Meet the Teachers Day!

On Friday, all three girls were so excited to have their Meet the Teachers Day at First Presbyterian Preschool! We have been waiting for the school year to begin for sooo long. I swear this day felt like it would never come! So on Friday morning, I was up and at 'em early to make sure we would be on time for the meet and greets. I had everyone ready to load up into the car and we were on target to be on time when I went looking for the twins and found this...

Oh hey, Mom. We're just playing in the dogs' water bowl.

You don't care that we're soaking wet, do you??

Luckily, nothing a quick outfit change couldn't fix. But by that time we were already going to be late, so I just threw in the towel and decided to take some pictures before we left.

Of course, then the twins got hungry....

FINALLY, we got in the car and actually made it to school. Let's hope every preschool morning does not go like this!

We went to the twins' classroom first for a visit with Miss Kim and Miss Rosie. Caroline loved seeing her old teachers and was so proud to introduce her sisters and show them around their new classroom. Both Julia and Margaret seemed right at home in the room, with each girl heading in opposite directions to explore. Julia hit up the play kitchen and Margaret spent a good bit of time fluttering from toy to toy, shrieking with excitement at each new find. We were also very excited to see that the twins have some friends in their class. Before we left, I broke the news to Miss Rosie and Miss Kim that Julia is not only a biter and hair puller, but that she is a breath holder as well. Luckily the veteran teachers didn't seem too fazed by this info. Hopefully Julia will remember that she is at school to make friends ;)

Julia checks out the kitchen in her classroom.

Margaret SO excited about this cool toy!

Group shot FAIL.

Caroline got busy right away in her room.

It's going to be a great year!

Labor Day Weekend Fun

This Labor Day weekend we were thrilled that Daddy didn't have to work at all because it meant we got to spend lots and lots of time together. It was a great weekend!
On Saturday, we decided to go to Belle Isle, a small island in the James River, to explore and enjoy some time outdoors. It was our first time visiting the island and we learned it has a very storied history. Among other things, Belle Isle has been the site of a granite quarry pit, a power plant, and a Civil War POW camp. Today it's just a fun place to hike, run, bike, and wade in the James River. We had a great time and look forward to going back again soon. As you scroll through the pictures of us at Belle Isle, you may find yourself wondering, "Where is Julia?" Well, Miss J fell asleep the minute we hit the walking trail and slept through her entire first visit to Belle Isle. All the more reason to go back!
On Monday, the weather looked iffy so we cancelled our plans to go to Westwood and went to the Children's Museum instead. The last couple times we've gone have been really fun because all three girls can enjoy the exhibits now, instead of the twins just sitting in the stroller and watching Caroline have all the fun.

Walking across the suspension bridge to Belle Isle. 

View from the suspension bridge of another bridge over the James River.

Gee, don't the girls look SOOOO excited about their first trip to Belle Isle??!!

View of Hollywood Cemetery from Belle Isle.

Caroline dipping her toes in the James River.

Ooh, that's chilly!!

Margaret along the shore.

Where's Julia? Oh that's right....sleeping!

Margaret wanted to get in the water SO badly!

Little girl, big river.

Back at home, it was baths, stories and bed time for all!!

Children's Museum....

Julia having a blast.

Digging in the sand pit.

Busy girl Caroline

Peek-a-boo!

Margaret loving the slide.

Back at home, Daddy and Margaret goofing off with the baby doll stroller...

Just Around the Corner

As the end of August approaches, we're staring down the barrel of the end of summer in the Hepper household! Just one more week until school starts (Praise Jesus, Hallelujah!) and we are ready!! Caroline is so jazzed about going to school 4 days a week this year and cannot wait to see her "last year" school friends and make a few new ones as well. Julia and Margaret may not realize that their school year is about to begin as well, but I'm excited enough about it for both of them, so it's all good. 

We've been spending our last couple weeks of summer vacation doing all the things we do best: playing dress-up, dancing, visiting with friends, swimming, doing lots of artwork, playing outside and going to birthday parties (I swear almost every last one of our friends was born in August).

 I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a fair amount of whining, temper tantrums, and TV watching also going on in our house right now as we are tapped out on camps and the end-of-summer doldrums are firmly taking hold. :) Come on, September, get here soon!

Check out what we've been up to...

This video makes me laugh every time I watch it. It was supposed to be just of Margaret "walking" Isabel. But poor Frances is unexpectedly forced to make an appearance too...

A rare moment when all three girls are occupying the same space and no one is crying. (J, M, C)

"Cinder-Mella" dressed for a princess birthday party.

What a beautiful princess!

Note to self: do not leave Julia unattended while the shower is on and the door open...

Sweet Caroline enjoying a wagon ride with her sisters.

Julia loving the red buggy.

Margaret pleased as punch to be riding solo in the wagon.

Our girls: Julia, Caroline, Margaret

Rainy Day Photo Dump

It's been raining all day here in Richmond and we've done nothing but stay inside and enjoy each other's company. And now that it's nap time, I've got nothing better to do than to clear our camera memory card of the pictures I've taken in the last week or so. Most of them are of the twins because Caroline was busy at gymnastics camp, having a blast while she learned how to do a "tumble roll" - which is just a fancy word for a somersault :)

Julia on a walk with her stroller.

Acting silly under the table. M/J

 While Caroline was at gymnastics camp, Mommy let us play with big sister's dot-a-dot paints!!!!

Here Margaret, let me help you...

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 Mmmm, dot-a-dot paints are delicious (and non-toxic, thank goodness!)

Playing together with the Little People barn.

Snack time! We love bananas! J/M

                            Julia doing what she does best lately....having a temper tantrum...

When Caroline wasn't busy tumble-rolling, she spent lots of time on her scooter.

Julia on the Move!

Julia finally decided to stop letting Margaret show her up on the walking front. This video is from the weekend and she has already gotten better and faster! Go Julia!

Plus, a super cute pic of the little girls at the doctor last week. Margaret decided that 5pm on Friday evening was the perfect time for a doctor's visit to diagnose her first ear infection. Julia is thrilled to be there too...because she got a lollipop out of it. :)

Finally, a strange but cute video of Caroline holding court with her paper animal puppets. First, she asks everyone to make the sound of each animal and then she launches into a partial rendition of her (self-created) favorite song, "Yellow Sunday."