Buster the Bunny

A few weeks ago I found this warm little bunny outfit in a thrift store and for $2.99 I couldn't resist.  

Jaron didn't know that I had bought the bunny outfit, and I was waiting the right moment to show it to him.

So the other day I spontaneously dressed up Buster in his bunny outfit right before I knew Jaron was going to walk in from work, and I sat him up on the family room couch.

Sure enough my man came in the door, sweaty and thirsty from his 8 mile bike ride up hill, only to find one cute cuddly bunny smiling and waiting for him happily on the couch. The pictures speak for themselves, but needless to say the bunny was a hit.

 

 

Making her feel special.

This week is a special week, because on Thursday, yes Thanksgiving day, we will be celebrating a special someones birthday. Because I love her so much, I'm trying to do something a little out of the ordinary for her everyday until her birthday. Nothing big, just little things to show her that she is special to me. 

Last night while Warner was napping and Liv was having quiet time I snuck upstairs and got Liv, who was just playing quietly in her room. I had her come join Jaron and I by a warm fire and we toasted to Liv and drank Martinelli's (have you tried the apple-mango- SO GOOD). We even let her have a fancy cup. She felt so special. 

Today I told her we could do a tea party for lunch. She was so excited. She invited all her friends (non-living friends) except for the zebra of course, who was very much alive at the tea party. She set and decorated the whole table, with such care and tact. Oh, and of course she came dressed for the occasion. She even dressed me, but I won't take a picture of my outfit, because I don't think I really looked quite as cute as she thought I did.

Introducing, her friend, and your friend, the zebra.

Pinkalicious Rose (the flamingo) and her daughter Lilly.

And others.

 
 And of course we scooted the babe over to watch us eat. He was much obliged.  

The little zebra exclaimed "Tanks mom for the tea party!" It was so sweet. Liv was so grateful and happy too. A little effort goes a long way with the little ones. 

Then tonight after family night we let Liv stay up a little late. She didn't do anything fun, in fact I said "Wanna help me fold laundry?" but she was so happy to be staying up late that she was even excited to fold laundry. She did a great job and was just happy to have my undivided attention. It was very sweet. 

Warner

Warner is getting more and more mischeveious these days. I never thought the day would come that he would actually start acting like a two year old, because the boy was just born mellow and sweet with stars in his eyes. 

 

Well, I have something to say about that. 

    Kiss it goodbye smalls. Kiss it goodbye.

 

Here is Warner's check list of productivity from last week:

 

*Poo in the tub - CHECK! CHECK!

*Put mom's mascara on my lips and the mirror- CHECK!

*Squeeze a bottle of baby diaper cream on my sisters bed spread- CHECK!

*Drink toilet water, no don't just drink it, fill up a hole cup of it and gulp it down.  - CHECK!

*Take shoes and socks off with out fail every time we get in the car to go somewhere, right before we get to the destination, and especially if we are running late, and chuck them all the way to the back of the minivan where Mom and Dad cannot find them- CHECK!CHECK!CHECK!CHECK!CHECK!CHECK!CHECK!

 

Sigh. 

 

But, in the end there are still moments when I look up from what I'm doing and find him doing things like this:

 

 

And these my friends, are the moments that make it all worth it.  

Olivia

Today I woke up from a little nap with Buster to Liv smiling over me. I had told her that she could either take a nap or just play quietly while me and the boys slept. I heard her singing and rummaging around down stairs as I drifted off into sleep. When I woke up to her grinning over me, I said "Hi Liv. What have you been up to sweetie?" She smiled big, and said, "It's a surprise for you".  She often says this and usually she has drawn a pretty picture for me or picked me some flowers from outside and put them in a vase, but not today. I put Liv in the bath per her request and walked downstairs to start dinner and found the whole downstairs MUCH cleaner than I had left it. I had left all the breakfast dishes out and even had some dishes from last night sprinkled here and there on the counter and the table.  All of those were cleared off the island and placed in a stack next to the sink. The table wiped off. The family room and living room clear of all toys. What a little doll I tell you.


Lately I have been having some stomach issues, and it hasn't been very fun, but the one plus side to it is, I think my kids sense something and they have been trying to be extra helpful lately. Olivia will say things like "Mom I'll let you pick which color of dishes we use for dinner tonight, because I know you are sick". 


At the end of the month this little girl turns 5 and I just can't believe it. I love Olivia so much. She brings so much personality and energy to the Brown table.

Rattle Snake Ridge A Few Weeks Ago

 

 

See those little legs. Well, those little legs completed a four mile hike! What a trooper. Were starting her young. :) And yes she did it happily for the most part. There was the time when we were still about a 1/2 mile from the top when she kept asking "Are we there yet"? "Are we there yet"? "Oh, my legs are getting tired". But nothing that couldn't be cured by an imaginative story about fairies trapped by angry goblins who grunted and snorted but were easily dissuaded by the kind fairy princess who, when presenting them with their favorite freshly baked macadamia nut cookie, stopped grunting and decided to free the fairies back into their magical fairy forest. 

Oh and then there was also the time that I didn't help her squat quite enough and Liv peed all down the back of her pants, and had to hike about 1and1/2 miles with a wet behind. Yea. What a trooper. Other than that it was a great success.  It was so gorgeous. It made us think of the time three years ago when we first came to Washington and hiked it. Now add three years and two kids. Wow. We've been productive haven't we?

 

October 2011 Recital

O Come Little Children

A Zebra, A Skunk, A Princess, and a Birthday

This little sleep skunk was my snugly friend while I passed out candy on Halloween night. The kids were out Trick-o-treating with Papa.

The excited Trick-o-treaters:

The loot

And then we had a birthday. And guess what the birthday girl got for her birthday?
Eye sight. It don't get much bettadendat.