Thursday, August 16, 2012
Fun at the Splash Pad
Before the fall and cooler weather hits, we are trying to take advantage of the local water attractions while we can. I recently took them to the splash pad in Denver for some playground and water fun. They LOVE going there, as they get to splash in the water and then walk across the sidewalk to a playground and picnic lunch. We met up with some of their friends, and they had a blast playing with the water guns and running through the arches of water. We are lucky to have so many great things nearby, and maybe we'll squeeze in one more trip before summer is over.
Bowling!
There is a bowling alley near us in Huntersville called Northcross Lanes. They have free bowling for kids during the summer, and I've been meaning to check it out for awhile. Well, this past week we finally made it, and it was SO much fun!
I organized an outing for some of Luke and Olivia's friends, and we met around 10:30am. They didn't have shoes small enough to fit the kids, so they kept on their tennis shoes or flip flops. We definitely weren't "playing by the rules!" The bumpers were up, but they didn't have "kid friendly" balls or ramps. So each kid used a 6 pound ball and pushed it down the alley. We were worried someone might drop it on their foot (or someone elses foot!), but everyone did great and was really careful.
Luke really took to it, as he seems to with most things sports related. He loves golf, football, basketball, etc. Olivia liked it, too, but grew bored after about 30 minutes-long enough for her to discover that all she got to do was roll the ball. Then she was on to the next thing, which was playing with her friends when it wasn't their turn.
Of course I had to take some pictures of the event. After Luke would roll the ball, he would lay down and watch it go. Olivia would just sit and wait to see how many pins she knocked down. Eventually Luke took to carrying the 6 pound ball all by himself. I was impressed with his strength!
It was a great way for them to learn to wait their turn, keep score, count the pins that fell, and share their bowling balls with each other. They had such a great time and our two lanes were filled with giggles. Eight frames and an hour and a half later, it was time to head off to lunch. I think we'll definitely go back soon.
Tyler, Sean, Luke and Olivia
I organized an outing for some of Luke and Olivia's friends, and we met around 10:30am. They didn't have shoes small enough to fit the kids, so they kept on their tennis shoes or flip flops. We definitely weren't "playing by the rules!" The bumpers were up, but they didn't have "kid friendly" balls or ramps. So each kid used a 6 pound ball and pushed it down the alley. We were worried someone might drop it on their foot (or someone elses foot!), but everyone did great and was really careful.
Luke really took to it, as he seems to with most things sports related. He loves golf, football, basketball, etc. Olivia liked it, too, but grew bored after about 30 minutes-long enough for her to discover that all she got to do was roll the ball. Then she was on to the next thing, which was playing with her friends when it wasn't their turn.
Of course I had to take some pictures of the event. After Luke would roll the ball, he would lay down and watch it go. Olivia would just sit and wait to see how many pins she knocked down. Eventually Luke took to carrying the 6 pound ball all by himself. I was impressed with his strength!
It was a great way for them to learn to wait their turn, keep score, count the pins that fell, and share their bowling balls with each other. They had such a great time and our two lanes were filled with giggles. Eight frames and an hour and a half later, it was time to head off to lunch. I think we'll definitely go back soon.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Every day is an adventure!
Well, this Monday morning started out like any other. The alarm goes off and Dan and I start the usual...showers, getting dressed and hopefully coffee before anyone wakes up. This morning, however, Luke was crying by around 6:30am. He's been doing this the past few mornings and we talked with him about how mommy and daddy have to get ready for the day and then we would come and get him out of bed. Usually, they wake up around 6:30/6:45am and stay in bed and just play with their toys until we come get them, which has been around 7:15am.
