May and June...

We've had an eventful last month for sure.  Here's some of the fun adventures we've had :O) (not in any order!!!

First Grandpa came for a visit and we LOVED having him here!!!!  He only got to stay one night but that didn't stop Emmett and Grandpa from having fun!  They played the morning away until Grandpa had to go to his meetings!!!

Wrestling with Grandpa

Reading Books

Hanging out in the Fort!!

Popeye and I had our 5th Wedding Anniversary this year. It seems so strange how fast the time has gone!  I didn't know that it was the 'Wood' anniversary.  (who knew they labeled these things???)  It just so happened that I splurged (and I mean splurged for me b/c I bought these ready made!!)  and got him a bean bag game set for our anniversary..... made of wood!!!  I figured he would really like having these for when people came over to play and just a great outdoor game to have around!!  Of course they had to be Purdue (although I did give him the sneakily asked question to give him the Caterpillar option).  I think he made the right choice :)

That was a busy weekend for us because Popeye finally had a full weekend off.  To start the day off right Emmett and Popeye had a morning cup of coffee.  To show that it wasn't all Popeye's idea, I have added a video.

Audrey in her little dress

Popeye had Memorial Day off!!! YEAH!  So we got plenty of Daddy time.  We went to a parade that only lasted about ten minutes but it was perfect. There were fire trucks for Em, they threw like five pieces of candy, and then we got to get out of the heat!!!  Perfect for a two year old!  Mark, Laura, and Zoie came over for an easy pizza supper and then some bean bags and pool outside.
Popeye also built me a gate for the deck!!! It was top priority!  Em's response was GREAT!  I have never grinned so big at my son's displeasure yet.  Almost to the point of giddy laughing really.  Em saw that gate go up and he said, "NOOOOOOO!  No, no, no, no...."  He tried the rest of the afternoon to get that lock off but, Daddy and Mommy have 'won' this round for now :O)

At the Parade

Time with Daddy

Oh, the gate!!

Swimming with Zoie!

A few more grand adventures as follows.....

Em gets a haircut

Yummy!  Chocolate Chip Pancakes for Breakfast

When Daddy and Mommy aren't looking, Em knows where Daddy keeps the good stuff (sunglasses, wallet, and candy).

Helping Mommy dig out Weedy Shrubs from around the deck.

Enjoying said deck that's still in progress....

Both of the kids are getting soooo big!!!  We attempted potty training with Em and decided we needed to wait a bit longer.  Aud is starting to sit up more on her own and eating baby food.

In her high chair!

She sat up sooo good until Em would go flying by and she'd be craning to see what was going on and fall over. :)

Yummy! Pears!  She's a really big eater for being so 'little'.

We were ready for potty training!!!

When it didn't work out yet Em found alternate uses.

Em loves to hold Aud lately. So glad he waited for this faze until she was bigger!!

Chewing on EVERYTHING!!!

Trying out the Bumbo for the first time.

Excersizer at Grandma Bahlers.

Mommy and Em baking up a storm!!

Em tests out being a vet.  The kitten was safer inside his 'cage' (grandma's birdhouse).

And finally, we bought a walker just today at a garage sale.  Aud is LOVING standing up in it but Yikes!!!  I can't tell if Em pushing her around is fun or scaring the socks off of her!!

In her walker

Someone help that girl!!

God's Blessings!

~Olive

Wonderful Day

Just wanted to say that today has been a super great day!!! Super great!! 


Things I'm thankful for:

• Kiddos let me sleep in until 6:30 am!!!!! Whohoooooooo!!!!

• I had an allergic reaction to some medicine I was taking this past weekend and went to bed last night with tons of hives on my legs and arms.  Woke up this morning.... 97% gone!  Another big Whohoooooo!!!!

• Audrey slept for 4 hours this morning in her swing :O)

• I finished the dress I was making for Audrey for church.  Now the fun part... the hair and shoe accessories. (I'll post later the entire ensemble!!)

• Went to Target.  I love Target.  We only needed bigger swaddlers for Audrey but that was still a fun trip :)

• Kids are both asleep right now  :O)  Mommy free time.  This doesn't always happened (at least when I'm not stuck on the couch/chair with one of them asleep on me) so this is GREAT!!!

So, my day may not be over BUT, at 3:30 we're completely downhill from here until Popeye gets home.  I''m guessing some outside play with Emmett b/c its nice out.  I'll spray paint some decorating projects I have lined up to beautify them while he drags every toy in the garage out.  Make some supper.  Make some hair accessories tonight.  Maybe cut out some fabric for another super cute dress I have planned for Audrey.  Really, I'm very excited about this one..... dress: cream top, light green bottom with cream polka dots, light pink sash to tie in the back.  ohhhhhhh, I can't wait. 

