cars

Both girls, especially Little Bird are really into cars. They talk about cars ALL the time. The first thing they say when I walk in their room in the morning is "daddy car". Yes, daddy went in his car to work. They love to talk about who has a car and who has a truck ("Papa truck"). They love to point out cars, trucks and buses while we drive down the highway. So FINALLY while we were at Target yesterday, I looked for some toy cars. 

Target had some of it's toys on clearance and I found some really cool wooden vehicles...fire truck, cement truck, bulldozer, police car, ambulance, fire truck...they looked like classic toys so I thought they would be fun to have. I also got a few Little People cars since those may be more familiar to the girls.

Little Bird attached herself to the police car and the cement truck right away. Those were going to be hers and nobody (i.e. Little Pie) would be able to touch them. When we got home, I took them out of the package and immediately realized they weren't the greatest. I didn't know (because of the way they were packaged), that they came apart (supposed to be like a puzzle). Little Bird was NOT happy. Her car and truck were falling apart and she didn't know what to do. There were screams and cries and I immediately regretted getting them. ARGH! I tried to show her how to put them together but every time she went to pick them up (because she really just wants to carry them around), they would fall apart and she would get so mad. Apparently that's why they were marked down to a dollar. 

Little Bird and her new cars.

This is how she puts the cement truck together.

She insists this is the right way.

Carrying her cars (i.e. protecting them from Little Pie).

These cars are so hard to pick up!!!!

What is wrong with these cars????

Little Pie decided the wooden cars were too much so she just played with her Little People recycling truck.

I'm sure the cars will be fun some day...

Little Bird, Little Sister

The last couple of days, I have noticed that Little Bird has become quite the stereotypical 'little sister'. Today was a great example of how she has started to antagonize Little Pie. She works and works to annoy Little Pie until Little Pie starts screaming and mommy comes running. These stereotypical 'little sister' moves have already earned her more time outs than her sister. hmmm...

Before I get into that, I just need to mention that the girls played very nicely at the park this morning. We walked to a park further from our house so that I could get some exercise. When we got there, the all important swings were occupied so I quickly explained that we would have to do something else first. Both girls looked longingly at the swings, but were very cooperative and followed me to a different activity. However, we didn't quite make it to the lake I was going to show them because Little Pie suddenly took off for the swings...they had become unoccupied and her little eyes noticed right away! I was very proud of their behavior at the park; they were very accommodating and cooperative. 

When we returned home, I attempted to make lunch while the girls played wonderfully together. However, suddenly I heard 'the shrieks' from Little Pie that indicated someone was bothering her. I look to find Little Bird touching her arm...then she was touching her shirt...then she was pulling on her shirt...then she pulled Little Pie right to the ground. Time out #1.

After "hugging" Little Pie and apologizing for her behavior (actually Little Pie waits patiently for the hug, while Little Bird reluctantly gives it), Little Bird went off to play with something new and I went back to making lunch.  Not two minutes later I hear SCREAMS from Little Pie and look to find her pointer finger in Little Bird's mouth and Little Bird chomping down as hard as she can. Time out #2.

After "hugging" Little Pie (Little Pie still wants to hug her), Little Bird finally went off and played by herself. This time she learned that it was time to leave Little Pie alone. 

After nap time the girls were both in a great mood. We ran a couple of errands and then came home to play inside while I put away some things. Little Bird yelled "Pie! Pie! Pie!" for about 15 minutes straight. She kept trying to get Little Pie's attention, but Little Pie didn't want to give it to her. Then Little Bird started running up to Little Pie and yelling "Pie!" in her face and running away. Boy, Little Pie sure has a lot of patience. I'm waiting for the day when Little Pie fights back and it's Little Bird's shrieks I hear.

I wonder how Little Bird already knows that she is the 'little sister'? I'm certain that she will be the antagonizer and Little Pie will be running to me with "mom, little bird is annoying me". I'm certain that I, being a little sister myself, never acted this way. 

Right Uncle?!?

backyard fun

The girls played in the backyard today. Daddy came home from work a little early and joined in the fun. We played with the swings, the slide, the water table and the pool. It was quite busy!