Luke cried for about 5-10 minutes and then started to settle down. So Dan and I finished getting ready and then went to his room, just before 7am. We turned the door knob, but this time it was locked. LOCKED! Dan and I looked at each other in disbelief and immediately went to get something so we could unlock the door. While Dan was getting the penny, I looked underneath the door to see where Luke was. I didn't see him. Panic set in and we couldn't get into his room fast enough! Once we got the door open, we saw Luke laying in his bed safe and sound. Hmmmm.....his noise machine was also off and laying on the other side of his dresser.
The conversation went a little like this:
Us: Luke, did you get outta bed, buddy?
Luke: Yes
Us: Did you turn your noise machine off?
Luke: Yes. It was loud.
Us: Did you then climb back into your bed and lay down?
Luke: Yes (lip quiver as if he was in trouble)
Us: Luke, you're not in trouble. We just don't want you to get a boo-boo on your head.
Luke: Ok. Can you get me out now?
This is the second time he's climbed out. The first time was awhile ago. We're not sure if he'll do it again, but the time for toddler beds may be coming sooner than we anticipated. First preschool, and now maybe toddler beds? Say it isn't so!!!
Luke cried for about 5-10 minutes and then started to settle down. So Dan and I finished getting ready and then went to his room, just before 7am. We turned the door knob, but this time it was locked. LOCKED! Dan and I looked at each other in disbelief and immediately went to get something so we could unlock the door. While Dan was getting the penny, I looked underneath the door to see where Luke was. I didn't see him. Panic set in and we couldn't get into his room fast enough! Once we got the door open, we saw Luke laying in his bed safe and sound. Hmmmm.....his noise machine was also off and laying on the other side of his dresser.
The conversation went a little like this:
Us: Luke, did you get outta bed, buddy?
Luke: Yes
Us: Did you turn your noise machine off?
Luke: Yes. It was loud.
Us: Did you then climb back into your bed and lay down?
Luke: Yes (lip quiver as if he was in trouble)
Us: Luke, you're not in trouble. We just don't want you to get a boo-boo on your head.
Luke: Ok. Can you get me out now?
This is the second time he's climbed out. The first time was awhile ago. We're not sure if he'll do it again, but the time for toddler beds may be coming sooner than we anticipated. First preschool, and now maybe toddler beds? Say it isn't so!!!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Potty Training
Oh, potty training...how I loathe thee! Some kids potty train quickly. Others, not so much. We fall into the second category.
I have not been pushing to potty train because everyone tells me they will let you know when they are ready. However Dan is more ready for them to potty train, so we decided to give it a try. The weekend warrior route just isn't for us, so we started slowly. I have ready a few books on different techniques, and slow and steady is the best route for our family. Also, we decided to just focus primarily on Olivia since she seems much more ready than Luke. He is content to just watch Olivia sit on the potty and keep on wearing his diaper. When Olivia wakes up in the morning, she puts on a t-shirt and princess panties. She stays in them until mid morning and we sit on the potty every 15-30 minutes with baby Pretzel. Yes, baby Pretzel sits on the potty and we wait for her to pee while Olivia sits on her potty next to her. We have done this all week. While Olivia (and baby Pretzel) have yet to pee in the potty, she hasn't had an accident in her panties yet, either. She has an amazing capacity to hold her pee, or a large bladder! Either way, it's a slooooowwwww process, but consistency and patience will pay off.
I have heard and read from multiple sources that 3 is the "magic" age to potty train, so maybe we are jumping ahead just a little. Most of Luke and Olivia's friends are potty trained or on their way, so we thought it might be time as well. But most of their friends go to school or have an older sibling, and we know that helps. Their preschool program this fall will also work with them, and we feel confident they won't start kindergarten in diapers. :) That gives us some time to keep working on it!
