they're back!

Our girls seem to be back! We've still been dealing with some normal 3-year-old issues (whining, not listening) but for the most part we seem to have our happy, fun loving girls back. I actually ended up bringing Olivia to the doctor last week. At bedtime, she started screaming hysterically that it hurt to go to the bathroom. Trying to get her to give a urine sample at urgent care was not fun, but eventually she did it! We found out she had a urinary tract infection, poor girl. That might be part of the reason why she was so out of sorts! After a few days of antibiotics, she felt a lot better (and so did we).

Last Saturday, we camped out in our backyard. Jamie set up the tent in the afternoon. I blew up their inflatable beds which I put in the tent, and then the girls decided to bring some toys in there and play. They had a blast! We went to the movie "Rio" in the evening, and then when we came home we had a bonfire and made smores. Olivia and Violet loved sitting by the fire in their little camping chairs. We weren't out there very long before Violet seemed tired, so the girls went into the tent for bed. Olivia kept coming out because she was all revved up (maybe because of the smore?), and Violet stayed in the tent but kept looking out and shining her flashlight on us through the tent window. Jamie & I went in there and laid down with them to help them calm down and go to sleep. We talked a little bit, and every time we looked over at Violet she was grinning from ear to ear. Every time she would talk, she would do so in a whisper. We cracked up because she really had no reason to whisper! Olivia kept flopping around on her bed and playing with a pouch that hung from her side of the tent. Jamie thought this was hilarious because she looked like a flopping crappie. We sang a few songs, then finally - we all went to sleep! As soon as we got up in the morning, the girls were asking when we could sleep in the tent again.

Violet & Olivia after we set up the tent:

Olivia roasting a marshmallow for her smore:

Olivia devouring her smore:

Violet roasting her marshmallow (she wasn't quite sitting close enough!):

Finger lickin smore goodness:

terrible two's? try tough three's

It's been a tough few weeks of parenting. Olivia and Violet have been whiny, stubborn, defiant and have lost any sense of reasoning or listening. I've found myself getting to the end of my rope, and being a parent that I don't want to be - one that yells in frustration and runs out of patience. You find out how much (or how little) patience you have after you have children!

Despite all this, we've had some fun lately. The girls have had two weeks of dance class. They've had some trouble staying put on their dancing dot, and they are the only two in class that can't seem to completely follow their teacher, but we're working on it. Violet had a great second week of class. She stayed in her spot for the most part and even though she stood still some of the time, she listened and seemed to progress a bit. Olivia, however, was quite the handful (refer to the paragraph above). :) She kept wandering around like a nomad, and would not stay on her dancing dot. She was preoccupied mostly by the baby that was sitting with another watching parent. Her teacher told her to stay on her spot, so after she left it a few more times I finally made her sit down by me since she couldn't listen. She missed out on part of the ballet and all of the tap portion. While she was sitting by me, she asked if she could have gum, and when I said "no" she proceeded to wail. Yippee...it was so fun to be me! :) It was not fun being that parent that has the disruptive child. I took her out into the hall and made her sit there for the rest of the lesson. We'll see how next week goes.

Last Saturday, we went to Milaca to Jamie's aunt and uncle's place for his uncle's retirement party. We saw Jamie's immediately family as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and families. Olivia and Violet were a little shy at first but they came around and played with other kids that were there. We had a great time!

Olivia and Violet have really been loving playing with their neighbor friends lately. Last night, neighbor Ella came over and all three girls ran through the sprinkler. I thought they were nuts because it wasn't all that hot out, but they had a blast! Violet was all about it and followed behind Ella, running in circles through the sprinkler. Olivia wasn't entirely sure about it, and would stick her foot gingerly in the sprinkler before turning around and running away.

Violet (foreground in pink) & Olivia (background in blue) at their first dance class:Violet enjoying tap dancing:
Violet & Olivia before their second dance class:

Violet at Al's retirement party:

Second cousins Faith, Olivia, Bailey, Violet & Mason:

Second cousins Athena, Faith, Olivia & Bailey:

Grandpa Suchy playing catch with Olivia & Violet; note the location of the ball, which bonked Olivia in the head, which she thought was hilarious:

Olivia: "The ball hit my head!"

Violet, Olivia & neighbor Ella running through the sprinkler:

Olivia sticking her leg in the sprinkler:

Daddy swinging Olivia through the sprinkler:

Violet jumping through the sprinkler:

Violet playing in the sprinkler:

zingers

The girls have had some great quotes lately.

Violet: "Mom, I really like living with you."

Me: "Where do we live?"
Olivia and Violet: "Minnesota!"
Me: "Right, that's the state. What city do we live in?"
Olivia: "MEXICO!"
Violet: "NO - PLYMOUTH!"

Olivia: "I am going to be a mom someday."
Me: "How many kids are you going to have?"
Olivia: "Two."
Me: "Boys or girls?"
Olivia: "Two girls."
Daddy: "What are their names going to be?"
Olivia: "Georgette, and Corn-on-the-Cob!"

pomp and circumstance

On Friday, May 27, Olivia and Violet participated in their daycare's graduation program. Although only the 5-year-olds officially graduated to kindergarten, all of the preschoolers wore a graduation cap that they made. Each student was presented with a special award from their teacher. Olivia's award was for being the best at making everyone smile. Violet's award was for being the best table worker (she is apparently very studious)! All of the kids sang several songs. Violet and Olivia had a blast with their friends and were quite wild during the performances! Afterward, we went into the preschool room for some refreshments. The kids were able to show off the work they did during the school year, which included the first scrapbooks that they made (yippee - scrapbooking!). Their teacher also had some pictures posted around the room of special things that the kids did during the year. Olivia and Violet's favorite was the picture of the green footprints that the leprechaun left in the preschool room when he visited them on St. Patty's Day!

Now the kids change over to their summer daycare schedule, which involves Wacky Wednesdays, park walks and field trips. Olivia and Violet are very excited, especially for the weekly park walks!

Violet after receiving her award from Mrs. Bare:

Olivia after receiving her award from Mrs. Bare: