"Mom, I have to go... really bad."

Today was a fun day with Olivia!  She is even sleeping over, which we are all very excited about!  All the kids went to bed great... we'll see who gets up first and how long it takes for everyone to be up.  Mike has to leave around 5:00am, so hoping they don't start getting up that early!

Today it was just me and Olivia for awhile.  The big kids were at school and Kate was napping.  We played, had a snack and I took a few pictures of her.  Here are some of my favorites.  It was very impromptu... sorry, Christy, I didn't tame her hair down.  But, I actually really do like the craziness! : )

[she looks way too old here]

[this is a big smile, she's not crying as it appears]

[olivia and her buddy]

Rachel had piano again tonight and enjoyed it a lot.  She just loves it, which I'm so happy about.  She's not interested in doing much extra-curricular stuff, but this is something she loves.  So happy she has something that interests her right now.

All the kids and I took Rachel to piano tonight since Mike wasn't home.  Rachel went up to the door herself, like a big girl... I was so proud, so I could stay in the car with the other kids.  We had just a half hour to hang out in the car.  Not really enough time to go do anything.  Takes me 30 minutes to just to get everyone out of the car and back in. : )  But, of course, Mr. Eli says... Mom, I have to go to the bathroom really bad.  Really, Eli?  Didn't you go before we left?  No.  I guess I forgot to have him go before we left... which I always do.  Oh well, now I had to deal with it.

So, off to Shopko we went.  We get there and I looked in the back of the Suburban and no stroller.  Oh man.  I usually have one in there, but took it out thinking we'd all walk to get Rachel at the bus stop... but, we ended up driving since it looked like rain.  I never put a stroller back in.  So, now what?  I could either put Olivia in the cart and have Kate walk, carry her or put her in the back of the cart.  It makes me very nervous with her in the back of the cart and didn't feel it was safe at all, but also didn't have time for her to walk and she's getting heavy to carry all over... plus, it'd be hard to push a cart and carry her.  So, in the back she went.  She actually never even tried to stand up... thankfully.  If she would have made one move to stand up she was out of there.  We went to the bathroom, looked around for about 5 minutes and then back to get Rachel.  Actually, wasn't too bad at all... definitely could have been way worse. : )

Here are a couple pictures I took of Kate today, too.  She has been looking very tough lately and here is some proof!  These pictures really looked posed, I know, but I honestly found her like this!  This is her new favorite place to sit and her new favorite hat to wear.  She puts it on this way all by herself.  Good thing I usually have my camera right on the counter... was able to capture the moment. : )

[looks like she's doing some sort of sign here!]

[the shirt is the perfect touch...]

Keep smiling! : )