Olive Quotes

me: (talking about how she should use words to tell how she is feeling instead of whiny noises)
Olive:  It's like you need to shape your emotions into words.  Like play-doh.  It's all gloppy and then you form it into something.  You need to form your emotions into words.

Hannah:  That's not what I planned.
me:  Well, plans change.  You have to be flexible.
Hannah: I don't want to change my plans.
Olive:  You're being a toothpick.
me:  What?
Olive:  She needs to be more like a pipe cleaner.  That is flexible.  Toothpicks break when you try to bend them.
(We later learned this is something her teacher says.)

me: What do you want for lunch?
Olive:  I know what Hannah wants.  A toasted peanut butter and nutella sandwich.
Hannah:  Yeah.
Olive:  She loves eating those!  And I love making those for her to eat!
(later when the sandwiches were made)
Olive: Hannah said it was too cold.
me:  I'd tell Hannah to deal with it.
Olive:  No!  She won't deal with it.  I'll deal with it! (puts it in the microwave)

(jogging together)
me:  You are doing a good job.  I know it is tough, but I'm proud of you for trying.  You are becoming a runner!
Olive:  Becoming is better than being.
me:  What?  Where did you hear that?
Olive:  It is on a poster in my classroom.
me:  What do you think it means?
Olive:  You have to keep trying.
me:  You are a smart cookie.
Olive:  I know.  It's because of you and my teacher.

4th of July

I really look forward to the 4th of July.  It is always a day of pure fun and memory-making with my family.  First up is always the neighborhood parade.  The girls decorate their bikes on their own.  The parade is even better now that we have lots of school friends in the neighborhood.  

I like that every 4th of July starts the same, but is a little different.  This year we went swimming at PV Pool...and then to a friend's backyard pool.  Two pools in one day?  Amazing.  Back home for a quick change of clothes (and nap) and then to Leawood Park.  We really liked their fireworks show last year.  This year we we got some sweet balloon swords that made noises!

Like last year we got a spot up on the hill.  It is pretty awesome to look out over the crowd while snuggling up with my girls.  This is the same field where Hannah had her very first soccer practice and still practices now.  Ah, memories.

We continued the 4th of July fun on the 6th of July in Chillicothe with fireworks at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Uncle Justin was back for a visit from Idaho.  It was the first time we saw him since he moved in February 2017. 

Olive is still scared of sparklers.  So it is just Hannah.

And then even more 4th of July fun...on the 7th of July!  We picked up Ainslyn and Gwendolyn from the fireworks stand and watched the Chillicothe show in Simpson Park.  It turns out parenting four girls isn't that bad when they all run off and play together.

We can't wait until the next year!

Kids on Gravel Race

Steve and Jason do lots of gravel races together, so Jason decided to inspire the younger generation to do the same.  He helped put on the first annual KOG race (Kids on Gravel).  The course was out and back for five miles, so ten total.  There were water stops (and candy!) along the way.  Our plan was for Steve and Hannah do do the whole thing and I'd go with Olive for as far as she wanted.  We stopped at the 2.5 mile water stop and after eating some candy Olive decided to go all the way.  So we kept on and turned around at the 5 mile stop.  She was pretty tired (it was also 95 degrees outside) and there was definitely some complaining.  After Steve finished with Hannah, he came back to look for us and we were a couple miles away from the start/finish.  When she saw him Olive stopped complaining and put her tough face on to finish strong!  Everyone cheered when when she finished and she had the biggest smile.  She was so proud of herself for doing the full 10 miles, the most she has ever biked!  And best of all she got a gravel jar "trophy" just like Dad gets from his race.  We really should have had a family biking picture, but I only got a few pics of Olive.  

at the start

rest break

big smile at the finish

Zoo

We studied Australia in "Mama School" this summer.  They even did a research project on kangaroos and koalas.  Our school field trip was to the Australian section of the zoo, just like I used to do with my 2nd graders.

And we checked out the newest exhibit: sting ray touch tank!  So cool!

 Olive and I were not brave enough to do the lorikeet feeding, but of course Hannah was all about it.

Cousin Wade

We drove right from the Maker Faire to meet the girls' newest cousin and our only nephew, Wade Isaac Prewitt.  Hannah and Olive weren't thrilled to have a boy cousin, but they got more excited when they saw him.  Hannah couldn't believe how tiny he was because he "looked bigger in pictures."  He was due on July 9, but arrived early on June 17 (Father's Day.)  Since June 18 would be 37 weeks (full-term) and he was born just before midnight, he was technically a preemie!  We visited him when he was one week old since the girls both had camp the week after he was born.

playing on the new equipment at the park

Hannah found a baby toad!

Wade reminded me so much of Hannah as a newborn.  She was 2.5 weeks early and had similar coloring and long skinny legs.  They just don't have much fat when they come out early!

We brought the pipeworks for Wade when he is older.  But until then it is something big girls can do when we visit Omaha.  They designed and built this three story cart.

The girls made Wade some onesies.  Marissa sent pictures of him in them.  We bought him a walrus towel for bath time and Olive thought he needed a matching shirt.  She drew the walrus herself by looking at a bath toy!  I helped her with the letters.

Hannah thought he needed some formal wear...with pockets!