Updates

We are having a fun summer! Hard to believe that June is almost over already -- time is just flying by.

Oliver:
He is still obsessed with Legos and Star Wars. Actually, he's much more obsessed with Legos than with Star Wars. I know I've said this before, but it astounds me how he'll sit and build quietly for hours and hours, when nothing else will hold his attention for that long. I was telling a friend this morning that I would love to thank whoever invented those little plastic bricks!! They're such a great toy -- building imaginations, fostering creativity, giving Moms peace and quiet . . . :-)

He's also turning into quite a swimmer. He's almost finished with the Level 3 swim class, and after he passes Level 4 and the swim test, he'll be eligible to swim in the 4-6 year old club team at our YMCA. How cute is that?? He'll also be able to go down the 3 story water slide at the YMCA after he passes the swim test, which is something he's really excited about.

Buttercup:
She is still such a social little girl, and she's really looking forward to starting Mother's Day Out (we call it "preschool") in September. I think she really misses our old Tuesday and Thursday routine of dropping Oliver off at preschool, then going to the YMCA where she would play in the Child Watch (aka her "YMCA class"). About twice a week, she reminds me that, when she's 3 years old, she gets to 1) go to preschool, 2) go to the "big girl" room at the YMCA Child Watch, and 3) take swim lessons. Apparently, a lot of good things happen when you're 3! :-)

She's also still our feisty firecracker, and most days she cries approximately 50 times more than the baby. But we still love her anyway and wouldn't want her to be any different than she is. :-) She's such an awesome little girl and is the SWEETEST thing in the world when she wants to be.

She's doing pretty well with swimming, too. I took her and Oliver to the family pool at the YMCA last week, and she's started doing her own freestyle stroke (and propelling herself forward in the water!), so I have no doubt that she will be ready for swim lessons in September! We could sign her up now, but because of her age she's only eligible for Mommy & Me classes, and we think she'd be better off in a class with no mommies and just peers. ;-)

Theodore:
He is just the cutest, sweetest little baby. I looooove his fuzzy, warm head, I could just eat it up!! He is such a good baby, and is happy most of the time, but he definitely has some strong opinions about his likes and dislikes! So far he doesn't like 1) diaper changes, 2) his car seat, and 3) being put down (most of the time). But thankfully he likes sleeping and eating. :-)

He also loves watching Oliver and Buttercup play, especially when they dance in the living room. I'll hold him in my lap and he'll just watch them with his eyes wide open, like he's trying to figure out how he can do that, too! Just too cute. :-)

We are so thankful for all 3 of our beautiful, healthy babies!

Ick.

Maybe I should clean out the fridge more often.

Pictures of the littlest one

Here are a few pictures of the tiny baby boy!

Hanging out:


Buttercup loves her baby brother!


A failed attempt to get a picture of everyone in their Superman t-shirts:

Sun catcher and firefly crafts

Oliver is at the age where he can at least help with most of the crafts we do, but I'm always on the lookout for crafts that Buttercup can help with, too. I bought this craft book about a month ago, and this week we did 2 of the crafts from the book. They were both simple enough that Buttercup was able to join in and do her own!

First, we made sun catchers. I traced and cut out a shape for each of the kids (Buttercup chose a butterfly, and Oliver chose a sting ray), then glued the cut out shape to wax paper. Then each of the kids glued bits of colored tissue paper to the wax paper, and I glued another piece of wax paper behind to secure it all.





They look really pretty!



We also made a firefly craft, which was super easy. Draw several lines with glitter glue, then let the glue dry. Have the kids dip their thumbs in white craft paint, and made thumbprint wings on either side of the glittery body. After the paint is dry, the kids can decorate their fireflies to make them even more unique!

Buttercup did not want me to take a picture of her fireflies, so this is Oliver's firefly page: :-)

A conversation between Oliver and Buttercup

I was rocking Theodore to sleep in his room this morning, and overheard this conversation coming from the big kids' room, where Buttercup was getting dressed:

Buttercup: Hey Oliver. You see my booty?
Oliver: I don't want to see your booty.
Buttercup: Oliver, you see it? See my booty?
Oliver: I.DON'T.WANT.TO.SEE.YOUR.BOOTY.
Buttercup: Oliver, you see it? My booty? You see it, Oliver? This [is] my booty.
Oliver: [silence]
Buttercup: Oliver?
Oliver: [silence]
Buttercup: [rummaging in her dresser] Oliver, you see my Hello Kitty underwear?
Oliver: Yes, I see it.
Buttercup: Oliver, you like it? You like Hello Kitty?
Oliver: No, I don't like it.
Buttercup: Oliver, you like Hello Kitty?
Oliver: No. Well, no, I don't like Hello Kitty, but I do like that you're not showing me your booty anymore.

Not quite what I had in mind

Last week, I bought this slide/pool combo for the kids:


It's pretty neat. You attach the hose to the slide part, and water sprays on the slide to make it easier to slide down, and then you splash into the water!

Sounds like the kids would want to spend hours playing with it, right? Or, one hour, at least.

Well, no.

They played on it for maybe 25 minutes, then spent the rest of their outside time scooping water out of the pool reservoir and mixing it with dirt and rocks.

Buttercup made mud pies:


While Oliver smeared mud all over the patio:


and himself:


Oh well. Maybe we'll try it again tomorrow. :-)

Sleepy newborn and fun in the pool

Things are kind of busy around here, mainly because of this sweet, sweet baby boy:


Just look at that droopy, smooshy cheek!! I kiss his squishy cheeks at least 100 times a day, not joking. I just love those cheeks and that soft, warm, fuzzy head. Well, I love the whole little person, but those are two of my absolute favorite parts of the little person. :-)


Since Theodore is such a good sleeper, Oliver, Buttercup and I have been able to play outside for a couple of hours by ourselves every day. It's already so hot that playing in the water is a necessity in the afternoon. Of course, the kids don't mind that at all. :-)