summer fun!

I have more photos to upload, but I have run out of photo storage on Blogger. While I work on getting more storage, enjoy these pictures (and a video) from this week!

Video of Oliver and his "new" tricycle! He can pedal it, too, he just chooses not to most of the time. :-)

Friday and Saturday stuff

Oliver and I have started a new tradition over the past few months -- Fridays are our "special" days. Oliver gets to choose his lunch (usually Kraft macaroni & cheese), and on Friday afternoons, he's allowed to watch a movie after his nap. All week long we talked about which movie he wanted to watch. At first, it was Pinocchio, then it was Lady and the Tramp, and toward the end of the week he finally decided on Monsters, Inc. So Monsters, Inc. it was! And it was the first time that he sat down and watched an entire movie (I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing!), so he apparently enjoyed it. :-)

While he watched the movie,
















Buttercup explored the tools in his tool box
















Saw bracelets are all the rage this season, didn't you know?




















For dinner, we went to Rudy's BBQ (Oliver's choice!) for a treat. Oliver made sure to save room for the good stuff . . . Rudy's banana pudding!

Digging in

















On Saturday, we inflated our new back yard pool (thanks, Grammy!) and look forward to spending a lot of time splashing this summer. The water was a little too cold for Buttercup, so she played in her exersaucer while Dennis and Oliver splashed, jumped, and kicked in the water.















































Here are some cute videos!

In this video, Buttercup is showing off her new skill -- clapping!



Here, Oliver starts off singing ("hello, hello, hello") then he finishes up by trying to hold up 2 fingers at a time. Be sure to notice his look of concentration.



And finally, here's Oliver singing his version of "I Went Down to the Audubon Zoo". I'll post his lyrics below.


I went down to Audubon Zoo
I went down to Audubon Zoo
and they all asked for ME
Hippo and monkey and gorilla and zebras and ostrich and giraffes and giraffes and DOC HUDSON! Zoom! He was there!
That all of it.

Memorial Day weekend, plus Tuesday pictures

We had a great holiday weekend! Anna discovered a new county park on one of her bike rides, so she and I took the kids there on Sunday. We liked it so much that Dennis and I took the kids back on Monday!


exploring the waterfall





















checking out the lake
















just being a cutie!





















On Tuesday, the kids and I were back to our normal routine. Started off the day with a tempo run with the stroller. Oliver informed me that "Hippo does tempo run because that what Hippo do."

Pre-run
















Also pre-run . . . I just wanted to show you how far the stroller canopies go down





















Post-run. I took this picture while I was stretching on the sidewalk.
















I was about to take Oliver out of the stroller to let him run, when he said, "That fishy has a big eyeball!" I said, "What??" and he pointed to this sign . . . I guess it kind of does look like a fish with a big eye. :-)






















Before Oliver took off down the sidewalk, I noticed a congregation of roly-polys near us, and pointed them out to Oliver. He asked me if he could touch one gently, and he did (it's underneath his finger). Surprisingly, it survived to live another day. :-)


















Later in the day, both kids were very cooperative while I prepared dinner. Oliver "drilled" a cabinet with his crane . . .





















. . . while Buttercup took toys out of her Bumbo seat and flung them around the kitchen.
















After dinner, Dennis went running, so the kids and I enjoyed the late afternoon sun.































This video is from Monday afternoon . . . Oliver was discussing the characters on Monsters, Inc.

More Oliver-isms

I have several new pictures to upload, but the camera battery is charging right now. In the meantime, here are some funny things Oliver said today.

(Looking at GattiLand)
I let elephant [his stuffed elephant] go there once a week.

I want to buy a leaf blower for Mommy. And me. And baby. And Daddy. And Granddaddy.

I'm an ogre. I can do real BIG acrobats.

(When we were browsing through the books at the library)
I want to pinch baby so I can leave the library.

Is Granddaddy's lawnmower in Granddaddy's far away garage?

I think it's time for baby to do potty training.

And my personal favorite . . .

Don't poke dope, Daddy!

A Day in Pictures, installment 1

I thought it would be fun to chronicle our events in pictures so you can get a better idea of how we spend our days. The first installment takes place on the Saturday before Memorial Day. Enjoy!

Just waking up





































after breakfast, Buttercup and I played in her room . . .
















. . . while Oliver and Dennis watched "Biscuit Brothers" on PBS.


































I put Buttercup down for her morning nap, then Oliver and I went to Target to pick up a few things.

Oliver had fun trying on accessories . . .
















. . . hula hooping . . .















. . . trying to sneak candy out of the bins . . .




















. . . and we topped it off with a cinnamon pretzel in the snack bar.






























When we got home, Oliver and Dennis played football in the front yard















then it was time to get to work cutting grass.


































Buttercup wasn't too impressed.



















All of that yard work makes you hungry! Time for a picnic lunch!















After naps, the kids played inside for a while,












































then we all headed to Oliver's favorite place in the whole world . . . IKEA!
















Oh, the excitement!

































Oliver picked out a special toy for Buttercup -- a bunny just like his own. She showed her appreciation by chewing on its ears.




















We enjoyed a leisurely dinner while watching Over the Hedge in the cafeteria. Oliver quickly dug into his meatballs,














while Buttercup had fun just sitting in her highchair . . .
















. . . and trying to dismantle the cafeteria cart.
















Our post-dinner entertainment was provided by a local band. Oliver and Buttercup both enjoyed the music!



















The End.

Busy day

We've had a good day going about our usual routine!

This morning Oliver fingerpainted some crafts . . .















. . . and himself, too!




















Later on, the 3 of us went running to the nearby playground. When we got there, Oliver sat at the picnic table and informed me that he was "stretching".















Then Orange Kitty got a ride in the swing . . .















. . . while baby sister did her best to eat some rocks.















Apparently Oliver wore himself out because he decided that he needed a nap in the blue tunnel ("shhhh! be quiet! I'm sleepin'!")

Then Oliver worked on the playscape with his "drill" (a stick) while Buttercup tried to wear her bib like a hat.

Again with the bib. Apparently Buttercup doesn't need toys -- just a bib. :-)