Blank Park Zoo 2012

I took a couple days off after Labor Day and decided to take the kids to the zoo since we had yet to go this summer. Riley was super excited and Harper was up for anything. We headed out at 9am since it was going to be in the 90s. Both of the girls were great and had so much fun. Riley loved seeing the sea lions, otters, and giraffes. Harper loved watching the monkeys swing around, otters swim under water, and the giraffes. Riley chose to ride the carousel instead of the train. We only had one mishap when Riley tripped and scraped her knee and dropped her banana. After a couple hours and a little toy from the guest shop we were headed back home! Such a great morning.

Harper's New Hiding Spot

Gymnastics

Riley started gymnastics again and has been practicing her cartwheels nonstop. Harper has been trying to keep up with her big sister. Check out the girls showing off their skills...

Riley's Chore Chart

I've been talking with Riley the past few weeks about how we are going to start a chore chart for her to do every day now that she is 4 years old.  She is getting to the age that she is old enough to help out with a few things and she really needs to learn some responsibility.  Brett and I talked and we chose a couple things to make her feel important and a couple simple tasks that she was starting to fight us on. The list includes: brushing her teeth, feeding the cat, putting her clothes in her hamper, and picking up her toys.  I was going to make a cute little chart with stickers for her to use to mark off her chores, but she beat me to the punch.  This weekend she made her very own chore chart.  For the time being it works perfectly.  Every morning she looks at it and says "ok, I need to feed the cat."  It is cute to see her taking such pride in a simple task that really helps us out.  I still intend to make a sticker chart, but until that happens she will be using hers....

Riley's New Haircut

We went to see Aunt Bev at the salon to get Riley's hair trimmed before preschool.  She loved getting her hair washed, cut and dried.  She didn't care so much for the curls.  And she loved the sucker at the end!

Harper Grace: 15 Months Old

Harper is 15 months old. It seems like I was just writing a post that she was 14 months old. Soon she won't be the baby of the family. I have been finding myself holding her longer at night before bed and hugging her more because of that.  It makes me sad to think that she has only had limited time as our baby of the family. But I know she will do great as a big sister to a little brother. Here is what she's been up to the past month.

• She continues to be as spunky as ever. As my Grandma Consolver always said she is "full of piss and vinegar." She knows what she wants and she is determined to get it that very second. 
• She is a climber.  She climbs on everything. Turn your back for 10 seconds and she is standing on the top of the kitchen table.
• She is a lover.  She loves to hug, cuddle, and to be held.
• She continues to suck her fingers.  I wish I wouldn't have ever given up on the paci...it's so much easier to break!
• Her hair is still light brown and is growing like crazy.  We'll probably need to take her in to see Aunt Bev in a couple months for her first hair cut.
• She loves the cat!
• She loves her big sister.  She will sit and listen to anything that Riley says (which Riley loves since she always wants to be in charge).
• Every morning Riley climbs into her crib when she hears Harper making noise.  Harper loves this.
• She loves to hold stuffed animals or dolls in her arm, just under her chin.
• She is wearing size 3, almost 4 shoes. Size 4 diapers. 12mth clothes.
• She still only has 4 (!) teeth.  I keep looking and swearing that I see the signs of more teeth coming, but they have yet to pop through.  At this age, Riley had 12 teeth.
• Words: ilk, dad, ta-da, mama, moo, baa.  She is answering most questions by shaking her head yes or no.
• She loves to spin in circles.
• She loves music and loves to dance.  She knows the motions to wheels on the bus and will sing "baa, baa, baa, baa, baa" through the whole song of Baa Baa Black Sheep.
• She loves books and is constantly bringing them to us to read.  She insists that you read them or throws a fit. 
• She is trying to copy her sister and tries to do somersaults.  She's about half way there.

