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!

MOPS Play date

We got to go to a fun Easter themed play date last week!

My friend Shaye was at my MOPS table two years ago.  She was having a play date for her MOPS table, but it was going to be small so she invited some of us other MOPS moms.

The kids made themselves right at home. Olivia loved the kitchen area.  She kept saying that she needed to organize it (meaning she put all the cake pieces together, and all the pizza pieces together).  She has a kitchen, but I guess this one was just way cooler! ;)

My friend Maggie (also from my MOPS table my first year) made this cute little display.

Olivia didn't even want to stop playing to eat, so she ate after everyone else was done.  She loved the PEEP and the chocolate covered donut!

Then it was time for the egg hunt.  Logan actually walked out and picked up three eggs all on his own.

He was over it as soon as he figured out he could climb this thing.

Olivia did pretty good!

She could not wait to dig in and get some candy out

We gave the swing another try.  He tolerated it better this time, but was still making his nervous little sounds some.

It was a great way to kick off our Easter celebrating.  Olivia has been telling people about it and can't wait to play again!

Friday Favorites

There is a blogging trend to share your favorite things on Friday.  I participated in years past, but I haven't done it in a while.  But I thought  I'd throw a quick one together for today.

ONE

We have had more play dates and friend meet ups in the last three weeks than I think we did the entire time we were in Ohio.  It has been great for Olivia to have friends to play with that are her age.  I've also got to go to dinner with an old friend, mommy chat with multiple MOPS friends at a play date, and I have plans for coffee next week with another MOPS friend.  It is good to be back!

TWO

I don't normally read fashion or beauty blogs or magazines.  I just don't have money to spend on $150 face wash or going shopping at Nordstroms twice a week.  BUT... in reading a recent post on a blog, I was made aware of The Wet Brush. The blogger said that it was amazing for tangles and that her daughter couldn't live without it.  Both Olivia and I have terribly tangly hair.  It doesn't matter that we use conditioner (although I'm sure it helps some).  I use tangle spray on Olivia's hair.  Again, it helps but hair time is still a struggle.  So I decided to give this brush a try.  I bought the big one first. I  was a little skeptical, so I didn't want to commit.  But it really is amazing!  So I bought Olivia her little one.  If you have tangle hair struggles in your house--you should give it a try.  I got ours at Target.

THREE

The sun! If I hadn't already lived in Texas before, my first three weeks back would have been rather worrisome. The weather was just like Ohio.  We had snow, ice, rain, more rain, and gray, gray gloomy skies.  One of the things we love about Texas is that (usually) there is sun every day.  Even if it rains, the sun usually peeks out at some point.  I am so glad that we are back to a normal sunny, warm Texas climate.  I just loaded us up on sunscreen the other day, so we are now prepared.  (And my arms did already get burned from sitting in our back yard for an hour one day!)

FOUR

I don't watch a lot of TV.  When we moved to Texas (the first time!), we went from two TV's down to one.  Michael and I have very different taste.  So slowly it just turned into he would watch something and I would play online.  I can't really read blogs and pay attention to as how at the same time, so it just worked out.  We watch a few shows together every now and then--like Downton Abbey.   And I don't have time to watch during the day.  Nor do I want to watch adult shows in front of my kids.  So I just don't watch. But my friend recently told me about Hart of Dixie on Netflix and I love it!  It reminds me of Gilmore Girls in a way.  (My friend even thinks it might be shot on the same lot?!)  So I am trying to binge watch it when the kids are in bed.

FIVE

There has been a lot of talk in my life lately (by others) about minimalism.  I'm certainly not one of those people who want two things on their walls and want to own one pair of shoes and only own one towel per person, etc.  But I do know that clutter gives me anxiety.  And I am at the point where I am just over THE STUFF.  There is an internal battle I have between thinking that one day I might need that item and just being over the crap loads of storage.  So I am on a journey to get rid of stuff.  I have started by trying to get rid of the obvious things like kids clothes.  I got into town right before my favorite consignment sale.  I got to shop at it, but I couldn't sell because my stuff wasn't even in the state.  But I am participating in my friend's MOPS Consignment sale this weekend.  I entered 167 items.  That is just scratching the surface.  I donated ton of stuff before we moved.  I've given stuff to friends and family.  I even took a load to Once Upon a Child and made a few bucks. I'm just ready to be done storing things.  Old clothes are easy, though. It's the educational books and toys (for me) and electronics and wires (for Michael) that is harder to part with. I can't wait to be free of some of this stuff! It is liberating!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Mom and Tot Open Gym

The local rec center has a Mom and Tot open gym on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month (during the school year).  It was closed for spring break, so this was our first opportunity to go.  It is suppose to be $3 per kid, but they let Logan go for free since he's just starting to walk.

When we first got there, Olivia went running off with her friend.  Logan just planted himself in one spot.  He didn't look quite as concerned as Olivia did on her first time, but he wasn't moving.  I kept trying to take his hand and have him walk, but he wasn't having it.  He just stood there taking it all in for the longest time.

I finally got him to go on this thing.  I pushed him around for a bit, and then Olivia took over.

He is seriously the cutest!

His favorite part was the little ball popper thing on the front.  So he pushed it around backwards for a bit.

We gave this thing a go, too.

Playing in a tent.

Scooting around on a board

Logan (who looks like my brother to me in this picture) is saying, "Mom.  Do you see her about to run me into the bounce house?!"

Logan pretty much pushed around anything that he could find.

Olivia took it for a spin.

Cutie!  Olivia spent a lot of time in the bounce house and following her friend around the place.  But she enjoyed the ride on toys too.

At one point he was sitting on this, and before I knew it he was standing on the seat like a teenager trying to do bike tricks!  Crazy kid!

We stayed for about two hours. The kids had a great time, and then came home and they both fell asleep quickly.

Backyard Fun

Our backyard needs some work.  The people that lived here before us had a dog, and there are patches that are worn out.  Other places are discolored. It is growing uneven and had lots of weeds. But regardless, we are thrilled to have a place that is fenced in where the kids can play!  Fences are a pretty common thing around here, but not as much in Ohio.  It is so nice to open the back door and have a small patio.  Even just having a slab of cement is better than not (like at our house in Ohio).

Last week when it had finally dried out a little back there, we grabbed all of the outside toys we could find in the garage and headed out to play.

Logan LOVES balls!

Olivia just wanted to color a dress

We played out there one day while Logan was napping.  But I think we are going to have to have our time out there in the early morning or in the evenings.  Otherwise the sun is just too much for our fair skin.

Making a mess in the mud sand table.

Since we've never had an area like this, we don't have any patio furniture.  We'd like to eventually get some so we can enjoy meals outside.

The kids are enjoying it for sure!