Summertime...and the living' is easy

I am so delighted that it is summertime! Oliver is so fun. I love that he gets more fun every year as he gets bigger. It makes the nostalgiaof losing his babyhood a little sweeter. I decided that this summer, we are going to make the most of it. Perhaps especially because I know that as I go back to school my time with them will be less and I want to make happy memories for them to hold onto. I'm not dying or anything, but our lives are about to change forever in a very busy way. I still feel that this is exactly where the Lord wants me and so I have faith that it will be for the best for everyone in our family. It will not come easily, I'm sure, but the best things in life come with a great deal of effort.

Starting summer off right with a trip for ice cream.

Cutest baby ever? Why yes, I am!

He was very excited about his super hero hair. We read a book about super hero school and the main character's name was Leonard and he had cartoon hair that stuck out in the front, so naturally, this is what Ollie HAD TO HAVE.

HAHA! Best. Picture. Ever. 

Today we went to the Children's Art Festival at the Springville Art Museum. It was so fun! I was really excited, and intoxicated with the smells of summer and memories of the Children's Festival in Jacksonville from when I was younger. Nora hasn't been sleeping much, so I was a little bummed that getting her out of her car seat to get into the double stroller woke her up. In other news, we are now the proud owners of a double stroller! I was so excited about that. 

It was crazy crowded when we got there. We parked at the school next to the museum and headed over and the first thing Ollie saw that he wanted to do had the longest line. I persuaded him to do some print making and bubble art and stamp a flag with potato stamps and paint instead of make the kite. We never did get back over there. One of the stands was handing out sunglasses that you  could decorate with permanent marker, so we grabbed some glasses and a marker and colored on those in the shade while I nursed Nora. After that we got water in the little cone cups, which was of course quite delightful to both kids, and headed over to the face painting station. Sadly, we tend to pick face painters that aren't very good, but that's ok! Ollie got an ice cream cone on his cheek and loved it. I was a littler surprised that he never scratched at it. We went back to the car to grab our lunch and ate it under a big shady tree. Finally, we stood in line for more than 45 minutes for a balloon. Whoa. Props to mama for being patient. Ollie wanted a pink and green flower, and then we took off. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, the stem popped. Awesome...

After dinner Michael and I took the kids swimming. We had a blast, and Ollie was brave. He really desperately wants to be independent in the pool, and he's crossing the width of the pool (9ft) almost entirely on his own. The side of the pool is pretty high, so he needs a little boost before he can reach the side and be safe. He kept saying, "Again, Mom, again! Go back more! Catch me!" It was really quite fun. We were having a grand time, but it was nearly 8pm, so Michael took Nora in to get ready for bed and Ollie and I stayed in a little longer. We've got to work on getting him to blow bubbles out when he swims so he can get a breath. He's doing great. I can't wait to see the progress he makes this summer. 

Food Police

So, this post title might be a bit misleading. But I have an idea here, a big idea. Possibly even a great idea. I hope you'll hear me out.

Today I had some ugly parenting moments. Not the whole day, just once after the eight different times (literally) I went back in Ollie's room to tell him to get his bum in bed, lay down, and close his eyes. No, do not get up and read books. No, you may not play with toys (where did he even have them stashed?? I've cleaned out his room too many times lately). No, get back in bed. Where did you find ANOTHER book?! (I took all of the books out of his room the other day because we were having the exact same issues. So all of the books were taken out of the bookcase, which I do not recommend because it makes a huge mess, and he was supposed to be earning them back. Clearly we need to work on the follow-through). GET BACK IN BED.

So it's finally quiet for a bit and I think, "Ok, maybe he's finally calmed down and gone to sleep." Ha. I'm in the shower and start hearing loud thumps. Like a rocking chair hitting a wall really, really hard. I think to myself, "Self, this could make you angry. Or you could keep your cool, think of a really good consequence while you finish your shower, and then deal with it. You deserve a shower." I finish my shower and hear yet another sickening thud. So I go in. Have to change a poopy diaper and take away a bag he found in his closet. I explain that it really is important he takes a nap so he can have a happy afternoon, give a hug and kiss, and threaten to take stuffed animals if he gets out of bed. Again. Not two minutes later, I hear the tell-tale signs of a toddler running around. That's it. Not cool. But the baby's sleeping. So I open the door, hiss "Get back in bed. Close your eyes. GO TO SLEEP." Finally finding more than a robe to wear, lo and behold, the demon toddler has taken over my sweet boy and possessed him to go sit on a stool instead of lay in bed. And I'm admitting it, I totally lost my temper. And it scared him and made him cry. And I felt like the worst, most evil and awful person ever who should not be allowed the sacred title of mother. Ugh! I hate those moments.