Can you feel the enthusiasm and happiness bubbling over in this post :O) 

Thank you Lord for such a great day.  :O) 

~Olive

Catching Up Since Easter

Here's the past month and a half in picture format.  We've had lots of fun and had lots of changes.  Our baby girl is getting so big and Em is definitely changing too.  He's understanding us more and communicating better as the months pass... which is great for us.  We now know for sure when he chooses to obey and disobey as a curious and determined two-year-old.  He can also express more what he wants, although he was always good at getting us to understand.  Our favorite phrases right now are 'right' and 'awww, maaannnn.'  

He's super sweet.  He loves to cuddle up on the couch with the pillow and blanket with his mommy or daddy and watch Curious George.  He gives kisses when asked.  He loves to be involved in everything.... he knows no stranger in our neighborhood, which could be a bad thing if he ever got out alone.  He loves to help bake.... especially brownies..... especially the eggs. My little man!!!

Popeye is working some crazy hours recently as the strike is happening at work.  It makes some long days for us but we love having playdates with the Zoester and others from church to help pass our days quicker.  If we don't have a playdate or errands to run, we find ourselves on the deck with the water table.... always a favorite.  The days are wayyyyyy too nice for staying inside all day!

Easter was nice and relaxing.  Because Popeye has been working crazy lately we decided to stay home and not travel anywhere.  Wonderful!!!  We colored eggs with Emmett, who absolutely LOVED it.  He didn't want to add the Cars stickers to them or anything, but loved mixing the colors.  We went to church.  Had a 'fancy' dinner that included crab legs for the fun of it, jumbalya soup, bbq bacon covered water chestnuts.... yummy.  Emmett got to look for eggs that made a message (though he can't read yet, I felt like it should have a spiritual side to the search :)  Emmett was willing to share his candy, such a nice boy :)  Overall, it was nice to spend some family time at home together.  We missed seeing both sides of the family but I'm coming to find out (especially with two now) sometimes you just have to say 'enough is enough' and take time for the important stuff.

We got to visit my fam as my 'cousin's' bridal shower was in May.  It was fun hanging out with everyone on the farm again.  Em loved being outside with the cats and the 'uh-oh' (dog).  We could hardly keep him inside.  When he was inside, he usually brought an animal in with him.  My poor mother who would love to have the clean house with all those animals.  Favorite story from the trip: I go upstairs because I hear shreiking and think its Aud.  Come to find Emmett playing steam roller with the kitten.  I take the cat away and thankfully no one stepped on the poo that couldn't stay in the poor terrified kitten during that eventful game.  All was good... the kitten was fine, though now hides from Em when he comes a'lookin'.

We've been attempting garage sales this spring and able to do some subdivision sales successfully.  Unfortunately, we just can't go as long.  I can usually get about 1 hr to 1 1/2 out of the kiddos until enough is enough (Aud. being the biggest complainer if her nap is over).  It's hard for me to call it quits when there's still more to go but that is life this year.  Next year will be better to be sure.  Aud's growing so fast though that I can't keep up with her clothes.  What I thought would fit coming fall she's heading toward now already so we're going to have to rethink our seasons a bit.  I guess its a good thing that I haven't gotten tooooo much.  So hard to gauge when they're that little/big :)  But when I usually only pay $.50 a piece for them, I'm not too worried about the change.  A little sad for some of the cute stuff that she won't get to wear but, that's fine.  Still waiting for that sale that's got the amazingly cute, incredibly take care of items that I just want to buy them out and even willing to pay $1 per item for.   They're out there.  I've seen them.  Help my pocket book when they do because girls' items are just soooo cute.

That's it for now. lol.... sorry for the long discourse.

~Olive

Outside restaurant with the bear!

Audrey and Daddy.... Lovin being held

Emmett on his Toy Eating Breakfast

Rick and Audrey.  She was all smiles for him.

Fire Captain on Patrol

Cozy seat for watching Curious George.

Wearing 'SheShaw's' Cowboy Boots.

Playing with his Water Table.  At two, water is the best thing ever!!!!!

Audrey asleep in carseat.

Dying eggs..... we didn't make enough!!

Finding the 'Message Eggs'. (and the candy!!)

