Happy Fourth of July

July has arrived and it began with a bunch of fun and parties!

One of our new favorite weekly activities has been hanging out with GiGi during the day. We recently had to go there and deliver a cake that I baked for her bridge club. Our usual activities with GiGi involve arriving at her house and Lucas eating all of her strawberries. She usually lets him know that she knew he was coming and got them just for him. Next, we head out and visit Burger's Farmers Market and GiGi and Lucas pick out some fresh produce. Then, we drop off the produce at GiGi's house and go back out to eat Mexican. We must tip pretty well because they are always so kind to us and always give Lucas a lollipop. When Lucas' tummy is full and he has his lollipop, we go next door to Aldi for some more grocery shopping. We have also been introduced to the wonderful world of the Dollar store where Lucas gets even more spoiled with things; it is so hard to say no when everything in the store is just a dollar!

We have slacked off a little with the potty training because Lucas would really fight sitting on the potty. Now, I know it is definitely time to get with it again; because, he lets us know when he has to go and tells us which potty he wants to use. Lucas and Daddy have also started a new guy thing and asks to get undressed to go outside. Once outside, he finds a nice place in the yard to demonstrate the art and skill of tee-teeing. Look at that cute tan butt!Mrs. Sam and Mr. Steve are leaving this weekend to go on an anniversary cruise, so we invited Olivia over to play for a few hours while Sam ran some errands. It is so much fun to watch the two of them play and run around together. Before she got there, I planned out all of our activities; including, baking a cookie cake. I got most of the ingredients pre-measured so it would be easier for the kids to put them into the mixer. To set the stage...mixer on counter, ingredients pre-measured in cups, eggs on counter, two toddlers standing in chairs ready to help. I turn on the mixer and was going to let them see the butter and sugar combine BEFORE dropping the eggs in. Olivia, on the other hand did not think it was important to wait on the butter and sugar to blend so she threw an egg over the bowl and it landed in the mixture just in time for it to be crushed. I was laughing so hard I could barely turn off the machine and we all had a time trying to get the crushed eggshell out of the batter. I was laughing at Olivia, Olivia was laughing at me, frantically getting the eggshell out, and Lucas was laughing at Olivia! Needless to say, that the cookie cake instantly became a kids-only cake.

After they helped me spread the batter onto the pan, we put it in the oven to bake and headed over to the table to play with play dough. It was almost comical to watch how different boys and girls play with things. Olivia was being so delicate with her play dough, while Lucas was smashing his down and throwing it across the room. Both kids could barely concentrate on the play dough once the cookie cake finished baking and I took it out to cool.

When they had enough of making animal cut outs on the play dough, we started painting. I had to take their shirts off so they wouldn't destroy their clothes with paint (so don't freak out Mr. Steve!) I taped their paper down to the table so it wouldn't slide everywhere and then we had a small lesson on colors as I poured each onto a paint tray. Olivia was so excited to be painting and I just sat there watching her smile and laugh the entire time. Lucas demonstrated that he was a boy once again by slinging paint around the room while Olivia very gently painted her paper.

When paint time was over, I cleaned up and started cooking their lunch; while they played on the couches, by climbing up on one side and then sliding down from the top. They both loved having a stool in the bathroom and being able to independently wash their own hands (which they demonstrated every 5 minutes while I was cooking.) The kids knew that after lunch we could eat our cookie cake; so by the time the fish sticks and mac-n-cheese were ready, they were more than anxious to eat everything on their plate. For an added treat, I cut a fresh pineapple up and let them drink the juice at the bottom with a straw (and of course threw in how we can all take turns and share.)

When lunch was over, I brought out the cookie cutters and put the cookie cake on the table. They had such a great time pushing the cookie cutters down and pulling up a cookie that they could eat. This was the only time I saw Lucas being calm and Olivia frantically using her finger to scrape up the chocolate chips.

The next activity on the agenda was gluing shapes to a paper hat. We had a slight delay before this activity so we could change diapers (and them change them again 5 minutes later...yep, they had to do it at the same time and then tell on one another!) Both kids thought that having their own glue stick to use was such an honor that they didn't even try to eat it or glue something they weren't supposed to.

Since Mrs. Sam would be coming back soon, we headed upstairs to play a little, clean up, chill out, drink some milk, and read some stories. Lucas was so exhausted that he almost fell asleep on Olivia's shoulder while they were sitting side-by-side listening to a story. I put Lucas down for his nap while Olivia and I went downstairs to wait for Mrs. Sam. Sam was so happy to see that Olivia had such a great time and said she felt like she picked her up from camp with all of her artwork. We really loved having Olivia here and we all hope you have a fun time on your cruise.

