Summer: The First Two Weeks

We're two weeks into summer and I'm ABSOLUTELY LOVING IT!!  I am having a blast staying home with the girls, although we don't stay home that much.  We go out at least once a day and sometimes twice.  We just have to fit our outings around the nap schedule since Olive still takes two a day.  Speaking of naps, if I don't take one (that's a big if) I get so much housework done!  When I was working the laundry would pile up and we'd do about 6-7 loads on the weekend.  Now its no big deal to do a load or two every other day.  And I have time to cook, too!  This stay-at-home mom thing is a pretty sweet gig.  It can't be this fun in the winter, right?

Things we've crossed off  the summer to do list:

• farmers' market
• meet Thomas the Train
• make sandcastles on a (lake) beach
• clean out the car and organize the kid clutter
• get rid of clothes in my closet that don't fit
• read a book : The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
• do some learning activities with the girls with thematic units

Things we've done that weren't on the to do list:

• sprayground
• breakfast at the Big Biscuit- Hannah loved this and almost cried when we left.  I don't know why this was such a big deal.  Maybe because we never eat at a restaurant for breakfast?
• Parents as Teachers playgroup
• library
• tricycle ride to the park
• lunch on the deck (almost every day)
• first ever family movie night 
• watch a whole season of How I Met Your Mother (obviously this was just me)

Hmmm...maybe I should get around to posting pictures of these adventures....

Car Seat

After 13 months, Olive said goodbye to her infant car seat.

This Spring

Although we planned to have our girls in the spring, I felt a little sorry for them that the didn't have fall birthdays.  Fall has always been my favorite season, but I may have to change my mind.  Spring in KC is absolutely beautiful.  Everybody has fresh green lawns, spring trees, and lots of flowers.  So I'll say I like fall best in the country and spring best in the suburbs.

What we've been doing this spring:

• watching mama robin feed her birdies outside my bedroom window and marveling at how fast they grow up
• chasing bunnies barefoot in the backyard (Hannah)
• celebrating Hannah turning 3 and Olive turning 1
• feeling grateful every time I hear "Mama, I went potty!"  Usually when things change I can barely remember the way they used to be.  But every time Hannah uses the bathroom by herself I am reminded that it was another diaper I didn't have to change.  It feels awesome.  
• running the Boston Marathon in 3:07 in record heat (Steve)  
• adjusting to a new job- I'm still working on him to write a blog post on his job and marathon.
• wheezing and doing inhalers (Olive)- Of course this was during the gap in our insurance coverage because of the job change.  Arg!
• finally fitting into my pre-pregnancy pants...well, most of them
• running my first race since having Olive- the Trolley Run (4 miles in 42:18) Yes, I'm slow, but I beat my previous Trolley Run time when I was 25.  Not bad after having 2 kids!
• challenging myself to run every day in May...I did it!
• spending most nights in the backyard playing soccer, frisbee, or sandbox.  The weather was amazing this spring!

Hannah Quotes

Hannah: When I grow up I want to be a super hero.
me:  Oh really?  What would you do?
Hannah:  Super heros fix people.  Like doctors.

Hannah: Maybe I want to be a teacher when I grow up.
me:  You have to be in school for a long time to be a teacher.  Well, I guess you have to go to school for a long time to be just about anything.
Hannah:  Oh.  Maybe I'll be a soccer player then.

me:  I love you.  You're a cutie!
Hannah:  Aw, shucks!

(I go running after the girls go to bed, so this is a typical bedtime conversation)
me:  Goodnight.  I'll see you tomorrow.
Hannah: Are you doing a long run or a short run or a medium run?
me: Medium.
Hannah: Are you meeting friends?
me:  No, it's just me by myself.
Hannah: Please be careful in the dark.  Don't get lost.  Are you running on the road or sidewalk or grass?
me: Sidewalk.
Hannah:  Please be careful.  Don't fall down.

(while playing soccer in the yard)
Hannah: Mama come here.  Dada come here.  Let's huddle up.  Okay.  This is our last chance at soccer.
me (laughing so hard at "huddle up" that I'm crying):  What?  What does that mean?
Hannah (very serious):  It means we have one more chance to kick the ball.  Let's go.

