This is what I do when Olivia takes a long nap

Popcorn Popping

Ryan surprises me.  Sometimes he plans a perfect family moment.  In this case it was a popcorn popper.  After dinner he announced we were going to the store and buying a popcorn popper.  So we did.  There isn't a whole lot of choices when it comes to poppers these days.  We were lucky to find this one.  It was a lot of fun to watch the kids.  They had no idea you could make popcorn without a microwave!  

First the popper

Add a few seeds

 Don't forget to plug it in!

Then watch the magic show.

 Quick snap shot of her just because she's beautiful.

 Watch a little Fantasia with your popcorn.  

There you have it, a recipe for a perfect moment!

March Madness in Riverside

Legos

The other day I was stir crazy.  So I used Borders going out of business as an excuse to get out of the house.  I told the kids they could pick a book.  In the end neither of them actually chose a book.  Kaitlynn got some princess color by number pages and frame.  Jack picked legos.    When Jack picked the book I thought it was just a book about pirate legos, I didn't realize it came with actual legos.  Plus I thought he had gotten it from the pile of 50% off.  He didn't.  It was only 30% off.  And the price was already marked down for the sale price.  So I thought I was going to be paying half of what was on there.  (Sigh) I was a little surprised to see the price ring up at twenty dollars!  Yikes! I really didn't want to pay that much but I really didn't want to tell Jack, he needed to go pick out another book.  So I bought it.  I don't know who was happier him or Ryan.  They played legos all evening. And again the next morning.  I guess these pictures were worth the twenty dollars.

Happy Birthday Olivia!

We had a fun birthday weekend.  I am quickly learning that it may have been a mistake to have them so close together.  Too late now!  Olivia's birthday was much less exciting than either Kaitlynns or Jacks first birthday.  We didn't even buy her a present!  Gasp! I know we are officially the worst parents ever.  She honestly doesn't need anything and doesn't know any better.   Good thing her grandparents love her, they made sure she wasn't without on her birthday.

The beautiful birthday girl.

 First church then afternoon naps and movie.

Toy Story Three.  Think they can see it?

Here is more evidence that we didn't really think through having kids so close together.  I really didn't want to make another cake and was more than willing to reuse Jacks pirate cake for Olivia.  Ann couldn't stand for that kind of abuse so she made Olivia birthday cup cakes and put them in the shape of a one.

Grandma Hylton made sure Kaitlynn wasn't left out either.  She gave Kaitlynn a little poodle just like Frenchy (Fancy Nancy's poodle.)  Frenchy has been sleeping safely under Kaitlynn's pillow since then.

Time to blow out the candle!

I think she was pleased with Nannys hard work.

"I'm One!"

We let the big kids handle the present opening.  It was much more important to them than Olivia.

Though she was curious.

And did come down and try them out.

Happy Birthday Jack!

It happened.  He grew.  And here we are again celebrating another birthday.  Three!  He is so old, so smart, and oh so perfect.  I am forever grateful for my snuggly warrior.

The morning started out with his morning dose of antibiotics.  Once Nanny arrived she was the only one he wanted to help "squeeze the bottle".

Then it was time to mix up the cake.

I had to cut off the bottom to make it lay flat a little better.  They were happy to help clean up.

While Jack took his afternoon nap Nanny and Kaitlynn were busy decorating.  He woke up to balloons, banners and streamers.

Olivia though it doesn't really look like it, love hitting the balloons too.  Sadly today I put an end to all the balloons.  I let the kids keep them down stairs for a few days but today I took a seam ripper to all of them. A little brutal I know but very satisfying.

I got a little too ambitious.  This was the cake he wanted and I said okay.  What in the world was I thinking!  There was supposed to be a lot more color on the cake but I ran our of energy/ability.  

Jack still had the nappy grumps when he woke up so he didn't want to play pin the tail on the donkey. He thought it was a stupid idea to cover your eyes, spin around and then try and find the donkey while others laugh at you.   I guess I can see his logic.  Kaitlynn played though and we thought it was fun.  Though even she thought the blind fold was a stupid idea.  Here she is pinning the tail in the right spot without a blind fold.  Much better.

Then we headed off to a bounce house.

Turns out a bounce house is more Kaitlynns thing. Not Jacks.

Love the skirt.

This pose if perfect because she was wearing a wonder woman shirt.

Jack really didn't like the huge slides.  He started to go down head first then thought better of it and needed daddy to save him.  Ryan had to pull him up by one foot while holding Olivia.

Then they went down all together.  Blurry picture but you can see Kaitlynn loves it, Jack likes it (as long as daddy is holding him) and Olivia is not a fan!

She was still protesting after the ride.

Nanny indulged Jack and went down a few times.

This picture could have been so perfect but I did something weird to the setting and made everything all blue!

We had to wait until evening to open presents because Ryan had to be at a conference all day.  Jack and Kaitlynn could hardly stand the anticipation.  We let him open presents from Grandma and Grandpa Hylton before dinner just to appease the tension.  Tons and tons of Hot Wheel Cars!  While he stayed in the hospital some of the prizes they gave him were Hot Wheel Cars.  He thinks they are super cool now.

Yum Pirate Cake!  This cake taste yummier than regular cake since mommy spent two hours decorating it!  I am sure that is exactly what he was thinking.

Time for more presents.  Nanny gave him a lunch box thermos bag thingy to hold all of his toys in.  It is absolutely perfect he carries it around every where and now all of his little toys and cars have a spot.  

Then onto the big gift from mom and dad.  A bike!  LAst summer he learned how to ride a tricycle and then spent most of his time on Kaitlynns bike. So we figured to help eliminate some fights we would just get him one of his own.  The weather has been to cold to actually use it yet.

This picture makes it look like he really loved the bike.

But it only lasted about five seconds and then everyone wanted to play with his other presents.