Spa Day...for Daddy???

The girls absolutely love taking a bath with their daddy! During this particular bath, Russ was in for the treat! Lexie decided she wanted to shampoo Russ' hair while Olivia was washing his back. Talk about a spa treatment!

The girls hard at work making daddy look 'pretty'
Scrub, scrub, scrub
Olivia providing a little water therapy

These girls sure know how to spoil their daddy!

Another Year Older...

..and incredibly blessed! Russ was able to relax, play golf, eat like a king, and was showered with gifts, hugs and kisses on his birthday! Happy Birthday Russ!!! We love you more and more every year!

Lexie and Olivia were anxious to help daddy open his presents after dinner! Olivia really wanted to get down to business...good practice for her big day!
Russ getting a 'little help' from the girls.
"Ohhhh, I love it....what is it daddy?"


Golf was the 'theme' of the day! After playing a round with my dad at the club...in a new shirt he bought for himself with some birthday money, he got this festive shirt! I love the color and was completely surprised he picked it out! (Thanks to 'grandpa' for suggesting it!)
Another golf shirt???? In blue???? Wow! (This one was NOT a surprise to me...he loves his blue golf shirts...this one makes number 8 I think!)
Showing off his BIG new Tommy Bahama beach towel the girls picked out. Russ was tired of sporting the hot pink ones the girls and I use so we picked out a 'slightly less feminine' one.

Run Lexie Run!!!

Since I had so much fun helping out at Lexie's school the last time, I jumped at the opportunity to help out again. This time, Lexie's teacher Mrs. Henderson was out of the class room so I had the pleasure of assisting Mrs. Kuhlman. It just so happened, I lucked out and was able to help on the same day that the Pre-school class was scheduled to "Run for Rhema". The Run for Rhema is a school fundraiser where students are sponsored to run with the proceeds benefiting the school. Needless to say, I had an absolute blast helping out and especially getting to see all of the kids run their little hearts out!

The kids were a bit disappointed to learn they would be running in the gym and not outside, but since it has been raining off and on all morning, the course set up outdoors was wet and the powers that be certainly didn't want the kids to slip and hurt themselves so made a makeshift course in the school gymnasium. They still had a great time!!


And they are off!!! There she goes!!!
Russ and Olivia were a part of the crowd to cheer on and support our little runner!
Round and round she goes!!!
One of the kindergarten classes came out to cheer on the runners.
Russ ran the last lap with Lexie. She was exhausted, but ran the whole time!
Post race celebratory popsicle. Sure did the trick!
Lexie was so excited she was awarded a medal!
Congratulations to all of the Rhema Pre-School Runners! We are all so proud of you!
Thank you to everyone that supported Lexie in her efforts to "Race for Rhema"! Special thanks to Aunt Debbie & Uncle Michael, Grandma Barbara, GG & Gpa, Granny, & Nini for your financial pledges!!!!

Family Fun Day!

It was a rare weekend day that Russ had off from work, so we decided to surprise the kids and take them to the Children's Museum. After making a pancake breakfast, we loaded up the girls and headed downtown for some pint sized fun!

Olivia wanted to get the fun started...she really wanted to drive!
Once we arrived and got our bearings, it was off to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood! Olivia found a fun spot on the porch swing!
Lexie found some fun in the vertical maze...it was quite a challenge, but she made it all the way to the top---and back down!
Checking out the scenery.
Olivia tried to go through the big vertical maze like the big kids, but didn't get very far...she was just a tad too small!!!
Next stop was the gravity room....it really did a number on me! The floor was slanted and everything was nailed to the wall/ceiling to match the look---It messed with my head, so I opted to stay on the first floor. Meanwhile, Russ explored with the girls until they reached the slides! It was a tunnel slide, which Olivia wasn't the biggest fan of, so---you guessed it, Russ crammed himself into the slide and slide down...not once but twice with BOTH of the girls! It was quite amusing!

Almost...out...not quite there...
He made it!

Time to dance...retro style! There was a black screen that projected hundreds of colorful images of what/whomever was standing in front of the camera! It was pretty neat, and the girls...and Russ seemed to enjoy it!

Having a blast watching themselves dance on the big screen!