Hannah: Is the gas going into the car?
me: Yes.
Hannah:  The car is having lunch!

Hannah: Can you dribble this ball?
me:  Okay.  (dribbling the ball)
Hannah:  Just keep practicing.  You'll get better!  Maybe when you are older you can do it.

Hannah words
refriginator= refrigerator
noculars= binoculars
obra= bra
harade= parade
breaksast= breakfast
bizzy= dizzy

Hopscotch Sprinkler

 

 

Sprint Family Fun Day

One of the many great things to do in KC: Sprint Family Fun Days in the Power & Light district.  It has lots of fun kid activities, and it is free!  We got lucky and it was a little cloudy/rainy which meant there weren't a lot of people there.  No lines a the bouncy house!  Hannah was much better behaved than last year.  I guess it is the maturity that comes with being three.
 

 

We thought Olive was too young to get bounced by the big kids, but let her go in the second time Hannah bounced.  Even though she fell down every 2 seconds, she loved it.

Hannah's favorite thing was playing the drums.  She was facing a stage where they were playing music and she played along.  When we left she said, "Did you see me?  I was in a BAND!!"

 

We watched a little bit of a puppet show, did some crafts, played in a sandbox, and walked through some of the art show, too.  Then we headed down to Olathe with stops at the Vrooman and Holcombe houses.  Olive is having a baby face off with Caleb. It was a great Saturday!

 

Summer To Do List

Today is my last day of school!!  Last summer I spent my time breastfeeding and changing diapers.  This summer I have 0 girls breastfeeding, only 1 in diapers, and 2 that can walk!  I am beyond excited to get out of the house and have some adventures.  Here's my summer to do list:

• zoo
• Deanna Rose Farmstead
• arboretum
• farmer's market
• nature center
• swimming pool
• library story time
• meet Thomas the Train
• ride the little train at KC Northern Railway
• make sandcastles on a (lake)beach
• catch fireflies
• spend time in Chillicothe
• go swimming with Great-grandma Velma
• ride horses with Great-grandpa Howard
• visit the McGuires in St. Louis
• clean out the car and organize the kid clutter
• get rid of clothes in my closet that don't fit
• work on the girls' baby books
• hang more pictures up in the house
• take a vacation without the girls (to Maine)
• take a vacation with the girls (I'm not sure where)
• learn how to use my camera
• read a book
• try new foods
• do some learning activities with the girls with thematic units

We only have 10 weeks to get it all done.  Ready, set, go!!

Mohawk

Baby O mohawk.  She's a wild one.
 

 

Planting Flowers

 

 

Mother's Day

After being spoiled at school for Teacher Appreciation Week, I got spoiled by my family for Mother's Day.  Since Steve's mom is on vacation and my mom is coming to our house to babysit in a week, we decided to stay in KC.  I must admit, I was happy to stay put.  I awoke to breakfast, a present, and a banner (it's an Arrested Development joke).  Steve colored in family, Hannah did love, and Olive did Mama (with lots of help).  I was very impressed with Hannah's coloring.  She told me the "O" needed more black.

 

I chose the art museum as our activity of the day.
 

I especially wanted to see this sculpture "Ferment" after watching a documentary about it on PBS.  Yes, I'm a nerd.  I taught Hannah to say dendroid.  We ate a picnic lunch beside the sculpture.
 

I am in love with my girls' smiles.  I think Hannah has a beautiful Mona Lisa smile,


and Olive has a super cute dimple smile.  Look at those teeth!

 

I wanted a picture of us for Mother's Day.  We never got a really good one, but the silly ones are fun, too.
  

 

 

Olive was really interested in looking around the museum.  She pointed to things and didn't complain about the stroller at all.  The guard statue in the background was my favorite piece in the museum when I was little.    I'm a little sad they moved it from the contemporary section.  Now you can't get up close to it.
 

 

 

 

After naps, we went to Ingredient for dinner.  I think I had the best burger and fries of my life.  The girls dined on peanut butter and banana sandwiches.  I think its my new favorite restaurant.
 

The best part was playing in the water fountains.

Then we decided to head over to Leawood Park.
 

 

 

The perfect day ended with Hannah trying to chase down some hot air balloons.