Ron Burgundy

Dear Olivia,

If I could sew, you would have been Ron Burgundy for Halloween.  (Maybe Ronda Burgundy).  Since I can't sew, you were a ballerina.

 

You also carved a pumpkin with dad.  Actually dad carved the curious George pumpkin while you watched PBS on the ipad and mom was burning the pumpkin seeds in the toaster oven.

 

After spending a day with Aunt Amber, your hair was curled and you came home with donkey teeth.

 

When we visit daddy at work, the plan is to get in, get out, and not disrupt any patients or create a scene.  Things never seem to go as planned...

 

And...from a LONG time ago...Here are photos of you with cousins, an alien, an over-eager-lego lady, and a camel.  There is always a surge of emotions at the State fair.  Usually at some point we get claustrophobic and too-tired...this year legoland topped us off.

happy

 intrigued

freaked

somber

Then there was your first day of school. Your teacher, Miss Beverly is about your height, and she is old and sweet, and bossy...Slightly intimidating for being so small:) 

You also have mom's 2012 taxes-Hunger Games folder, since mom didn't want to go buy one.  This has set you up to be the coolest kid in preschool (you can thank me later).

Pumpkin Patch/face painting with Amelia

Pretend horseback riding at Nana and Papa's

Real horseback riding at Anna's bday party. Technical difficulties w/ mom's camera...grr. 

Then, the pony ate a piece of bday cake and ALL of the kids watched and thought that was so cool, except YOU...because you would rather eat your OWN cake than watch a pony eat cake.

After the horseback riding, Anna opened her presents.  You really wanted her presents and asked her if you could buy them.

love my entrapaneur,

mom

friends don't shake hands, friends HUG

Dear Olivia,

This week you helped Aunt Chelsea and me paint.  As paint clothes, dad turned his tank top into a dress for you.  Pinterest could not have done it better.

 

 



We also had Nana, Papa, Paige and Alaina come over this week.  I have no pictures, just memories.  And quotes.

 

Alaina:  Aunt Jenna, why do you have fake flowers sitting in water?

Mommy:  Hmm, so they would look real.

Totally called out.

 

Paige:  Aunt Jenna, are you pregnant?

Mom:  Nope.  Do I look like I am?

Paige:  Yeah, a little.

And then there was our weekend to Fort Dodge for Amelia's b-day and to see great-grandma Betty.  Good times!  I'm still impressed Amelia was able to peddle the tractor with you behind it.

 

 

 

I should also mention your swimming lessons. 

Things you won't do:

1.  Go under water

2.  Waterslides

3.  Talk to anybody who splashes.

 

Things you do:

1.  Tell kids they're your friends, before you know their names.

2.  Chase kids, whether they like it or not.

  (One day you chased a little girl and she turned around and said "Don't chase me ever.  You're not my friend."  I didn't want to take sides, but I wanted to step in and tell her she's missing out on a very consistent and predictable friend.)

 

 

 



love, mom



greatest hits

Dear Olivia,

 

The following is a collection of your greatest hits:

 

To the tune of Mickey Mouse clubhouse Hot Dog song:  "Hot god, hot god, hot diggity god." 

Not your typical worship song;)

 

To the tune of In Christ Alone:  "I don't want my magic wand to break."

 

"Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, oooooh my soul, worship His Holy Name!" This is the song you sang at the library as loudly as you could, right before you had a huge temper tantrum, screaming your head off and making me chase you down the hallway.

 

The following is an example of things you say:

 

me:  "what is that letter, Olivia?"

you: "it's a, um, a diddy"

that means you have no clue what it is.

 

me:  "ok Olivia, how do you say 'shoes' in spanish?"

you [confidently]:  Shoozeeta!

 

wearing bow:  "I be Paige!"

wearing cute dress:  "I Alaina!"

"will we see uncle Markus?"

 

"I go school when I bigger?"

"yep, you'll go to school when you're bigger."

"ok, I bigger!"

