3rd Birthday!

We made it 3 years, and Olivia couldn't couldn't be a sweeter little girl!  We had a fabulous bday party at newark community park yesterday with a face- painting fairy who did a magic show and balloon animals, and tacos made on site by Carmen's tacos.  Delicious!!!!  Kathy brought the tools for making giant bubbles Amandine Charlie brought the games he'd made for Olivia's 1st birthday, and they were finally used!  We had a garden theme and Olivia was dressed as a monarch butterfly while I used the excuse to buy a new dress with a petticoat!  I couldn't be happier with how it all went.

Some fun Olivia tidbits these days:
- "mommy, let me show you a trick!"
- "mommy, let me tell you a secret."
Those are both great stall techniques
- still likes Frozen, but also Minnie.  No lasting favorite character or doll.
- singing more on her own, also along with frozen soundtrack
- going potty on the big potty every time now, and can climb on it without a stool
- twirling in the 3 dresses she will wear, butterfly, Minnie mickey, and the red Minnie dress.  I'm hoping the Elsa dress I gave her for for her bday will be added to the rotation.
- loves salami
- sleeps with with us basically every night

- Misha is her best friend from school, like sisters
- has about 90% of the capital letters down.
- 36" tall, 27 lbs and 20/20 vision in her left eye.... wouldn't let us test the right eye.
- still the favorite snack for mosquitoes
- great little camper and loved looking at the boat passing by at Kirby Cove
- empathetic
- loves giving Trixie and Kiwi hugs
- naps at daycare, but questionable on weekends... too much fun playing with mommy and daddy.  Stays up until 2 go to bed.
- taking swim classes and loves the water (we're at the pool right now and she was swimming in circles in her floater)
- taking dance classes, not as interested...
- plays with her kitchen much more now.
- still has breathing issues occasionally needing the nebulizer
- sweetest little sweetheart ever!

Sweetheart

A few weekends ago, I was out front watering plants and Olivia had to climb to the top of the mound in the front, as if it was the North Mountain in Frozen, and belted Let it go for a good 20 min.  Too funny.  Today she's singing

Dresses, twirling and butterflies!

These days Olivia just wants to wear her pretty dresses and twirl around in them.  She has a favorite black dress with butterflies all over that we wear 2-3 times a week; it's great for twirling.  Olivia also found the bags of too small clothes and ransacked them, pulling out Christmas dresses from last year, and Insisting on wearing them and twirling.  Super cute.  She says how pretty she is.

Olivia is also becoming adept at dressing herself.  "No Mommy.  I do it."  We've been watching Disney movies and she's certainly identifying with the princesses.

Tonight is her elementary school's open house from 6-7pm.  We plan to check it out.

Olivia also stays up late these days, playing with her legos in her room.  Last night she made a symmetric castle, I was impessed!  She's just the sweetest little girl.  We do butterfly kisses at night and tonight I will start Olivia time and give her a solid 15-20 min of undivided attention. 

Need to do Something

This is one of Olivia's new phrases to try and get out of things.... "but mommy, I need to DO something."  I think she picked it up from me telling her to hold on a sec while I finished something.  She's a hoot, and is doing OK at her little dance class.  Last week a little girl told Olivia to get out of her spot.... Olivia was surprised and sad... pouted the rest of the class.  Hopefully she will dance tonight.  Olivia's been a little under the weather lately and i think she's better now.  We have flowers to give her teachers for teacher appreciation week.  And cupcakes.  The flowers are for the ones who calm Olivia down in the morning at drop off.   It can't be easy.  From my perspective,  i love that she wants to spend time with me, but I'm sad for her when she's so upset at drop off.  We'll see how today goes...

Off to the beach!

We are off to Half Moon Bay for a fun day with Misha, Olivia's best friend, and her family.  Aunt Kathy is planning to join us too.  It's a gorgeous day and Kevin took the weekend off.  All good things. 
Olivia continues to be a sweetheart.  We still have Frozen fever and she's wearing her Elsa flip flops right now. Friday night we had a mother daughter date and watched Aladdin on the couch tigether.  That movie is a bit dark for a Disney movie, but she did ok with it. 
Yesterday we worked in the yard, which is really coming together.  Kevin and Olivia took a nice long nap.  He came home at 2 am Saturday morning, working hard so he could take the weekend off.  I feel like we are getting to the point almost where we are tweaking things which is a good feeling.  We have big projects to go, but the overall impression is good at the moment so I can start thinking about the next project.  Ok time to chill with Kev while he drives.

Camping at Big Basin

We had a fabulous weekend camping at Big Basin!   Olivia spent the week before looking forward to it and asking if it was time to go camping.  We went with Kevin's friend Joe and his family.  Olivia and Nola (7 yrs old) were like two peas in a pod and had a blast.  Nola read books to Olivia and they wandered all around enjoying being outside.  All the girls climbed a huge stump in the Rashid's campsite and Etta spent most of the trip up there.  We did very little hiking, and lots of eating.  Sleeping was not the best and Sunday morning Olivia was a walking zombie. 

The weather was wonderful.  Everyone was relaxed.  Fun trip overall. 

Tonight i want to plan the next trip!

Why mommy? why?

Another favorite phrase the days, is "why did you (eat your beans all gone) mommy?  Why?"  And she says it so indignantly.   Must have learned that at daycare.  It's pretty funny. 

Today I managed to put mulch down the rest of the fence and move more river rocks... looks so much better!  The neighbors must be ecstatic.   I know I am happy to have that project much further along.  Tomorrow am I'd like to set up the soaker hose and then be in really good shape.  We'll see, since it is Easter Sunday and I really should take Olivia to church.

Also today, Areal and his son Jorge came by to see the ledgestone project and fireplace  and they'll be sending a quote shortly.  Kevin seemed to warm up to the idea of Arael doing the work, but we'll have to see what the quote is.  My fingers are crossed!

Not to enjoy my very rare pedicure....