A Visit to the Farm

A couple of weekends ago (and the weekend before that too), we took the girls out to a friend's farm to see and feed the baby lambs and calves.  When we arrived and opened the car doors to hear the baby lambs bleating, the look on the girls' faces was priceless.

The first time we went to the farm, while totally fired up all day and on the way out there, of course, the moment the lambs were brought over for feeding, both girls got a little hesitant.  I was still on crutches, so Brian was holding both girls and definitely got a workout as they climbed as high up on him as possible!  The next time we went out, the hesitation was a lot less and they got a lot more involved in the feeding.  Of course, I didn't bring my camera the second time around.

 This picture makes me laugh...

It definitely sums up Olivia's personality!

Besides bottle feeding the lambs, we feed the calves, checked out the very-pregnant sows, watched the horses in their pasture, took a ride across the pasture in the gator, and played in the hay in the barn.  The girls absolutely loved it; and while Olivia especially had many initial hesitations, it was fun to see her relax and broaden her horizons and get a little more actively involved.  Very typical behavior from my sweet, shy, little Liv to have to check everything out before diving in herself.  Grace was all around a bit braver than Livy; she wasn't a fan of the Gator either time, but otherwise was quite brave feeding the lambs and even petting them.

A little braver...Feeding the lambs with Jason.

 

Grace checking out the pigs.

Riding the gator...and despite the story this picture tells,

Olivia was a fan, Grace was neutral and turned down a second ride.

Touring the pasture.

What a fun experience for experience for the girls - and Brian and me too!  The girls still talk about the farm, and this morning during a little mini-show on Disney while they toured a farm, Grace was totally fired up - telling me that "She see that on farm."  Guess the experience sunk in!  Thanks Jen and Jason (and family) for a great couple of visits out to the farm.  Can we come again next year?  :)

Auntie Tara

Last Friday the girls were super excited to get to see their Auntie Tara for the first time since February - and really since Christmas since the February visit was a short one during Ivy's baptism.  Spirits were flying high as the girls raced around the backyard playing tag, duck-duck goose (also pictured being a good sport and playing his "favorite game" - Andrew Brown), and posing for pictures.  Olivia was super excited to show Tara a special card she had made for her, and Grace couldn't wait to show off in general!  It was great to spend time visiting over pizza and wine and listening to the happy chatter and screams of the girls.  I think these happy pictures speak clearly about how much the girls love spending time with their auntie!  Can't wait to see you again in a couple of weeks Auntie Tara!

Spring Preview

A couple of weeks ago, Auny Pole took spring pictures of the girls; she is just wonderful and the girls love her.  Because of these facts, the resulting pictures are perfect in my opinion with truly happy faces and smiles!  You'd think that as I sit here recovering from my surgery, I would have gotten around to ordering them to send to all of you, but unfortunately that hasn't happened yet.  So, instead, I thought I'd do a "Spring Preview" of some of my favorite pictures.  Enjoy...and don't worry, I'll order those pictures soon!  (Please let me know if you'd like to request any in particular.)

Randomness

1) For those of you who were wondering...Olivia and I did have a nice little cuddle the morning after our dramatic battle; she informed me that she got to watch Mickey because she "stayed in bed all night long!" Since then she's consistently gotten up once about 2 minutes after lying down and then never again - I'll call that success!

2) Grace is about 90% physically tougher than Olivia but is equally emotionally sensitive; when's she's had her feelings hurt she walks away from you, kneels down on the floor, and puts her face into her hands against the carpet - it either makes you chuckle or feel really bad; I'm guessing she's going for the latter.


3) The girls enjoyed some great bonding with Uncle Nate this weekend. We spent much time outside biking and walking around the block. It was pretty cute to see Nate carrying Grace around - and this speaks volumes because she is quite often a "mommy-only" girl - and holding hands with Olivia. REALLY wish I would have had the camera out!

4) Both the girls are suffering from some serious dry skin on their faces - Grace just because she has super-sensitive skin and Olivia because lately she's always got her hands in her mouth for one reason or another. Despite this fact, we managed to be all healthy looking for spring pictures this last week - can't wait to see the results!

5) The girls and their "third sister" Maggie are so darn cute. We had dinner at the Gavle's house last night and all four adults actually got to sit, eat dinner, and visit for over an hour while the kiddos played.

An Easter 2012 Run-Down

We had a great Easter weekend this year. To be honest, it was very nice not to travel; my parents were in the middle of a kitchen up-date, so we hung around and enjoyed the benefits of living down the street from Grandma and Grandpa's house. The Hoden family arrived Saturday morning, and the cousins were pretty much inseparable as they enjoyed two separate Easter hunts, two tasty meals, and lots of attention.

Here's a picture run-down.