Little Pie is really good at counting to 10. She loves it and gets so excited! Sometimes she counts from 1 to 10 without missing any numbers and without any help. Most of the time she eliminates one or more numbers. Today it was 7!

Little Bird has hated the bath and anything water related lately. It's been hard playing with water because she just hasn't been into it. Although, last weekend when we went to the swim pond, she actually liked it. Since then she has been a maniac in the bath and throwing water all of herself and dumping it over her head. Today in the little pool was no exception...until she took a spill!

dog days

Holy cow it's hot outside today! It was too much of a scorcher to play outside today. Also, we were supposedly supposed to get some severe storms, so I didn't plan an afternoon outing. We instead played inside and almost went crazy! No, it wasn't that bad, but it sure does remind me how tough winter can get. 

Little Pie didn't take a very good nap today (woke up after 45 minutes hysterical) so she wasn't in the best mood this afternoon. Little Bird woke up a little too early too when I tried unsuccessfully to put Little Pie back down. We ended up watching a couple of episodes of Elmo before the two were in a good enough mood to play.

We actually went down to the playroom in the basement where it was nice and cool. The girls really have fun coloring (they just say color). We have a great big chalkboard on the wall and a great big tablet of paper to color on. The one thing we still need to work on is using the "can" (crayon) on the paper and the "cha" (chalk) on the chalkboard. It sure is confusing!

Color

Little Pie is more into the chalkboard. That must mean that she'll be the teacher.

I drew a picture of a froggy on Little Bird's side of the tablet. She just sat in her chair cuddling her frog and saying "ohhhhhh" while she colored over my drawing. She's so darn cute. She would also "write" Pie's name and her name on the paper. 

We had to get a new ball house because the Disney Princess castle ball house bit the dust. Little Pie is ringing the door bell and saying "tin tin".

"Tin tin; is anyone home?"

The girls had a full day despite having to play inside (we went to story time at the library this morning). I guess it's a reminder of how this winter will be. Wait! Don't think about it just yet!!!

adorable little bird

Little Bird has been so silly lately. She seems to be especially silly after a nap; which is a welcome change from her very crabby mood that we usually see. After the girls wake up from their nap we come downstairs for a little snack and usually some Elmo. Little Pie always wants me to "cawie" her down the stairs, but Little Bird always wants to come down the stairs herself. (this is typical behavior in other respects too). Usually I bring Little Pie downstairs and get her situated with a snack and Elmo and then I go back to the stairs to check on Little Bird's progress. She tends to do things at her own (slow) rate just like her daddy so I don't expect her to be quick down the stairs. What has been so funny is that every time I go see her progress on the stairs, she is sitting near the top waiting for me. She is giggling hysterically and  as I crawl up to get her she practically jumps on me and wraps her skinny little arms tightly around my neck and laughs even more hysterically. She loves to play this little game and that's fine with me because it always gives me a good laugh. 

Little Bird playing her game.

super sized sunday!

I was too tired from our busy "no plans" weekend to post our adventures from Sunday, so here it goes!

We had another busy day of doing whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. We decided to try another park in the Three Rivers Park District. We chose Lake Minnetonka Regional park even though it was a good 30 minute drive. When we pulled up to the play area we couldn't believe our eyes! It was the COOLEST play area we have been to so far and the girls were IN LOVE. (They are currently redoing the play area at Elm Creek, which is 4 miles from us, and I'm really hoping it ends up looking like this place). The girls had so much fun that Little Pie threw quite the tantrum when it was time to leave. Here are some great action shots!
 

  Little Bird is impressed with the tube slide.

The little dare devil tried climbing up these!

Walking through a tunnel.

Little Pie checking to see why mommy's in the tunnel.

Going for the slide.

Crawling through a tunnel.  The equipment was still wet from the previous night's rain, hence the reason why her pants look like her diaper leaked.

Duo slide!!

Little Bird loved the tunnel slide; Little Pie not so much.

Little Pie would rather run up and down the hills. 

The girls had a GREAT time at this park and so did mommy and daddy! I think it really helped that there weren't any S-W-I-N-G-S at this park (or least I didn't see any). If those things are around, the girls just want to do that the whole time.  They ended up so exhausted from running and climbing and sliding that they (and daddy) took a 3 hour nap that afternoon. Nice!!