After a flurry of furious texts to my eternally patient husband, I go out to the kitchen. I had glorious plans of accomplishing something today. What was it...ooh, look, a cookie! As I ate that cookie it then dawned on me.
Lunch.
I didn't eat it.
I fed the toddler. I cut up veggies. I fed the baby. I put her to sleep. What about me? Well, I did get a shower. But I didn't eat.

I should not be allowed to parent on an empty stomach. No one should. It should be against the law.

So, I think we need the food police. These lovely law enforcers follow young mothers around and feed them. Instead of giving tickets, they intervene right before a moment of hangry parenting and force that young mother to EAT something before time resumes and she must return to battle.

Wouldn't that be AWESOME? Any volunteers? I'll let you practice on me. I won't be too picky about what you feed me, if you will just feed me.

For example, you could start with this amazing Quinoa, Black Bean, and Citrus salad I made the other day. It was very tasty. 

I just have to state for the record that prior to nap time, we have had quite a lovely day. I went on a nice and chilly walk with some neighbors while Ollie played with friends next door. We came home and O played outside on the crunchy snow pushing around his cozy coupe and bikes and generally being a boy. He played with play-dough while I did dishes and cleaned up. Eleanor smiled and cooed and sat with us happily. And I even managed to make him a pretty healthy lunch which was served before he got too hungry to be reasonable. So I've got some areas to improve for sure, but it's not all bad. 

Cutest Kid Competition

This is the post in which I inundate you with cute kid pictures and brag a little bit about how much I love my kids. Because they are awesome, and have been vying for my attention lately by being their utmost adorable.

Raisins on bell peppers...yum...

 Found my feet, Mom!

 Ollie got a much needed haircut from the amazing and talented Amy. Nice mugshot, kid.

Saturday mornings with Dad are the best.

Then, Ollie got to try out a four wheeler with our super cool neighbors down the street. So fun!

"Mom, it's my hand mixer. I'm making frosting."

This kid loves his oversized shirt, cape, and mask. He calls himself Super Ollie and says duhn-duh-duh! And he saves us, of course, since that is what super heroes do.

Let's ignore all of the swatches of paint we've tried and focus on how cute her smile is when she sees herself in the mirror.

This tutu was killing me! SO CUTE! 

Who, me?

Sweet girl wearing her hat for a walk. The hat lasted less than five minutes. She is not a fan of hats. But if you look that cute in a hat, your mommy's going to force them on you anyway!

How they snuggled up together on the couch so I could read them books.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

They are all I can think about.

I promised myself I would eat no refined sugar today. Just for the day. One day! And I'm telling you, folks, I can feel it. The withdrawal, that is. The sadness that is life without sugar in it. I can't wait for tomorrow. Because here's what I texted my friend and neighbor, the amazing Katie:
I can think of nothing but chocolate chip cookies. And how wonderful they are. And warm. Chewy. Happy making. Melty chocolate and chewy oatmeal. And they’re so good for you...mentally. Let’s make cookies tomorrow. I mean, I need them tonight, but since I can’t seem to peel myself off this couch, tomorrow will have to do.

Yep, seriously. So we're going to make cookies because that's what awesome neighbors help you do. And no, I will never resolve to not eat sugar as a New Year's Resolution. I'd rather die.

But I did prep some veggies for quick and delicious snacking today, and made a really delightful salad for lunch super quickly. It was nice to have things prepped.



In other news, Ollie pooped on the potty today and was so proud of himself. We've been having some problems with tummy troubles lately, poor kid, so I was pretty proud of him, too. Because of his awesomeness, I took him tonight to Walmart to pick out and buy his very own blue (or orange) Matchbox car. For the record, he went with a blue car, though there was much debate.

We also had a lovely time hanging out with some old friends at the indoor playground today. 
This is the only picture I managed to catch of him running around today at the playground.

 I love when my kids play happily together. Nora adores her big brother, and he is so sweet and (occasionally) loves talking to her and playing with her.

And how cute is she when she sleeps?