Going Potty!

Oh, so much updating to do about our Summer adventures, but for now you'll have to wait. Just one quick update on my adorable little William; he's finally using the potty! We're by no means ready to leave the house without a diaper, but there's certainly no going back now. He's going to be ready for when he begins preschool in September! His biggest reward is a high-five! GO WILLIAM! We're so proud of him.

Warm, Hot, Cold

We actually got some Summer weather last week just to tease us, so that the cold today makes us extra grateful for the warm. While it was hot last week we spent most of the time in the yard playing with water. This is also how we intend to spend a lot of the Summer. Luckily they all love playing in the pool and with the hose, especially little Oliver. He can not get enough of it!

Pippa began her Summer Buddies class last week, which she LOVES! It's 2 afternoons a week filled with singing, crafts, running around and swimming! I signed her up for the whole Summer, so 8 weeks of this! Then a few weeks break until her and William begin their preschool programs! It's going to be a busy year for us.

Double Outing

Today we had no plans until I heard about a Big-Rig event going on at a company somewhere on the outskirts of Bend. Because I wanted to find out details about that, I checked the paper and we saw 2 things we would rather do. The first was Airport Day at Bend Airport. They had planes and helicopters, a fire truck and an air ambulance, vendors and giveaways! They got to see everything at close range, touch them and were able to sit in some of them.







Once we were done with that, we jumped back in our car and while the kids all napped, we drove to Terrebonne for the Alpaca Shearing Festival! Today's the day they shave all that soft fur off the Alpaca, ready for the Summer! We walked between all the enclosures, saw the Alpaca being shaved, petted Alpaca and each got a free bowl of ice cream. It was so much fun!

Her name is Sweetie Sweetie

Dentist!

This morning I took all 3 kids to get a check-up at the dentist. It was their first real visit (Pippa did see a dentist in Chicago when she was 18 months old, but I don't really count that), and they were superstars! We went to a pediatric dentist, Deschutes Pediatric Dentistry, so they were all decked out with TV's on the ceiling and kid-sized sinks and chairs. It was pretty fun! Pippa, especially, had a blast and can't wait to go back. She'll have to wait a while because I can't spend that much money too often! 3's and under are free, but don't get the cleaning or the x-rays.

It turns out their teeth are looking great. No plaque build-up, no problems with Pippa's chipped teeth or her thumb-sucking, just an overcrowding problem that will get worse when her big girl teeth come in. Braces I suspect. However, the boys have lots of space! Here are the pictures from their dentist fun today.

In the waiting room looking through some books

Pippa getting her x-rays

Waiting their turn

Pippa (above) and William (below) getting checked out by the dentist

Little Monkey

Oliver is never content at the development stage he's at; he always wants more. Rolling, crawling, pulling up, walking, running, jumping (well, he tries!) and now climbing. Every time I turn around he's on top of something, whether it's the kids table, the sofa, the window ledge or the bench. His feet are rarely on the floor anymore. He always has some scratch, bruise or bump on his head, but it doesn't phase him. He just smiles and gets right up to do it again.

Passport Time!

Pippa and William both had passports before they were 6 months old. Oliver is now 13 months and without one. We have no trips abroad or domestic planned, however if we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Canada or some other equally exotic place, we want to be prepared. So, I think it's time to get him one.

Because I like to save money I take the head shots with my little point and shoot camera, then get them into PhotoShop and fit 6 on one 13 cent 4x6 print!

Pippa and William were my test subjects before I got the fidgety one in place. They are a little disheveled, but still quite adorable.

Dress Up Days

I like to put some toys away where kids can't get to them easily. I've realized that the less there is around 1) the less potential mess there is to clear up at the end of the day and 2) it's less overwhelming to the kids, so they actually play with the toys that are out. Then, when I get out a toy that's been out-of-sight for a couple of weeks, it gets played with! I do this with the dress-up box. We got this out after a rather long hiatus and it has been a hit! Pippa has been a ballerina, princesses, Dora, a bumble bee and a cowgirl. William has been Thomas the Tank Engine. He's Really Useful.

Yesterday 'we' made a hobby horse, inspired by the one we saw in the toy store. Pippa chose the fabric and hair. Now she can be a real cowgirl! Because the one thing that was stopping her was the fact she didn't have a horse...

William is becoming sweet again. He has been doing what I tell him and he chats away to me. He's also begun to ask how things are spelt; something Pippa always does.