Olivia words

sadisfying adj. that which makes a person sad or disappointed. That video game is sadisfying because it makes you look weird and that is sadisfying.

Sammy+potty

Sammy used the potty for the first time this weekend! Like real pee, in the potty. It was very exciting. And, he did it again today. When he poops in the potty, I will shoot off fireworks. (I am super done with diapers...does it show?)

The Roars

These are Sammy's "Roars," a ragtag team of handheld African animals he carries everywhere. Olivia tried to name them: Bubba the lion, Blackie the puma, etc. But Sammy prefers a universal name: Roar. And that is what they do, they roar at each other, get scared, hide, then kiss and make up. Today, the Roars were left behind at IKEA. Sammy was not  pleased but thankfully Chris found them on a lawn chair near the check out. Crisis averted.

Sisters and Brothers, Brothers and Sisters, Ain't We Everyone

This picture cracks me up because it totally captures the relationship between these two. Olivia was trying to explain to me the rules of a game only she understands while Sammy does whatever it takes to get her attention. Theirs is a complex love and hate relationship. On the one hand, Olivia nurtures Sammy and can use the sweetest voice to ask him if he needs help or if he wants to play. On the other hand, there's this scenario, pretty much every day:

Olivia: Sam, that's my toy!
Sam: Mine!
(Sound of Olivia grabbing the toy from him.)
Sam: No, Mine!
(Sound of Sammy growling like a baby lion.)
(Sound of Olivia pushing or slapping Sam.)
(Sound of Sam crying.)
(Sound of Olivia crying.)

Ugh. I don't know what to do. They both obviously lack the verbal powers to get the other to understand without resorting to violence. But violence works! Toy is returned! But then everyone feels bad and is crying. Perhaps violence doesn't work!

We'll keep trying.

My goal is that these two will grow up to be adults who love and respect each other. Chris and I work on facilitating their relationship but I know how hard sibling relationships are. Then there are glimmers of just how much they do love each other: when Sam's having a hard time getting to sleep, he'll get into bed with Olivia and cuddle. At the park, another kid went down the slide and ran into Sammy. Olivia told her, "You should be careful, that's my baby brother!"

We've got a few exciting trips coming up, so there will be lots of opportunities for growth for these two.

Olivia is 5 years and 5 months!

Olivia is a cyclone of creative energy. She's either drawing, singing, dancing, propping up her dolls and critters for a dramatic scene or acting out an epic narrative. It's no wonder that she falls into bed exhausted at the end of the day. I try and keep up with all of her ideas and help them become realized. For instance, last week we were at Cathedral Park and Olivia found a handful of long, gray bird feathers. She decided that we should use them to make hats. My first instinct is, oh geez, how am I going to do that? I asked her to make some sketches of the hat she wanted to create and she did. Her hats were incredible flights of fancy with lanterns hanging off the ends, sparklers shooting off the top and lots of feathers. We settled on what looked like the easiest one to make and set about doing just that. We came up with a felt topper that Olivia thought her father would look good in. Chris was a good sport and tried it on. That made Olivia laugh because he looked like an elf.

She and I do some sort of collaboration every day; drawing, making dresses out of random fabric or whatever. Lately, she's been very helpful in the garden and she helped me pick out and then plant all of our flower boxes together. She also wanted her own garden (that's her in Olivia's Garden above) which is on the Roseway side of the yard. In it are lots of yellow dandelions, one very well taken care of strawberry plant and a container of pink fuzzy ground cover. My mom used to do this for me as well, to call one small area of the yard my garden. I hope it's giving her a love of gardening or nature.

Other than that, Olivia is almost done with preschool and we're still trying to figure out where she's going to kindergarten next year. I think she's excited but a little worried that none of her Little Lights friends will be there.

Sammy is 21 months!

This guy. This guy kills me! Such a sweet boy, loving, kind, helpful and becoming his own little dude. He isn't using tons of words but lets us know what he wants or needs pretty well. For instance, he can't verbalize that he wants to watch "Lion King", instead he hands me the remote, points to the television and says, "Rawr!" Message received, Son! 

  Physical activity is his thing--he runs, climbs on everything and basically daredevils his way through life. I don't get too worried; he knows his limits. Love this guy.

Sammy can read!

Not exactly....but today he kept pointing to letters in a book and I told him what they were. When he saw an S on another book he pointed to it and said "S!" He found other ones too. Boy is growing up!