5.5-years-old

Peyton is coming up on a milestone with Kindergarten starting on Tuesday so I thought it would be a good time for a little Peyton update!  This summer has been HARD! Boy do we have an independent and stubborn kid.  We've been battling with him...working on making good choices and having a better attitude.  I'm hoping it's all just a 5-year-old phase.  I think the lack of structure of school is part of the issue.  I know our sweet, kind boy is hiding under there somewhere.

On Tuesday Peyt starts ALL-day, EVERYday Kindergarten.  He is SO excited.  He's been counting down the sleeps until school starts.  He met his teacher last spring before school was out and he loves her.  Last night we went to back-to-school night and got a run down of the curriculum, etc for the year.  She is STRICT which I love!  No nonsense, but she also is very sweet. We are really excited for Peyton to start his school journey. 

Some things Peyton's been up to and into:

~He's all about ninjas.  He turns everything into a sword and loves to watch Ninjago.  Not my favorite but hey he's a boy.

~We've been working all summer on reading and he's doing awesome!  The deal we have is that however many books he reads to us before bed is the number of books we read to him.  He gets so excited when he finishes one with no help from us.

~He's made friends this summer with two sets of brothers in the neighborhood.  The five of them spend a ton of time together outside playing and riding bikes/scooters.  I have to drag him in for dinner some nights!

~He starts soccer league this fall.  He's been playing at the park with Aunt Marcia, who watches the kids during the day and she said he's got great control of the ball.  I know ZERO about soccer so maybe he can teach me a thing or two!

~He still loves legos, especially Ninjago legos.  His current reward for his goal (for behavior, reading goals) is a new Ninjago spinner...he's reached his reading goal but still working on behavior!

~I can tell Peyton has had a growth spurt again...none of his pants from spring fit, his feet are huge and he's totally thinned out.  He's a total bean pole.  He still eats pretty well and will eat almost anything but hasn't been eating as much. 

~This summer Peyton gave up napping.  I still think he could use a nap with how active he is all day during the summer, but I don't think he really needs it.  We do use Olivia's nap time as a quiet time for him.  He usually will watch a show or play legos quietly. 

~He still loves to help me in the kitchen, or help me clean.  I started using a homemade all-purpose cleaner (vinegar, water and lemon oil essential oil) and he asked to have his own special spray bottle filled with it.  He loves to wipe down the counters every day for me or polish windows.  Our favorite thing to whip up together lately has been guacamole...the 4 of us can't get enough of it! He loves to smash and peel the garlic and squeeeeeeeze the lime.  We started have him do some chores around the house.  He will take recycling out to garage to sort into the bins, vacuum (still likes it!), clean his room, fold towels and dust.  Most of the time he loves to help...sometimes not!

I can't believe our boy is growing up so fast...and we're excited for him to start school and grow even more.


We love our boy!

Onick Wedding

I was honored to be a part of my GREAT friend Melissa this weekend.  We met my freshman year in high school...she was a year older and we were instant friends.  We went to college and even at different schools we got even closer.  We were attached at the hip, especially the summer after my freshman year in college.  We went every where together and had so much fun.  We laugh so hard when we are together, it's ridiculous.  She is one of the strongest, most independent women I have ever met.  She has met a man who compliments her so well to create a perfect balance.  I think they bring out the best in one another and they have brought together their kids to make a happy, and ever-so-loving family.
I had such a fun time all day yesterday...primping and watching Melissa transform into a STUNNING bride. Just when I think I can never see her more beautiful....she shocks me once again.  Such a breath taking bride! The wedding was at Columbia Edgewater which was so gorgeous.  Great food and a party of a reception to follow!!
Congrats to Vernon and Melissa...I love you guys!

We met at Melissa's Salon and her and her fellow hair dressers beautified us.  

Melissa's hair was gorgeous

She designed her own dress....I literally got goose bumps when I saw it.  So pretty

Isn't she so beautiful!?

A shot of the bridesmaid/bride's shoes.

Karrie, her maid of honor helping her in her dress.

