{ toddler talk }

We have been so busy and mom never lets us have any computer time. But we finally took some time away from eating, pooping, playing with the toilet lid, sleeping, pulling wipes out of the container, and climbing on things we shouldn't to give all of our blog fans a little update.....O & S style.

We have a yard full of awesome toys but we prefer to just climb on the stairs. It really makes mom mad which is the best part.

But we just win her approval back by giving each other kisses. That gets lots of ohhhh's and ahhhh's.

We have perfected the giant slide in our backyard after only a week of having it.

Even though I am a pretty good walker now, accidents happen. Like this one.

I hardly cried though. I just gave the cement sidewalk the stink eye.

I can't do what Oliver did to my nose. I've been practicing my runway walk for modeling. I even talked dad into letting me wear these jeggings to show off my awesome legs.

Do you think they make my butt look too big?

This big, yellow, furry thing has been hanging out at our house. We call her dog but other people call her Maizy. She loves it when we bring her sticks.

Except sometimes.

Whoa! Nicey Maizy.

This last Saturday we went to the apple orchard with our friends Lena and Ayla.

I was super embarrassed because dad kept trying to hold my hand as we walked.

Not me. I headed right for the chickens.

And in case there was any doubt that we have grown in the last year, here is proof that we have.

We were super curious when it came to checking out the animals in the barn.

But I really hated the hay. It was weird.

I worked a little bit on my modeling while we were there.

Then we went and got lost in the giant corn maze. It took a financial analyst, math professor, and a web entrepreneur to get us out of there.

Our dad is really smart but not when it comes to using mom's fancy camera. I mean, even mom can't get half of her pictures to turn out so how is he supposed to? But look, some that he took actually turned out which means that in our baby book we will actually get to see pictures of our mom!

Then she was back behind the camera when we spotted these awesome orange things.

I was in the midst of trying to get mine over to the stroller to take home when all of the sudden, I spotted a TRUCK (or if you want to get technical, a tractor).

Truck, truck, truck, truck.

Then came the highlight of the whole day for both of us. We sat down for a snack and got to try doughnuts.

Can you say: best. snack. ever.

I was so happy that I kissed Lena.

And told her mom, Auntie Deborah, to tell my mom that she should let us have that white sugary stuff on our food at home. We always have to eat healthy. Lame.

 

The problem with eating too many mini doughnuts is that it makes my jeans too tight. And then it is hard to get up off the ground.

It was time to leave but mom and dad begged us to cooperate for just one family photo. All it took was a bribe of one more mini doughnut. We might only be 14 months old but we totally know how to get what we want.

{ saint joseph }

As many of you know, our house has been on the market since March (in addition to having it on the market for a year in 2007). Like the last time, we have had little success and to this date no serious interest or offers.

I had heard of burying a Saint Joseph statute, commonly expressed as "the home Selling saint" in folklore. I had laughed it off before but desperate times call for desperate measures!

So, this week I set out to find myself a Saint Joseph statute. I came up short in finding a local store that someone mentioned sold them, only to return home that afternoon to find one in my mailbox. Strange? Yes! I looked at the enclosed sheet to find my brother's name listed in the billing address. I immediately emailed both Kyle and my sister in law, thanking whichever one of them was responsible for sending one to us. I got a reply back from Kyle saying the funny part was that Elizabeth had ordered it and he had no idea. In fact, he had one in his car that he had picked up for us as well. Great minds thinking alike!

I digress. The official burial was on Tuesday.

I followed the rules. In the front yard, near the for sale sign, upside down, facing the house.

For those of you interested in reading more about this there is an official website, complete with "St. Joseph Home Selling Kits".

And one final shameless plug.....here is the listing to pass along to friends who might be interested! 

I'll be sure to keep you posted. Work your magic, Saint Joseph!

{ 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!