My Loves

The other week I was looking back through my old blog posts for something.  I came across the post from our very first visit to the Mom and Tot open gym.  Olivia was around the same age as Logan, and there was a picture of her pushing the same exact toy.  It's not the best picture, but how cute!

And as I was looking through another post I was struck by how much these two really do look alike.

It is so funny, because everyone has always said Olivia looks like me (when she actually looks like Michael).  Now everyone says Logan looks like Michael (and he thinks Logan looks just like me).  And somehow... they look a lot like each other! Genetics is so funny!  I personally think that Michael and I have some of the same features, so depending on the look and who they are with they look like both of us.  But overall I think they take after Michael more.  Regardless, they are stinking cute!  It's so fun to look back at old pictures of Olivia.  Plus, I'm a sucker for a good comparison.

Note: I was looking for a picture where Logan was making a similar face.  I didn't even notice that their hands are in almost the exact same position until after I made the collage! :)

Easter

I set out the kids stuff the night before.  My mom sent some money for me to buy a few things, and then we just added to it.  I got them a joint gift of a bubble machine from my mom, and I got them both a hat to protect from the bright Texas sun.

They each got one toy.  Olivia has been asking for a Merida doll for a while.  She plays with her princess Barbies every day, so this seemed like a good fit.

Logan's toy was the last emergency vehicle in the go go smart wheels set.

They both got a pair of sandals, a chocolate bunny (Logan's was for me!), two pouches--because they are obsessed, extra bubbles, and a few eggs filled with treats.

You probably can't tell, but Logan got a swim suit and a tooth brush too.  Olivia also got some peeps.

We told Olivia that the Easter bunny was going to bring her a basket while she was sleeping.  So when she walked out of her room, she just stopped and said, "uhh... where is my basket from the Easter bunny?"

We told her to come in and take a look. She was thrilled.

She walked over, took a look, and then squealed about the Merida doll :)

Logan was all about the bubble machine!

Purple grape scented bubbles!

So cute!  Olivia loves her hat, but it is too small.  I'm hoping they have a similar one in the big girl section. 

Michael's basket

After some breakfast and some fun, it was time for Logan to take a nap and the rest of us to get ready for church.

We were running a little late, so this is about the best I could do.

I didn't buy any special outfits this year.  I'm glad, because it ended up being cold and rainy and what I would have picked probably wouldn't have worked. As it was, we were running around trying to find pants that fit Logan (with little luck!).

A lot of people have commented about how we can go back to our old church, but we actually aren't.  When we chose that church it was 20 minutes from our very first apartment (on the complete other side of a complete other city).  So now it would be a minimum of a 45 minute drive, plus tolls, plus traffic.  So we are trying to find something closer to home where we can get involved.

I've been dragging my feet the last month, because at first I didn't even have any clothes to wear. Literally.  And then I was just really nervous about how Logan would do.   He didn't enjoy getting dropped off, but to the surprise of both Michael and I, we didn't get called out of service.  Olivia loved her class.  We were a little late and then with all the time it takes to register kids at a first visit, we missed most of the praise and worship.  So we are going to check it out again.  There is also a church our friends go to that is about two minutes from our house.  So we might check that out too.

Our friends were suppose to come over, but they had to cancel due to illness.  So we just had lunch at home and a low key day.  I was still going to do the egg hunt for Olivia, but she had forgotten about it and had already eaten way too much candy.  So we just skipped that all together.

Saturday

We had a relatively busy weekend.  The kids have both been waking pretty early these days, so it started bright and early on Saturday morning.

I signed Olivia up for one of those free projects at Home Depot.  I knew it would interfere with Logan's nap, so I sent Michael and Olivia on a little date.

They hit up Dunkin Donuts first, which of course Olivia LOVED.

Then they headed to Home Depot to make a little planter.

While they were away, Logan and I played for a bit. Then when he went down for nap at 9, I got to cleaning.  It's rare to clean without at least one kid in the way.  I pretty much have to do things like the kitchen floor or dishes when Logan is napping.  So that was my fun morning. :)

Her finished project

Logan woke up minutes before they got home.  So they all played while I finished up what I was doing.  By then it was time for lunch. After lunch we dyed eggs!

Putting vinegar in all the little cups

I had put Logan down after lunch, but he was interested in what was going on. So he hung out in his high chair for a little bit and watched.  Then it was time for nap (again!).

Decorating the eggs

Which one to choose...

Our finished product!

After nap we headed to an egg hunt.  Our city had one, but it was earlier in the day.  I had heard mixed reviews about it, so we decided to attend a local church one instead.

They had multiple inflatables for free.  Olivia did this slide multiple times.  She also took a turn in a bounce house.

They had two identical petting zoos, and they even gave out free food.

Olivia loved it!

Logan clung to Michael for dear life.  Are you catching a theme with this kid? ;)

It was finally time for the Easter Egg hunt.  Unfortunately, it didn't go quite as well as the rest of the day. There were 25,000 eggs, but they didn't have it separated by age.  And what I've learned over the last few years is that this is pretty necessary for us.  So Michael went out with her, but he said the big kids were just too quick.  And even though the directors were saying to only get about 10 to 15 each, a lot of kids had baskets overflowing.  At one point he just had to grab a few eggs for Olivia because he was worried that she wasn't going to end up with any.

After it was all over, a few girls who had more than their share gave some of their eggs to Olivia.  (Only to open them in the car and find that each egg had a tiny little thing in it.  Most had a tootsie roll, but some had one tiny little craft jewel.  I get that they had 25,000 eggs, but what in the world am I suppose to do with a tiny craft jewel?  Weird!)

