September 24 = Train Table Day

Today was another CDC day but Liam didn't go in until 10 so I had time to make some eggs for breakfast- Malia enjoyed them- Liam didn't.

We dropped Liam off and headed to the library for "Babies in Bloom."  Malia spent the majority of the time were there standing in the middle of the room.  But then the woman brought out bubbles and it was over.  I took a video but this is the best part of it- I took a screen shot of her face when she realized the bubbles were within reach.

Then we brought lunch to Zachary- she got a free ride back to the car when we headed out.

We ran to target and got Halloween costumes (I got an email that their costumes were 40% off just today so duh, I had to go).  Then we picked up Liam and came home.  When Zachary got home, we headed to Anna Kate's house- she had a train table she wasn't interested in anymore that she wanted to give to us.  Liam is a huge fan!

September 23 = Make Big Moves Day

We had the room next to the kitchen serve as a little office.  It had the computer, my keyboard and all my craft stuff.  We had to get this fancy gate because given two minutes, Liam could do a ton of damage.  Yesterday, Zachary was looking at the gate and said something to the extent of "man, if we had had this gate when we moved in, we could have made this the playroom..." and I thought, well we still have a while here so let's do it!  So we did.  Before Zachary got home, I moved everything but the desk downstairs and when he got home, we moved the desk and then put down the floor tiles that were in Malia's bedroom at the last place we lived.  And we started moving toys up.  I didn't make it to the gym yesterday but really, it wasn't necessary- I burned my share of calories running up and down stairs.

Now I just have to reorganize all of this:

and the downstairs will be a place for us to escape to.  I've got my work cut out for me.

September 21 = Hail & Farewell Day

We started the morning by putting a bow in Malia's hair.  She tolerates these better than headbands even though I love headbands but it's just not in the cards for us.  Anyway! 

We took Liam to the CDC for the day and came home and got to work.  Malia helped me fold some diapers...

I got some other stuff done, Malia napped... and then it was time for me to take Malia to Zachary so he could watch her for me while I had a therapy appointment- have I mentioned, I love therapy?  Well, I picked up Liam first and as we were leaving, we saw our friends, Kam and Anna Kate. Anna Kate is four and she is so sweet.  She's super smart too and her mom is teaching her lots of good things- one being to have a giving heart.  Anna Kate knew that I was Malia's mommy too and she gave me one of her stuffed animals- she had it in her little purse so it must be pretty special- she wanted Malia to borrow it.  So I took it to pick Malia up and gave it to her- she loved it!

After I snapped that picture, Zachary showed me this picture he took of Malia while she as hamming it up at the Academy.

I went home, changed diapers, packed some snacks and we headed right back to the Academy for a hail and farewell at the Commandant's house. I don't have any pictures of us there because Liam and I didn't last long.  Liam thinks all doors should be closed at all times- he gets this habit from us but little does he know, the doors are closed to keep him out.  Anyway, he got very upset when people would open doors that he had shut- silly people.  So he and I headed outside and walked around a bit.  It was so nice outside so it all worked out.

September 20 = Teach Little Sister Bad Habits Day

Liam loves climbing and now he's passing that love down to his little sister.

Also, the cats really like Zachary.

September 19 = New Sippy Cups Day

After being gone last weekend for the marathon, Zachary had duty today so we are definitely looking forward to tomorrow, getting him back, and also next weekend to have a whole weekend together.  We started our day off with breakfast and, of course, some Mickey Mouse.  I'm not proud of it but I'm all about survival right now and that involves Mickey Mouse.  There are worse things.

Then we headed to Target and Carter's and Michaels.  I am on a mission to get this girl off bottles.  I'm tired of the parts.  I've been using bottles for over three years now and it's gotta stop.  Hopefully one or more of these will do the trick. 

It's not looking promising...

September 18 = Sprint Football Game Day

Today's title is a bit misleading.  There was a sprint football game today, but we didn't see it.  We got there over an hour early and didn't make it to the end.  There was some miscommunication somewhere and we got there thinking we were right on time but were nowhere close.  But we had lots of fun letting the kids run around and do what they felt like doing.  Liam pointed out the numbers one and two on the seats and said them to us without any help- we were super impressed!

September 17 = Indoor Picnic Day

So there's this trend on social media #iwokeuplikethis.  People take pictures of themselves upon waking up naturally beautiful and post them saying, look how beautiful I am with no effort.  So I, poking fun at this trend, posted this picture of Malia with the caption "she woke up like this."

 We had a very rare open day today so I decided to make some returns I've been meaning to make.  However, I got an email with a 20% off one item coupon to Barnes and Noble so obviously, we ran by there too.  I got this book:

 ... I really would love to teach my kids yoga at a young age and let it be something they grow up doing.  It's such a great exercise that encourages flexibility, strength, mindfulness, self acceptance, so many things!

