Back to School!

It's that time of year, and the dust is settling here after our first couple of weeks back to preschool.  With Megan at school in the mornings five days a week, and Bridget joining her two of those days, this means getting four little girls ready and out the door (on time!) five days a week.  Shuttling the girls around like this is chaotic, and such a big change for us!  We were definitely spoiled by our days off last year, when we could lounge around the house all day if we needed to.  I miss those days.  After 4 1/2 years as a mom, I 'm really feeling like a mom now, driving around with my minivan full of kids.  

On the girls' orientation day, I got this shot of the girls on the cute four-seater wooden car in Bridget's classroom.  Everyone has their own steering wheel.  They are taking over Happy Times! 

And, on the actual first day of school, we were ready with time to spare (a feat I have not accomplished since)!  So, I snapped a few photos before we jumped in the car.  Oh, and, yes, the babies are still in their pajamas.  In my world, it's totally acceptable for them to stay in those until at least 2 pm.  (And, that PJ rule goes for me, too.  Today, when leaving the house, Bridget announced, "Mommy, everyone's dressed except you!  You're still wearing your pj's!"  Sadly, I was actually dressed, but in a T-shirt that I've worn to bed before.  It's time for a makeover when my kids can't distinguish my everyday clothes from my pajamas!)



Both girls were so excited for their first day!  Bridget was a little hesitant, but by the time she was holding hands at cirlce time, she was all smiles. 

One bonus to driving to Happy Times five days a week, twice a day?  Appreciating the view of the ocean as I drive back down Quintara.  It's easy to forget how close the ocean is, but this view is a daily reminder of how lucky we are :)  It brings a smile to my face after I drop off Megan and Bridget in the morning, and then, it's what I'm looking at during the "What Did You Do At School Today? conversation.  It will never get old!

This Is How We Stroll

I like to think that we've had very few jealousy issues in our house since the twins were born. I mean, Tessa and Annie have survived 18 months. Megan and Bridget surely could have devised a plan to "lose" them in that much time, if they really wanted to.

One of the keys to no jealousy? Not making anyone feel like they've been displaced. Specifically, when it comes to getting around with our strollers, I have always made sure that everyone can have a ride (on me or on the stroller) if they want one. And, short of ponying up for a quadruple stroller, we have had to be pretty creative. I think these seating options beat a quadruple stroller any day. Here are the different ways the girls have hung/clung from the double stroller for the past year and a half:

This is my favorite! This is Bridget's special seat (on the cupholder tray). She's in the perfect spot for extra kisses and sweet conversations.

Preparing For the Big One...

The Big One I'm referring to is not the earthquake that is overdue here in San Francisco, of which I should be petrified, and for which I should be preparing supplies, water and a plan.

Nope, The Big One I'm referring to is even more overdue and has much more catastrophic consequences. The Big One that I'm much more worried about is...the impending death of our aged and abused desktop computer.

This computer is eight years old! I think that qualifies as geriatric in computer years. It's showing all the signs of old age: sluggishness, irritability, and chronic problems. This is all fine. I'm a patient person, and can deal with surfing the web (this is my computer's lingo from 8 years ago!) at a snail's pace. I can even understand the need to entirely shut down every once in a while (someone in this house has a tendency to have at least 11 windows open at any given time!). But, I can not deal with the inability to upload pictures from my camera. And that will be the sin that sends this desktop to computer hell. (I'm pretty sure a computer's version of hell is living out the rest of it's days being poked and prodded by toddlers playing Nick, Jr. games.)

Currently, I have a few weeks' worth of pictures held hostage on the camera. I can't upload them, which means I can't blog about them (I know, I know - I'm just as upset as you are!!). There are some pretty cute pictures on there, including babies wearing Daddy's work boots, another trip to the zoo, the girls' first day of preschool, the babies' room pre-mini-makeover. Aaggh! What's a blogger to do without photos??

So, as we struggle with this camera issue, and ponder buying a new laptop, I've been spending my spare time (yep! all of that spare time I have oodles of!) ferociously trying to edit pictures that are on our computer, but in picture puragtory - a very dangerous place to leave your family's memories. We have nearly a year of pictures that are not backed up on Ofoto, or an external drive for that matter. Not only is this is an enormous amount of pictures to go through, but it's also emotionally exhausting. I have to (gasp!!) delete lots of pictures, and I am forced to look at my kids one year ago and swallow the fact that an entire year has passed!! I'm hoping that someone will hurry up and discover how to freeze time already.

Before you entirely give out on me, dear computer, please let me get these pictures in order! Once I've got everything backed up, I'll let you retire in peace, and we'll pony up for a newer, faster version of you, and maybe I'll tell the girls to be gentle with you.