InstaFriday

It has been a great week!  Here is what we have been up to this week:

This big girl started eating solids this week!

For a five month old, she already has quite the refined palette.

She wouldn't touch the rice cereal, but loves the oatmeal!

We've finally had a break in the weather and even some rain!

We headed to the zoo for the first time since right after Olivia arrived.

Aunt Jamie and Uncle Tyler got to go with us, too!

Olivia is such a cuddle bug and loves to ride in her Ergo carrier,

especially now that she is big enough to ride on my hip in it.

She loved being able to see all of the animals at the zoo!

I brought in Hannah's old exersaucer from the garage,

and after several good scrubbings (yuck!),

Olivia had a great time spinning and playing!

Uncle Jonathan went to church with us last week!

These girls sure do love spending time with him! 

I hadn't realized how much I was missed having some fun time for myself.

My free time (without kids) lately has been spent cleaning, working, or going to the doctor.

Last night after the girls were in bed, 

I ignored the messy house and sat down to make this fun fall wreath!

And Chet and I played Grease Dance on the Xbox Kinect.

(There will be no pictures of that!)

Definitely a fun night!

Five Months

Miss Olivia is five months old today!  It is going by so fast!  She no longer has the newborn look and mannerisms.  Olivia loves to be on the floor playing and can roll across the room before you know it!  We can see her fun personality beginning to grow and develop.  She loves to play and tease.  Her favorite thing right now is shaking her head back and forth waiting for us to laugh and say, "shake-a-shake!"  She is beginning to sit up on her own.  She is still a bit wobbly at times, but just laughs when she topples over.

We are sleep training right now, trying to get her to sleep through the night again.  Her schedule was interrupted on one of our trips and we haven't been able to get back on track until now.  She is doing much better at putting herself back to sleep and is only getting up at 5:00 to eat now.  She also has quite the conversations with herself at 4:00 am!

InstaFriday- Ozark Edition

We headed to Osage Beach, Missouri this last weekend for a speaking engagement.  The conference was held at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in the Ozark Mountains overlooking a large lake.  We made a long weekend out of the trip.  The mountains and the lake were beautiful!  Of course, about half an hour into our drive, I realized that I left my camera at home so I relied on my phone to take pictures.

We stopped in Oklahoma City for a quick lunch with my sister!

Stopped at the McDonald's build over the highway for an ice cream stop.

Ice cream machine was broken!

Hannah still thought it was just "Awesome" 

that the cars on the highway were driving under us.

The resort was built in the 1960's.

We bowled for the first time ever as a family!

Hannah thought it was the best.

She even got a strike!

We also played miniature golf.

Hannah has her own way of playing

and I really think it is more fun that the actual way.

Do whatever you need to do to get the ball in the hole.

Even if that means picking it up with your hand to move it around the obstacles.

 The lake was gorgeous!

 Fun on the playground

We even tried out the indoor water park.

Unfortunately, the heater was broken and the water was FREEZING!

Hannah came out with blue lips and couldn't stop shivering.

Olivia loved that the conference gave us a suite for the weekend.

The living area was almost as big our living room and kitchen!

Lots of room to roll around and explore.

And floor to ceiling windows so she could look outside, too!

We are so blessed to have a four year old who can entertain herself in the car.

With our contant on-the-go lifestyle, it makes it so much easier.

This weekend kicked off our fall that is full of road trips!

 

And it helps that she can help entertain her sister in the car, too!

InstaFriday

It is hard to believe that it is Friday already!  It has been a whirlwind week!  Here is what we have been up to:

This sweet girl is rolling all over the floor now and 

is even beginning to push up on her arms.

I love watching her grow and change each day.

My favorite right now: watching her pick up and play 

with toys that she just ignored a week ago.

Cousin Maddie got to come over for a sleepover this week!

We went to the Aquarium, ate at Rainforest Café, 

stayed up watching movies, had breakfast at Krispy Kreme, 

and played on the McD's playground for most of the morning.

Nobody can get Olivia to laugh as much as her sister can!

Olivia laughs at Hannah.  Hannah then laughs at Olivia.

Back and forth.  They are so funny to watch! 

They entertained themselves for half an hour.

We have been watching the Olympics. 

Hannah is fascinated with the gymnastics.

She is practicing her own tumbling 

complete with her final salute to the judges.

Which also includes a wink and a big grin.

Four months and I finally have a picture of Hannah holding her sister.

She has refused until now.

She didn't really have a choice this time.

I was fixing the carseat and needed to put Olivia down for a second.

Hannah didn't even hesitate as I placed Olivia in her lap.

Not only is the picture special because she is holding her baby sister,

but I feel like it marks a new beginning of sorts.

Hannah is finally settling in to this new lifestyle.

The fits (kicking, angry screaming, hour long rants over minute things)

are much less frequent and angry now. 

We are finally in our groove as a family of four.

Yes, we (all) still have our moments, 

don't really have much of a sleep schedule for Olivia,
and there is never enough time to get it all done.

But we make it work from day to day and 

are having much more fun in doing so!