Wednesday, September 13, 2017

L&A Years 4&2 Week 9: Emmett's 3rd Birthday - 8/24/17

Arwyn had a big week this week, including one of her first full night overnights at Nana and Poppy's. She was so excited to be going over to their house, and she made a full speed run into Nana's arms for a hug, but then she started to comprehend that I was actually leaving.  Instant meltdown.  Luckily Leia knew she was staying and was expecting it, so we only had one kid to worry about.  But I guess she calmed down pretty shortly after I left, and they had a great time.  Arwyn had a blast on the blow up water slide at Emmett's birthday party.  She was making huge jumps all the way too the bottom, almost missing the whole slide part.  She loved playing with everyone there.  The party went a little later then we planned, and both kids were starting to melt down when it was time to go home, so we decided that fastest way to get everyone to sleep was just to throw them in the car and start driving.  Both girls were out in less than 3 minutes, and had  good 45 plus minute naps.  Unfortunately Arwyn woke up a bit cranky, but I still think having the extra sleep on board was better.  Arwyn also had a lot of fun playing on the swing set with the other kids during the Asado Benefit Lunch we went to this weekend.  Both girls were relatively independent, so Josh and I were actually able to sit, eat, and talk during lunch!  The Solar Eclipse happened this week on Daddy day.  We were lucky to have such a great Daddy who made eclipse viewing boxes for both Arwyn and Leia.  I don't think either of them really understood what they were looking at, but they loved running around as little box-heads!  Arwyn and Leia have been fighting every day for quite awhile now about who gets to use the pink princess spoon at meal time.  We only have one random one that they both like, and it's absolutely maddening when they each decide that they "have to" have it because then they fight and no one ends up eating any of the meal.  Most of the time I end up taking it away so no one gets it, and I'm about ready to throw the stupid thing in the trash.  But one morning this week, Arwyn was up early and eating before Leia.  She requested the princess spoon, of course, ("Different spoon! Princess spoon!"), but I asked if she would take a turn with it and then share it with Leia.  Leia wasn't around to piss her off yet, so she said yes, and ended up happily handing it over to Leia the second she showed up.  Of course she hadn't actually finished eating, so then she decided she needed it back, but then Leia actually cooperated and gave it back.  Plus, there were a surprising amount of "Thank you's!" by each girl.  Every since that day, they still fight over it at every meal, but they also have figured out a system to take turns using it throughout the meal (also annoying because it slows everything down, but better than fighting and not eating).  Arwyn's cute word of the week is "fuffin" for muffin.  And she's still so much into her "san-nal shoes" that she's been sleeping in them constantly.  The first time I found her wearing them when she woke up one morning, I questioned her about it, and she replied "Daddy help me."  Of course he did.  But hey, I now I've been caving and helping her wear them to bed too.  Not worth worrying about.

Leia made Josh laugh this week when she used her very first "I'm gonna puke!" to get him to stop a bout of very aggressive cuddles and tickles.  She was also very excited about the overnight with Poppy.  She had big plans to build forts and watch movies, which is what they did the last time they were over with Emmett.  Leia was well behaved and cooperative at Emmett's birthday party, and also behaved very well and independently at the Asado.  The big surprise was when she kept taking and eating chocolate muffins off the dessert table at the party!  She probably plowed through at least 3  before I finally asked her to stop.  So sad for me, I was really enjoying how they did not like chocolate!  Clearly an acquired taste that she's starting to acquire.  But only some stuff, not everything.

I like Leia's flower person here.  She's getting so good at drawing petals.

Leia's yellow apple.



Some sort of Apple Stamp project.

Leia's finger print masterpiece.

Beautiful water color from Leia's play date with Danielle and Kira.

Arwyn's masterpiece from our painting day out on the deck last week.

Abstract art and "more feet!" by Arwyn


The hands of my girls at ages 4 and 2.

The feet of my girls at ages 4 and 2.

I like the colors Leia used on this one.

Yoga class artwork.  Still working on that name: L, I, A, e.

Happy 7th Anniversary to my handsome husband.  7 is Josh's favorite number, and with the addition of the CPAP machine into our lives, I'm feeling like this is really going to be a great year!

Our favorite annual night out at Graham's to celebrate!

So cute watching these two have fun together!

Music makes them happy!

