The Children’s Garden

We’ve really enjoyed having my nieces over these last two days.  Today, we all went to see the new Children’s Garden at Botanica.  Wow, is all that I can say.  Many places try to construct a true child wonderland, but few succeed.  Botanica has succeeded.  It was amazing!

Julia, Olivia and Rebekah in the party barn.  I was determined to get their picture in front of the cows, but Olivia was having none of it.  So, this is the best that I got.

Playing in the kitchen at “Grandma’s House.”

Julia and Izzy playing in the kitchen.

Julia the butterfly

Olivia sitting on a ladybug.

Rebekah

Playing at the rain table.  You poured rocks in and it sounded like rain.

Painting the rock cave

The awesome tree house

Izzy and Olivia playing at Ant Hill. 

But, if you go. . .prepare to get REALLY wet and messy!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Olivia and I enjoyed the company of my nieces today. 

Rebekah, Julia and Kelsey

Rebekah and Kelsey

And as you can tell, Kelsey enjoyed their company too.

Bedtime

This is what Olivia’s bed looks like most nights.  Her nighttime companions consist of:

Lily*

Butterfly*

Her pillow pet*

Two blue gogums*.  Pink gogum must sleep on a pillow on the floor covered up by a blanket because she got chocolate milk on her once which seemed to have banned her from bed.

Her dollhouse changing table that plays music

Two dollhouse cribs

A bear figurine

An elephant figurine

A mouse figurine

A panda figurine

Percy the train

Lily*, Leap and Tad toys

A flashlight*

Her ballet mat which is really the door to her tunnel

A doll

A blanket*

A few books*

A cup of water*

Whew. . .try finding all of those things before bedtime!  And she knows if one thing is missing.  It sometimes varies each night, but the ones with the asterisks remain the same.  And she goes to sleep listening to Kids Praise 5: Psalty’s Camping Adventure after reading two books with mom and dad.  Talk about a creature of habit!

Busy Day

Our day started out with Olivia’s last Kindermusik class.  It was kind of sad because it’s over and she really enjoyed it.  We are unable to take the fall class because it is on the same day as Olivia’s preschool.

Izzy and Kelsey

Then, we took Kelsey into the vet for conjunctivitis.  My niece, Izzy, took one look at her and said, “She has pink eye just like I had one time.”  And, isn’t conjunctivitis kind of another word for pink eye?  But, I think it can be more serious in cats.  So, I’m hoping the antibiotic takes care of it and we don’t have any further problems from it.  But, she wouldn’t be my cat if something wasn’t wrong with her (like Tobey with his diskospondylitis and Autumn with her asthma.)

Afterwards, the girls came home and played for awhile.  Then, we got ready to go to the carnival at Olivia’s preschool.  It kinda reminded me of the fun nights of yesteryear.  We used to have them every year at my elementary school.  The funny thing is. . .I don’t know how many cake walks I did as a child and I never, ever won anything.  And tonight. . .I won for the first time ever!  Now, that I’m diabetic, of course. 

Olivia had her face painted for the first time ever.  She wanted a pink mouse and made quite a cute one! 

And I thought Izzy made an adorable panda.  All in all. . .a great day!!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Here is Olivia and her buddy, Mckenna. Olivia and I enjoyed a great play date this morning with great friends.

All of my kitties (Autumn, Tobey and Kelsey) eating together. . .with no hissing! LOL!  They are all doing very well together.

And look who Kelsey has wrapped around her little finger!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Olivia’s cousins were in town this weekend from Arkansas and we really enjoyed seeing them.  Olivia received some early birthday gifts including some handmade bows by her aunt Kimmy.  Down in Arkansas, all the girls wear big bows in their hair.  I find that fascinating because that really isn’t a big thing here, which is a shame because it’s adorable.  Isn’t that funny how there are so many differences between parts of the country?  So, Olivia embraced her inner southerner today and wore a hair bow and a Razorback shirt. 

Here she is playing DS with her cousins. 

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Olivia’s cousin,  Izzy, had her friend birthday party today at Pump It Up.  Olivia had a blast!

Of course, the first thing she does is ride in the cozy coupe just like the one she has at home.

Here she is going down the slide with Grandma!

The birthday girl!

The whole gang.  My child is the one not sitting down.

Introducing. . . Kelsey!

Yes, we adopted another kitty.  A tiny 10 week old, extremely loving, dilute calico kitten.  I’m officially the crazy cat woman, I know.  But, you see. . .I don’t really have any hobbies other than blogging. . .and cats.  I absolutely love them!  They do my heart so much good.  And between that and the fact that my husband is impulsive and now a huge cat lover himself, we have three of them now.  Olivia was over the moon tonight!  She gets excited very easily, but I have never quite seen her as she was tonight.  She wouldn’t leave the poor kitten alone!  Olivia really wanted to name her Cassie (after a raccoon in one of her books) but we finally agreed upon Kelsey.  I think Kelsey will be a very social cat and very good with Olivia. . .kind of like Tobey.  Kelsey seemed to take her new environment in stride.  Tobey seemed somewhat okay with her. . .Autumn struggles with anyone new, human or feline.  Autumn is a very anxious cat and can be a bit insecure, so she’s getting some much needed attention tonight.  So, our family has grown by one.  We’re crazy, but we love it!  Oh, and we’re not 100% committed to the name, so if you all the sudden hear me call her something else. . .you’ll know we changed it.  She just looks like a Kelsey to me and it’s the only name we came up with that Olivia approved of.  She took this naming thing very seriously. 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Today was Stacie’s birthday and we were honored to spend the morning with her and Madison.  You’d think Olivia equated Madison to Santa Claus based on her level of anticipation.  She couldn’t wait for Madison to come over!  Those two are too cute together!

So, Happy Birthday Stacie!! We hope you had a great day!

Olivia and I spent the afternoon singing and dancing and doing some crafts.  I got the idea for paper flowers from a Caillou episode (LOL!)  You basically stick a pipe cleaner through a flower and twirl it down to make the middle of the flower.  Olivia adored these flowers!!

We made quite a few, but Olivia wouldn’t keep them in the vase.  She carried them around all afternoon.  I have plans to use different colored, textured paper flowers and have Olivia decorate them with glitter, etc. 

While I was cutting out the flowers, Olivia practiced her cutting skills.  She is getting better and better at it and does a really good job cutting on a line.  I always feel like I have to really persuade her to color, but she loves to cut!

Monday, July 25, 2011

All Clean!!

In Need Of a Home

Our family in Arkansas recently came across a kitty that is needing a home.  They are unable to keep him as they are very allergic to cats.  He is one of the most gentle and loving cats they’ve ever met and he really needs a forever home.  They have four kids and he is great with all of them. . .very kid friendly.  We have considered taking him, but are not really wanting to add a third cat.  (I’d take every cat in the world that needed a home if I allowed myself too.)  Please take a moment to consider adding him to your family.  They will be coming back to Wichita this week and could bring him if we found him a home.  He’d make a great addition!