Sunny days are here again!

Today was another beautiful day! I'm so glad it has been a mild end to winter. I need more sunshine in my life! Today we went to Garfield Park in Everett to play for a bit. Maya, who I thought was becoming fearful of heights, climbed all over everything tall. What a crazy girl! Owen went on the slide, the swing and sat on the spinning seat (not spinning though). We stopped for Jamba Juice on the way home and overall had lots of fun. I can't wait for my backyard to dry out so we can enjoy it more!

Look at me Mommy!

This morning Owen was scooting himself around in circles on the floor on his belly and managed to put his little knees back under himself and push himself back onto his booty! Ahhhh, he's in much more of a hurry than Maya ever was and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for it. However, his proud little triumphant grin makes me giggle. Silly lil' man!

Sleeping

Most days Maya is not tired enough to take a real nap so that hour or so she used to spend sleeping has morphed in to 'rest time.' I put her in bed with our usual routine then leave her with a pile of books to 'read' to her stuffed animals. Today I heard her up there talking quietly and after awhile it got quiet. She had obviously fallen asleep in the middle of reading with Pinkie Pie (her pink unicorn) on top of her and her Minnies next to her.

Kayak Point

It was a beautifully sunny day so we went out the Kayak Point to throw rocks in the 'big ocean' (according to Maya), walk on the beach, check out the dock, play at the playground and eat lunch. I managed to get only two pictures before my battery died...but both turned out well!

Maya's Friend

Maya loves Emilie. This morning she got up and came down stairs to ask me 'What are we doing today?" This is our usual morning conversation. I told her we were going to meet her friend Emmie at the zoo and she immediately ran back upstairs to get 'dressed.' It turned out to be a completely inappropriate for the weather sun dress we just bought in anticipation of summer, but it was cute. I told her we still needed to make breakfast and pack so she ran back upstairs while I started our oatmeal and came down with her phone from her kitchen talking away to Emilie. The conversation was about all the animals they were going to see and all the candy they were going to eat. (CANDY?!??!) It was adorable. Here are the girlies at the zoo watching the elephants enjoy some sunshine.

Chef Maya

If I had a penny for every time Maya asks to help in the kitchen I'd be a millionaire. Ok, maybe an exaggeration but she loves to be my helper when I'm in the kitchen cooking, washing dishes, putting groceries away, etc. It's not always easy to find a job for her but here she is brushing garlic butter on to our bread sticks.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Owen loves to ride on shoulders..funny little guy. Here is the smiley guy on Chris' shoulders!

Row, row, row your boat

Maya came and asked me for a 'big spoon' while I was cleaning up from dinner. The next thing I knew she had hauled her Barbie box down stairs to 'row' in the kitchen.

Valentines Day

Valentines day was a little diluted today with the illnesses the kiddos are enduring. However, we did manage a few things. Chris made Maya heart shaped pancakes. We all exchanged cards we made/bought and we gave the kid each a small stuffed toy. Maya also got a sucker she was obsessed with eating all day. My parents brought the kidlets by a small present and even brought the poor sleep deprived parents some Chinese food. Yum! Tonight Chris made us chocolate covered strawberries which we all devoured. Maya had never had them and loved them!

The sickies strike!

We have been sick. Ok, not 'we' just Maya and Owen. Owen got sick about two weeks ago got better for about 5 days, is sick again with a cold and now Maya has been sick for 5 days. We are sleep deprived and honestly go in to the evening praying for sleep. Poor kiddos. Only so much Vicks Vapor rub we can coat them in and so much Tylenol we can dispense before we just have to try to help them gut it out. I'm over winter. We have seen only a couple snow flakes and it has been unseasonably warm. I am ready for a Spring free of illness which prevent us from participating in society. Let's hope my kiddos are fast asleep healing themselves of their ailments as I type!

She's a stuffed animal mommy!

Me: "Maya it's time to close your eyes and go to sleep. You close your eyes too baby Minnie Mouse."
Maya: "Baby Minnie can't close her eyes. She's a stuffed animal."

Silly mommy!

When I'm a mommy....

Maya is very occupied with the idea of being a Mommmy. She has a small Minnie Mouse and a large Minnie Mouse that she insists are mommy and baby. She likes to take care of baby Minnie all day along. We continually have conversations that go something like this: Maya: "When I'm the mommy and you're the little girl..." Okay so she doesn't get the process, but it's cute. She loves helping, most of the time, and today I caught her on camera helping me feed Owen. This is a daily ritual for both of them and I think he opens his mouth and is much more patient with her than he is with me. Owen loves his big sister!

Nightgowns

Some day Owen will not appreciate this picture. We are always playing dress-up and tonight it was dress-up Owen in Maya's nightgown fun.

Hiding!

Owen had just had his diaper put on after his bath and Maya was on her way to take a bath when Maya thought it would be funny to try hiding behind Owen. Silly Girl!

One, Two, Three, Up!

Owen has been doing all sorts of face plants for the past month trying to get himself from his bottom onto his belly. I keep thinking he'lI try to get to his knees one of these days but he still hasn't. I was folding some laundry yesterday and had Owen parked next to me with a few toys. However, he was enjoying chewing on the handle of the basket more than actually playing with any of his toys. I noticed him holding on to the side of the basket and voila he tried to pull himself up on it (much to my shock!). Today, he did it again on the side of our Bumbo. Here is Mister Owen trying to get at his toy I stuck in the Bumbo as bait. (BTW the pictures published backward..oh well!)

Hats and Self Portraits

Maya thought it would be funny to put Owen's had on him, so we did. She's a goof ball and was making him laugh. We then decided we needed a self portrait...8 tries later we sort of got one of all of us.

Balentimes Day!

Miss Maya loves holidays and any excuse for a fun craft. We had a little Valentines play date over here, decorated a very sugary cookie for daddy and made heart wreaths!

Elmo Baby

This one is just because it's so darn cute to see babies in hooded character towels.

Swinging!

It was a beautiful, unseasonably warm and sunny day so we ventured out to Jennings Park. Here is Owen on a swing for the first time. He LOVED swinging!

Sleep Over?

No, but Maya loves to pretend to go 'Night Night' with Owen. She tells me she is the mommy and will feed him, change his diaper, and give him his binky. If only I could take her up on the offer!!

Dressa's Birthday Party

Maya has been insisting that it is almost her Frog, Dressa's, birthday. She made the frog at Build a Bear last summer and loves, loves, loves her. So, I let her make a cake (with my help, of course), decorate it, put up decorations and even wrap a present for Dressa. We all actually had a lot of fun and Maya thought it was so funny.

ba ba ba ba da da da da

I am sitting here watching Owen roll across the room away from me 'talking away' and it makes me smile because it reminds me of Maya when she was a tiny babe. Owen has been able to roll for several months though he mostly chooses to lay on his back so he can chew on his feet and 'call' for help when he's tired of that position. Maya rolled and rolled and rolled starting at 4 months. This morning Owen has decided (at 6 1/2 months) he too wants some mobility and is rolling all over the front room as we hang out, playing and waiting for his big sis to get up. Silly baby.