Sixty and Sunny

We had another beautiful day today - it was sixty and sunny! Since the weather was so nice the kids and I took a walk to the post office this afternoon. Instead of pushing the stroller with Joey, I wore him because I find it easier to catch Amelia if I don't have a stroller to worry about. Since he wasn't shaded by the stroller we tried out his sunglasses:

Amelia actually did very, very well on this walk. Each time she pulled her hand away or tried to wander away from me I found a way to stop her - without yelling. We are trying very hard to keep calm with Amelia and practice/learn more patience. It isn't always easy but the results are so much better than the results yelling or raising our voices got us. When we would react with anger it resulted in us all being more upset and nothing was ever accomplished. By using calm voices and patience we are offering her the chance to learn vs. creating even more anger or frustration - in all of us. Like I said, it is not always easy but the results are worth it.

One way I kept her with me was this big stick or as she called it, her "kay" which translates to cane.

She found it on the sidewalk right away on our walk. Several times she let go of my hand and tried to get me to hold the stick and she would hold the other end. Over and over and over we stopped and I would explain to her again that she could hold her stick and I would hold her hand. Otherwise, we would be going home.

We went on an hour long walk and she held my hand the entire time. I must be doing something right because towards the end if I let go for a second to adjust Joe she would stop and tug at my shirt! It would seem that she learned something on this walk through patience and kind words! Now the biggest question is...will she remember on our next walk?

Amelia has been very into her Dora rainboots since we dusted them off. So into them that this is how I found her last night:

Same thing tonight:

(Watching Oliver and Company with her "two cows" (white and chocolate milk mixed))

Spring Fever

We have been having warmer weather here in Wisconsin! Dare I say winter is over? Even though it never really came? Seriously, we had a pretty cold winter - with almost no snow! Poor Amelia only got out on her sled one time. She now calls it her boat and insists that you pull her around the apartment in it.

Yesterday we grilled for dinner with my family since it was so nice out (fifties.) Amelia helped Nana and Papa feed their animals.

She even ran to the sandbox and got her own bucket since Nana's was too big for her to handle unassisted.

Joey got his first taste of swinging! I think he liked it :)

Before making dinner we took a short walk and the kids rode in their wagon that Santa brought them! Amelia was not too pleased to have to share. I was insistent that Joey ride in the wagon because it is for both of them and the more that Amelia uses it solo the harder time she will have when they are both using it.

I ran to Babies R Us with my sister and while we were gone Jason and Amelia played with chalk. Jason drew her a Peter Pan picture! From left to right you will see Tinkerbell, Peter Pan and Tick Tock the croc. I think he actually did a really good job. Way better than I could have ever done!

Today we had rainstorms :) I am pretty excited for spring this year. Mostly because the winter wasn't very winter-y to me and I am ready for it to warm up. Below freezing temperatures really aren't that much fun without snow to play in!

Bubbles

With another warm afternoon today we spent more time outside! Amelia had her first experience blowing bubbles. She was so hysterical blowing bubbles!






She never quit with the sound effects. It was pretty fun watching her! We might have to keep the bubbles hidden from now on. She already found another bottle and demanded to blow bubbles (inside) so they are conveniently "lost" until we are outside again!

Playing Outside

Earlier this week we spent almost the whole day outside! Amelia walked around the yard and had a blast pointing at everything:


She rode in her swing:


Amelia watched Daddy on the John Deere and everytime he shifted gears she made this face:


It was pretty funny!

After dinner we went on a walk as a family.


Amelia topped the night off with her favorite snack - frozen GoGurt!


Since our day outside we have had more snow fall (and melt) and I think everyone around here is anxious for spring to arrive once and for all!

Family Walk

Tonight we took advantage of the wonderful weather and went on a walk by the lake. We were gone for 2 hours! Amelia had some fun at the playground even! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...












It was bath night tonight...


...clearly :)

Heat Wave

It has been a warm day. Way too warm for my tastes, in fact. Our apartment has gotten up to 79 degrees and the current temperature is 81 degrees (it is 7 p.m.). This is not normal spring weather! In fact, 3 years ago at this time we had a blizzard! I am not sure which would be worse, a blizzard or this heat...

Amelia and I needed to get out of the house so we went on a walk by the lake.


We were hoping for a nice cool breeze down by the water but we weren't so lucky today. Amelia, as usual, knew just what to do to relax on the walk:



I can assure you this is a happy face:


Amelia got her first bath in our tub tonight!


I brought a cup in with me to use to rinse her and stuff and she was so fascinated with it!


She's all ready for bed now and I am just waiting for the signs that she is ready for sleep!

El Fuego

Today we took advantage of the warmer spring weather and when we went out for lunch, we asked to eat on the patio! It was so wonderful. We tried a new mexican place, El Fuego, that we had never been and were very pleased and impressed with it. I mean, come on, what's not to like about a patio like this:


Yeah, thought so.

Jason calls this next picture "Amelia in Mexico"


Our server suprised us and brought Amelia a popsicle once we were finished eating. She LOVED it. Here are some pictures of her very first popsicle!



She crashed hard on the way home:


And finally, here is the proof I have been waiting to catch a photo of...


She is standing! Today she even took one teeny, tiny step when I pulled her shopping cart away from her. Then she lunged for it so I am not sure I really consider it a true step but we are making progress!

Spring is Coming!

The berries are growing...


The snow is melting...


The birds are back...


It is coming...SPRING!

This morning, after breakfast, we went on a "spring" walk. It was overcast, foggy and sloppy out but we went anyways so we could get some fresh air and listen to the birds.


We stopped at the playground at South Shore Park and Amelia had some fun in the swing for a little while:


Jason wanted to take her down some slides so he brought her to the top of one...


...and quickly realized that I was right, it was too wet to slide down! Next time.


We skipped rocks at the marina:



Amelia and Jason shared a moment by the water:


Jason had some fun:


(click to enlarge)

I did not find this fun. I kept telling him we needed to go before we got in trouble! (for the record, he was right, we did not get into any trouble)

We finally headed home and had an awesome lunch of homemade chicken soup and bread and now everyone is napping (except me, obviously).

Next up for us? Taking Poopy to the vet. The poor guy is having some troubles and he needs to be seen :( We think it all started with the missing chicken wishbone (from the whole chicken used for the homemade chicken soup) that Jason stepped on...but half was missing. They seem to think that he might have some sort of bacterial infection that may stem from this missing piece of chicken bone. We are pretty sure it was Poopy who "got into" the bone. It's always him causing the trouble/messes, well, at least it is him 95% of the time. He is such a bad influence on my perfect little angels - Ludo and Lucky ;)

Hopefully everyone is having a good week so far! Today has been very good for us since the week got off to a rough start - mostly for me - which impacts Jason's week too!