Don't just do something—stand there!

If that particular quote makes you think of a particular Disney movie, then you'll know what we're doin' for Halloween this year. True to my word, I'M in charge of the get-ups this year. SO DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP BECAUSE I'M NOT A COMPETITIVE COSTUME-MAKING GENIUS LIKE TOM FOR PETE'S SAKE.

Now that we're sort-of kind-of semi-adjusted to life as a family of four, I find myself considerably more forgetful. Among other things. Just yesterday I forgot to put several dairy items back in the fridge and they hemmed and hawed around on the counter until I happened upon them hours later. See, as a mother of one I'm almost sure I never used to do things like that.

Also now that we're sort-of kind-of semi-adjusted to life as a family of four, I find myself in a sea of spit-upped-on laundry. I do believe that Maren has opted to help me set some sort of daily laundry load record. The little over-achiever. But hey, she also laughed today. That's four months earlier than expected!

So I guess the moral of the story is I don't know how mothers with zillions of children manage to do the mom thing and keep their blogs from becoming just another page on the world wide web collecting dust.

In other news, something fantastic has occurred. A few weeks ago Tom bid a not-so-sentimental farewell to Provo Canyon School and no longer works the night shift. Confetti everywhere! Did you know that he'd been working the night shift for an entire year? I specifically chose not to announce that over the world wide web. Give out free information to all those wackos out there that stalk unsuspecting blogs that I'm alone at night? Don't let's be silly. But get this, creepy stalkers: NOT ANYMORE! Bam! (A hearty thanks to all you wackado stalkers out there—this blog would be nowhere without you.)

So—we went to the zoo. Wild way to close the chapter on PCS, am I right? And shoot, I think I'll just throw caution to the wind and make the zoo in September a family tradition. And if you must know, I get such a thrill whenever I use "throw caution to the wind."

For Clara, this hollowed out log made the zoo time well spent. When she saw it, it was like a glistening ray of sunshine was beaming down upon it whilst angels softly circled about. (Softly?) It only took her about 20 minutes to timidly make her way through it. She also enjoyed the rhino photo shoot with BFFs Will and Aileen.

*****

Want more tidbits about Clara? But of course you do. The other day Clara announced "I have things to do," and promptly exited into her princess tent. Clara calls spaghetti "speddy geddy." This is especially fun to say in a sentence—like "Is my speddy geddy ready?" Go ahead and give it a whirl. Don't be surprised if it gets a giggle out of you. Clara sings at the top of her lungs during nap time. And somewhere along the way, Clara has mistaken me for her slave instead of her mother. There are some days where it really feels like all she does is follow me around demanding more milk. Or water. With an ice cube. Don't forget the ice cube! Clara manages to exhaust and delight me all in one sitting.

And Maren? Well, shoot. Maren pretty much has all the makings of an ideal baby. She grins, she grins some more, she throws up, then grins again. She'll strike up a gurgle with anyone. I have at least 8 to 17 urges daily to nibble on her cheeks.

...And that's all I needed to say. 

About anything. 

For today, that is.

...Ending a blog post is always an awkward experience. 

So, I'm just going to go.