 

you:  "mommy, can I say you stink?"

me:  "no Olivia, it's not nice to tell ppl they stink, it could hurt their feelings."

you:  "ok, mommy.  I won't say you stink like stinky poop."*

 

*just to clear up any uncertainty of odors, and to protect mommy's insecurity, there was a trash can of diapers behind you;)

 

Aunt Amber and you started these conversations initially, with pink vs. red nail polish debates.

amber:  "it's pink."

you:  "no it's red."

amber:  "pink."

you:  "it's pink."

amber: "no, red."

(repeat, repeat, repeat)

Then you turned this into a daily conversation piece.

 

you: "mommy, you da boy gabba gabba."

me: "no, YOU da boy gabba gabba."

(repeat, repeat, repeat)

 

This is what we do while other kids are doing pre-school.

 

If I were not responsible for how you turn out, I would be completely entertained all day, every day:)

 

Counting papa's teeth and checking for sugar bugs.  

I was a little jealous of Giraffe for getting to nap

Again, even though baby is napping on a changing pad with a book as a blanket...still a little jealous.



2 peas in a...tunnel

You look like you're going off to school...maybe when you're bigger!

 

 

this may go in the wedding slideshow

the toilet paper tail...nothing wrong with saving some for later;)

 

"you da black one mommy, I da pink one.  ok?  ok."

"what do you want for your birthday Olivia?"

"um, PINK!"

PINK

10,000 reasons for my heart to sing

Defrosted cupcakes after being frozen over a month since you were sick for your birthday. 

Covered up freezer-burn with pink and sprinkles

 

Alaina!

Paige!

Amelia!

 

 

auntie looks like a model in this one:)  unkie and auntie took you for a week to play with Amelia and Isabelle.  That way I could catch up on housekeeping, sleep, and...re-energize for future Olivia gabba gabba conversations.  Again, bless the LORD for our family!

 

love,

mom

Alaina

Dear Alaina,

I'm not sure where to start so let's start with your senses.  Your mom told me your senses are strangely strong.  Your taste buds are acutely aware.  Your ears could hear a silent dog whistle.  Your nose KNOWS.  And you don't forget anything.  Ever.  ;)

Our conversation as I'm making orange chicken, a risky new recipe:
Alaina:  Something stinks.
Alaina:  What stinks?
Alaina:  It's smelling up the whole house.
Alaina:  I'm breathing through my mouth since I can't breath through my nose.
So you can imagine my surprise when you wanted seconds!  I considered that a victory.


We also went to storytime at the library today.  In 4 miles you asked 4 times, "are we there yet?"  Then you and Olivia set your mats RIGHT next to each other and were buddies the whole time.

 Left to Right: baby snowman with no face, mom snake, baby snake with a hat on, baby under a blanket, extra piece of clay, flat snake with red hair, big snowman, rainbow snowman with big eyes, dog bone.

You also love having your picture taken.

teddy bear picnic...Elmo was almost uninvited for not being an animal.

We're having so much fun with you!

 

Love,

Aunt Jenna





 

very merry un-birthday

Dear Olivia,

There's not much of anything sadder than seeing my sweet "big girl" sick on her birthday.  Especially when we've talked this day up for a very long time.


  me:  "olivia, when's your birthday?"
  you:  "after christmas!"
So when christmas was over, your birthday could not come soon enough!

Today at the doctor, you got your finger poked,  they used an old fashioned Bugs Bunny bandaid that looked expired, and swabbed your nose boogers to test for influenza.  To reward you and torture me, they gave you a sucker which always gets at least 3 objects sticky and there is never a place to throw away the stick.

Meanwhile, you have not been able to help with Cate in any way, and the two of you have only been able to look at each other from a distance. 

To make things worse, you were sick on Christmas too.

To make things better, I think of Psalm 103...
Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

One day kind of recently, mommy woke up and realized her heart was selfish and needed to be fixed. 
That's because I saw how kind and helpful all our family has been to us.  We love 'em all!

Anyway, we'll try a birthday re-do after you're better!

love,
mom