You should be able to figure out what the kids are doing in the pictures. Be sure to see the look on Olivia's face after she threw the egg into the mixer...

Video of Olivia and Lucas Painting:

Olivia and her Grandma stopped by on Saturday to invite Lucas and I to a tea party at their house. Olivia was more than excited and willing to take Grandma Linda on a tour of the house and especially the playroom. She was running around and crawling on the furniture so much that she lost her hat in between the couch and an end table. Lucas is so excited to be going to a tea party and has talked about it everyday until we went on Thursday. What is even funnier is that he has no clue what a tea party is, but is excited anyway.

Saturday night, we went to a neighbor's house for a pre-4th of July party. Lucas especially likes this neighbor for several reasons...he is a police officer and brings his car home and allows Lucas to explore the car, he has small helicopters that he flies around the neighborhood, and his wife Tiffany drives a convertible Mustang and promised Lucas a ride in it to the pool. Lucas talks about them every night and has not allowed us to take the invitation off of the refrigerator. When we arrived at the party, almost everyone was hanging out outside and Lucas immediately spotted the children playing soccer and the the girls running around. I went back home across the street to grab Lucas his four-wheeler so he could join in on the action. Mr. Rick has concrete stairs in his backyard which caused Lucas his first boo-boo of the night. Even though he was practically dripping blood on his shin, he barely cried and just wanted back down to play. Lucas also met a young girl, Esa, who lives across the street and she entertained him for a while playing cars and trucks. Mr. Rick even let Lucas play with one of his toy police cars which really bumped him up on the favorite persons list. Mrs. Tiffany also made cupcakes for the kids and set up a table for them to decorate them with icing and sprinkles...Lucas was in heaven! During a quick diaper change outside, Lucas demonstrated to everyone at the party how he was a big boy and tee-teed in the yard to a bunch of oohs and aahs and how cutes. All in all, we had a great time at the party and really appreciate the invite. We are so happy with our new neighbors and feel so lucky to be living around them.

On Sunday, the 4th of July, we headed over to Old Navy to pick out matching festive shirts for all of us. During a quick stop at TJ Maxx to look for a new swim suit, Lucas found a helmet which he wore around the store. Unfortunately, I cannot get the photo off of Ben's phone, but will post it later.

While Lucas napped, Ben and I got ready and packed for a fun-filled picnic-style dinner with some of our friends from the neighborhood. When Lucas woke up, we had some time before everyone arrived and gathered at our house so Lucas played in the yard on his slip and slide. He absolutely loves that thing and loves watching Dippy run around to avoid the water he sprays everywhere.

When everyone arrived at our house, we followed each other over to the Polo Fields to eat dinner and watch the fireworks on the golf course. Many of the dads (and Lindsi) played football and frisbee while the children ran around and the moms sat and talked. Lucas and Boris kept busy sweeping and raking the sand dunes while Selina and Jackson ran after the dads and played on the four wheeler. It was such a relaxed and entertaining evening and we are so lucky to have such great friends living around us.

Everyone brought a dish or two and we all thoroughly enjoyed all of the food. We only had one mishap the entire evening, which I think is pretty good, when the paper towels caught on fire! Fortunately, being pregnant with twins didn't slow Mrs. Olga down and was quick enough and put it out before most of us realized what even happened.

Right before the fireworks started, our family friends Shawn and Dylan came out and joined us on the golf course. Thanks for allowing us to park at your house!

Ben and I bought glow necklaces for all of the children which they found almost as entertaining as the fireworks. The fireworks were absolutely beautiful this year and almost all of the children really enjoyed them. Poor Jackson was a little startled at first, but after a quick walk with his Daddy, he came back ready to enjoy the show. I think we all look forward to many more 4th of Julys together!

To continue with the holiday weekend, Ben was off on Monday and we spent a lot of time at the pool. Our friends Jennifer and Nathan and their two kids were up at the pool too and we all had a fun time going down the slide. When Ben heard that little Montgomery (2 months younger) was going down the slide by himself, he was immediately determined to teach Lucas too. I, on the other hand, was terrified and not ready for it, especially when I looked up and saw that Ben had already sent him down. I was so scared for him and thought he would be terrified....but no, here came Lucas with the biggest grin on his face! Ever since that day, Lucas became a big boy and no longer wants to go down with Mommy.

My little boy is growing up so fast right before my eyes. Every day I am so thankful that I do not have to put Lucas in daycare and I can watch him all the time.

Until next week when you hear all about Lucas and Olivia's tea party!