Bike Ride

 We went out for a bike-ride together over the weekend.  We had a few kinks and had to pump up all 8 tires but we got out there.  Red Fish did a great job keeping up on her little bike until she crashed into some thorns.  Then she rode in the trailer with New Fish and Two had to haul both girls and a very heavy little bike.  He is a good sport.

Saturday Morning

Red Fish

New Fish

 The girls have been playing in the backyard all morning and painting with inks. 

New Fish is going through a huge princess phase.  Dancing like a princess is a daily activity.  When she can't find someone willing to be the prince and hold her hands, the dog prince is usually available.  He doesn't twirl but he will hold hands and paws and humor her while she jumps and sings.

Little Monsters

Today did not go as planned.  There were multiple trips to the doctor's office and hours spent trying to collect a clean urine sample from a two year old.  In between the craziness, the girls and a friend made some very toothy monsters out of modeling clay, googly eyes and random craft bits. 

 

Since Red Fish is so obsessed with games, I've been lining up little games that I plan to use as part of New Fish's Montessori inspired preschool next year.  Red Fish used her quiet time to explore them today.  I made matchable noise makers to explore hearing.  They have rice, beans, BBs, coins, rice etc. inside two eggs.  The girls LOVE them.  I might need to make more because it is getting too easy for them already. Red Fish also spent her time matching the stack of fabric swatches I made a few weeks ago.  I love hearing her describe them to herself.  Then I put post its with numbers between 1 and 20 in cupcake trays and she counted buttons into them.  It kept her busy for awhile today since she wasn't in the mood to play.

Creative Day

Apparently the lack of art projects around here has not gone unnoticed.  The girls woke up this morning with painting on the brain.  They were standing next to my bed armed with watercolor paper saying: "It's morning time!  It's time to paint!"  So we headed out to the backyard in our pajamas with an ice cub tray full of liquid watercolors, eye droppers and brushes.

Red Fish

New Fish

 During quiet time today, Red Fish got out some supplies and went crazy.  She made a "green spaghetti eating monster" puppet and a superhero mask.  It's so fun to watch her creating completely by herself.

We combined all of that artistic fun with a playdate at the park and we had a pretty great day.


Colorations Liquid Watercolor Paint 8 oz.

You Know You Are A Mom When...

You are complimented with: "Good job cleaning my bum Mommy.  You are such a helper.  You did a beautiful job."  Why thank you.  I can change diapers with the best of them.

You are on the phone and your two year old keeps showing you her little finger and making a sad face.  You assume it is an owie and kiss it only to realize you just kissed a booger.

You automatically hold out your hand to catch a child's (who doesn't belong to you) spit up so it doesn't hit the carpet.  You also don't mind having your arm soaked in drool.

You have marker, food and other gross things on your shirt all day and don't notice until it's time to change into your pajamas.

Motherhood is gross but someone has got to do it.

A Little Lacrosse With Uncle J

Sunday Afternoons

Examining a bug with her magnifying glass.

We love attending church first thing in the morning because it gives us the afternoon to enjoy the outdoors as a family.  We plan on hiking, biking, driving up the canyon and other adventures all Spring and Summer.  Red Fish is turning into a great little hiker.  She finds many lion and dinosaur tracks along the way.  She only needed to be carried briefly today (after a 1000 ft. elevation change) because an alligator ate her bones.  When they grew back, she was able to walk again.  New Fish fell asleep while being carried because she is still pretty worn out.

It's officially warm weather

Totally "zausted" after helping Daddy in the yard.

It's officially warm weather around these parts.  We've been doing yard work, driving in the mountains so Red Fish could "see the land in Spring", riding bikes, drawing with sidewalk chalk, barbecuing and running through the new sprinkler. The girls only came inside because Red Fish needed to make sure her "giant robot arm from helping Daddy" didn't get too wet.  The kids perpetually smell of sunscreen, sweat and dirt and they fall asleep the second their little heads hit their pillows at night.  I love it.

Catchup

My poor little New Fish has had a rough few weeks.  After 8 days of a raging fever, her doctor was able to detect a UTI, on top of everything else she has been going through and she has finally been on the mend.  It is taking a long time for her to get back to her normal self and she has been wearing out pretty quickly.

The girls filled their sticker charts for the first time and got to pick a prize.  Red Fish chose a lego set that she has assembled several times with a lot of help from her Daddy.  New Fish got a new play microphone.  Her favorite toy of all time is a microphone from a Wendy's kids meal that Red Fish got before New Fish was born.  New Fish spends hours singing her heart out and loves her voice amplified in any way.  It has been banned in the car because she really doesn't need amplification in the car.

