Bath Time/Down Time

We've been getting things ready for Oma to come stay with us for the week! So really the only time I haven't been painting furniture or trying to make a dent in the giant piles of laundry is during babies bath time. 

Morgan absolutely LOVES trains and cars and anything with wheels- especially buses. I took about a dozen of these shots at his request. He's so great at imaginative play, it's fun to listen to his trains "talk" to each other. I love that he's talking more. I love seeing his little personality more and more each day. 

This little miss is all girl. (Funny how different they are even at such a young age.) She can sure throw a ball and loves things with wheels too but what she really LOVES is make up. You'd never know she had already had her bath earlier this afternoon. She looks like little orphan Annie but it's not dirt on her face it's the workings of a budding make up artist. She carries my bronzer around with a little brush and shouts "momma! Momma!" Until I look at her and then she puts it on her cheek and I have to say "ooooo! You look so pretty!" Then she flashes a big smile and walks away and we start the conversation over a minute later. Maybe if I would take the make up away from her I might actually have some on my own face but I treasure these little conversations. And what's a little wasted make up anyway. 

After we had been sitting watching morgie play cars for a while, Evie got up and walked over to the boys dresser and grabbed this picture of Jesus. She excitedly ran it over to me, bearing her testimony with her little smile and in her Evie gibberish. It's so amazing to me that out of all the images and pictures wee little ones see- it's the picture of our Savior that they recognize and enjoy looking at over and over. What an important reminder for me of who I am and what's really important. 

Another neat little story from the other night: As I was rocking Evie she kept looking in the bathroom and pointing. I named off a couple things in there that maybe she wanted me to acknowledge but none of them were right and she kept pointing. Then seeming slightly frustrated with me she pointed at Morgan so I said "Morgan" she then pointed at Bentley "Bentley" I replied and then she pointed to Grady and then herself. After I had proved that I knew everyone's name she then pointed back to the bathroom and looked at me. Waiting for me to respond. 

I asked her if there was someone there, and told her I couldn't see them. She kept pointing and looking back and forth between whatever or whomever was there and me for a minute or two and then turned and snuggled up and fell asleep. 

I could use a couple angels near by helping me be more patient and be a better mom during these crazy hectic years. So I hope they will stick around. 

Dr. Grady M. Oliver

March 3 2015 

Today was "dress like an everyday hero" day at school. Grady knew he instantly wanted to dress like a doctor. He wants to be a doctor when he grows up, he wants to help save people...and use the defibrillators. 

Feeling better

I need to ask Kynzie to send my her copy of this picture, but until then this stolen from Facebook copy will have to do. 

I think sometimes we don't realize how sick we are until we feel well. 

Opposition in all things. 

This picture means so much to me. It's been a long time since I've felt well enough to take all of my kids anywhere let alone push them all in a wheel barrow at lighting fast speed. I tear up when I think of how I could have been a better mom for the past 8 years but then I am almost instantly filled with gratitude to the doctors who helped me get to where I can be a better mom for the next 60 years. I love my sweet boys and little kitty and I'm so very grateful they are mine. 

A year later

I've been failing horribly at documenting my littles as they grow. So that's my goal, even for this week. Be a better record keeper. And I have to keep reminding myself it doesn't have to be perfect. 

Football

These are so incredibly random!

But I've got to plug these in here while I remember and while I have a free minute. 

Signed boys up for football again. 

Everyday they tell me "I'm not going today" but then they end up loving it. 

Grady plays for the jets.

Bentley plays for the raiders. 

Bentley was standing next to the opposite teams goal line. The coach gave him the ball to run it- and instead of going to the other end of the field he turned around and crossed the other teams goal.
Totally counts as a touchdown right? 😉

I didn't get a very good pic of Grady playing 😕 but he's really funny. All the other kids will be covering the opposite teams players and Grady is just shouting out to them "good job! Go get em!! Pull his flags! Pull his flaaaaags!!!" But he's not running or covering anyone. 
He's more of a coach/team owner than a player.

He also takes the free time he has while Bentley plays to network. 

He finds as many people as he can to meet, he sticks out his hand and says 

"Hi, I'm Grady. What is your name?" 

We had a talk tonight about how it's polite to say something like "it's a pleasure to meet you" or "that's a very nice name" After you've met someone, instead of just turning and walking away. 

So he was practicing that too. 

He's such a sweet boy to everyone- and I've decided that is a very rare thing these days. Sometimes I can't stand some kids replies to him. 

"You think I don't know that already??" 

(That was one comment a little girl made as Grady told her "I wouldn't let your dog run in the road, he could get ran over and he could die" I thought it was sound advice.)

He receives snobby, scarcastic comments all the time, and maybe it's just because I HATE sarcasm and snobbiness. 

Like loathe it.

I think it's a very rude way to let someone know something you don't like. 

So we don't use it in our home, and it is foreign to my children. 

But it seems to be the norm elsewhere. It's the way parents are talking to their kids, and the way older siblings talk to younger siblings. It's very sad. 

If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

That's the Oliver household rule #3

Anyway, I'll jump off my soapbox now. 

And both the boys TALK and TALK their coaches ear off (they have the same one) Bentley tells random stories "did you know I rode here without a seat belt?" 
And Grady's relaying every play "ha! Did you see that? That kid just ran and the other kid pulled his flags off like (makes flag pulling gesture)...ha! That was funny" 
And I'm the only crazy mom that hoots and hollers and cheers. 
So I'm sure the coach totally gets why my boys run their mouths instead of the ball. ☺️ 

Going home

I was so worried about how things were going to be when I got home. And from this series of photos you can see why...

These were the only pictures we took of taking Evie home. All the outfits I brought for her were either too big or too small. So her cute daddy went and got her this really comfy sleeper with bows and panda footsies. 

Looking back now- I can see this was a little glimpse into the future...

I'm still a frazzled mess. 

Morgan still wacks her inthe face any chance he gets...

But were still just as happy has can be! 

Over the moon in love

With all these protective older brothers, I am almost certain she will never have a date.