{ chores }

My punishment:

Their punishment:

{ goodnight moon }

After a long day, there is nothing better than this.

The innocence as they flip through pages "reading".

I mean really. The foot cross? So cute.

Reading is serious business for these two.

We have our fair share of crazy bedtime routines. Bath, pjs, running around (instead of reading), lights out. But we get spoiled by moments like this.

And the best part, there is enough to go around.

{ sooooooo big! }

14 months and still growing.....

{ randomness }

It seems the days and weeks are flying by, though there isn't much in particular to post about. Here is some "randomness" that we have been up to lately........

The Gopher football season has begun. We've pulled out our maroon & gold several times already and Oliver & Stella even got to visit a tailgate this past weekend.

Fall has brought cooler temps but we aren't letting that keep us from bundling up and heading outside in our pjs. The morning ritual after breakfast has always been heading out for a walk and then play time in the backyard. Play time usually just means me trying to keep them from causing causing any harm to themselves from climbing backwards up the slide, playing on the stairs, driving the car into the landscaping.....

The cooler temps and rain also brought us to the Children's Museum over the weekend for some play time indoors with O & S's friend Lena.

And then we caught some all-star soccer at cousin Lydia's game later that day.

These two have really become quite the duo lately. I had shared some pack n play videos in the last post and I had to share this little video that I took with my phone when I heard giggling from the other room today.

Lets hope they continue to love each other this much forever!

{ two little monkeys jumping on the bed }

But at least neither of them fell off and bumped their head.

Just lots of laughing.

They now beg to get into the same pack n play or crib to goof around. And I'm all about keeping them contained and listening to giggles.

{ let it rain }

What started as Chop needing to put the sprinkler out to water the lawn, turned into a fun time for Oliver and Stella.

It began with hesitation.

But that didn't last long.

Stella quickly found out the hard way not to walk directly in the path or you will take a face full of water.

Which ended in kisses from daddy.

This little boy just couldn't get enough.

Pure joy. Just look at that smile.

And he welcomed getting it in his face.

Why didn't I think of this sooner? Lucky for them, 91 degrees forecasted again for tomorrow. And then 57 for Wednesday. Only in Minnesota!

{ stella + lena = bff }

Stella seems to have found a best friend. It started with the two of them trying to hold hands from the stroller.

Then we decided to make the switch and put them in the double stroller together.

Poor Oliver got booted into the single stroller.

Then there was playing.

Secrets being told.

And kisses given.

SO sweet!

{ mini-me }

People often ask about O & S - "Who do they look like?".

Oliver is the obvious one. Just like his daddy.

Stella is a mix. I see bits of cousin Lydia, Grandpa C, Grandma C, and cousin Owen. And then my parents dug out some old pictures of me when I was Stella's age and despite the attire, there is some definite resemblance.

And knowing Stella's personality, I sometimes feel like I am looking in the mirror when I look at her. She would rather play than take a nap or go to bed, can't sit still, would rather be independent than ask/allow help, and takes a little warming up to strangers before taking down her guard. Lets just hope she got her daddy's brains!

{ walker }

I was finally able to capture Oliver on video walking. Or should I say, I finally pulled out my iPhone and was able to tape him without one of them climbing on me to get at the camera!

Everyday he is doing more and more walking and becoming more and more sturdy on his feet. The latest is that Stella baits him into a game of "get me". He isn't quite fast enough to keep up with her but it won't be long!

{ wordless wednesday: which way to the gym? }