Mama helping her out

Almost time for her and Vernon's 'first look'

Final touches

Melissa's beautiful daughter Makari

Kari and I 

Melissa's mom Bernie looking so sassy and classy

Little Cameron, the flower girl.  She is so adorable

Little Zakai giving mommy a bite before she walks down

LOVE!

Some iPhone pics...

Christina and I 

Cutting the cake!

Sharlene and I...we also went to high school together

The amazing bride...she should be a model!

Bad lighting...but had to get a pic with my dapper husband!

River Day

Sunday after the clouds burned off Peyt and I met the fam down on the river for an afternoon in the sun and water! Olivia is sick (again!).  This time with croup...so she stayed home with B :(  We ended up taking her to the emergency room that night.  

I love being at the river, it reminds me of all the days we spent there when I was little. Peyton had so much fun playing in the water and riding in Grandpa's boat. I hope we can squeeze one more river day in before school starts.

Pics all out of order..whoops

My boy loving the boat ride

Randy's boat decided to break down so we towed him back to the boat ramp.   We had fun taking pictures of each other and throwing the licorice bag back and forth.

Lots of big ships

Randy wearing Jen's hat...dork.

haha

Some iPhone pics...

A day in Salem with friends!

Last Thursday the kids and I drove to Amy's house to meet her and her kids to carpool to Salem to have a play date with Jill and Zoie at a park.  Jill is due any day with baby #2, and Amy is due in October with baby #3!  They are both having boys.  We all played basketball at GFU together.  It was a very hot day so the splash pad was perfect.  As usual, Peyton loved the water and Olivia had nothing to do with it.  

Wes and Peyton had a lot of fun together.

Zoie is totally out of focus, but it was the only pic I got of her! :(

Olivia kept taking off running the field.

Wes and Peyton found a bunch of flags to play with 

Abby and Livs had a lot of fun exploring together...so cute

The preggos!

Then we headed home, stopped back at Amy's house for a bit and the kids all rode bikes and trikes before we headed back home.  It was a fun day!

18 Months!

Our little Olivia is a year and a half! I don't even know where to begin in what she's up to.  She's grown up so much in the last couple of months. Olivia's personality at 18 months can be described as sweet, reserved but with a silly side, laid-back and she is definitely a girly-girl.  She is always right by my side cuddling up to me.  

~She's talking like crazy and putting small sentences together.  A couple phrases she says often are "I don't wanna" or "Put in there." Oh and the most hilarious one is "Yeah BABY!"

~She got 4 new teeth in the past couple months

~She still always has her bunny with her and usually a baby or two.

~She always is bringing us books to read to her.  Her favorite is still Goodnight Moon.

~She understands almost everything we ask her.  If I tell her to get a certain toy out of her room or Peyton's room she will get it.  Or I'll hand her something to put in the garbage or the sink and she'll do it.  

~I've learned this summer that she isn't a fan of water.  If we go to a splash pad she won't go near it.  I'm hoping she'll grow out of this soon.  Swimming lessons will hopefully help.

~She's still an awesome eater and really just eats what we eat.  Her favorites are blueberries, grapes, guacamole ('dip'), hot dogs with ketchup ('dip'), chicken taco chili, yogurt, cucumbers, peppers, almond milk, and much more.  Did I mention she loves any sort of dip?

~She's sleeping well.  If we are home, she will take two short naps.  If we are out and about she can survive on one nap.  I'm sure she will be transitioning to one (hopefully longer) nap soon.

~She loves music and singing songs.  

~Growth: I took her in yesterday and the doctor was shocked that she grew 3 inches in 3 months! 

*Height: 35.5 inches (totally off the charts percent-wise)

*Weight: 27 lbs (75%)

*Head: 48 cm (75%)

The doctor said she will most likely be a long and lanky girl, just like Peyt.

She's wearing 24-months for tops and 2T for pants, size 5 diapers, and size 6 shoes.

There's a ton more that I could say about our sweet girl, but that's the basics of Olivia Sandra!

She loves to push her stroller around 

Snuggling with her brother on a hot day

Peyton always dresses her up in his clothes.  Here she has his knee pads, sweatshirt, and hat on.  She loves it

Her wild hair.  Every day she wakes up like this..

One way to calm the hair...she's just too cute for words.