Arwyn had a very action packed week this week, starting with the annual Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Station. Arwyn loved investigating and climbing all over the fire trucks, and was pretty upset when it was time to leave. We went straight to Leia's friend Giselle's birthday at the Family Fun Center at Boomtown. Arwyn had a blast! Despite how little she is, she actually got to go on all the rides, so that was great. After watching Leia do the Rodeo Ride, Arwyn definitely wanted her turn, and luckily it wasn't very busy so the lady actually let me go on the ride next to Arwyn, and she only did the bouncing drop one time instead of the standard 3, which was perfect...just enough to give Arwyn a taste of the ride, but stopped just as she realized she didn't really like it! All the rest of the rides and games she liked (well, except the carousel I guess), but her favorite was the bouncy house. That night we had the Shirleys and the Leunigs over for dinner, and Arwyn finally warmed up to playing with Anya without needed her Mommy. She let Anya carry and hold her, and help her with everything. It was great! The next day Arwyn helped me get my costume all ready for the Cushing Crossing at Squaw. I was a little worried the girls would try to take all my props away from me, but I just got Arwyn all set up with her baby in a front carrier like the one I was wearing with my fake baby, and she was happy as a clam to help me perfect my costume. I even got Leia on board with the project, so between shows on the TV she tried to help me perfect it. I was so happy to have so much cooperation because I didn't think I was going to get it. Josh was the one who didn't get the cooperation a few hours later since they missed their naps to watch the whole event! Arwyn actually did get a 45 minute nap in the car on the way home, and then managed to play surprisingly well at the next party at John and Stacia's. The next day Arwyn was trying to explain the whole thing (and my costume) to Grandma over the phone, and it came across as "Mommy chicken helmut water!" Pretty good explanation for the actual event: Mommy skied across the water with a chicken on her helmet! Arwyn has been talking so much recently. She really tries to describe everything she sees, and repeats back a lot that she hears. She's also been trying to tell us about stuff at school, and it's her favorite thing to tell us about all her injuries (just like Leia!) All weekend she kept pointing at the scratches on her arm saying, "Luna." Luna is definitely her best friend at school, but she also seems to inflict quite a few injuries on Arwyn...must be one of those love-hate relationships! In addition to the scratches, Arwyn had a bad week a school injury-wise. One day she came home with 2 separate injury reports: she tripped and hit her head on the table, and then someone bit her (apparently because she was trying to get into a car the other kid was already playing in...not sure if it was Luna, but highly likely!) Arwyn's favorite thing to do is hop down stairs, "I hop. Hoppy." It's very hard to convince her that it's a better idea to wait until the bottom couple of stairs before she starts so she won't have so far to tumble if she mis-hops! We have also been so worried that Arwyn hasn't attached to a special "lovey" when she sleeps (like Leia and her Monkey), but now she's finally got some sleeping friends. She likes to snuggle up in one arm with this huge Minnie Mouse stuffed animal that is almost as big as she is, and in the other arm with her baby doll. It's pretty funny. Still, these objects don't seem to provide her with the same amount of security as Monkey does for Leia because she doesn't actually need them around all day, and if she sleeps at Nana's, she doesn't have to bring them with her. But we're still happy that she has some sleeping friends because she stays quiet in bed much longer after she actually wakes up these days. Arwyn isn't eating much fruit these days, which is annoying since she usually loves eating fruit. Finally, Arwyn seems to have outgrown the major out of control tantrum phase. She still gets upset at things, but it's not that same spectacle where she's collapsing on the floor totally out of control without knowing why. Thank goodness for brain development!
