A different kind of hard...

Andy and I will always say that there is no harder time then when the girls were babies, and there still isn't. But having 3 mobile 22 month olds and a 5 year old is not only physically exhausting, but emotionally trying... Now that Stevie is moving around well, they all go in different directions. Today our "neighborhood" had a block party - there are a lot of kids in our cul-da-sac and we've met some really nice people. So we ventured out with all the kids for the afternoon. I knew it wasn't going to be relaxing or that both of us would actually be able to have adult conversation, but I had forgotten how exhausting it is chasing 4 kids around. I kept eyeing up the tennis court thinking about how great it would be to have the party in there since it had fences all around and we could shut everyone in. Or any type of child jail would have been appropriate. I stayed with the girls for about 2 hours and then headed back - Andy and Declan went back to have more fun. Declan loved playing with the kids and Andy got to meet a few new friends :-) It's okay, I'll make friends when the girls are about 5 - only 3 years left :-) Here's some pictures from the day...

Declan is always helpful with his sisters (usually)...

Bria making a run for it...

And the other two - note, they are going different directions...

Bria trying to pull Declan...

I'll still take this stage over the crying, not sleeping and not able to hold own bottle phase, but I may seriously reconsider child leases...

I'm constantly reminded of the girls turning 2 and am cautiously optimistic that they won't turn into terrible monsters until at least 3. However, I'm reminded daily that it may happen sooner than later...

Point #1, they like to climb and jump on everything... Even Stevie - for as long as it took her to walk, she sure has picked up the climbing skill. Below is a picture of Aven getting ready to jump...

Point #2 - they get black eyes... Here's Stevie as a result of a little crazy time in the tub... 

Point #3 - they have temper tantrums... After a delightful morning grocery shopping with me, they all had fits when we got home. Clearly they preferred shopping (who can blame them?)...

Point #3 - 2 of 3 can now face forward in the car - yay!!! Stevie still hasn't met the weight restriction yet, but she'll get there!

Point #4 - they play with sharp objects. Here's Stevie with her brother's sword...

Point #5 - there are moments of sweetness... Here's Aven "reading" a book.  I'm sure she hit her sister with it 2.5 seconds later, but it was fun while it lasted...

Point #6 - Bria is addicted to her nuk and it's about time to take it away. I think Bria is the most addicted, and will likely be the most challenging. I'm dreading this day and thinking about drinking excessively the entire week in which we decide to take them away.