After dancing, it was off to the 'hands on' room! There were tons of different things for kids to interact with and explore. Magnets, trucks, trains, balls, and even climbing nets and slides! Lexie had a blast on the net!
After climbing up the net and sliding down the twisty slide, she was off to try the pulleys. She was concentrating so hard to get her ball all the way to the top before it fell off the platform! She made it!!!
There was so much to see and do...I think Olivia was a bit overwhelmed by it all! She didn't know which way to go first!
Next stop was the "Air" room. Everything Air...Lexie found an airplane...must take after her momma after all!
Olivia didn't want to miss out on all the fun..."scoot over sis!"
After "flying" the airplane, Olivia headed straight for the parachute station. The kids (with help from parents) were able to make their own parachutes out of coffee filters, popsicle sticks, sticky tape and pipe cleaners. It was quite entertaining! There was a cylinder placed above a fan and sucked the parachutes into the tube and out the top! Olivia was quite amused!
"Wheeee"! She was having a blast!
Going back for another turn.
Meanwhile, Lexie was "learning" all about air in a much different way! She went into the wind tunnel/vortex area...the kids were given scarves, leaves made out of materials, other soft items and tossed them up in the air while watching them get whisked away!
The next hands on station provided plenty of entertainment too! The kids made their very own rockets out of paper and sticky tape then placed them on a launching pad...LOOK OUT!
"3...2...1...BLAST OFF!"
Lexie really seemed to enjoy seeing the rocket shoot across the room--with a little help from Daddy!
In the meantime. Olivia found herself sucked into the wind mill display!
Lexie quickly joins her little sister to see what fun could be had.
We had a great trip...and plan to venture back when it is warmer and the outdoor section is opened...and with a change of clothes. The entire 3rd floor is devoted to water play--we just didn't come prepared...and it was nearing nap time!

"NO MAN"

It had been a CRAZY work week and unfortunately Russ hadn't been able to spend much time with the girls. We got HAMMERED with more snow so Russ suited up to finish shoveling the driveway. After he finished, I saw him coming up the walkway toward the door with the shovel...then I noticed he stopped...I couldn't see what exactly he was doing since it was dark out so I flipped the light on to see what was going on. Much to my surprise, he was making a snowman. I had to laugh and of course asked him what in the world he was doing---though it was very obvious. He decided to make a snowman (complete with a carrot nose and blueberries for the eyes and mouth) for the girls. I thought it was the cutest thing---but I think he enjoyed it just as much as the girls did!


Posing with his work in progress.
The next morning, the girls were greeted by the snowman out the front window. Unfortunately, Russ wasn't able to see the expressions on their faces since he left for work before they were up, but they love it! Olivia is STILL saying 'no man' and runs to the window to look for it!
Lexie was so excited to see her snowman!!!!

All the King's Horses and All the King's Men....

It was a beautiful Sunday morning...and not necessarily the weather, but Russ didn't have to work, the girls were giddy and the house was full of giggles. We ate breakfast, played for a bit, then started to get ready for church. Once the girls were ready, Russ decided to take them down stairs so I could finish up uninterrupted. Seconds later, I heard a horrific sound---like the house was falling apart. Turns out, it was Olivia---she was on the landing of the steps and slipped and fell down the remaining 11 stairs while Russ tucked into the bathroom to blow his nose. My heart stopped and I think I skipped about 9 stairs on my way down to her! Russ grabbed her, but she was doing one of those 'crying without making any noise' kinda cries. I was terrified. In the 3.5 seconds that passed (which seemed more like 15 minutes) I thought about every possible scenario that could have played out. Was she okay, was she paralyzed, was Russ too hasty in picking her up, did she have broken bones...I couldn't help to think what ever it was, it was all my fault. She finally started to cry--and I mean C R Y...big tears and began to call out 'mamma'. I could breathe again, if only for a moment! She instantly had a knot on her head and of course was very clingy, but she was fine!

Shortly after the fall--but still ready to go to church!
Looking a bit dazed and confused, sporting her shiny goose egg.


"Wha' chu lookin' at?"
Cheese!
Lexie was so worried about her sister after the fall---but quickly forgot all about it once she was able to go to church and "see her friends". Once back at home she was fixated on her puzzles!
She sure does love her puzzles!!!!