I have not been pushing to potty train because everyone tells me they will let you know when they are ready. However Dan is more ready for them to potty train, so we decided to give it a try. The weekend warrior route just isn't for us, so we started slowly. I have ready a few books on different techniques, and slow and steady is the best route for our family. Also, we decided to just focus primarily on Olivia since she seems much more ready than Luke. He is content to just watch Olivia sit on the potty and keep on wearing his diaper. When Olivia wakes up in the morning, she puts on a t-shirt and princess panties. She stays in them until mid morning and we sit on the potty every 15-30 minutes with baby Pretzel. Yes, baby Pretzel sits on the potty and we wait for her to pee while Olivia sits on her potty next to her. We have done this all week. While Olivia (and baby Pretzel) have yet to pee in the potty, she hasn't had an accident in her panties yet, either. She has an amazing capacity to hold her pee, or a large bladder! Either way, it's a slooooowwwww process, but consistency and patience will pay off.
I have heard and read from multiple sources that 3 is the "magic" age to potty train, so maybe we are jumping ahead just a little. Most of Luke and Olivia's friends are potty trained or on their way, so we thought it might be time as well. But most of their friends go to school or have an older sibling, and we know that helps. Their preschool program this fall will also work with them, and we feel confident they won't start kindergarten in diapers. :) That gives us some time to keep working on it!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
First day of Summer Camp at Cook's
Well, the time has arrived. Luke and Olivia started their first day of Summer Camp. They will go 2 days a week for 3 weeks (Tues/Wed) in preparation for them beginning a full time program in the fall (Tues/Thurs).
Dan and I decided for many reasons it was the right time to have Luke and Olivia start a part time program. It's a great way for them to socialize and learn in a new atmosphere and learn how to be in a classroom. Also, my photography business is (happily) picking up and I need some time to be able to work. The program is from 9:30am-1:00pm twice a week, with the option to have them go 3 days if we choose. For now, we'll stick to 2 days a week and probably increase it to 3 days next fall.
Dan and I tried to prepare Luke and Olivia as much as we could without making too big of a deal out of it. We talked about how school is like church and that mommy will come back to pick them up with it's time. We told them mommy and daddy were too big to go to school and it's just for them to spend time with new friends. We told them they would get to color, work puzzles, make crafts and play. This seemed to ease their minds, especially Luke.
I picked out their clothes and got their backpacks ready. I remember ordering their backpacks so many months ago and thinking how far off it seemed until the needed them. Oh, how quickly the time goes. Dan had scheduled to go into work late so he could go with us the first day. He knew it would be much harder on me than on them. Was he ever right! I was sobbing the night before at the thought of our babies growing up!
Before we left the house, we took a few pics. Olivia wanted to take baby Prezel and Luke ended up taking Sam the Seahorse. They thought it was super cool to wear their backpacks, and man, did that make my heart skip a beat. It got my mind racing to their first day of kindergarten and how they will be leaving at the same time. Oh, I just can't think about that right now....
Once we got to school, Olivia said "this isn't church, this is school." They both got a little fearful once we arrived but no tears yet (well, not from them. Me...another story!). We walked them to their classroom and showed them around. Olivia walked in like she owned the place and started playing. Luke was a little more reluctant but Miss Julie and Miss Kristen were great at distracting him. He got a little upset but he was a trooper and I'm so deeply proud of both of them.
I decided to run errands because my heart couldn't handle going home and not having them there. I know it'll get easier, but baby steps. I got a phone call about an hour later. Never good. Miss Bobbie (one of the directors) told me Olivia had gotten stung by a wasp and she wanted to make sure she wasn't allergic. As far as we knew she wasn't so they treated it and said she could stay at school. I must have looked at my watch a million times and got to school at 12:30pm. They don't even open the doors until 12:45pm, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't late!
Their faces were priceless when they saw me walk into the classroom. It was a mix of happiness and relief that I came back to get them. Then they started telling me what they did and Olivia told me about her band aid on her boo boo. They said they wanted to go back to school the next day, so that was a good sign. We also called daddy so they could tell him about their day.
I decided to take them out for ice cream for being so brave. So we went to chick fil a and had ice cream together. I will forever remember their precious little faces...growing up in reality but babies in my heart always.
