Zoey's Birthday Season--Part 1

As much as I don't want it to happen, Zoey grows up a little bit more each day. On Tuesday, May 31st she will turn 6 years old. Since we are not throwing a big family party this year, Zoey will celebrate her birthday in parts. Today was part 1--Nana and Poppa cam over for dinner and dessert to help Zoey celebrate her birthday. Zoey was especially excited to receive another Magic Ticket as a gift. This ticket will get her, Nana, and Auntie Tammy into the play Annie next Sunday! It is now a tradition to go to plays with Nana--the kids love it! She also received some nice clothes--including a nightgown.


There was also a package from Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen waiting for Zoey. We let her open it tonight only to find this super cool bed-tent! Just perfect for a princess! Tonight after Tyler put her to bed, she had some adjustment issues with the tent. She came upstairs crying that it was scary in the tent and that she felt like there were monsters in her room. I of course told her she was crazy--however I took her back downstairs to reset her. As I was tucking her in again, she said, "The girl on the box looks so happy while she sleeps!" I promised her that she will look that peaceful too when she finally falls asleep.


On a different note. . .here is a picture of the kids when they returned from a random trip to the public library. It makes me happy that they can't even wait to get up the stairs before they start digging into their books.
Zander has a new found interest in learning his letters thanks to my iPad. He came up to me today and said, "Let's learn more letters on the iPad, Mommy!" (You had to be there to really appreciate this, but when he says iPad, he points to his eye--I love that kid!)

The Livingston Porch Band

The Family Show

I am sure glad that I got to video tape this show! I think the director should win an award for this!

Try to Knock Me Down!

Zander invented a new game. The rules are simple. Throw a ball at him and try to knock him over. Notice how most of us were being gentle. . .but then there was daddy!

Easter (or as Zoey called it. . ."THE BEST DAY EVER!!!"

I have to admit, my favorite holiday is Easter. I love the message of Easter, the church service, the music, and mostly the memories that have been made playing in the backyard after a big Easter dinner. We have been fortunate to have beautiful weather on Easter--so playing in the sun has been fantastically fun! Here are more than a few pictures highlighting our day.


The day started bright and early with an Easter Basket hunt. The riddles, read by Zoey herself, led them all over looking for clues. The mailbox was just one of the places they had to go. They finally did find the baskets. . .in the bathtub!

Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen came to visit for the whole weekend. On Sunday afternoon Nana, Poppa, Tammy, and Eric came to join us. Zander started the party with a little friendly sword fight with Nana. Argh. . .

After dinner, there was another egg hunt in the backyard.
I have to say, they are getting better at finding the eggs.

Zoey and Zander tried to catch Uncle Eric while playing "Frogger" on the swing set. It is an unsafe childhood game I remembered from my elementary days. One player had to walk down the middle of the swing set while everyone was swinging and try not to get hit--doesn't that sound like a good time?

Zoey wanted to be a human sling shot. Just wait until we introduce her to the game Angry Birds--I think she'll get a kick out of that.

She still has some mad hula-hooping skills. She just keeps getting better.

We have to give credit to Grandma for trying to show Zoey up.
It was a valiant effort on her part.

Nana and Grandma played a little game of Noodle Hockey.

Little Slugger

Gracie hid from all the excitement. She didn't like the game that used a big ball.

The Livingstons and The Plumbs

Zoey may be getting a bit old for this game. But daddy proved that he could still throw her up in the air (without dropping her!).

Another Lost Tooth

It has been loose forever, but tonight when I dropped Zoey while we were dancing, the top front tooth finally came out!

March Maddness

Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss (March 2nd). Zoey chose to go to school all decked out in Seuss gear. She borrowed my shirt and a Cat in the Hat hat--she was very proud of her ensemble.

I got some free t-shirts from school--since Zoey rides the Gopher bus to school this year, she was very excited to get a shirt with Goldie Gopher.

Zander has basically given up napping in the afternoon when he is at home with us. However, every once in a while his tiredness catches up with him and he ends up like this. . .

. . .at quiet time.

First time trying to rollerskate

As a fun girl scout outing, we took the family to try out roller skating. It didn't take me or Tyler very long to remember how to skate (although we both figured we haven't done it since about our middle school days.) It is a lot harder now that we are in our thirties, though.

The kids both gave it a try. Zoey gave it a girl scout effort. . .even though she was very unstable the entire time, she didn't want to leave and she wanted to keep trying. Zander, however, did not like the feeling for rolling around. He opted to just run around in his shoes.

Still smiling, even after taking a fall. . .that a girl!

"Kisses aren't treats. They're love." ~ Zander, Age 3.5

Head-head. . .tomp-tomp. . .tummy FULL!

There are a lot of dance parties going on at our house lately. One of Zander's favorite shows is Yo Gabba Gabba and one of the bits is called Dancey Dance. Most the time a famous person will come on the show and teach the kids/characters a new dance move. The video above shows Zanders original dancey dance moves. He narrates it just like the show. "Head-head. . .tomp-tomp. . tummy FULL!"

Fun facts about the kids at this moment in time:

• Zander can't say his s-blends. (Hence the cuteness that is tomp-tomp. He will also ask for us to read a tory, and let us know when he is cared.)
• Zoey can read just about anything. Today she read all about Helen Keller and was very interested in how she went to college when she was 20 years old!
• Zoey can't stand guacamole.
  
• Zander still doesn't eat much meat.
• Zander has become totally comfortable at church. When I am singing up front, he will just walk up and hand me his garbage or stand next to me or go hang out in front of the alter--just for kicks. At least he keeps things interesting.
• Zander is 3 years 7 months and still no interest in the potty. (I know that he will want to know about this when he is older.)
• Both Zoey and Zander start swimming lessons this week at the YMCA.
• Favorite Movies at the moment: Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me
  

Funny things the kids have said this past month or so:

• Zander woke up at 5:45 in the morning. I told him to play in his room while Mommy and Daddy slept. Every 5 minutes he came into the room asking for something. "Mommy, can I have lemonade in a sippy cup?" Me--"No! Mommy wants to sleep. You have to wait." Zander--"Ok. . . .I'll try daddy."

• Out delivering cookies with Zoey. She played shy with most everyone. I asked her why she is always so quiet around my friends but so LOUD with me? Her response, "Loud is how I say I love you."

• Zander 'wrote' a book called, "How you to find a balloon."

• Zander broke his buzz lightyear doll. He wants me to send it back to Santa's workshop. "Santa will fix it."

• Loves that Zander calls the humidifier in his room "that thing that makes me have no hiccups!"

• In my quest for the "Mother of the Year" title, I decided that it would be FUN to let the kids play around with my kickboxing gloves. Zoey punches a lot harder with the gloves on and Zander was just overheard saying, "Let's go downstairs and I can hit you!"

My bundles of joy!

Feburary 2011

Last weekend we went to the Mall of America. Zoey hated it--she said she nevers wants to go back again. So don't dare take her there. She does not like it!!!! She also told us that she never ever wants to go to Florida or to Disneyland. That would be the pits! (Zoey is reading this over my shoulder. . .it is so annoying to have a kid that reads!)

But truly, we had a good time. Zoey went on her first roller-coaster ride. The whole family went on the Log Chute. Tyler and I had a bet on whether or not Zander would freak out. Turns out the break down came from Zoey. We figured out that it was the fact that there were no seat belts on the ride that really caused the melt down. She is a rule follower--especially when it comes to wearing her seat belt. (Yeah!)

Zoey was proud to show us her ribbon at school.