Leia had her first big choking scare of her life. She was eating rice, and I think had way too much in her mouth while simultaneously messing around a little too much at the table. She got up and walked all the way over to the trash can in the kitchen and was rather calmly trying to get it out before we finally figured out what was going on. I'm still not sure quite how we realized because she was not freaking out at all, but I think after watching her make several unsuccessful attempts at spitting food out and not answering our questions about what she was doing we finally put it all together. I slapped her back a few times and all was good again. It wasn't until she saw all the concern we had for her that she got upset and acted a little scared, and then she totally cashed in on the attention: "I need to lie on the choking rest bed in Arwyn's room. Mommy can you please come sit with me and rub me?" Leia wasn't too interested in the fire trucks at the pancake breakfast this year, but just wanted to go on treasure hunts all around the fire station like last year. She did a good job of filling a trash bag! She also had a total blast at Giselle's birthday party, and went on her first roller coaster ride. She also had a blast playing with the Leunig girls, mostly because they are just old enough to be comfortable with being in a caregiving role, so they are mostly happy to do what she wants to do. Miraculously, Leia also fell asleep in the car on the way home from the pond crossing, thanks to the slow drive and heavy traffic. I still had to drive around the block over and over to extend it out, and in the end I managed to get her a 25 minute cat nap. She too behaved surprisingly well at John and Stacia's party after having such a big day and short nap. Like Arwyn, Leia seems to be on a fruit strike as well these days. They used to only eat fruit and we always worried about getting the main course calories in them, but now it's the opposite. In fact, Leia said the funniest thing the other day. We were all sitting at breakfast, and all of a sudden she busts out with one of her crazy adult sounding phrases that I have no idea where she learned it: "Well Mom, I hate to tell you this, but I'm going to have to move down to the little table." "Why? We want you to eat with us." "I can't. You and Arwyn are eating bananas, and I can't stand that smell!" And this from the girl who used to eat 2 bananas in a single sitting! Another day, in her typical wily fashion, she tried to get me to allow her to take her bracelet to school since "she made it." She's not normally allowed to take stuff to school because generally she and her friends fight over it, and I don't really like her take jewelry for fear that she'll lose it, but occasionally I have made an exception for jewelry that she's made herself because I figure it's totally replaceable if it goes missing. Well, this particular bracelet, she had in fact made, but it was really just a couple of little toys strung together in bracelet fashion. Smart girl trying to get away with bringing toys to school by disguising them as jewelry!! It didn't work though. Finally, Leia has been getting more and more contradictory with us, simply for the sake of being contradictory and winning. It's absolutely maddening, and she seems to make every single thing into a fight, so it makes for a very long, tiresome day when nothing gets done without a fight. I can't even bribe her into cooperating for her sunscreen with Jake Fruit anymore, she just won't do it and doesn't care about the treat. Grrrr!
Leia had her first big choking scare of her life. She was eating rice, and I think had way too much in her mouth while simultaneously messing around a little too much at the table. She got up and walked all the way over to the trash can in the kitchen and was rather calmly trying to get it out before we finally figured out what was going on. I'm still not sure quite how we realized because she was not freaking out at all, but I think after watching her make several unsuccessful attempts at spitting food out and not answering our questions about what she was doing we finally put it all together. I slapped her back a few times and all was good again. It wasn't until she saw all the concern we had for her that she got upset and acted a little scared, and then she totally cashed in on the attention: "I need to lie on the choking rest bed in Arwyn's room. Mommy can you please come sit with me and rub me?" Leia wasn't too interested in the fire trucks at the pancake breakfast this year, but just wanted to go on treasure hunts all around the fire station like last year. She did a good job of filling a trash bag! She also had a total blast at Giselle's birthday party, and went on her first roller coaster ride. She also had a blast playing with the Leunig girls, mostly because they are just old enough to be comfortable with being in a caregiving role, so they are mostly happy to do what she wants to do. Miraculously, Leia also fell asleep in the car on the way home from the pond crossing, thanks to the slow drive and heavy traffic. I still had to drive around the block over and over to extend it out, and in the end I managed to get her a 25 minute cat nap. She too behaved surprisingly well at John and Stacia's party after having such a big day and short nap. Like Arwyn, Leia seems to be on a fruit strike as well these days. They used to only eat fruit and we always worried about getting the main course calories in them, but now it's the opposite. In fact, Leia said the funniest thing the other day. We were all sitting at breakfast, and all of a sudden she busts out with one of her crazy adult sounding phrases that I have no idea where she learned it: "Well Mom, I hate to tell you this, but I'm going to have to move down to the little table." "Why? We want you to eat with us." "I can't. You and Arwyn are eating bananas, and I can't stand that smell!" And this from the girl who used to eat 2 bananas in a single sitting! Another day, in her typical wily fashion, she tried to get me to allow her to take her bracelet to school since "she made it." She's not normally allowed to take stuff to school because generally she and her friends fight over it, and I don't really like her take jewelry for fear that she'll lose it, but occasionally I have made an exception for jewelry that she's made herself because I figure it's totally replaceable if it goes missing. Well, this particular bracelet, she had in fact made, but it was really just a couple of little toys strung together in bracelet fashion. Smart girl trying to get away with bringing toys to school by disguising them as jewelry!! It didn't work though. Finally, Leia has been getting more and more contradictory with us, simply for the sake of being contradictory and winning. It's absolutely maddening, and she seems to make every single thing into a fight, so it makes for a very long, tiresome day when nothing gets done without a fight. I can't even bribe her into cooperating for her sunscreen with Jake Fruit anymore, she just won't do it and doesn't care about the treat. Grrrr!
Love this little cutie in her little fleece suit and morning bed head!
So does Leia! She loves to see her little sister to hug her and kiss her first thing in the morning!
So sweet!
It's becoming a much tighter squeeze to fit into this little toy pack 'n play!