Dan and I decided for many reasons it was the right time to have Luke and Olivia start a part time program. It's a great way for them to socialize and learn in a new atmosphere and learn how to be in a classroom. Also, my photography business is (happily) picking up and I need some time to be able to work. The program is from 9:30am-1:00pm twice a week, with the option to have them go 3 days if we choose. For now, we'll stick to 2 days a week and probably increase it to 3 days next fall.
Dan and I tried to prepare Luke and Olivia as much as we could without making too big of a deal out of it. We talked about how school is like church and that mommy will come back to pick them up with it's time. We told them mommy and daddy were too big to go to school and it's just for them to spend time with new friends. We told them they would get to color, work puzzles, make crafts and play. This seemed to ease their minds, especially Luke.
I picked out their clothes and got their backpacks ready. I remember ordering their backpacks so many months ago and thinking how far off it seemed until the needed them. Oh, how quickly the time goes. Dan had scheduled to go into work late so he could go with us the first day. He knew it would be much harder on me than on them. Was he ever right! I was sobbing the night before at the thought of our babies growing up!
Before we left the house, we took a few pics. Olivia wanted to take baby Prezel and Luke ended up taking Sam the Seahorse. They thought it was super cool to wear their backpacks, and man, did that make my heart skip a beat. It got my mind racing to their first day of kindergarten and how they will be leaving at the same time. Oh, I just can't think about that right now....
Once we got to school, Olivia said "this isn't church, this is school." They both got a little fearful once we arrived but no tears yet (well, not from them. Me...another story!). We walked them to their classroom and showed them around. Olivia walked in like she owned the place and started playing. Luke was a little more reluctant but Miss Julie and Miss Kristen were great at distracting him. He got a little upset but he was a trooper and I'm so deeply proud of both of them.
I decided to run errands because my heart couldn't handle going home and not having them there. I know it'll get easier, but baby steps. I got a phone call about an hour later. Never good. Miss Bobbie (one of the directors) told me Olivia had gotten stung by a wasp and she wanted to make sure she wasn't allergic. As far as we knew she wasn't so they treated it and said she could stay at school. I must have looked at my watch a million times and got to school at 12:30pm. They don't even open the doors until 12:45pm, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't late!
Their faces were priceless when they saw me walk into the classroom. It was a mix of happiness and relief that I came back to get them. Then they started telling me what they did and Olivia told me about her band aid on her boo boo. They said they wanted to go back to school the next day, so that was a good sign. We also called daddy so they could tell him about their day.
I decided to take them out for ice cream for being so brave. So we went to chick fil a and had ice cream together. I will forever remember their precious little faces...growing up in reality but babies in my heart always.
Beach...Here we come!
Look out beach...here come the Bartlett's! We left for South Myrtle Beach on Saturday, June 23rd and returned on Friday, June 29th. We were staying in a condo with Dan's folks and Dan's brothers family was going to be in the same condo building as well.
Oh my goodness, I had forgotten how much stuff we have to pack for the beach! This was going to be our first road trip with our new minivan, and I have to admit, the extra room and comfort was pretty darn nice. It was the first time Dan didn't curse the number of bags I packed! :) The last time we went to the beach, Luke and Olivia were 6 months old. Now, granted, we had to take A TON of stuff back then, too (bumbos, playmats, etc), but we still had to take a TON of stuff this time, too. Pack n plays, beach toys, beach towels, beach chairs, a canopy, the wagon, clothes, bath stuff, etc....basically our house on wheels :) I have (sort of) developed a system of packing in which Luke gets his own bag, Olivia gets her own bag, they share a "bath bag" and a "night bag" that includes their blankets, etc. Of course, I have a bag for me and a bag for my toiletries. That's a lot of bags! Not to mention all of the beach stuff. Whew!