Password = Leia

Leia and Arwyn getting crazy on the keyboard!


Water slide fun at Emmett's 3rd Birthday Party!

Spiderman even made a guest appearance at this awesome party!

Oh hallelujah, Leia finally got to eat a lollypop!  

The birthday boy himself, always with the biggest smiles!

You know it's a great party when people start smashing things!

With the upcoming Eclipse, it was definitely a full-moon themed party!

Arwyn never gets tired of a good water slide, or if she does get tired, she just sleeps on it!

Password = Arwyn

Backyard waterslide fun at Emmett's 3rd Birthday Party.


Trash pick-up treasure hunt!

Such great little environmentalists, picking up all sorts of newspapers, banana peels, beer cans from an old Beer Garden, and other trash objects from all around the yard.

Loving their treasure hunt prizes!

With Emmett, Audra, Arwyn, Leia, Harkin, and Kyle, it was a great group of kids!

Baby Harkin getting his splash on.


Audra and Arwyn had fun playing parachute games.

Pretty cool to lie down under a brightly colored spinning parachute!



Where's Arwyn hiding?



These two would have had us spinning them around in circles all afternoon if we'd had the energy!


Not to happy to hear the Happy Birthday Song!



But he does like the cake!


It was a most delicious strawberry cake, and a great party!


All of us were zonked out in the car for a little after-party rest.


All dressed up and ready for a party that doesn't start for about 4 more hours!


Arwyn finally figured out who Tinker Bell is, and now she's starting to like getting dressed up too.


Likes to put her shoes on by herself now! But always puts them on the wrong feet of course.


Picnic on the lawn.


Sisters like to be silly.


"Hmm, this hula hoop thing is trickier than I thought!"


Hula hoop fun with friends at the Asado Party.

Getting aggressive with the hula practice!

Hard to keep it up.

I have been to this beautiful lake front estate many times as a catering employee, but today was my first time ever enjoying it as a guest!!

Beautiful spot for a ski racing benefit lunch if I do say so myself.

And look who decided to munch down a bunch of chocolate muffins today! 

They both were chowing hard, and my heart shed a little tear.

4 hula hoops at once? Go Leia!

I don't think that was too successful, but it's a good goal.

Don't swing too hard, Arwyn.  Looks like that rope is on it's last thread!

Super Leia!

With the swings, slides, and hula hoops, not to mention the gorgeous views, this was the best place for an afternoon luncheon with the family!

Our little Western-themed family.


Whoa, who is that handsome hunk?!


A little hammock fun.



Never misses an opportunity to climb something!

Is she gorgeous or what?


I've got the pretty flowers, now let's go!


Is a totem pole hugger the same as a tree hugger?

Riding side-saddle on a black bear...this girl is not afraid of anything!

She's "all done."  

Uncle Cody and the first children.

Transue Family Reunion!

Daddy crafted up some great Eclipse viewing boxes.

Lots of running around, not much eclipse viewing for these little box heads...but it's still cool.

The eclipse reflection through the trees.

More cool crescent sun reflections.

So cool how it reflects to many times through all the holes in the leaves!

The real eclipse, as seen from space.

Saw the "san-nal shoes" on the floor of the car, and insisted on wearing them instead of her fast shoes.  "No, socks on!!!!" Fine Arwyn, wear them for the car ride, but the fast shoes are going back on when we get to school!

Leia's drawing of "Baby Arwyn."  She's a little peanut!

Finally got to play golf at Northstar.  Josh always drives his ball on this hole into his athlete's back yard!

Pesky little coyote followed us all over the course.


Tickle time!

Password = Leia

Time for the girls to go to bed, and what does Daddy like to do? Rile them up with unstoppable laughter!


They so badly want to sleep together.  Every night we say no, so then they start negotiating. "I sleep Leia bed 5 minutes!"  And just look at that protective look on Leia's face: "Don't you dare take my sister out of this bed!"

Getting picky about her sleep situation.  Hasn't wanted her sleep suit much this summer, but tonight she wanted to be bundled in the "Daddy blanket."  She actually remembered that this one blanket we have used to belong to Josh when he was little.  So cute.

We haven't enjoyed dinners on our deck enough this summer, so I insisted we try a few more times before it gets too dark and cold.  It was a very nice date night.



We even busted out the heat lamp!




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