Up on the fire engine with my girls! Happy Memorial Day!
As much as Arwyn loved climbing all over the fire engines, she did not like being left alone on the front bumper for this picture!
Slightly annoyed to be dragged away from the fire engine to go on a crazy treasure hunt with Leia!
Wahoo, back to fire engine gymnastics! Thanks Poppy for treasure hunting with Leia!
Pretty cool to be climbing around way up here!
Happy girl and her truck!
She's ready to head out on the next emergency!
The little party girls were totally amazed by all the crazy lights, games, and toys at the Fun Center!
First time playing ski ball! Neither of them could even get the ball up off the alleyway...you get a lot of turns when the ball rolls right back to you every time!
First time on a carousel!
Leia accidentally picked a horse that didn't go up and down, but she still loved the ride!
Arwyn liked her horse ride at first, but half way through she got all freaked out for some reason.
Leia's first rollercoaster, The Rodeo Rider. It was a beginners version of Dropzone, and she was all laughs and smiles!
Password = Leia
Leia loved her very first roller coaster-type ride on the Rodeo Rider...all smiles, and definitely more kid approved than it's big brother Drop Zone!
Arwyn thought she wanted to go on the rollercoaster, but was really happy that the lady stopped it right before she could freak out!
Cool Ferris Wheel made of horse wagons!
Arwyn and Leia loved tackling each other in the bouncy house!
Password = Leia
Arwyn and Leia had the Fun Center Jumpy House all to themselves, and the fun house turned into a rough house. Surprisingly neither of them ever stopped giggling...way to keep it fun girls!
Arwyn, Leia, and I all played the Shark Bapping Game together, and with a little team work, we actually did pretty well!
Anxiously awaiting their turn on the Ferris Wheel.
Leia having fun up high on the Ferris Wheel.
Arwyn was so amazed at the view from way up high!
Anya was a good little swing pusher!
Password = Arwyn
Arwyn is getting so good on her scooter! Pushing herself pretty fast, good balance, and even small turns!
Even though Arwyn can actually scoot pretty well by herself, she loved having someone help her and Anya loved having someone who wanted to help!
These two definitely bonded tonight...so cute!
Password = Arwyn
Anya is used to being the little sister, so it was fun for her to be a big sister and help Arwyn with everything. And it was fun for me to have a little baby sitter around all evening!
All the girls loved playing with their little boy toy!
And then we have Leia, trying to stab him in the jugular with a wooden knife...poor Harkin!
Big, beautiful smiles from our next generation: Nadia, Leia, Audra, Anya, Arwyn, Harkin, and Niko.
And then the silly faces!
Leia liked having a passenger who giggled and appreciated her crazy driving!
Watch out for these two!
Password = Leia
Leia was having a blast having Anya as a playmate and a Jeep passenger. Anya had to hang on tight!
Now Anya's behind the wheel...put your helmets on and hang on tight!
Helping Mommy put her pond crossing costume together...think she could fit a bigger baby in that front carrier?
Arwyn loves taking care of her "Baby Leia Doll"!
My "Super Mom" costume for the Cushing Pond Crossing!
I can never get away from all these kids, so I just decided to bring them with me across the pond!
It's hard to see it all, but there's the baby in the front carrier, another baby in the back carrier, a baby on my left arm, a baby on my left leg, a cat on my right arm, the chicken on my head, and of course the poor dog dragging behind on the leash...like I said, Super Mom!
Another big turnout at the crossing this year. Josh and the girls had to climb way up on the hillside to be able to see!
Wahoo, down she goes!
Password = Arwyn
Aunt Stacia and Uncle John got a new waterslide in their back yard, so Arwyn help break it in...it was fun!
Water and slides are the best, even if it is a little cold out!
Password = Leia
Leia bombed down the new waterslide head first, and clearly loved the rush...no fear here!
Emmett and Arwyn loving some swing time!
Bubbles and light sabers...this party rules!
Password = Leia
Fun to watch our little Jedi Knights in training...here we see Princess Leia battle it out with Kylo Ren (aka, our friend Kyle Zen)...I love how that whole name thing worked out!
Password = Leia
I was hoping I could get Arwyn to say Happy Birthday to Grandma and Nana this year (they both have May birthdays two days apart), but despite all her language skills, she wasn't quite up to it. So I got Leia to do the honors instead.
Bunny hops at gymnastics.
Password = Leia
Leia's been doing gymnastics for almost 2 years now...getting pretty coordinated!
Look out, Arwyn's steering 2 wheels at once!
Arwyn likes climbing almost as much as she likes hopping!
Not too sure about this really high slide today.
In honor of seeing Jeffro for the first time in 2 years, Joshed roasted us a whole rabbit! Yum!
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