Thankfully the added room of the van and the removal of the large stroller gave us lots of space to pack, and for the first road trip ever Dan could see out of the back window. Success and happiness! We decided to leave around nap time on Saturday in the hopes of a)missing traffic b)L and O napping 1-2 hours in the car c)stopping for dinner after said nap for some stretch time. Answer: none of the above happened! Our 4 hour road trip turned into over 5 1/2 because of traffic, Luke and Olivia slept for maybe 45 min and we were only 2-3 miles out before we found somewhere to stop for food (in which we ended up going in, getting food, and taking it to the condo). Poor Luke was over his car seat and kept asking to get out and sit with mommy. For the first time ever, we put on a DVD in the car on Dan's iPad, so that provided some entertainment and distraction. Luke still isn't a big TV watcher, but at this point he didn't have much choice :( They were such troopers until the last hour, and who could really blame them? Confinement for two 2.5 yr olds doesn't typically go over really well!
We arrived around 7pm and I got them fed immediately while Dan got the car unloaded so he could get their beds, etc set up. MauMaw and PauPaw were a big help, too. We knew L and O would probably extend their normal 8/8:15pm bedtime, and night one was no exception. They stayed up playing for awhile and checking out their new surroundings. They did procrastinate when it came to bedtime a little as their typical routine was off, but overall they did great, and even managed to nap every day we were there. Yay!
We woke up early on Sunday, but not by choice :) Luke and Olivia don't share rooms at home and Dan and I knew that since their pack n plays were side by side, once one kiddo was awake, the other one would be, too. Usually they wake up and play for a little bit in their beds, but this was a new surrounding and not their comfortable bed. Sunday morning Luke woke up around 6am and stood up saying "get out of bed." This woke Olivia up, too, who was none too pleased to be woken up before she was ready. We tried to get them to lay back down for a bit with us in bed, but they were having none of it. They were awake and ready to play! We tried to keep them quiet as long as possible so they didn't wake up MauMaw and Paupaw, but we finally gave up a little after 7am and took them into the living room. They played for a bit, ate breakfast, and then they were ready to hit the beach. Olivia kept saying she was going to build a "big sandcastle" and Luke said he was going to dig a "big hole."
The Bartlett's do not travel lightly! We brought the wagon so we could drag all of the toys, beach bags, etc and I had bought a mini wagon for L and O to pull as well. They were so cute pulling their little blue and pink wagons down the sidewalk. Thankfully we were really close to the beach (just one street over) so we could walk over very easily.
As soon as we hit the sand, their shoes came off and we got settled under the canopy. They were both a little tentative at first when it came to getting near the ocean, but eventually Olivia warmed up and got in as far as her knees. Luke never did touch the ocean. Sigh...maybe next time :) Daddy and Luke got busy building that "big hole" and Olivia went between the ocean and building her sand castles.
It was so much easier to be at the beach this time vs when they were 6 months old for a few reasons. Now they are only napping 1 time per day and they can eat non-baby food. They can also tolerate the heat a little bit better and are more entertained by the sand, etc.
By about mid-day, they were ready to call it quits and head for the pool. So we packed up and set up camp at the pool for an hour or two. I ran up to the condo and made lunch while Dan splashed with the kiddos. Then we got them rinsed off and ready for naps. Thankfully they napped, as we all needed some rest :)
After naps, we had dinner at the condo and played before bedtime. The next morning, Olivia woke up early this time, so we were up and at 'em before 6am. This day we decided to go to the outlets because there was a chance of rain. We hit a few stores and tried to eat lunch at Outback, but it was closed. So we decided to head back to the condo and just eat lunch there. More playtime and naps and a relaxing dinner of take out food.
Tuesday morning we woke up early again and headed out for a walk on the beach so as not to wake MauMaw and PauPaw. It's actually the best time of day to be out as it's not so hot and it's gorgeous watching the sun come up. They had fun walking in their pj's (no, we didn't change them!) and I'm glad I grabbed my camera at the last minute. It will probably be one of my favorite family memories ever. Just the four of us, running, laughing, touching the sand, holding hands...perfect!