Grunster: 3 Months

Audrey is turning 3 months this week.  I don't know where the time went!!!!  Definitely too fast.  I'm going to have to take photos but until then, here's the phone picture I snapped yesterday.

New accomplishments:
Awake more during the day.
Trying her hardest to roll over... she's halfway there!... Wait update on that!!! She can roll over.  Sniff.           She's getting wayyy too big!
Loves to sit and just watch Emmett and his nuttiness.
Laughs sometimes
Sleeps through the night most of the time.
Holds on to stuff kind of (she really wants to grab it but at this point we still have to give it to her and it ends up in her mouth usually).

Family Portraits

So............. I had a coupon to a big dept. store photo studio and I wanted a family photo for our wall. I took the kiddos in the other day to try to get sibling shots and because they didn't have time to take more than a few before setting up another appt. , I went home and took my own of the kiddos (what I probably should have just done in the first place).

I kind of went more out of curiosity. I never took Emmett but did his myself here at home and that always worked out great for us.... plus they were cheap to do *free!*. But with two and one of them being a baby I decided to check it out and have them done.

Ugh. Let's just say we probably won't be doing that one again. They were expensive. Getting the kiddos to corporate in a new stimulating environment was more of a challenge than anything else, the backdrops were fakey because they were indoors, and they were EXPENSIVE. But that is my fault because I was too chicken to say 'I just want the free photo from the coupon, please'. So I digress.

Nothing Fancy but here's my photo of the kiddos after we left that day....

However, let's look at the positives from the trip :O)

*The kiddos did great considering the appt. STARTED at 7pm. Their bedtimes are 730. We didn't leave until almost nine.

*We got a family portrait with EVERYONE!!!!! looking that I can put on the wall.

*We matched :O) and it wasn't stressful finding something in our closets that went together.

*We do have a free photo CD with rights so I can share the photos with you and make prints for our family members who desire one :O)

Here's the best from our Photo Trip......

Em and Aud

Emmett

Audrey

Emmett

Em and Aud

Daddy with the Kiddos
(I love Aud's face in this!!)

Mommy with the kiddos




Whole Family Shots

~Olive

My Big Brother Shares

Audrey Here. I just want to say how great my big brother is! He's always trying to share his things with me. He lets me hold the balloons he got for his birthday and tries to help me hold his dinosaurs..... and he really loves his dinosaurs.

Just the other day, he sat down to eat his supper and since he was eating he wanted to make sure I got some too. He put a piece of pizza on my swing tray so when I woke up from my nap I'd have a yummy piece of pizza to eat!!!!

What a wonderful brother I have!

p.s. don't mind the bad picture of me. I was half asleep and didn't have time to put my 'face' on. :)

Summer Haircut Time

BEFORE.....

AFTER.....

I'm not going to lie. I'm a wayyyy bigger fan of the before, however. With it being as hot as its been last week and the upcoming summer I can't have my little man sweating it up and overheating it out there.... especially if we're going to get a 'pool'. So, for the summer any way, he's got this new-do. I can't guarantee the old-do won't be back :)

~Olive

Update.....

We have had a crazy month, as many of you know. Crazy and good all wrapped up in one.

We didn't have desktop internet for awhile as we moved everything over from our apt. to our new house and just trying to figure out where everything should go, etc. So this is a little longer in coming then I would have liked.

The house is great though. We had amazing help getting the whole two stories painted before we moved in and then amazing help moving everything over!!!! I was floored how quickly it all went.

Just this week we are emptying some of the last boxes that we have downstairs. My progress upstairs is less than stellar upstairs because I can't entrust the two of them downstairs together for any period of time. However, the living areas are slowly and surely coming together nicely. I'm excited to have the furniture arranged how we want it soon and be able to 'decorate' a little bit.


And of course we had a baby!!! Most already know this but I thought this would be a good opportunity to post some photos.

Audrey Grace was born Saturday 18th at 3:16 pm. She was 10 lbs and 3 ozs, 21 inches long. The nurses and staff could not believe how big she was.


I'm just thankful she's here. When I went past my due date again, I have to admit there was trepidation about what was going to be 'protocal' since we were having her in a hospital this time. I have to say though that my OB office and the hospital, really, were great. The OB's was very understanding of what I wanted (no drugs, no inductions, etc) and worked with me to get that. They wouldn't have, of course, put the baby at risk but if I was showing progress, they weren't going to mess with that. I'm so thankful.

Really, when it comes down to it, the good Lord helped us through it all because He gave us the right OB/Hospital that we were able to deliver her naturally. He kept things moving so that we didn't have to be 'induced'. And in the end gave us a BEAUTIFUL baby girl!!!!!!


