Liv right now.

Today I volunteered in Olivia's school, which meant that the walk to school was just her and me. I love being able to have alone time with Olivia, and all of my children.  I don't know what it was, maybe it was because I didn't have the boys distracting me, but I just couldn't get over how grown up and darling Liv seemed this morning. She picked out her own outfit. I love her style. She did her own hair. She brushed, flossed, and mouth washed her own teeth, and she even made her bed. I'm so proud of the good little girl that she is. 


I know that she has many friends that she could run and play with, because she is so social, but this morning when we arrived at the playground before the bell rang, she just stayed by me and held my hand. I loved it. When we got to her classroom she quietly took out her lunch box and put it with all of the other lunch boxes, hung up her jacket and sat down at her desk and waited for the teacher to give instructions. When the teacher announced that there was a new kid in their class Olivia smiled at him and waved. She is so sweet and consciences of making other people feel comfortable and included. 

Olivia loves art. She always has. She comes up with some amazing things. She uses all sorts of materials from rocks, cotton balls, sticks, felt, you name it and she will create something cute and creative out of it. She is also just excelling like crazy at the violin right now. I'm sure this will come and go in spurts, but right now I'm amazed at how quickly she is learning songs. She can read music now, and participates in an orchestra with her group class, reading music and following a conductor. It is so awesome to see her short little body behind this little stand following along as the conductor directs.  She inspires me. There are challenges that her teacher gives her, that I hesitate to teach at home, because I think they are just going to be too much, but when I give Liv the challenge I'm amazed at what she accomplishes. She is seriously doing things now that I didn't do as a violinist until I got to high school. It just goes to show that kid's brains are capable of way more than we realize.

I just wanted to take a minute to jot these things down, because I want to remember this little girl at this age, and how proud I am of her. She is such a blessing in my life. Such a helper, and a love, and a sass, and a doll. 

Look at that hair. Seriously? Remember how you thought your hair would never grow to be thick and beautiful Liv? Well it did.

We were all bowing our heads listening to Liv's blessing on the food, when I heard Buster say in a sing song voice "I see you". I peaked up only to see him staring at himself in a little mirror that he had found in our desk drawer. Jaron happened to be peaking too, and we both couldn't hold back the laughter. It was so cute.

Chop chop.

Side sweep bangs for me and some layers. I needed change, but wasn't ready to go short yet, so this is what I ended up with.  I love how the hairstylist styles and curls my hair. She did it with a one inch straightener  We'll see if I can ever get it to look like this again. . . knowing me it will probably just end up in a pony every day cause I'm lazy. 

Liv got bangs! I think she looks so cute with them. Her hair was always getting into her food and it was driving her crazy, but she likes to have it down, so we decided to give her some bangs. What a sweet little face. 

And just a regular old cut for the superhero who was a little busy thinking about his next move when I put the camera in front of his face.

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess

For Dr. Suess' birthday we went to Olivia's school a half hour early where we got cozy (in our jammies) and read some Dr Suess books together. It was a little crazy with Buster who just wanted to pull the books off of the shelf, but it was a good idea and their were moments of fun. It wasn't too fun when I looked up to see Buster climbing up his stroller, and then watched as it tipped over with him in it and everyone turned and gasped. I thought for sure he would let out a loud wail, but he just giggled.Whew.

Zara, Olivia's friend, Olivia, and Warner reading Oh, the Places You'll Go"

Olivia with her teacher Mrs. Fivecoat

Little rascal.

Here's a pic of the kids eating green eggs and ham that Dad cooked for breakfast this morning. I guess we discovered that we really don't like green eggs and ham at our house. Olivia didn't actually eat them, because even though the allergist says she can eat eggs now, she still doesn't want to. I can't say I blame her, the food used to make her wheeze like a chain smoker when she was a baby. Warner couldn't bring himself to eat them either. He just kept saying "But they're green! That's gross!" Jaron said that Warner watched him put the green food coloring in, but Warner still couldn't get past the mold-like color.  Maybe if it was pink eggs and ham it would be a different story, because for some reason I couldn't get over the color either, and I myself don't believe I can say that I like green eggs and ham. You live and you learn I guess.

Liv's comment was "Hey it would be really funny if Sam didn't like green eggs and ham, because then he would REALLY BE SAM-I-AM!!!" She was pretty excited about that thought. Sam is her cousin who she adores, quite literally adores. In fact, last time he was over I heard her propose to him.  "Sam, will you Marry me?" she asked. "Sure, I'll let you marry me" said Sam. Then she said, "But where are we going to live?" I had been eavesdropping from the front and finally decided to ask a very thought provoking question for a six year old girl "Olivia, are you sure you want to marry Sam now, and leave our house and our family?" The whole "you don't marry your cousins" conversation would come later I figured. After thinking about my question for a second, she looked a little upset. Then she looked at Sam and said "We should probably think about this later."  . . . "But don't forget ok?"  


Anyway, Happy Birthday Dr. Suess.