We wanted to go to the zoo one last time before we moved and we wanted to take Olivia again because of how much fun Lily and Livi have been having together.  I started to worry that we weren’t going to be able to go because Waldo couldn’t take the time off of work, but Jolene (my Sister) could.  Yay.

I don’t think Livi gets why Lily loves the statues so much.

We timed it just right so that we could feed the giraffes again.

I really thought she was going to do it, she’s done it before.

Lil was NOT into it this time.

We saw a peacock time time. Because the peacocks roam freely around the zoo it’s very hit and miss whether or not you see them.

Jolene and Olivia

The Grizzly Bear usually just sleeps the whole time, but today he was almost putting on a show for us.

That was enough. Nap time.

The girls were watching the camel.  After they walked away the camel got in his little watering hole and splashed himself.  It was kind of neat.

Our Mom meet us at the zoo after a while.

I think Lily was tired of smiling.

We stopped by the elephant and orangutang before we headed out.

See the baby?  He’s getting so big.

This is the first time we’ve ever seen the baby venturing out on his own.

Mama wasn’t far behind.

Grandma Gail (GG) kissing Lily bye bye.

I’m so glad that we were able to go to the zoo one last time and I’m definitely glad I was able to spend time with my sister, niece and Mom before we left.  It wasn’t enough time, but it was a lot of fun. I miss you all so much!

I talked about watching my niece and how the girls and I made playdough, but I didn’t get a change to write about the rest of the day.

There was a lot of “working” going on.

It's Livi's turn to work rigth now. I think Lily is telling Livi how it's her turn next.

There was a lot of checking out toes. I don’t get what it is about a toddler and their toes, but both Lily and Livi spent a very strange amount of time checking out their toes.

Lily is thinking about her toes. She hasn't touched them in at least a hour.

Got em!

We had a few moments of super sweetness. Livi was signing “twinkle twinkle” to Lily to help her fall asleep.

They took turns “falling asleep” and I think you will agree after watching the video that no one was actually going to go to sleep.

And the thing that is most looked forward to, the thing that is most talked about, the thing that is the most fun; jumping on Lily’s bed. There was a lot of that.

Jumping Beans

These two certainly know how to have a good time.  They wear me out.

We really miss Olivia.  She turned 3 yesterday.  Happy birthday Livi!

I’ve watched my niece Olivia once day a week for the last couple of weeks and it’s been so much fun, with a few meltdowns thrown in, but mostly a lot of fun.  I was very a little nervous about keeping Livi because I wasn’t sure how Lily would do.  I’ve watched Livi before a number of times, but this time I’m keeping her at our house rather than at my Grandma’s house and I wasn’t sure how Lily would take someone else on her turf.  Livi’s been here twice now and for the most part Lily LOVES it.  Lil talks about “her new friend OliviWa” for days after and is quite unhappy when Livi leaves.  I don’t get nearly as much work done as I normally do, but I make up for it after she leaves or the next day.  It’s so worth it and again this one of the biggest reasons I’m sad about moving (I promise there’s a post about this in my drafts).  I grew up really close to my cousins and have always wanted that for Lily.  It’s taken her a year, but she and Livi are friends now, I don’t want her to loose that.  Anyway back on track.

The last time that Livi was over Lily slept terribly the week night before and (my sister) Jolene brought donuts for breakfast, Lily and Livi shared one.  I should stop here and remind anyone that doesn’t know, that we limit Lily’s sugar intake to almost nonexistent. About a hour and a half after the donut Lily had a meltdown of epic portions, it took me a few minutes to figure it out, but as soon as I took her in the kitchen and gave her something to eat (toast) she was fine again.  While we were in the kitchen I decided that we should make some playdough and have some fun.

I pulled Lil’s Learning Tower up to the counter and showed Livi what it was for.  I let each of them dump one of the major dry ingredients into the pan, Lily is a pro at this.  Then let them each take a turn at stirring before I put the hot water in.

Livi wants a turn so badly

Score!

While the playdough was cooling we set the dining room up for messy playing with my standard crafting covers. I put a leftover birthday party, cheap, plastic tablecloth on the table, and my old t-shirts on the girls. Because they are my t-shirts of course they are WAY too big so I gather up some of the excess material at the back of the neck and twist it a little and clip it with a pampered chef clip. It works great.

Rolling worms

Squishing flat circles

At first they just used their hands and the one play kitchen item they each had for some reason with the playdough. After a while Lily started asking for our normal playdough mashing devises.

Lily's knife = dull butter spreader

I also give them a potato masher and a old garlic press.  Lil loves the garlic press and had the first go with it.  As soon as Livi saw the neat sketti noodles it produced she had to try it.  It took  her a little trying to figure out the right ratio of dough and force, but she LOVED it.

I'm pretty sure she's using "the force" to make this bend to her will.

I'm sure she's wondering why I keep taking pictures.

Just look at all that sketti!

They had such a good time that they played for almost a hour.  Anyone that has ever babysat while keeping their own kid alive would appreciate just how exciting it is when you find something to keep them both alive, not fighting, sharing nicely and mostly clean for almost a hour. It was bliss.