Riley Nicole: 4 Years Old

Today is Riley's 4th Birthday.  Now that she's four, she's definitely a preschooler and no longer even close to the toddler stage.  In just one short year she will probably be starting kindergarten! Ahhh!  It's amazing the amount of growth that we've seen in her this past year.  She is such a sweet, kind hearted little girl.  She has gone from a shy, quiet girl to a smart, talkative, funny little girl.  She is the best big sister and will be the caretaker for her little brother and sister.  We had a great birthday party for her at a local water park resort over the weekend, but that will be it's own post!  Here's a look into what she's up to at 4 years old...

• She weighs around 33-34 pounds.  I can't remember her height off the top of my head.  Some people comment on how tall she is, where others think she's a little peanut.  I think she's right in the middle, but thin with long legs.
• Her hair is still strawberry blond and so pretty.  I'm curious to see if it stays blond or if it darkens like her daddy's did.  We haven't cut it in over a year and it's getting really long.
• She hates brushing her hair and letting me put ponytails in.
• She's hit or miss on loving her baths.  She has a new found love for showers and will usually take at least one a week.  She always needs "just one minute" to play at the end of her shower.  We decide at the beginning of her bath if she is taking a "fast bath," or if she is going to play for awhile.  She still hates getting water in her eyes, but is much better at just wiping the water away. 
• She is very independent with her self cares.  On occasion, she will decide to dress herself.  She will match colors, but hasn't figured out patterns yet.  She will brush her own teeth...if she has a new toothbrush.  She uses the bathroom by herself...most of the time.
• She loves to help out. She always wants to crack the eggs, stir the batter, or cut up her food.  We are always finding her sneaking pieces of her own food to her sister. She likes to be in charge.
• She has informed me that she has started to like chocolate a little bit now.  But, she still didn't eat any chocolate cake for my birthday.
• She is wearing a size 8 shoe and 4 pants and shirts.  She will usually choose cotton shorts/pants over jeans.
• She loves working in her preschool workbooks.  She will usually pick out what page she wants to do and ask me to read the directions.  She had her preschool assessment and did great.  Her teacher was quite impressed with where she was academically.  She was proud of herself.  I think she'll love preschool again this year and can't wait to see some of her friends again.
• She is genuinely funny.  She says and does funny things and has no clue she's funny.
• She has been asking to start gymnastics again.  Last night was her last night of Start Smart Soccer.  She spent most of the time kicking her ball and then doing a cartwheel over it.  We just watched and laughed.
• She is competitive and hates losing. She seems to give up pretty quickly.  I think we'll have to really encourage her to keep at things.
• She would rather play with someone, than by herself.
• She loves to watch Doc McStuffins (and wears her stethoscope while watching), Team UmiZoomi, Mickey Mouse, and most Disney movies.
• She says that she likes every color, but blue is really still her favorite color.
• She loves to ride her balance bike and scooter.  She usually chooses her bike and is now able to ride it all the way around the block.  She will hopefully be ready for a real bike by Christmas.
• She is lazy.  She would rather someone else do something for her.
• She has been testing the waters with responding to us with "no!" or "I don't want to!"  Usually it only takes one time of us telling her that she doesn't talk to us like that for her to sulk over to do whatever it is we tell her....or we just threaten to take movies away (works 95% of the time).
• Once the TV is on we've lost her.  She would sit in front of the TV all day if we let her.  Once she watches one show she will whine for another over and over.
• She still loves books and insists that we read several before bed each night.
• She hates going to bed each night and is always starving or thirsty right as it's time to go up.
• She is so excited for the new baby.  She loves being a big sister and loves Harper.  She cries if she doesn't get to give her a kiss and a hug good night.
• One things we've been working on is sharing toys.  She doesn't like Harper stealing her toys (which she does often because she knows it drives Riley nuts.  She'll run away with the toy giggling the whole way.  So funny!).  She will usually find a different toy she doesn't like and try to swap with Harper.  Smart...but drives her mama nuts!
• Riley can be brought out of any bad mood/pout with the simple phrase "show me your smile" or "I want to see your smile by the time I count to 5."  Works every time.  You can't be mad and smile at the same time!

We just love her so much!