Inside Out

Still have not found time to do the Christmas posts yet but I wanted to remember this story:

When Matt and I were first beginning to become friends and date in college, one of the things I liked best about him was how funny he was.  I felt like he was so smart to constantly come up with all these jokes and one-liners.   Well...I eventually learned that most of them are straight from movies.  Not really being a "movie person," it took me a while to catch on.  

Well, it looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  Olivia is obsessed with the movie Inside Out.  She saw it twice in the theater and usually chooses it anytime she has "screen time."  She basically has the movie memorized and has taken to saying lines from the movie in conversation at appropriate times.  

For instance, the other day I was complaining about something when she said "Oh don't worry.  It could be worse."  At first I was struck by how optimistic and cheerful she was.  Until I saw the smirk on her face and figured out it was a line from the movie.  

She also sometimes will refuse to go to bed unless I pull her like Joy pulls Sadness.

But, her best so far was when she was in trouble the other day and she didn't seem particularly phased by my attempts to discipline her.  I asked her again why she did that and she responded, completely deadpan, "I’m sorry. Something’s wrong with me. It’s like I’m having a breakdown."  (which is another line from the movie).  And then, I cracked up laughing and lost all my mommy-power.

Oh how I love this crazy little girl of mine!

  

#thanksobama

I am behind on Christmas/New Year's posts, but I wanted to do a quick post on some of the silly things Miss O has said lately.

A few weeks ago it was raining on the way to school, Olivia asked me why it was raining.  I responded that I guessed God thought the trees, plants and flowers needed to be watered.  She immediately responded with an exasperated sigh (her latest lovely response to anything that doesn't go her way) and said "Ugh!  God just gets to decide everything??!!"  I said I think so.  She says "And Barack Obama!"  (Which reminded me of this video)

We have also been in a bit of a dramatic phase.  The most recent examples include bursting into tears on NYE because she "loves 2015 and will miss it"; crying her face off if I use the restroom in the morning before she does (so I now lie to my daughter regarding my bathroom activity); and hysterically crying when she learned we were trying a new dentist that was closer, cheaper, worked better hours and came highly recommended by Aunt KK, Sofie and Minah.

And, I also leave you with the outtake from a video we were trying to make for my cousin who got married in Australia.  Please note Olivia's face...who glares like that in a video to wish some congratulations on their wedding?!

Goodbye to 2015

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

We said good-bye to 2015 in the best way possible – surrounded by best friends. The end of the year handed us some bad news and crashing McGuire family weekend at the ranch seemed to be the best way to move forward. Unsurprisingly, this clan was welcoming, loving and treated us like family.

There were plenty of cousins to play with and Miss O jumped right in. She was especially smitten with baby Sofia and “helped” Aunt Meghan all weekend!  (Thankfully Aunt Meghan was a great sport.  At one point I heard Meghan say that she needed to change Sofia's poopy diaper.  Olivia asked to help and Meghan suggested it was probably better if she did it alone.  In response, Olivia asked "Well, can I watch you?"  This one is in the making for a great little mamma!) 

Don't worry - she didn't forget about her first baby.  Baby Win got lots of loving too!

Of course, “Uncle Bye-Bye” provided lots of entertainment for his favorite boys.

We read, played in the tent, ate good food, went on a hayride and enjoyed some fireworks

(They are yelling at me here to "go away pookie")

And, we continued our annual Harris-Olivia new year's video. We are so glad that the kids enjoy this as much as we do and their true silly personalities come out!

In many ways, 2015 was a great year.  Matt, Olivia and I have found our stride as a little family of 3,  we took some great trips, learned a lot, and had tons of fun together with friends and family.  There were a few set-backs but we are so very grateful for all the blessings we have and are excited to see what 2016 has in store for us!

Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year.  We stuck to our tradition of splitting Christmas Eve/Christmas Day between the grandparents and keeping Christmas morning at our house.

This year we spent Christmas Eve with Tutu and Popo.

Olivia loved all her presents and is always happy to lend a hand if you need help opening your own!

She made ornaments this year again for Popo and Tutu and then helped hang it on the tree.

Opening boxes is hard work!

But a Doc McStuffins toy makes it all worthwhile

We made a calendar for Popo and Tutu with all pictures of them with Olivia from the past year.  They loved it!

Uncle Drew and Aunt Jenny got Olivia this Goldie Blox Dunk Tank which she LOVES!  (PS - 5 months later she still regularly pulls this out of the toy closet!)

Tutu's Peppa and George stuffed animals and Peppa nightgown were a huge hit!

After lunch and a nap, we woke up to play with the Dunking Booth

And then headed to dinner at Jaspers.  Like last year, the tree in the Woodlands Market Street was decorated beautifully!

We came home that evening and sprinkled "reindeer food" in the front lawn so the reindeer would know where to stop.

Then it was into our Christmas PJs and we put out cookies/milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, and read The Night Before Christmas.

  

And, she woke up BRIGHT and EARLY (i.e. 5:30) the next morning to see if Santa came.  Luckily he did!

The first present she opened was from Phillip the Elf.  He left a note saying he would be back next year and gave her an Elsa ornament for the tree.

Santa brought her 2 of the things she wanted most on her list - Callico Critters and Magna-Tiles.

And she got an Anna dress from mommy and daddy

I was happy with my new vest, purse and a sweet pot holder that Olivia made us in school.  It has a gingerbread girl that she painted + a recipe for gingerbread cookies on it.

And Matt showing off the pot holder and his new Sonicare toothbrush (Santa and the Toothfairy are good friends, I guess?)

And she was insistent that she could get the stockings down all by herself!

After the presents were all opened, Olivia and Matt played a little while I got breakfast ready.

And daddy did a little early morning napping...

But some breakfast tacos + cinnamon rolls rallied the troops!

And, then we packed up and headed to my parents' house.  Olivia insisted on wearing her Peppa Pig tutu (not one of the 15 pairs of Christmas PJs I bought her, but I decided to pick my battles) and she fell asleep about 5 minutes before we turned onto my parents' street.

But, as soon as we got there and she saw the presents, she woke right up!

Mimi was surprised by her level of "enthusiasm" for present-opening.  The phrases "careful", "breakable" and/or "fragile" don't really mean much to her!

Daddy got some new grilling accessories

Olivia got some My Little Ponies

She also made an ornament for Mimi and Grandpa that she helped them open

Naz needed some help too, I guess

We had some playtime after all the presents were open

And a second nap for poor, tired daddy

Someone else refused to nap that day!

Olivia helped Yazzie take care of Crosby and got pretty comfortable with him

And as always, there was plenty of delicious food!

One of the presents that we gave Olivia was tickets to Disney on Ice the day after Christmas.  My daughter, who fights me on a daily basis to wear dress up clothes informed me that she would not be wearing a princess dress to the show.  That's right, the one time that wearing a princess dress is encouraged, she refused to do so.  This girl!!

But, I think she loved the show (and her blue sno cone!)

It was a very fun (but very exhausting) Christmas holiday!