Olivia's Barnyard Birthday Party!

Because of Nicholas's upcoming surgery, we had Olivia's birthday party early on Sunday, April 28th. Unfortunately, the rain poured down that day and at that particular time it was even thunderstorming. So we were hoping someone would show up and prepared for no one to as the weather was BAD. We decided to go ahead with the party as there was literally no other time to do it. We went with our rain boots and a sense of humor!! (Double sense of humor since I realized as we were heading out the door that Leo had no rain boots, coat, or hat...he borrowed Olivia's!) Too tired to comment on each photo, but I think they tell the story pretty well!

Olivia wanted to "set the tables," so I said to go for it! Note the odd arrangements!

Look at my big boy sitting on the bench by himself!

My friend Jennifer's little one, Mary Grace, loved using her rain gear!

The Barnyard staff was fantastic, and brought all the baby animals into the barn for the kids to pet, feed, and play with. Because we didn't get to feed the catfish, go on a boat ride, feed the bigger animals, or ride the pony, they gave each child a pass to come back for free on another day!

Poor Leo in Olivia's jacket! Everyone got a good laugh at that!

Pretty good turn out for the terrible weather!

Brushing the pony.

Hopping in the puddles!

Time for sugar!

Poor Nicholas...and why I'll be MIA for a while

Nicholas had his major oral surgery yesterday. All went well, thankfully. It was about five hours long. They split and widened his upper, pulled it forward, split and widened his lower, pulled it forward, and moved his chin forward. All this movement more than doubled the size of his airway so that he can breathe more easily, and will hopefully cure his sleep apnea. Nicholas was in the hospital last night and will be tonight. He is doing great, although the pain must be excruciating. Here are two pictures to show what he looked like right after surgery until this morning, and then what he looks like now. There is a lot of swelling, as expected.

Enjoying these days

I don't know if it is obvious or not how much I enjoy my kids and the opportunity I have to be home with them most of the time. Two Fridays ago the kids and I turned our living room into a restaurant with a stage for performances. Olivia was the live show. Leo was the chef. I was the audience. We had dinner at the little pink table, and then Olivia danced for us...and we did Facetime with Uncle Brandon and Aunt Heidi, and had a blast! Here are a couple of pictures of my cuties!

And when the kids do go to school on MWF, I have simplified down to just these two bags to take with them for their lunches. I've left Olivia's extra outfit at school, and I am just taking Leo's diapers and wipes once every other week. These lovely bags are Thirty One bags, and my cousin Erika is a consultant. Here is a link to her web page if you are interested in getting some! These bags are big enough for teachers to send home school work and notes in the outer pocket, too!

Because Leo was sick last week and I took off two mornings to stay home with him, I sent the kids to school Monday - Thursday this week (the school was closed Friday). It was really too much for all of our happiness. Olivia got grumpy. Leo got tired. I got sad missing my kiddos. So, today, after a whirlwind trip from Aunt Stephanie, Uncle Brandon, and cousin Luke last night--so great to see you guys...why didn't I get pictures?--we went to gymnastics this morning and then had a picnic outside for lunch! Olivia and Leo loved it, but Olivia didn't want her picture taken for some reason.

Later this afternoon when Daddy came home, he needed a minute in the bathroom. Olivia wanted Daddy so much that she said she was going to wait outside the door for him. Because Brother likes to do what she is doing, he came over, stood next to her, and started banging on the door. Olivia got upset and said, "Mommy, get Leo! He is wanting Daddy, but I want him all for myself!" So, I closed the gate and let Olivia wait by herself for Daddy. No one gets a minute peace around here!

My big girl

Seriously, my kids are growing up too fast. Olivia is mature for her age, I have no doubt because physically she is tall and wearing a 4T and developmentally her understanding, reasoning, and vocabulary is fantastic. (Of course, I am biased.) But she keeps doing things that make me realize we are just weeks away from having a three-year-old! Shocking! Where has the time gone?!

Here Olivia does a forward roll (on a blanket stained from dragging the kids around the yard). I had been trying to get her to do this at gymnastics class forever, and then Friday, she just busted this out. She is taking gymnastics at school, but I didn't really think they did anything!

Saturday we went to an annual Backyard Bash at the Child Development Center on campus. (We went last year...you can see how much Olivia and Leo have grown since then by looking at this post.) They had a blast! I didn't get many pictures because there was a lot to do and I had two kids wanting to do the activities. Pictured is throwing balls/other stuff through hoops, kicking balls through "gates", and digging in beans. Not pictured was twister on a board painted on the grass, bean bag toss, hula-hooping, making a piggy bank, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, bowling, and snacks! We had fun and everyone took a good nap that afternoon!

What this doesn't show is how polite Olivia was and what a great helper and sharer she is with Leo. I could not be more proud!

Monday and today, Olivia was pretty upset that she had to go to school without Leo. She cried when I dropped her off both times (but her teacher texted me and told me she calmed down quickly, and Olivia told me both afternoons when I picked her up that she had a "great day!") In any case, we skipped Olivia's nap today so that she and I could have special time since I have been carrying Leo around and focusing a lot of attention on him while he's been sick. We had a blast in the backyard having snacks, getting out the pool to warm in the sun, and working on her activity book that she got at the bookfair last week. When Leo woke up later, we went back out for more fun! I'm so excited the warm weather has arrived!

My dangerous boy

Seriously, Leo is everywhere. He runs to the street and thinks it's a game. He scales the couch and laughs. He stands up on chairs and bounces. He gets on the rocking lamb we have and stands up trying to balance. He crawls up onto the ottoman and dances (see below--this just before he launched himself off the ottoman and into my arms, luckily). I didn't realize quite how cautious Olivia was at this age and still is. I cannot leave Leo alone for a second! I don't know how mothers of boys keep them safe! Olivia calls Leo "danger boy." True.

I am continuing to wean Leo. It's taking longer than expected, but I am getting there. We were down to a morning and night nursing as of last Wednesday. He's not a big drinker of anything, though. He can work a sippy cup just fine, but isn't that interested in milk. He might drink a cup a day. He will take some juice sometimes, and water, too. But, I was pleasantly surprised that, like his mother and sister, he loves the sweet milk leftover after eating cereal.

Leo continues to talk more and more. He often says, "I want that." He uses the word "this" a lot and points to whatever I am offering. I believe that is because I say, "Do you want this?" and he is just repeating the last thing I said. He often repeats the last word or two of what someone says. When Olivia says something loud, like "No, no, no!!", he repeats it and giggles. Then she giggles and says, "Mommy, say 'good talking, Leo' and clap your hands!" because that is what I usually do. He likes to repeat sounds as well. One of his favorite books right now has a cow saying, "Moo, moo, moo" in it, and he likes to repeat that and "Yahoo!"

Leo has been sick since Sunday. Poor little guy has been coughing, has runny matted eyes and nose, and has had draining from his ears. I kept him home from school Monday. Tuesday he was worse and I had a fever of 101.5 and felt like my head was going to explode, so I felt really sorry for him since I didn't realize how bad he was feeling. Today I kept him home from school and took him to the ENT. He said Leo just has a nasty cold probably in combination with allergies. So, ear drops and Zyrtec. Leo was feeling better this afternoon, though, as was I, so we all played in the backyard with some water! This was Leo's second outfit of four today because he kept getting dirty and soaked. Later while I was pulling weeds in the garden, he came over and shoveled a spoonful of dirt into his mouth. Surprise! I don't think he'll do that again!