We spent  labor day on stay-cation mode in effort to nurture a shockingly exhausted momma (who labored on this...)

And laughed at our two budding musicians...

 

 

 

We love you two sweeties!!