After the nice 3 hour nap (and mommy's trip to the gym), we headed over to play with Dakota and Penny. I still find it so funny that Little Pie has no fear when it comes to dogs. She can easily get scared of other silly little things, but she goes right up to any dog and plays in their face. Little Bird is getting much better about getting closer to dogs, but she will only do that if she truly knows the dog. 

First we have to run up and down the ramp.

 Little Pie wanted to stand by me as I gave the dogs a treat. Later, daddy let Little Pie give them a treat herself.

More ramp running.

Little Bird losing her fear and giving Dakota a nice pat.

Penny got a little tired of Little Pie's attention so she had to take a break few times and go hide under the car.

Little Bird giving Dakota another pat.

Look at Little Pie's hat. She kept taking it off and putting it back on, but like this. Daddy started calling her Gilligan Pie. She's such a goof!

Tickling Dakota's nose.

Getting tickles from Penny.

Tickling Penny.

Saying good bye to the puppies. Penny already had enough. 

After our visit to see the dogs (and a turn on the swings at the park by their house), we went to Panera for dinner. The girls didn't have an afternoon snack, so I thought they would be starving and inhale the macaroni and cheese. I was wrong. Little Bird wouldn't eat because she didn't have her apple sauce appetizer. Little Pie just wanted to get down and try to buckle the straps on the high chair. We were definitely reminded of why we don't go out to eat with these two!! After Panera we risked going to Cold Stone because Daddy and I needed a treat. Little Pie made a huge scene inside as we are trying to order and Daddy had to rush her outside before the place lost customers. Again, we were reminded of why we don't take these jokers out to eat. Hopefully some day they'll be interested!

super sized saturday!

This weekend is the first weekend of the summer that we didn't have anything on the calendar. We woke up this morning with no where special to be and that was just great. We ended up packing in a TON of fun!

This morning we went to French Regional Park for some playground time, walking and lake viewing. Of course the girls wanted to swing most of the time at the park, so when it started to get busy with other little toddlers wanting to swing, we headed on down to the beach on Medicine Lake. We didn't have our suits because we were planning on going home for lunch and a nap at the normal time, so this morning was just an exploration of the beach. The air was actually kind of cool since the sun went behind some dark clouds for a while, but the girls loved being at the beach!

 Another picture of Little Pie in a swing.

What's this? Little Bird in a swing??

Little Bird insisted on pushing the stroller down to the beach. Guess who's in the stroller....?

Little Pie! Little Bird pushed almost the whole way to the beach (with a little help of course).

We had to stop and see if there were any frogs hanging out on all the lilypads.

Taking a break for some Kix on the beach.

Daddy and Little Bird heading down to the water.

Little Pie heading down to the water on her own.

I really like it here!

When do I get to go in the lake?

Since the girls seemed to be so interested in the water at Medicine Lake, we decided to take them to the swim pond at Elm Creek Park Reserve after nap. We weren't sure how they would enjoy it, given our last  few swimming/water experiences, but we decided to try it anyway since it was so HOT this afternoon. To our pleasure (and surprise!) they both LOVED the swim pond. It was hard to get them out! It was one of the best activities we have done as a family and it was so nice to be outside enjoying the summer with a real summer activity. We'll be trying that again for sure!

Getting accustomed to the area.

Little Bird playing with the buckets and sand but looking longingly at the water. 

Little Bird went in immediately and started walking around without needing to hold anyone's hand. She started splashing and squealing like crazy!

Little Pie had a BLAST splashing herself and anyone around her.

 Getting the shovel to bring back into the water.

Taking off with the shovel.

Little Pie had fun burying her piggies under the sand in the water.

Little Bird didn't want to stop playing to pose for this picture, but she obliged anyway.

All dried off. We rarely have an activity where both girls have so much fun. It was really nice! We were so proud of them!

Because both girls had such a "good" day today, I started to think about why this may be (and how I can make it happen more often!). I started thinking that it seems like the girls have "good" days around the time they turn another month older. Am I crazy??? On Thursday they turned 20 months and this week/weekend has been pretty much incident free. Maybe this is just the mathematician in me that's always looking for a pattern, but I think I may be on to something. We'll see how my theory holds up in a month....