Very busy, fun day

We met Lisa, Kaitlyn and Lila at the pool by our house this morning for some swimming and a picnic lunch. I thought we would stay an hour or two, but the girls were having so much fun and the babies were being good, so we stayed 4 hours. It was almost relaxing for Lisa and I as well!

The girls loved the little splash pad and pool area that was about a foot deep then wanted to go to the big pool where they had real fun jumping and splashing and "swimming" These two little fish did not want to leave the pool- even after 4 hours...

Then we headed home to change clothes and head to the park to celebrate with all our friends who have May birthdays! 

Lauren climbing the rock wall. She is a pro! (she must get that from dad!)

Hail Storm

We had a big hail storm last Tuesday night when the tornadoes came through this area. There were several twisters close to our house and we spent some time under the stairs that night listening to the tornado sirens! My truck had some serious hail damage, but luckily no windows broke- about a fourth of the cars in our neighborhood have broken windshields.

The sound of baseball sized hail hitting the house along with the wind was pretty unsettling, but it never really bothers me. Jason and Lauren enjoyed playing storm watcher and since then Lauren asks if it is a storm whenever a plane flies by or she hears a strange sound.

Here are a couple pictures of Lauren with our average size hail balls!

How we grocery shop these days

Colson's carrier takes up the entire cart, so there is no room for food. I don't like to put him in the seat part because it isn't stable and I can't see over him. So our most recent successes at grocery shopping have been when Lauren pushes her own cart with all our food and I push Colson in the big cart. Lauren loves to put things in her cart and help unload it to pay. She really is a good helper. We get a lot of compliments on how cute she is and what a big help she is. I have to agree!

Workout

Lauren likes to do workout videos with me- she dances around and learned how to do jumping jacks from Jillian Michaels! It is really hilarious. Here she is helping me do some push-ups- which are already hard for me right now! There is also a good view of Lauren's new time out spot-- which she visits frequently these days!

Popsicle Time

When Lauren wakes up from nap it is Popsicle Time. She is really hamming it up for the camera because I just took a few pictures of Colson! 

26 months old

Lauren is 26 months old today...I am not counting months for her anymore, but planned to write about a few things she is up to these days anyway -

Lauren knows her shapes, colors and about a third of her letters. She is saying everything and loves to "talk to mommy" and just chit chat about the world. When we drive she points out all the construction and tells me they are "moving dirt". She loves to drive with her window down and the wind blowing her curly hair. She has an opinion about everything and is sure to tell me when "Warren (Lauren) no like it. yuck" with the funniest faces. She doesn't want crust on her bread or skin on her apples, much to my disappointment. That is the "yucky part" according to Lauren.

Grocery shopping has been a breeze lately- even with two kids because Lauren is such a good helper. She pushes a kid size cart while I push Colson in a regular cart (his car seat takes up the whole basket). Lauren is great at pushing her cart and keeping up with me. I let her put things in her cart and usually reward her with some kid of treat at the end - animal crackers or fruit snacks. She understands we have to pay for things before we open them and is very good about putting things back if I won't buy it for her..."later" she says.

She hears me say Colson has a snotty nose and she runs to get the blue nose suction bulb. She hears me mention that Colson has a dirty diaper and she runs of to get a "keen" one. She says please and thank you. She says "bled you" (bless you) when someone sneezes, and says 'Q me" (excuse me) when she "toots" or burps. She says "wuv you too mommy" when I tell her I love her. It is so sweet. Her most frequent saying these days is "No, Warren do it". She is so independent and wants to do everything herself. She loves to play (and make a mess) with her stamps. She loves to dance and swing at the playground as well as go down the biggest slides there are. She still has no fear. She loves to swim and play in water. She is still obsessed with lions, as well as elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, tigers and giraffes. She must have 20-25 animals in her bed with her at night...

Jason has taken over Lauren's bed time routine and that is their special time together. Lauren doesn't seem to miss me and Jason has his little girl figured out...he gives her special jobs to do every night (cuddle her animals, protect them, etc) which she loves to do and falls asleep. He says she is like a Border Collie...give her a job and a purpose and she is a well-behaved happy kid. Otherwise she just tries to take advantage of the situation. I have to agree.

Lauren is still a very sweet little girl who does have outbursts occasionally with friends when she is frustrated. We are working on using our "big girl words" when we get mad and not hitting or pulling her friends' hair. She loves on Colson a little too rough still but she has the biggest heart and just loves everyone.

She is a very good girl whose curiosity, independence and love of life keep me on my toes...but I love her so much and am so blessed to be her mom.

Swimming at Kaitlyn's House

Lauren and Kaitlyn had the best time swimming this afternoon. I can't believe how much fun they have together. They both love to swim too! 

Picnic

Enjoying our picnic at the Botanical Gardens. 

Grapevine Botanic Gardens

We met our friends at the Grapevine Botanic Gardens this morning. It was a beautiful, shaded park where the kids got to run around and feed the fish. There was a nice playground there also. Lauren and I packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed the nice weather after playtime.

Footed Pajamas

Lauren has a few pairs of footed pajamas that she got around Christmas time. That was the time that we were potty training her and it was completely impractical to have her wear these and try to hurry to the potty. She recently found them in her drawer and insists on wearing them as often as she can- even to nap! She loves her footed pjs! 

Driving Daddy's "Car"

Lauren snuck onto Jason's simulator this afternoon... and of course baby lion (on her finger) got to come along for the ride! 

Finger Painting

I decided to let Lauren do some finger painting today. We went out to the garage and set up. She even wore one of daddy's old T-shirts- which I think was her favorite part of the whole activity! 

She instantly complained that she had "sticky fingers"! 

Mixing the paints

Lauren's memory

Lauren has a great memory. She remembers things I told her months ago. She tells me who gave her what gifts she has received, and is constantly reminding me about things I told her or that she learned. It is just amazing to me all the details she can recollect. I have to be careful about what I tell her and how I explain things to her because she will repeat it back to me (or someone else) verbatim in several months!

Playtime with McCartney

Lauren and McCartney have had some fun together this week. They went to the bounce house on Monday and Tuesday morning we went to McDonald's for playtime. The girls had fun on their musical climbing structures and Lauren loved the big slide. Lauren is still pretty fearless and in most places we go she is pretty independent and confident; she walks off and plays on her own and rarely asks for help or company (which is the opposite of how she plays at home!). She is growing up so fast!