After breakfast, we tried to go for a swim in the pool but it was surprisingly chilly. Much too chilly for the beach or pool so we decided to head out to play putt putt with MauMaw and PauPaw. It was Luke and Olivia's first time going, and we weren't sure how they were going to do. Much to our surprise, they did AWESOME. They never lost their ball and they were very careful with their clubs. Luke took to it immediately and can actually swing a club pretty darn well! Olivia was more interested in setting her ball next to the hole and then hitting it in. She also preferred to hit our balls in, too, so Dan, MauMaw, PauPaw and myself usually got one swing in per hole! We managed to play all 18 holes at our own pace, so we couldn't have asked for anything better. Then we went to McDonald's for a quick lunch and some outdoor playtime on the playground. Afterwards, back to the condo for naps, play, walk on the beach, and dinner.
Wednesday and Thursday were beach days and we took full advantage of the beautiful weather. We set up the canopy and spent lots of time in the sand. We also spent some time in the pool, too. On Wednesday night we went to the local ice cream shop and indulged in some yummy ice cream. On Thursday night, we met some friends that were staying about 25 minutes away from us. We had dinner and then went their condo to let the kids play on the beach for a little bit. I also wanted to do a mini photo session with Luke and Olivia, and I got some great stuff :)
Friday we decided to stick close to the pool since we were going to be heading home mid afternoon. After some splash time and lunch, we got the car loaded and left about 2pm. Our hope was the same as when we were heading to the beach...naps in the car. This time, our plan worked! They both took great naps and woke up when we were only about 30 minutes from home.
It's always a little sad to come home from vacation, especially one as fun and memorable as this one. But we are also excited to experience that traveling is getting easier and Luke and Olivia are very adaptable to new places. We had a fantastic time and we are already talking about doing another beach trip next year.
I will have more pics to post soon.............
Olivia and our good friend and neighbor's little boy, Grant. What a little Romeo!
Grant playing hard to get...
Oh my goodness, I had forgotten how much stuff we have to pack for the beach! This was going to be our first road trip with our new minivan, and I have to admit, the extra room and comfort was pretty darn nice. It was the first time Dan didn't curse the number of bags I packed! :) The last time we went to the beach, Luke and Olivia were 6 months old. Now, granted, we had to take A TON of stuff back then, too (bumbos, playmats, etc), but we still had to take a TON of stuff this time, too. Pack n plays, beach toys, beach towels, beach chairs, a canopy, the wagon, clothes, bath stuff, etc....basically our house on wheels :) I have (sort of) developed a system of packing in which Luke gets his own bag, Olivia gets her own bag, they share a "bath bag" and a "night bag" that includes their blankets, etc. Of course, I have a bag for me and a bag for my toiletries. That's a lot of bags! Not to mention all of the beach stuff. Whew!
Thankfully the added room of the van and the removal of the large stroller gave us lots of space to pack, and for the first road trip ever Dan could see out of the back window. Success and happiness! We decided to leave around nap time on Saturday in the hopes of a)missing traffic b)L and O napping 1-2 hours in the car c)stopping for dinner after said nap for some stretch time. Answer: none of the above happened! Our 4 hour road trip turned into over 5 1/2 because of traffic, Luke and Olivia slept for maybe 45 min and we were only 2-3 miles out before we found somewhere to stop for food (in which we ended up going in, getting food, and taking it to the condo). Poor Luke was over his car seat and kept asking to get out and sit with mommy. For the first time ever, we put on a DVD in the car on Dan's iPad, so that provided some entertainment and distraction. Luke still isn't a big TV watcher, but at this point he didn't have much choice :( They were such troopers until the last hour, and who could really blame them? Confinement for two 2.5 yr olds doesn't typically go over really well!
