Doodle turns Five!

Five!!!

What??

Soaking up some sun at lunch.

This kid is SO much FUN!  

Nobody loves life as much as he does.

He is hilarious.  And chatty (non-stop).  Crazy athletic and smart.  Snuggly and sweet.

We just feel lucky to be in his world.

I wish every night was pizza night...

this kid.

I spend a good part of my afternoons trying to talk him into never going back to school.

I seriously miss him after a couple hours.

go Cougs!

first game of the season:

pouring rain, freezing cold, couged it.

These guys are pretty fun though:

the Fair!

first week of school!

frostys at the mall while Ava was at volleyball tryouts.

back-to-school ball!

first week really poops us out.

even cooper.

quarterback and receiver camp.

Hello, November.

It's a perfectly cold, windy November day so let me take you back to where I left you last:

August!

First Day of School!!

Mmmm, I love these kids.

Ava was long gone at cross-country practice but we found her waiting for us when we got to school:

Kindergarten!

1st grade!

Lunch with my man.  He loves to talk about his day!

He is also pretty sure that he is the most obedient kid in the class.  

The big kids thought that was hilarious.

Homework already!

This one was a little disappointed that in all her notes for home, there wasn't any homework.  But she's an optimist and she is sure there will be some tomorrow!  Ava says the world needs more girls like her.

Amen, sister.

The kids all LOVE their teachers, LOVE their classes, LOVE their friends.  But they were all tired and starving when I picked them up.  Nothing some cookies and dinner in the park with friends couldn't cure.

And they were all conked out by 8:15.

School, I knew there was a reason we love you.

back to school party

this girl!

junior high!

back to school football camp

back to school haircut

back to school shots

cousin sleepover!

Every summer, the cousins have a great cousin switch-up sleepover.  

This year, we had the big girls so Ava took over the boys' room and hauled Jemma's mattress in so they could all have their own bed (and then switched all the bedding to "girl" stuff):

close up.

And she biked to the store for chocolate chips to make the best ever cookies (I mean seriously the best cookie ever).  Ed and I had a work dinner so they even got the house to themselves for a bit:

I somehow have no picture of the girls!!

But I do have shots of my other kids, living it up at the other houses:

breakfast donuts and an evening ride:

Is there anything better than cousins??

cross country and football have started,

we now only buy food with piles of protein that can be eaten in minutes.

girl trip

We decided to take a last minute girl trip (and I mean thought of it, packed our bags, and left):

got there in time for a late dinner with these lovely ladies

squeezed in some horse riding before dark

breakfast on the deck

and then a baby shower for this cutie