1st day of Pre-K

Last week Olivia started Pre-K!  I can't believe that school is back in session and that she only has one more year before Kindergarten.  She was super excited to go back and I will say that I was a little excited too!  She has two great teachers and some of her friends from her preschool class are with her again this year.  Here are a few pictures from her first day.  (Notice the uniform!  I love uniforms.) *smile*

Here is a picture from her first day of preschool last year. I think she has gotten so much bigger in just one year.

These were that best pictures.  The first one is of Reese and Will on Olivia's first day of preschool last year, and the second is of them now.  Look at the difference from 10 1/2 months to 22 1/2 months!

What a great day for a hike

This past weekend, we went to the local park for a picnic and a hike. We had so much fun and the kids got pretty dirty!  We started the hike on a dirt path looking at sticks, flowers, and the creek.  The second half of the hike was on the street - a much easier walk.  Here are the kids towards the end of the hike resting on some rocks.

For almost the entire hike, Olivia (with Reese close behind) was our leader.  Will always brought up the rear because he would always stop to explore.  He is so curious about everything.

This is one of my favorite pictures.  Reese is obsessed with flowers and I thought it was cute to see Olivia showing Reese these flowers.

Speaking of items the kids are obsessed with, here is Olivia checking out the rocks.  She loves to look at and collect rocks. Every time we pass rocks, she wants to keep some or she wants to save them to give to people.

And finally, here is Will off by himself.  He  could spend hours just looking and exploring.

Here's to you Fay!

Dear Fay, 

First off, I want to say - I WON!  Sorry to be so blunt and hurt your feelings, but I made it through my vacation without your wrath sending me home.  You really were the unwelcomed guest wreaking havoc on my nerves.  It started last weekend as I was packing to go on my last minute, well deserved cruise (without kids).  The news reports had you headed straight towards the Bahamas - my destination.  You were going to hit just as I was to arrive.  The cruise line even called me at home (well, with an automated message) telling me to check their website for updates to see if they were even going to leave.  WHAT, they might not even leave? Oh, I was not happy with you.  Do you know how much I needed this vacation??  

On Monday your path was changed and you were headed over the Keys - I thought I was in the clear.  Oh, how wrong I was.  For some reason you had it out for me.  Miami was having horrible winds and rain and I began to worry about my flight.   The cruise line said that they might be leaving early so everyone needed to be on the boat as early as they could. OK, a little wind and rain can't be too bad, right?? I thought by getting in at 12:30, I would have plenty of time. As I am sitting in Atlanta for my layover, I hear that my flight has been delayed just as I am checking online with the cruise and see that everyone needs to be on the boat by 2:00 because they are leaving at 3:00 (2 hours early).  Panic is really setting in.  There was no way I was going to let you, Fay, ruin my trip.  All my positive thoughts were going every which way trying to knock your fury down. You almost had my somewhat calm husband ready to go back home.  There was no way I was going to back down.  

The plane ride was pretty bumpy.  All I could do was close my eyes, listen to my ipod, and wait. We landed around 1:15 (45 min. late) which gave us only 45 min. to get our luggage and cab and get to the port.  Your wind was really strong but I told the cab driver to go as fast as he could.

You know what Fay - we made it on the boat, champagne in hand, by 1:57.  3 minutes to spare. For some reason though, you weren't done with me.  We did leave the port early but you followed us and rocked us like there was no tomorrow.  To tell you the truth, I liked it.  I slept really well, except when things would fly off the desk in our room in the middle of the night!  I am glad that you decided to give up on Tuesday.  Your torrential downpours and blow me off my feet winds didn't keep us on the boat.  Nope, we were with the crazy crowd.  We bought the ridiculously priced ponchos and we headed out to explore.  I'm glad to see that shortly after we left the boat, you gave up.  You even moved away enough for the sun to come out.  

That was a good fight you put on.  Sorry for you though, I WON.  I am sorry that I didn't bring my camera to take pictures of you at your best.  You really had some great photo moments.  Oh well, my memory of you will last forever.

Your not so best friend,

Relaxed and Rejuvenated

Baseball Anyone?

