Oliver at play

On the day Oliver's cousins left, we decided to do some fun things to distract him from the fact that: 1.) Riley & Olivia were gone and 2.) that he wasn't having a nap.

First we rode the terminal link train around the entire airport not once, but twice. He loved this and wanted to go a third time but I decided it was time to leave. I took this picture of us before we got off the train.

The next day he was playing with his car and wanted me to hook a fabric box to the back. It took me a while to figure out he was calling it the terminal link, but I got this video so you can see and hear it too.

After we finished the ride around the airport, Oliver wanted to go to the mall and ride on his favorite coin-operated cars. He just loves these and I always get huge smiles every time we do it.

Since the play area had just been cleaned, and since there were only little ones in the play area, we took the opportunity to play on all the breakfast food. Oliver didn't want to at first, but he quickly warmed up and ended up having a great time.

When we arrived home Oliver clearly was not done playing, so we played outside until dinner time. Oliver was definitely ready for bed at 8 and he quickly fell fast asleep. :) The distractions were a success and the day ended without meltdowns. Hooray!

Emptier house

So here are my last pictures of Riley and Olivia. They left last Tuesday and it was so hard to see them go. I so enjoyed getting to know them again after being gone from SL for almost six years now. I loved every minute of them being here, but I think Oliver enjoyed it even more. Oliver has asked me where his Livia and Riley are every day since then. Oliver loved playing with his cousins and following them around. I want to thank Jerone and Debbie so much for trusting me with these two angels, it means more to me than you know!

Here Livia is being a great sister and sharing chicken with her ever ravenous teenage brother

Just before they walk onto the jet bridge

Their plane

Some favorites

My favorite picture Riley took of Dallas while we were driving

Olivia's favorite High 5 of bridges in Dallas

Oliver's favorite school bus park

My favorite picture at the park...Riley is taller than me, yet he still ducked under to ring the bells for Oliver

My favorite picture of Riley & Olivia playing together

My favorite kind of Olives. :)

Dallas World Aquarium

The Dallas World Aquarium is an awesome place that is actually a rainforest up top and an aquarium down below. The paths descend gradually allowing you to explore the various habitats at all the levels. Since we visited this place on my birthday last year, I have tried to avoid any duplicates and the strictly animal pictures have been kept to a minimum. Oliver and I were so fortunate to have Riley & Livia (Oliver has referred to her as Livia this entire vacation) with us on this trip, we had a great time.

Do they look excited?

Watching the River Otters

Still watching

Oliver is at an exhibit computer display -- he loved these touchscreen computers and wanted to use them every time we went to a new exhibit

Watch this cool bird fight!

Riley showing Oliver the snakes and frogs

The Rainforest waterfall

check out the jellyfish and the green frog!

are there really piranhas in there?

the shark tank from above and below

walking hand in hand

some really cute kids!

I loved this picture! Check out how huge that catfish is!

Oliver loved this guy!

another exhibit touchscreen computer

check out Riley sitting there so cool while this Jaguar runs past him!

Chocolate

At our house, nothing brings smiles to tears in the time it takes to snap 9 pictures like chocolate, or the lack thereof that is.

1. So happy, what is in these eggs?

2. I wonder if Mommy will let me have one of the kisses

3. What if I give her this cute little smile?

4. I'll coyly take the chocolate out of the egg

5. Unwrap the sweet morsel

6. Shove the entire thing in my mouth

7. start to open another one...what, I can't have anymore because it is almost dinner time?

8. But Mommy, I want it!

9. Doesn't he look heart broken? Every time I see this picture I want to go back and say, okay, you can have one more.

Happy Easter through the years!

Oliver's first Easter spent in SLC, with my family (look at how small Riley & Olivia were)

Oliver's second Easter

Oliver's third Easter

Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking this year and I was using the video camera while Oliver unpacked his basket instead of my still shot camera and I don't have anything of him with his basket. Next year I'll remember! :)

Oliver woke on Easter morning to find eggs hidden in his room. And you know what was inside them? Chocolate. Mommy liked it better last year when Oliver was excited about there being Cheerios in the plastic eggs! :) Watch the video to see Oliver's take on how the eggs got there.

Entertainment, Medieval Times style

On Saturday afternoon, we took Riley and Olivia to Medieval Times and it was so much fun. This was my second time to the Dallas castle and I would for sure go again. As you arrive at the castle, it is decided what section you are sitting in which dictates the knight for which you will cheer. We sat in the green knight's section who was from another kingdom and was actually the "evil" knight which made it all the more fun. There is jousting, sword fighting, horse tricks and even a yummy dinner that is to be eaten without the assistance of utensils. This is a definite to do when you come to Dallas!

the castle in all its glory!

my guys!

waiting for the tournament to begin!

this may be my favorite picture I took of Olivia & Riley while they were here

the red knight after missing his mark while jousting

our evil green knight, hooray!