A little cousins time

Quick outing last night with Lola and Hudson (and their parents).....

Olivia was being unusually cooperative and therefore there are more pictures of her.  I've given up on attempting to give equal time!  I'm sure their attitudes will switch next time around.....

I'm including this because she looks exactly like me from behind!

Owen trying to get Hudson to play

Hudson is almost 1! 

Looking forward to lots of cousin time this weekend with the other side of the family!

Mental Health Day

Every Mom needs a break. Today, I took mine!  I road-tripped to Iowa today to meet this adorable little man:

I can't believe this little Harrison was 5 months old before I met him!  My friend Catherine and I drove to Iowa and back today to spend a few sweet hours with this perfect little boy.  Seriously, not a whine or cry from him the entire afternoon!  We had a wonderful lunch with our friends, Lindsay and Andy (Harrison's parents) and then headed back home. 

It seems crazy; 7 hours in the car for a 4 hour visit.  But I'll tell you what.  It was exactly what I needed.  Catherine and I joked that we couldn't wait to listen to our music, but we actually spent the entire drive chatting about babies, jobs, politics, college and on and on.  It was wonderful.  And it was totally worth it to spend the day with friends catching up on life! 

O&O spent the morning at a parade with Mimi and Papa:

It sounds like they had a great day away from me as well.  I think we all need that every once in awhile. 

Now, to schedule more mental health moments in my future! 

A Good Afternoon

Some pictures......just because, sometimes, after I get home from work, O&O wake up and are adorable and happy.  And therefore I made them pose on the front porch.  I took a million pictures, but didn't get even one with them both smiling at the camera.  But, I had to post a bunch of them because Olivia's drumsticks and Owen's trucks are their favorites right now.  And I love it that they happen to have those in these pictures.....

 

 

 Enjoying new library books....

 

According to Owen and Olivia - Part 3

I must admit, I started writing this post at least a week ago.  And then our kids quit going to bed and I gave up on any downtime to finish it.  Not sure if bedtime and naptime are still due to losing the binkies, or if they are just 2 year olds testing us.  But it has been brutal!  So, on to a blog post of mish mash updates:

A few of my favorite O&O moments:

Owen playing in his crib on a cloudy day around 7:45 am - I went in to ask if he wanted to get up - "Sun not out yet, Mommy". 

Owen on going to school soon - "I ride a yellow school bus!"  (We've been explaining that is not true, ha).

Olivia on giving up binkies - "Baby Elle need binkies?"

Owen when Justin get's home from work - "Daddy all done working news?"

Olivia on delaying bedtime - "Watch baseball tv with Daddy?" OR "Lympics?  Do Flips!" (Requesting gymnastics)

Olivia on taking turns - "Set timer 2 minutes!  Set timer 2 minutes!"

Olivia's Prayer Last Night (basically she fills in the names)....And don't feel left out if she didn't mention you.  We literally just started prayers, and she mostly just mentions things she can see.  ha. 
"Dear Jesus"
I love "Mommy"
I love "Daddy"
I love "Papa"
I love "Mimi"
I love "Woobie"
I love "Giraffe"
I love "Kelsey"
"Amen"

Owen after begging me to take his picture at the park

Long Sleeves?  Yes please!

Pink nails for the first time! Owen was asleep, so we had some girl time.  He asked me to paint his, but seems to have accepted the No answer for now. 

Changes are brewing.....

It's almost back to school!  While that would normally mean nothing to us, Owen and Olivia will actually be going back to school as well!  It's time.  It's time that they get out of the house all day and time for me to go back to work all day. 

I'm so pleased we made it almost 2 1/2 years without daycare.  I never thought we'd manage this crazy schedule this long.  But it's wearing on all of us, and O&O need some interaction and education.  So, starting in September, it's off to pre-school/daycare they go.

It also means a sad goodbye to our Nanny Linda, who has been with us for 2 years.  O&O love her, and we will still use her to babysit on a regular basis. 

Now, I only have a few weeks to fill out all of the paperwork, and prepare them for napping and being away from home.  Oh, and take away the binkies.  We started that last night.......