Bowling

These kids love to bowl!

For Lincoln, I think it's about knocking down the pins.  

For Ava, well, just watch this video...

 She's something else...

Sam and Tyler - Day 2

On day 2 of Sam and Tyler's visit we made volcano's following this easy tutorial. It was a huge hit!

Samantha with her volcano - ready for eruption!

Ava with her volcano - ready for eruption!

WOAH!

Even the boys were into it!

Here is a video of the action!

After our volcano experiment we enjoyed lunch outside...

(the girls are modeling the napkins that their Great Aunt Maureen made for them)

Check out the cool napkins GAM made for the boys!

Then we played outside for forever.

Here, the girls are attempting to catch a bird...

How sweet is this boy? This is how he pops bubbles...

The girls couldn't catch a bird on their sticks so they made a nest, complete with a worm, in an effort to lure the birds...

What it's all about...

This melts my heart every single time.

This is what it is all about. Right here, in this video.

(It's just an audio clip, nothing to see. Just listen.)

In this video I obviously initiated the response but he's been saying it on his own terms since last week. When he does that, it absolutely positively makes my heart melt into a big slobbery puddle and it takes me a good hour to clean up the mess.

How's that for a visual?

For instance, from the back seat of the car today, and out of the clear blue, I hear a sweet little voice say, "I wuv eww, Mama!" OMG. Really. OMG.

Be still my beating heart...

Ballerina

This is what Ava does every day since she got the Nutcracker video for Christmas and this gorgeous skirt.  Unfortunately, she caught on to me videotaping her so she instantly became more engrossed in watching herself dance on the video.  You get the idea anyway.  It's sweet.

Festhaus Fun

This is what happens...

...when you're a year old and you wake up at 4 a.m.

Ponies and Ernies and Playgrounds...OH MY!

It's been so long since I updated the blog that I had to re-visit it myself to see where I left off because I couldn't remember! Tsk, tsk. As always, I have good reason...we're busy!

Zsa Zsa came into town for a little while and we did just about everything! The weekend started off with a pony birthday party for Ava's friend. This time the kids came to the pony rather than the pony coming to the kids. They were able to learn all about horses and get hands on with the pony before going for a ride. I'm pretty sure I was more excited than anyone else there but what's new?

Ava is learns about what it takes to care for a horse and his stable...

Ava learns how to keep a horse clean....

Here is a video of Ava painting (conditioning) Mint's hooves...

Finally, Ava gets to ride Mint, the pony...

All saddled up!

Ava & Mint...

We went to Busch Gardens with Daddy & Zsa Zsa. Lincoln isn't a fan of the Sesame Street characters...

A real smile!

He said, "Wee!"

Zsa Zsa and Ava...

Mommy & Linc waiting in line for another ride...

Again, "Wee!"

Cute! Ava & Zsa Zsa have matching toenail polish...

Play time at the playground....

Here is a video of Ava putting on a show at the playground...

A tasty and refreshing treat after sweating it out on the playground...

"Look, Mom! I can wink!" Kinda...

Post nap Lincoln cuteness...

There, now ya'll are all caught up!

Laughter

Of course, by the time Chris got the camera Lincoln was pretty much done, but you still get the point :-)

Uh Uh Uh Uh Uh

This is how they entertain themselves while I make dinner and Chris isn't home...

Also, Linc didn't fall at the end of the video. He caught himself and sat back down.

One Year Old & Bilingual

Well, sort of...

I love how he has to use his tongue outside of his mouth to say hola :-)

Scout & Gaga

For Zsa Zsa

At the end of the video, when Linc appears to be eating the camera, he's actually looking for a picture of Zsa Zsa on the screen of the camera.

Cadence

Honey & Papa watched the kids for the weekend. Apparently, Ava spent A LOT of time with Papa...

17 Months

Linc is awesome. He’s all boy! Except when he gets hurt and screams like a girl and runs to his Mommy. Oh no, never mind, that still makes him a boy ☺

I can’t believe how much he has changed over the course of a couple weeks! The baby is totally and officially gone; we have a little boy in our house now. I don’t even know how to put his personality into words…he’s just so cool. If he were a dog I would describe him as having a strong ball drive. He would be a Retriever, no doubt. He loves water, he’s eager to please, he loves to play with his toys and he’s always game for a belly rub.

Linc talks a lot but he’s still speaking Lincolnese and he’s unaware that everyone else in the house is speaking a different language. He tells some elaborate stories, too! His vocabulary has exploded and it’s adorable. My favorite words that he says are: “hi”, “baby”, “people” and “mommy.” Every time he says “hi” it’s in a soft sweet voice and it’s usually accompanied by a full arm wave. I like “mommy” too because he used to only say “mama” so “mommy” is new and it sounds so delightful. His newest word is “Ninny”! Here's a video of me trying to get him to say all his words. Also, this is the very first time he said "Ninny" so I apologize for my overly excited tone.



I think his favorite activities include eating, playing with his sister, bath time and playing with his cars. His obsession with cars kinda makes my heart heavy because it’s just another representation that he’s a little boy. It’s bittersweet. He’s that boy you see out and about who always has a Thomas Train or a Match Box Car in his hand. Sigh…

He’s starting to pay more attention to the textures of different foods. For instance, he doesn’t care for rice anymore. Also, softer breads/cakes (i.e. angel food cake) get spit out or thrown across the room as well. Everything else makes it into his belly in two seconds.

Linc has some trouble listening sometimes; he’s so focused on what he wants that he sometimes forgets that he hears Mommy’s voice in the background telling him that it’s not a good idea. Oh well, he’s learning. On the other hand, he’s a great listener! He understands everything you say to him. He enjoys helping out and putting trash in the trashcan, closing open doors and cleaning up his toys. He still has trouble sitting through an entire book. He has sat with me for up to three books before but he usually looses interest after the 2nd page of the first book. Also, he loves to be chased! Here's a video of me chasing Lincoln, again, I apologize for my overly excited Momminess...it happens!

THE END.

Games

Everything is a game to Lincoln. This is by far his favorite game though. He's silly because he'll play hard to get a few times and then he'll surrender on his own, giggling all the while.

Unfortunately, the camera battery conked out in the end.

P.S. How about the pitter patter of those little chubby feet?! Love it!

Vacuum + Lincoln = Love

I’ve posted about Lincoln’s little Roomba obsession in the past and it looks like his vacuum adoration doesn’t stop there. He doesn’t discriminate; he loves vacuums of all shapes and sizes.