....who is a dream. Its hard to imagine that she will be a month tomorrow!!! Here's her accomplishments so far:
~Coos a lot
~Watches things, Very alert
~Smiles at you when you talk to her
~Quickly outgrowing her 3 month clothes
~98%: 12lb, 3 oz and 22.5 inches long


She loves her swing and sleeps in it most of the day.... saving grace right there!!! If Emmett will let her alone in it we'd hardly know she was there.



Emmett LOVES his new little sister. He doesn't seem to be jealous at all but rather REALLY protective. His cousin Zoie got to hold her last week and he was NOT happy about it. Audrey was HIS baby! He's constantly trying to 'share' with her and gets really mad at me if he's laying with her on the couch and I pick her up. He doesn't like his 'baby' time cut short for any reason.


Emmett's birthday was last week. We didn't do much special but he got balloons and a monkey cake with candles. He's had presents to open on and off for awhile (we've dubbed him official baby gift opener). He still hasn't opened our gift to him because we've let some of the other presents wear off first.



The weather has been great and I'm itching to go garage saleing something fierce. I know its going to be majorly cut back due to 2 babies but I'm still super excited for garage sale season to begin.

Popeye is working hard and getting some job changes here shortly. I don't know if that means we'll see him less or the same but its a good opportunity for him.

Until next time
~Olive

Busy, Busy

We are super busy. Not a bad thing since we're 'patiently' waiting.

We closed on our house last week and have been (with LOTS of help!!) working steady to get it move-in ready. Popeye and his brother wired lights in the bedrooms upstairs since that's [ceiling lights] not something that's very common here. Most people use lamps for some reason.

My family, Popeye's Grandma and his aunt came and helped paint. We have almost the whole house done minus touch-ups!!! Popeye put in a new garbage disposal and waste basket in the cabinet, as well as put up our mailbox.

Amazing!!! I really didn't think we'd be able to accomplish all that.

We still have paint touch-ups, curtains to hang, and cleaning to do, and packing to finish BUT, I'm feeling good about what has happened already!

The move day is just a few days away. :O)

In the midst of all this we're patiently waiting for our little girl to arrive. She's due this week and we're excited to finally meet her. I tell people who ask, I'm very thankful we're on God's time table and not our own. I wouldn't be able to decide when would be best for her to make her appearance. God will decide when she shows up and whether or not that seems very convenient or not it will be the right time! (Don't get me wrong, we're still sorta praying she doesn't come the night before the move :)

Emmett is a little confused about the whole deal I think. His room is full of boxes and we're constantly going back and forth between the apt and the house. People keep coming so he's had lots of company (which he loves) but its unusual. He is loving the new house though. He has some toys there and he is a busy boy when we're there, running around and looking out all the windows. We're praying for a smooth transition after the move (and baby)!

I'll have to post pictures later. We have the camera packed up for the delivery so I keep forgetting to take it. I'll have to get photos from my family to post.

Thanks for the many prayers everyone has provided and hopefully we'll have more good news soon!!!!

~Olive

Unofficially, Officially Our New House

While we haven't closed on it yet, it reasons that its pretty much a done deal. We've gone through inspections and appraisals.... our realtor, lawyer, and Popeye overcoming some fun obstacles as we maneuver this new house market. Popeye has signed the final paperwork and we're now chugging along to a closing date. Yeah!

We're pretty excited about moving in and while the move is, of course, around the same time the baby is due it pretty much comes down to planning and a little flexible timing. Well, flexible until the fact that we have to be out of our apt. on a certain date (about that same time). We're so thankful the Lord worked all of this out. We've kind of sat back and just waited to see if He was going to open doors if they were going to shut and we'd pray about different options.

As it is, Emmett is going to love a basement to run around in, a fenced in backyard this summer, the playground just right down the walking path, and more space to play in general.

I'll update as we get the chance :O)

~Olive

Start of his Train Fascination??

If you can't tell I'm going through the video camera and clearing my card onto my computer. Anywho... I found this video and thought, this is probably where the love of trains started. I know he looks a little concerned but he actually had a good time. This coming year if we get to go back again, I know he's going to be alllllll about this train ride. What little boy can pass up a cool train!!

~Olive

Bubbles with Daddy

This is back tracking a bit but here's one of Emmett and Daddy playing with the bubble machine. Poor Popeye was trying to cook us supper and Emmett was determined that Daddy needed to play too! He loves his bubbles!!!

~Olive