We arrived around 7pm and I got them fed immediately while Dan got the car unloaded so he could get their beds, etc set up. MauMaw and PauPaw were a big help, too. We knew L and O would probably extend their normal 8/8:15pm bedtime, and night one was no exception. They stayed up playing for awhile and checking out their new surroundings. They did procrastinate when it came to bedtime a little as their typical routine was off, but overall they did great, and even managed to nap every day we were there. Yay!
We woke up early on Sunday, but not by choice :) Luke and Olivia don't share rooms at home and Dan and I knew that since their pack n plays were side by side, once one kiddo was awake, the other one would be, too. Usually they wake up and play for a little bit in their beds, but this was a new surrounding and not their comfortable bed. Sunday morning Luke woke up around 6am and stood up saying "get out of bed." This woke Olivia up, too, who was none too pleased to be woken up before she was ready. We tried to get them to lay back down for a bit with us in bed, but they were having none of it. They were awake and ready to play! We tried to keep them quiet as long as possible so they didn't wake up MauMaw and Paupaw, but we finally gave up a little after 7am and took them into the living room. They played for a bit, ate breakfast, and then they were ready to hit the beach. Olivia kept saying she was going to build a "big sandcastle" and Luke said he was going to dig a "big hole."
The Bartlett's do not travel lightly! We brought the wagon so we could drag all of the toys, beach bags, etc and I had bought a mini wagon for L and O to pull as well. They were so cute pulling their little blue and pink wagons down the sidewalk. Thankfully we were really close to the beach (just one street over) so we could walk over very easily.
As soon as we hit the sand, their shoes came off and we got settled under the canopy. They were both a little tentative at first when it came to getting near the ocean, but eventually Olivia warmed up and got in as far as her knees. Luke never did touch the ocean. Sigh...maybe next time :) Daddy and Luke got busy building that "big hole" and Olivia went between the ocean and building her sand castles.
It was so much easier to be at the beach this time vs when they were 6 months old for a few reasons. Now they are only napping 1 time per day and they can eat non-baby food. They can also tolerate the heat a little bit better and are more entertained by the sand, etc.
By about mid-day, they were ready to call it quits and head for the pool. So we packed up and set up camp at the pool for an hour or two. I ran up to the condo and made lunch while Dan splashed with the kiddos. Then we got them rinsed off and ready for naps. Thankfully they napped, as we all needed some rest :)
After naps, we had dinner at the condo and played before bedtime. The next morning, Olivia woke up early this time, so we were up and at 'em before 6am. This day we decided to go to the outlets because there was a chance of rain. We hit a few stores and tried to eat lunch at Outback, but it was closed. So we decided to head back to the condo and just eat lunch there. More playtime and naps and a relaxing dinner of take out food.
Tuesday morning we woke up early again and headed out for a walk on the beach so as not to wake MauMaw and PauPaw. It's actually the best time of day to be out as it's not so hot and it's gorgeous watching the sun come up. They had fun walking in their pj's (no, we didn't change them!) and I'm glad I grabbed my camera at the last minute. It will probably be one of my favorite family memories ever. Just the four of us, running, laughing, touching the sand, holding hands...perfect!
After breakfast, we tried to go for a swim in the pool but it was surprisingly chilly. Much too chilly for the beach or pool so we decided to head out to play putt putt with MauMaw and PauPaw. It was Luke and Olivia's first time going, and we weren't sure how they were going to do. Much to our surprise, they did AWESOME. They never lost their ball and they were very careful with their clubs. Luke took to it immediately and can actually swing a club pretty darn well! Olivia was more interested in setting her ball next to the hole and then hitting it in. She also preferred to hit our balls in, too, so Dan, MauMaw, PauPaw and myself usually got one swing in per hole! We managed to play all 18 holes at our own pace, so we couldn't have asked for anything better. Then we went to McDonald's for a quick lunch and some outdoor playtime on the playground. Afterwards, back to the condo for naps, play, walk on the beach, and dinner.