Olivia was pleased with the whole thing.  She didn't really care how she got the eggs... just that she got some. :)

We ended our busy day by going out to dinner with a gift card from Christmas.  It was a great day!

Answering Questions

I've had a lot of people asking me the same questions lately, so I thought I'd throw together a little "how are we doing" post.

First of all, we are good.  The house is mostly settled.  All of our day to day stuff is unpacked.  What we haven't done yet is hang some stuff on the walls.  Mostly because it is a two person job and our weekends have been filling up.  But it will be done this weekend.  At least the stuff we have.  Of course, every time you move, the space you have to decorate is different.  This house has a TON of wall space. So it will be a work in progress.  But we aren't living among boxes.  There are still some in the garage, but it is mostly the ones that have "storage" items in them. I am slowly trying to go through them.  So, yes, we are mostly "settled".

MICHAEL

The #1 question I get is about Michael's job.  Yes, he loves it.  It is mostly what he was doing when we lived here.  He really likes the guy he works closely with.  They just had a huge campaign, and he has been knocking it out of the park.  Everyone seems to really like him as well.  They think he is doing a great job.  The drive isn't too bad as long as he leaves early in the morning.

It was decided that his bonus would be distributed every pay check.  Basically, since he is salary, it is a way to "keep him honest".  Those are the words of the VP.  So it is basically a given as long as he meets certain goals.  It is a way for the company to make sure he is producing his best work.  He has gotten it for every pay check, so that has been nice. 

 Overall, it is a great fit for him and was definitely worth the move.

BETHANY

I have been having fun seeing old friends!  I've also spent most of my time unpacking, getting ready for a consignment sale, and trying to weed through all of our stuff.  I am on a serious mission to get rid of the excess.  It feels so good when I accomplish one of those goals! I will be so happy when everything is nice, neat, and organized!! :)

I am also going to look into getting a part time job--just for a couple of nights a week.  Extra money will be nice, but it will also be nice to just have a break out of the house.  My wish is to find something that will be "fun" and I will enjoy (like Gigi's), so that it won't feel like work and will be more like a little mommy break. ;)

OLIVIA

Olivia is doing well.  She has enjoyed all of the play dates. But she does miss Ohio.  She talks about it most days.  Each day it is a different person that she misses--Grandma, Miss Laurie, the little boy I babysat, the neighbor girls, her classmates.... She doesn't cry or have meltdowns or any negative behavior due to the move.  It is mostly just talking about it.  I think it will be better after A) we get her room decorated and B) she gets into some kind of class and feels like she "belongs".

She is still making us laugh at the crazy things she says.  She is really into coloring, and does a pretty impressive job for a three year old.  She LOVES Logan (sometimes a little too much--she's always trying to touch him, hold his hand, etc and he isn't much of a fan).  Her favorite thing to do is play with her dolls.  She is really liking that we have a back yard to play in, and would be outside all day if she could.

LOGAN

Oh, Logan.  He is still as needy as ever.  He just loves his mommy.  What can I say?  He needs to know where I am at all times.  He wants to be held--but really, he doesn't.  He gets into everything.  He climbs everything.  He has a few words, but still whines A LOT.  Michael says he thinks there is an extra crown in heaven for me, just for the jewels I have earned for being Logan's mom. ;)  He is sweet, funny, and pretty sensitive.

He knows how to sign "eat", "milk", and "more", and he thinks life is just an endless buffet.  Olivia didn't gain any weight between her 12 month doctor's appointment and her 15 month appointment because I was cutting her off (thinking she was eating too much), and the doctor said that we should have just let her eat.  That her growth chart should "slow down, but not be a straight line across with no movement". I weighed Logan on his birthday.  I weighed him again the other day and he had lost a half pound.  Likely because he is walking all over the place all the time.  All that to say, he is eating us out of house and home. :)

He didn't have any issues with the move.  He just fell right back in to the same routine, patterns, and play.  Which was nice.  I don't think I could handle him being any more emotional. Ha!  He sure is cute, though!

So that is where we are at.  We are liking being back in Texas.  I am really looking forward to the fall when Preschool and MOPS will start up and we can get involved, but I am sure we are going to have a great summer too.

Water Fun

It was in the 80's on Sunday.  Both kid love to play outside, so we headed out to the backyard after nap time.

Originally I was just going to head out and let them play.  But it was really warm, so we decided to clean up the water table.  I once again did a sweep of the garage for outdoor toys.  Michael cleaned up the table while I changed Olivia out of her dress and into a suit.

Poor buddy doesn't have a suit yet... or clothes that fit! :)  All of his spring/summer clothes are 18 months, and he truthfully can still wear a 12 month.  So depending on the brand, most of them just hang on him.  Especially shorts!  He doesn't have any sandals either... We are just a mess. ;)

Logan is so funny.  He hates the grass! So if something rolls into the grass, he will stand at the edge of the cement and reach and reach until he can grab the item.  If he does end up in grass and he falls over, it is hysterical.  He is like an animal that can't roll over.  He just freezes and moans until someone helps him--because getting up on his own would require him to touch the grass. 

He really enjoyed his first water table experience though.  Especially that little cup.

Olivia spent her time watering the dandelions--her favorite flower, ha! and making up a dinner plate for Michael.

Michael's dinner

We had been playing with the bat and ball last week, but I finally found the pieces to the tee.  So I made Olivia give it a try.  I helped her the first few times, and then she got it!

The first couple of times she was jut hitting the tee instead of the ball, but she got better as she went along and actually hit the ball off the tee multiple times.  I think Michael and I were both impressed!