Success, all around!

Josephine and Maureen were asleep by 8:45 (that's good for me!) and Veronica was asleep by 9:00. I'm so glad they're all in bed earlier than normal. I think the time change is helping out, too!

Having half the toys available definitely helped out today! Clean up throughout the day was MUCH easier and faster. Maureen and Josephine even helped out more than usual - I think it may have been just as overwhelming for them, too, to have so many toys to pick up. Maureen actually picked up two things today, ON HER OWN, without me asking her too! She picked up an alphabet train puzzle and the wooden blocks! I have a feeling she will be a more cooperative child when it comes to keeping clean and staying organized! Josephine is very much like Michael in terms of organization and picking up after herself, although there are times where she does a better job than Michael does :)

Here's a picture of the LFGC. I never asked the other moms if I could post a picture online of their girls, so I put a green blob over their faces. I don't think the other moms would really care, but I'm erring on the cautious side. They focused on St. Monica and the virtue of Hope on that meeting and I've included a picture of the craft Josephine finished.

Maureen playing with wooden blocks that Michael made a couple years ago...

Josephine working studiously on her spelling!

Maureen has been waking up during the night the past couple of nights and waking up too early in the morning. Today, while I was fixing her lunch, she fell asleep on the floor! If you click on this picture to see a larger size, take a look at those long, beautiful eyelashes!

Here's a picture of my Sleeping Beauty #3. notice the bib - she drools SO much, much more than Josephine or Maureen ever did! She pretty much wears a bib all day now - I go through about 3 or 4 of them a day.

Good night! I'm going to fold at least one basket of clothes and go to bed!

I FINALLY took half of the girls' toys, boxed them up and put them up in the attic. Two or three times a year we'll take those toys and rotate them with the toys that were left out. I was getting overwhelmed at the very large messes made by all the toys, so I finally went this route to help w/ daily pick-up. Half the toys = half the mess. I'd be happy to donate half of the toys, but Michael (and Josephine) are pack rats and don't want to get rid of anything!

I also boxed up all the girls' summer clothes. The lows will be in the mid to low 30's for the next two nights, with frost. Much colder for this time of year than I'm used to! I'm a big ninny (spelling??) when it comes to cold weather.

Josephine had another Little Flowers Girls Club meeting last Friday and I took a picture of it. However, the camera is in the van, along with my purse and keys :0) Michael is on his way home from school, but I will be going to bed shortly after he's home, so the pictures will have to wait until tomorrow!

OK - here's a TON of pictures. I'm not going to say much, other than the past few days have been busy! We had a nice family birthday celebration for Maureen, Josephine and her were very excited all day! Maureen (and Josephine!) are enjoying her new toys. Maureen was saying "I'm two, I'm two!" and pretending to blow out birthday candles all day!

For Halloween, Josephine dressed up as the princess, Belle, Maureen dressed up as a ballerina (using one of Josephine's old ballet costumes) and Veronica dressed up as a leopard (Maureen's costume from last year). They had a blast tonight. They got tons of candy and were exhausted after all the walking!

Josephine dressed as St. Therese for the All Saints Party



















Josephine drew the face on the pumpkin and Michael cut it out exactly how she drew it. The only thing Michael added were the eyebrows. She's so creative, just like her Daddy!









Finally, a picture of me where I don't look too sleep deprived! Ever since Josephine was born, I believe I look tired in all the pictures of myself.

Michael and the girls being silly and dancing to really loud music. They were all having a blast!

Tomorrow we'll be celebrating Maureen's 2nd birthday! We put up most of the decorations tonight before bed, so when we get back from Church we'll celebrate w/ cake and presents. I got her a couple Little People toys and a Snap n' Style baby doll and bath - I hope she likes them! Little People toys were Josephine's favorite toys at this age, and Maureen seems to be following suit (one of the few things they share in common. They're pretty different from each other in several aspects!).

man. Veronica JUST fell asleep! She took a late nap while I was playing piano for my Church choir tonight. I brought the kids along while I played - tonight was my first night playing. I enjoyed it, it feels nice putting my skills to use!

Well, I don't have any pictures to take, but over the next few days I probably will. Josephine has an All Saints party to go to (done by the Catholic homeschool group we belong to) this sat., Maureen's birthday is on Sun. (I can't believe she will be 2 years old already!) and then, of course, Halloween on Wed.

Josephine is doing her quarter tests this week - so far she's made 'A's' on everything, and has two more tests to take tomorrow. Maureen is continuing to do well with her alphabet, numbers and shapes. We did a train alphabet puzzle yesterday. Maureen and Josephine had a blast doing it together! Veronica is growing like a weed - she's four months old now! She has been smiling for over a month now, she plays with and studies her fingers, toes and feet, and has laughed only a couple times (once because of Josephine). She can also roll over from her tummy to her back and push herself up partially when she's on her tummy. There, I think I've covered all the baby milestones that we Moms look forward to! I feel so blessed to have normal, healthy children! I'm addicted to "Discovery Health" channel, where I learn about so many abnormalities, sicknesses, ect. in children, it makes me feel more and more grateful to have healthy kids.

Poor Maureen! I don't even remember why she was fussing here... she was probably just wanting to get down from her booster seat.

Here is a before & after picture of our playroom. I have to admit I'm a little embarrassed to post the "after" photo. The clean "before" room got totally trashed in about 2 days of me not able to touch the playroom.