Nut Tree Family Park

We picked up Grammie at the Nut Tree Family Park. This was a really nice park designed for kids between the ages of 2 and 8 years old. We got to ride the train all through the park.

Olivia got to ride her very first roller coaster, which now I know for sure I do not like roller coasters. But as I sat next to my two year old on the scary ride I figured I had to put on a brave face for her. When the ride ended she quietly said to me, "I don't like this one. No go again." Whew, music to my ears. Dave of course thought it was wonderful. Go figure.

Then we road the carousel with Grammie, the bummer cars, an airplane ride, and a few other rides before leaving to go have lunch.

After a big lunch Dave took the girls home and Gammie and I went shopping at the factory stores. We made out like bandits and were as goofy as usual. It was a lot of fun for everybody and really started Grammie's visit off great.

Upcoming Events

2 more days and we get to see Grammie for a whole week while Grampie goes hunting. Woo Hoo!!! Olivia and I did some online research so that we have a great activity for everyday of the week. It's going to be awesome. Dave took off Tuesday because he wants to join in on the fun. He's so funny. I told him that I was planning a full week with my mom here so we really get to do stuff with her instead of just sitting around. I think he got a little jealous because he started naming the days he could take off. Umm- not exactly the point but we'll let him come to the zoo.

Olivia's party has been planned out so all we need to do now is pick up a few items on our grocery list and we are set. This should be a pretty easy party to put together. I can't believe my little Muppet is turning 3 in a week. A WEEK!!!

Olivia is so amazing and cool. I am really enjoying watching her grow up. She likes to play pretend a lot. We sometimes are fairies, sometimes Swiper hunters, sometimes extravagant sand castle sculptors. She also likes to tell stories to Ava and I while we drive cars around on the carpet. Overall she is a wonderful big sister who cares about her sissy's feelings. On Halloween night while we were trick or treating, when candy was dropped in Liv's bag she would take a piece out and put it in Ava's bag. Now Ava's no fool. She walked right up to the door and got her own candy as well...and no she did not share. Ava idolizes Livy and wants to do everything she can do except the sharing thing. All in good time I'm sure.

While I type away, I look over at my sweet Olivia who's playing with her 'prodough' at her desk and she's in her own little world mumbling away... We are going to the spooky forest, we have to find Boots... Gotta love Dora the Explorer.

Thursday Thirteen #16

Thirteen things my girls and I have done today:

1. We slept in late.

2. We ate bananas for breakfast while watching our favorite cartoons.

3. We read a few books.

4. We played with blocks and Lego's and built sand castles (Liv's favorite).

5. We sang songs and danced around the family room.

6. We picked out activities i.e. museums, art studios, and the zoo for next week when Grammie's here.

7. We planned Olivia's birthday cake for her party.

8. We went over some alphabet/color flash cards and played the matching game.

9. We put together a puzzle or two.

10. When Ava was napping, Livy and I played with Prodough as she calls it.

11. We took turns sitting at the desk, riding the bike and scooter, and playing with the cool ball Daddy found behind the couch.

12. We chatted with Daddy on the phone, a neighbor outside, and chased the cat.

13. We hung out, just us girls, we were silly, funny, and messy. It was fun!

T13 graphic courtesy of http://www.creekistan.blogspot.com/

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Wordless Wednesday #18

Let Go, Let Go !!!

Confusing as it may seem, "let go" sounds a lot like "Lego" except when it is being screeched out of Ava's mouth. We always thought she was strong willed and strong mind, but when holding on to a Lego for dear life she is quite the force to be reckoned with.

Another Lego battle ensued today leaving what was once happy sweet little faces very pouty. Neither Olivia nor Ava wanted to share the blocks so they ended up in the toy graveyard not to be seen again until after lunch. Both girls walked away looking pitiful and neither was going to admit defeat. They both took off running...

The Sammy baby doll took the next hit and probably the hardest one of all. It's a good thing her head was screwed on tight or she might have ended up in the toy hospital which once there may take weeks before the return. Doctors at that hospital tend to be very slow, typically not having the right size batteries, glue, or whatever to perform their surgeries and they have to wait for the next shipment of supplies for the daddy doctor to fix them up.

Sammy's feet and head were grabbed and pulled like a wishbone during Thanksgiving dinner. Ava shouted, "let go, let go!!!" Olivia pulled as hard as she could on both feet.

"Enough" I said to the both of them. "If you aren't going to play nicely with each other then you won't be in the same room."

"OK Mommy. I sorry" Ava replied. Then Olivia snatched the Sammy doll.

Napping Jammies

I know that I am not supposed to complain about certain things. I should just accept them for what they are and be happy. But- that's not really me.

My Miss Olivia is a few days away from turning 3 and she still takes a 3 hour nap religiously. I am thankful for this every single day. The problem is that she only wants to wear 1 particular pair of footed pj's to nap in. I have them saved in a certain dresser drawer to be only worn at nap time. They used to be one size too big and I would turn them around backwards and zip them up so she wouldn't take them off and dig around in her diaper. (That's a whole other story not worth getting into right now.)

Now the pj's fit just right turned around the right way. I keep trying to get Olivia to wear her clothes to nap in so that when these don't fit anymore she will still take her naps and be comfortable but it just isn't happening. She will not lay down until her clothes are off and the pj's are on. This certain pj doesn't come in a bigger size so this is the last one to grow out of. Other pj's will not make the grade either. She knows the difference and she's not budging.

I guess in a few months nap time will be ending since I can feel the standoff starting all ready. Every few days I will attempt to coax her into sleeping in her clothes or even a different footed pj but I don't have high hopes for the nap to continue happening. I don't think I am prepared to deal with a no nap time situation.

Manic Monday #14 Halloween

Mo has chosen colorful for today's manic monday word.

Trick or treating was awesome this year. The girls loved wearing their costumes- Ava actually wore hers all weekend long. They both could walk up to the doors for themselves and carry their own bags of candy.

We started around 5:30 PM so it was still light outside and the girls could see where they were going. It sprinkled on us a little bit but not enough to keep us from continuing on to all the houses. Many people in our neighborhood put together haunted houses and really go all out on the colorful decorations so the girls had a blast. After each house, Ava sat down and shouted, "no" to us because she didn't want to go any further until she got to eat a piece of candy. By 8PM we made it back to our house and looked through the 5 lbs of loot. A lot of candy... They ate some and we peeled their sticky costumes off so they could take a bath.

This was a great Halloween and a great month. We really tried to make the most out of every weekend in October so that it wasn't just about one night. I think we are going to the book store to buy some Thanksgiving books so the girls can learn all about the holiday all month long. This is also Olivia's birthday month so we have a lot to be thankful for. So far it's starting out pretty good...