I had to leave last Sunday on my yearly trek to NAB.  I was meeting with clients from around the world with my brother and our engineer.  It is always inspiring and a lot of work.  We took our clients local salt water taffy this year and it was a big hit.  None of them had ever seen such a thing before.  I did take a break for some delicious food and to ride the supposed thrill rides at the Stratosphere.  They were extremely disappointing.  Maybe you have to be drunk for them to be "thrilling."  I should have stuck to the New York New York rollercoaster.

We took the side off our New Fish's crib to make it into a toddler bed.  I was really nervous because she is a notoriously poor sleeper but she has actually done great with the adjustment.  I think that it was good we didn't switch her bed out entirely because it was a smooth transition.  I am also not ready to take down the crib entirely because I'm afraid we will never put it back up and I'm just not ready to be done with cribs (or babies.)  My kids are such amazing little miracles that it would be hard to be sad about having just the two beautiful little girls, but I'd still like another miracle.  (I might just be greedy that way.)  My nephew N, who I've now decided to call "Butterball" was in Vegas with me during my convention and it was difficult to not steal him because he is so adorable.  Good thing I've got cute nieces and nephews because I have some extra love stored up and I adore all of them from the teenagers on down.

There has been a dearth of art projects or photos around here but plenty of reading and pretend.  And most of my time has been spent holding New Fish and cuddling the girls.  I think life may begin to return to normal soon.

Rotten

New Fish has been having a rough time.  She just doesn't feel well and all of the doctors we have talked to can't make her feel better this week.  It's rotten.  My poor girl just isn't herself. All I want to do is fix it for her.  I think she has something in addition to teething and the tummy troubles she has been experiencing and it's very frustrating for both of us. I have tried to distract her from the frustration with no luck.  She asked me to take her home from the aquarium (where I mostly carried her and pushed her in a stroller) and the park this week and that is a reflection of how she feels.  Rotten.  Many hours have been spent holding her.   Fingers crossed she feels better soon.

Wack A Ball

We borrowed a tball stand from my Mom and the girls have invented a game they call "wack a ball."  It's adorable.  Notice my poor daughter needs a whole new wardrobe.  She has suddenly grown out of everything or worn it out and her wardrobe is seriously suffering.  Don't worry- I went to the store tonight.  Sale+coupon+double stamp Tuesday=new clothes for Red Fish.  We are now buying the biggest size available at Carters, my go to store.  Where do people shop for bigger kids?  The older girl stores scare me.

 

Finger Painting In The Backyard

 The weather around here is so crazy.  It snowed over the weekend and then today we were breaking out the sunscreen, finger painting in the backyard and cleaning up with the hose.

Typical

Easter Happenings

 Here are the girl's Easter dresses (courtesy of my Mom) for this year.  I will try and get a picture without the shadows tomorrow but no promises since we have church early.  New Fish calls these their "sleeping beauty dresses."

We went to my eight year old nephew Na's baptism today. I tried to catch a picture of him but he is too fast. It was a beautiful day and we are so proud of his decision to become a member of our church. It seemed especially appropriate on Easter weekend.  It seems so strange to me that Na is already eight.  He was the first baby born after I joined Two Fish's family, the first kid that I have gotten to see from the start.  I feel so lucky to be a part of the O family and so lucky to know all of my cool little nieces and nephews.  They are growing up into such special people and I'm glad my kids have them as examples.  They really look up to their cousins. 
 

Taken by my niece Ev

We had a family lunch after the baptism and a fun Easter egg hunt.  The kids went crazy running around outside. 

 The kids are in bed and the Easter bunny has done his work.  Their Easter baskets have fuzzy socks, magnifying glasses, crazy straws, bendy bunnies, and squirt guns in them.  They are also getting some sand toys to take to the lake this summer, a new ball and a movie.  I think they will be pretty pleased.

Our Old House

 So this is a random post but I want it in my blog book at some point and I never put these pictures anyplace.  I always forget to take pictures of the places we have lived.  This was our first house.  We had many good memories here and lived here for three years.  I took these pictures three and a half years ago when we were moving so they are a little sparse looking.  We still own this house (someday we will sell it) and rent it out.

Red Fish's Bathroom

Basement Bathroom

Red Fish's room

Basement bedroom

Family Room

Kitchen

Living Room

Master bedroom

Master bathroom

The only rooms not pictured are the laundry room and the third bedroom on the second floor.  I didn't take pictures of those apparently.  Probably because they were pretty empty.