Ready for Easter Egg Hunt #1

Miss Ivy

Grace and Max doing some serious bonding!

Tennis with Brian

Grace enjoying some alone time in the bath.

Easter baskets!

The girls not too interested in posing.

The best family pic we could get.

Brian and Max

Easter Egg Hunt #2

Check out Grace's left-handed forehand!
(Yes, she's right-handed - Brian is just determined to make her a lefty.)

Convincing Grace

I'll write more about Easter sometime soon, but as I was editing pictures, I came across this series that was too cute. We headed to church 30 minutes before mass started on Sunday since we didn't have a reserved pew like we do at Christmas time, and considering that and a longer than normal service, the kids deserved solid A's - for, as my sister-in-law said, no one had to leave and no one needed a snack! After church though, Grace had had enough - all the poor girl wanted was to have some lunch at Grandma's table! Regardless, we tried to convince her to participate in some picture-taking; I'd say we were moderately successful.

Cute kiddos - but where's Grace?

Maybe we can bribe her with a treat - we'll put Max in charge.

Grace, considering....

And considering some more....

Fine. But, I'm not looking at you.

Enough.

See, I am pretty cute, aren't I.

A Short One-Act Play (Characters = 2)

As many of you know, last spring/early summer we struggled with Liv getting out of bed numerous (17 max) at bedtime. Once asleep all would be well; it was just the getting to sleep part that was so difficult. After talking to numerous people and getting over my "mean-mom" dilemma, we decided to "lock" her in her room (aka - using the video monitor to watch her jump out of bed while I raced frantically up the stairs in time to hold her door closed). This method took 3 days to work where we encountered a sad sort of knocking on the door as she requested sweetly to come out, followed by some crying, and finally by actual request to "lock the door tonight please, Mommy." Amazing.

Well, since it's been almost exactly a year, our slightly bigger, and much more intelligently smart Livy has decided to test the waters once again. After complaining to each other for the past week about how annoying it is that's Liv's getting up again, Brian and I decided to revisit our old methods.

And, by the way, I am typing this as I'm holding my post outside her bedroom door right now - the joys of laptops and video monitors.

Here's a record of tonight's episode (and I seriously hope there will be no re-runs).

(Setting: Liv's bedroom after reading 4 books, singing 2 songs, going potty, taking a drink of water, and checking for monsters in the closet.)

Me: Night-night Liv. Remember, if you get up tonight, Mommy's going to have to lock the door.

Liv: (Quiet in bed for 2 minutes - just enough for Mommy to run downstairs, grab her book and computer and the monitor. Getting up and running to the door) Mommy, I can't sleep.

Me: (Taking Liv back to bed) Okay, Liv, now Mommy is going to have to lock the door. (Leans down for one last kiss.)

Liv: (Grasping Mommy's neck as tightly as possible while lying down, then holding on as Mommy tries to stand up completely - beginning to whimper when Mommy disentangles her arms) Noooooo, Mommy, I love you....I REALLY love you!

Me: (Trying really hard not to laugh) Livy, I love you too, but it's time to go to sleep now.

Liv: (After being in bed for 1 minute, running to door while Mommy stands on the other side, holding the doorknob tightly in her hands) Mommy, I can't get out. My door is locked.

Me: (Mommy, staying strong, does not reply.)

Liv: (Going to her reading light and turning it on) Mommy, my light is on. Mommy, it's really bright in here. (Shuts light off and climbs back into bed when no response is given.)

(Intense crying, whimpering, ahhhh-ahh-ahhh-ing, and all other types of 3 1/2 year-old- I'm-trying-to-test-who's-in-charge noises heard from the room).

Liv: (Amidst all the noises and the occasional yawn that's covered up by more noises) Mommy, I really have to go potty....Mommy, I just bit my cheek....Mommy, I really miss Daddy; I really need him....Mommy, I am so thirsty....Mommy, there's monsters in my closet....Daddy, I miss you soooo much....Mommy, you're not being nice to me....Mommy, but I love you.

(Mommy vacillates between laughing, making frowny faces, almost crying in a "I-know-this-is-for-the-best" sort of way, and eventually sits down on the floor with her computer and opens it up to start typing a blog entry. All is quiet for 10 minutes as Mommy types. Thankfully, she doesn't go downstairs, because a now stealthier Liv gets quietly out of bed and races to the door. Mommy gets her hand on the doorknob in the nick of time.)

Liv: (Running back to bed with a longish sort of wail) Mommy, I love you....Mommy, I love you....Mommy, I really love you. (All crying stops 15 long seconds later...all quiet on the Olivia front.)

(End Scene)

Total Length = 10 - whoops, scratch that - 15 minutes. Stay turned for future minute updates.

Awwww, but isn't she so cute - gotta love that dimple.