After 2 days and 10 tries later, my pictures are finally loaded!! I guess blogger didn't care for my post today (yesterday)!  Anyways, Will is becoming quite the little baseball player.  For quite a while now, he has put the baseball up on the tee and tried with all his might to hit it.  I would say 90% of the time, Reese runs up and either hits the ball or takes it away from him, 5% of the time he misses, 3% of the time the ball just falls off, and 2% of the time he makes contact. This week though, he seemed to "get" it.  It's like a little light bulb went off in his head and he is hitting the ball.  AND, he is getting better at not allowing Reese to take the ball from him!!  I love how he just knows to use two hands on the bat!  I think his dad's baseball genes are starting to shine through. :)

Look Mommy, I'm going to hit the ball!

Check out my concentration!

My stance is good....

And it's outta here!!!!

Here ducky ducky

Yesterday I decided to pack the kids up in the wagon and go feed the ducks. This was a new experience for Reese and Will and they seemed to really enjoy it.  Any excuse to ride in the wagon is a hit in their eyes. When we arrived at the neighborhood pond, we spotted the ducks hanging out minding their own business.  I was a little worried that we wouldn't get to see them up close, but as soon as we got the bread out, they decided to swim our way.  I really think that they have special smelling powers to know when bread is being thrown! Olivia taught Reese and Will how to tear and throw the bread on the ground. Will did a great job throwing, but Reese decided that she wanted to eat the bread herself.  She does love food!!  We had a great time and it seems as though we can't get through our next loaf of bread fast enough. :)

Here we are heading to the pond.

Reese is calling for the ducks to "come on"!

Hmmmm, do I throw it or eat it??

Finally, the ducks swim over to have an early afternoon snack.

Oh yeah, how could I forget

As I am sitting at my computer trying to figure out how to add cool items to my blog, I hear Reese awake from her nap (1 hour and 15 minutes early)!  She is "talking" (yelling) in her bed -  some of the things I can understand, some I can't make out.  The most prevalent of the phrases that I hear is...

   Seet Dow    (sit down)

That would be another one of her favorite things to tell herself and Will when they are standing on the couch. She even has the same voice fluctuations that I have when I say that to her and Will. Oh well - let the talking begin!  (BTW, she will not be getting out of bed any time soon!!)

Oh are we talking now!

Maybe I should say, we are screaming now!  Reese at 22 months, is finally starting to put words together to make sentences.  I was really excited - thinking for the longest time that she would never talk.  But now, after her voice level is off the scales, I'm not real sure! Her favorite sentence is...

I WANNA (fill in the blank)!

   ook           (book)

   menah      (banana)

   bite           yes - she has that word down

   etzuhl       (pretzel)

   ishey         (fishy - goldfish)

The list goes on.  

Her second favorite thing to say is...

NO, NO, NO (fill in the blank)!  

   'ill               (Will)

   ti tat           (kitty cat - she won't say Kula!)

   luh ya ya    (Olivia)  

And finally, her third favorite thing to say (yell) is...

     OOK!        (Look)

She is constantly pointing out things for us to look at. Most of the time she just yells 'ook, but if we don't acknowledge her, she'll add a very forceful mommy or daddy to the beginning or end of look!

This weekend Will was in the trash looking for treasure when I heard Olivia telling him to get out of the trash. Reese, who is in the playroom on the other side of the house, must have heard Olivia too.  The next thing I know, Reese is running as fast as she can to the kitchen yelling "NO, NO, NO 'ill" waving her finger at Will.  She is definitely the dominant twin.  Maybe that is why she feels that screaming is a proper form of talking. Who knows!

Reese's famous finger pointing "NO"!

Got to love a slip n' slide!

I wanted to share some pictures from our weekend.  It was really hot on Sunday, so we decided to put out the slip n' slide and the baby pool for the kids to play in. Olivia had so much fun in the slip n' slide.  This was the first time that she really "got" how to run and slide.  She did it over and over and over and over!!  

Reese started to become interested in the slip n' slide, but only as a means to fill up her bucket. 

 

After trying to fill up her bucket with the water from the slip n' slide (which was taking way to long), Reese went back into the pool.  Notice the amount of objects that she is holding on to.  No way is she going to jeopardize someone stealing her toys.

And here is Will, lovely Will, who takes forever to warm up to activities.  He first started out by sitting in the grass watching Olivia and Reese playing in the water.

Then, he played next to the pool making sure not to get wet.

Next, he decided to drink the water to make sure it was safe to play in. (Yuck!!)

Finally, after what seemed like forever, he entered the pool and had a good time!