When we got home, Liam really wanted to watch Mickey Mouse and he had been so good during our shopping trip so I put down our picnic blanket down in the living room and let him eat his lunch with Mickey.  He ate it all!  He hardly ever eats all of his lunch so I think I may use this tactic more often...

Also Malia has a new habit- walking around with my shoes around her wrists.  I have no clue where she got it from but it makes her happy.

September 16 = Virtual Thank You Day

Liam got to wear another one of his birthday presents from Grandma & Pops today- I haven't written my thank you notes yet so I let Liam help me out:

And later, we actually went out to eat!  It's been a long, long time since the four of us have gone out to eat but we decided to give it a try and it wasn't terrible.  We went to an Irish place and I got some delicious potato skins- totally worth the trip and not having to clean afterwards made it even better!

September 15 = Play Outside Day

Fall is on the way!  Zachary had class tonight and after this weekend, we were getting a little stir crazy so since it's cooler, we headed outside.  Malia liked sitting on the blanket... for about three seconds and then started walking all over the back yard.

September 14 = Show Off Your New Jacket Day

Liam got this new jacket from Grandma & Pops for his birthday!  It's been getting cooler here so I introduced him to it this morning- he was a fan!

September 13 = Messy Dinner Day

Zachary went to Allentown, PA for a marathon this weekend.  The kids missed him- as soon as he got home they made it known!

She loves her baby doll:

We had lasagna.  And by we had lasagna I mean Zachary, Liam and I had lasagna and Malia destroyed her lasagna and everything around along with it.

September 11 = Big Helper Day

Liam did the cutest thing today.  Malia threw her plate from the high chair to the table so Liam picked it up, dumped most of the food that was remaining on the plate back on her tray...

 ...and then took her plate to the trash can to wipe off what he couldn't get on her tray...

and then threw it in the sink.  Such a big helper!

And then we made these for the grandparents since Grandparents' Day is Sunday!  I liked the idea of the string connecting the hearts but Zachary liked drawing a line so he did that on his parents' card, and I did the string on mine.  And that's how you compromise!

September 10 = Get Caught in the Rain Day

Today was a "Liam goes to the CDC" day.  So Malia and I spent some quality time together and I got some of my chores done and then we went to the Academy to have lunch with Zachary.  We had a little time to kill before picking up Liam so I stopped by the exchange to pick up a few things and while we were checking out, I heard what I was praying was not rain.  Oh but it was.  Hopefully, by looking at the sidewalk in this first picture, you can tell how hard it was raining.

We got to the CDC and the rain had slowed down a little bit so we walked very quickly in and got Liam and walked very quickly out.  As we were going home, though, the rain kept pouring down heavier and heavier.  When we got in the driveway, it was really bad.  It didn't seem like it was going to let up anytime soon so I went ahead and ran out, unlocked the door, got Liam, carried him inside, ran back out and got Malia, and then ran back out to get the groceries.  Liam got the least wet of the three of us, I definitely got the worst of it.  The water at the end of our driveway (where the drain is located for the street), was up to my knees.  So I snapped this real quick to show Liam found my being soaked, so very funny.

September 8 = We Have a Walker Day!

Malia's walking!

September 6 = Birthday Party Day

We had lots of fun yesterday at the farm and Liam loved his pizza dinner last night but today we had his birthday party with lots of family and friends.  We had a Mickey Mouse theme since Liam is obsessed.  Here's the yummy food:

 

Thankfully lots of family members were willing to help- Mo helped me so much with all of the food and dirty dishes used to prepare the food.  Grace lent her artistic talents for this sign:

Mo found this flag at Walgreens so Mickey Mouse was there to greet all of our guests as they arrived!

Grace and Matt put this background up for us too to take pictures of all of our guests! 

Here's Amy and Evie- we went to Evie's first birthday party recently- isn't she too cute?

And here's Jessica and Weston- he's giving us his serious face- and then a shot of the whole family:

Rachel helped Malia practice her walking- she had a very sassy Minnie Mouse shirt on to support our Mickey theme.

Here's Matt & Grace and Matt & Rachel:

And then, before Matthew and Rachel left, we got some family pictures:

Here are more friends!  Giselle & Brandon:

 

And then our former neighbors, the Kuppers and the Curtases: 

Liam loved this game from the Kuppers- he punched out each of the little bugs and handed them to Grandma- he was very diligent!

I started cleaning up once all of our friends headed out- I took our photo backdrop down and then remembered I hadn't gotten pictures of Grandma & Pops or pictures of us so... (the picture of Grammy and Gramps must be on someone else's phone)

 

 

 Liam was spoiled with lots of birthday gifts:

It was a day of fun and love for a fun-loving little boy!