Times, they are a changing!!!!

I have to make mention of the HUGE developmental strides the older kids have made lately. The twins who are now 4, and Carter who will be 5 next month (I can't believe Carter will be in kindergarten) have changed so much!!! Our lives have suddenly become SO much easier in many ways. We now have 75% of the kids dressing themselves, we no longer have to worry about "potty" emergencies, and our "internal" play group is now thriving!

They play incredibly well together, and fighting is very rare (I attribute this to the fact that in their minds, they are all on an even playing field, with of course the exception of Cooper.) We've been taking all 4 out to dinner, and everyone is pretty well-behaved and uses their manners. We aren't of course, taking them to any 5 star restaurants, but they do very well in a sit-down place. There was a time, where none of this was possible, with the older 3 being so close in age, and a baby in tow, it wasn't even something we attempted (we try not to set ourselves up for failure.) But now, our freedom allows us to do more with the entire family. And to be honest, even with the addition of baby number 5, I don't ever see us back in the position we were in when the 3 big kids were younger. They listen now, they help with Cooper, and they are all pretty mild mannered (no more worries about tantrums and such!)

It really has opened up a whole new world for us! We are enjoying our weekend outings, and we look forward to the weather warming up so we can do even more things!!! This weekend is our water park adventure, next month our beach trip, and then on to summer fun, we can't wait!!!!