Wednesday and Thursday were beach days and we took full advantage of the beautiful weather. We set up the canopy and spent lots of time in the sand. We also spent some time in the pool, too. On Wednesday night we went to the local ice cream shop and indulged in some yummy ice cream. On Thursday night, we met some friends that were staying about 25 minutes away from us. We had dinner and then went their condo to let the kids play on the beach for a little bit. I also wanted to do a mini photo session with Luke and Olivia, and I got some great stuff :)
Friday we decided to stick close to the pool since we were going to be heading home mid afternoon. After some splash time and lunch, we got the car loaded and left about 2pm. Our hope was the same as when we were heading to the beach...naps in the car. This time, our plan worked! They both took great naps and woke up when we were only about 30 minutes from home.
It's always a little sad to come home from vacation, especially one as fun and memorable as this one. But we are also excited to experience that traveling is getting easier and Luke and Olivia are very adaptable to new places. We had a fantastic time and we are already talking about doing another beach trip next year.
I will have more pics to post soon.............
Olivia and our good friend and neighbor's little boy, Grant. What a little Romeo!
Grant playing hard to get...
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day, Dan! Thankfully no one was sick today so we were able to spend the day together just being a family. I got Luke and Olivia out of bed and took them to our room for snuggles with Daddy. There is nothing sweeter than waking up to those two precious little faces! Then I made Dan breakfast of bacon, eggs, grits,and blueberry waffles. We played for a little bit and then got ready to go to church. Since we weren't able to get any pics on Mother's Day, we decided to take some today. Luke and Olivia were more interested in the passing cars, but at least they are in a pic with Dan and with me :)
They had fun at church and we enjoyed the service about fatherhood. Then we came home to open presents and have lunch. Luke and Olivia worked very hard on handmade card and handmade coffee mugs for daddy to take to work. They put their footprint and hand print on a coffee mug. It's hard to believe, but they BARELY fit. I told Dan it was a good thing we did it this year and not next year because it wouldn't have fit. When they were first born, we probably could have fit both hands and both feet on one mug. Ah, they're growing up! Dan also got an Ipad 3, which he has been wanting for a long time. Luke was more interested in looking inside of the boxes rather than looking at the presents. You can see in the pics below Olivia was really hamming it up for the camera.
We ate lunch and then played some more until nap time-Dan included! I really wanted to cook dinner for Dan but he is the master of the grill, and he wanted a steak for dinner. So I prepped everything inside so all he had to do was get the grill ready. We decide to eat outdoors and have a Father's Day Picnic. We love to eat outdoors even though Luke and Olivia are usually too distracted to eat! We had a great dinner and yummy Oreo dessert. It was a really nice, family day and a perfect time to stop and remember how much we love being parents to our 2 little angels!
They had fun at church and we enjoyed the service about fatherhood. Then we came home to open presents and have lunch. Luke and Olivia worked very hard on handmade card and handmade coffee mugs for daddy to take to work. They put their footprint and hand print on a coffee mug. It's hard to believe, but they BARELY fit. I told Dan it was a good thing we did it this year and not next year because it wouldn't have fit. When they were first born, we probably could have fit both hands and both feet on one mug. Ah, they're growing up! Dan also got an Ipad 3, which he has been wanting for a long time. Luke was more interested in looking inside of the boxes rather than looking at the presents. You can see in the pics below Olivia was really hamming it up for the camera.
We ate lunch and then played some more until nap time-Dan included! I really wanted to cook dinner for Dan but he is the master of the grill, and he wanted a steak for dinner. So I prepped everything inside so all he had to do was get the grill ready. We decide to eat outdoors and have a Father's Day Picnic. We love to eat outdoors even though Luke and Olivia are usually too distracted to eat! We had a great dinner and yummy Oreo dessert. It was a really nice, family day and a perfect time to stop and remember how much we love being parents to our 2 little angels!
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