The End of an Era

Not really the end of an era, just a fancier way of saying the last bit of time before Oliver turns THREE. AKA - June 2015
Lately, the little guy has gotten extremely fun to play with. His imagination is going wild and the things that come out of his mouth make us laugh all day long. {Example - "I'm too busy." or "What choo talkin' 'bout. Are you crazzzzy?"} Along with that comes mega not so fun tantrums - - the whole 'Ollie DO it!!!' And DO it Ollie's way, or else.
What am I complaining about, look at this little puppy dog...

 I am so glad we stuck with two more weeks of swim lessons.

He finally got it and is a swimming machine now. Yes!

 He now jumps off the diving board, over & over & over again. The only thing he won't do is go down a slide. I haven't forced it, but I know when he does he will do that over & over & over.

Aunt Beth bought this awesome inflatable swim slide. It's all sorts of fun.

After swim lessons, Ollie would be really tired, not tired enough to actually take a nap, but check him out trying to eat this cinnamon roll.

After a month of swim lessons, I told my mom during "nap time" we were going to try these. They were tasty & cheap. Win win! I can't remember what the place is called, but it just opened up in downtown Mesa on Main Street.

We walked down the street one afternoon because I saw that there was life at the Skousen's house. We chatted & Ollie played with this awesome soccer ball  hat and motorcycle.

After a day of playing at Beth's, Lucy sent me home with this beyond amazing "poster" she made.

Ha ha ha. That girl is hilarious. She takes random pictures from calendars or what have you and sticks them on her homemade posters. That girl is the bomb.

Ryan turned 8 and got baptized which is super rad.

 We took Ollie to see Inside Out - which we all loved, but found Ollie's best buddies in the lobby pre-movie. We cannot wait for this movie to come out in the fall!!!

{Have I mentioned sometimes Oliver refers to himself as 'Linus.' Usually after he has been mean and decides to be nice he says something like "Linus is a nice boy." - Should I be worried?}

 We celebrated Father's Day. Honestly, I have zero recollection of the day...it was really special though, obviously.

We love you, Jordan! You are the best dad Oliver has or could ever hope to have. Really, you are the best - - you do everything for us and we love you for it. ♥♥♥
"A dandelion!!! Must be the last one of the season!" - - quote from Ice Age

Most mornings the first thing Ollie does is run to the front door to check if daddy's truck is outside. Most of the time it is not, which means he is at work & Oliver walks away slightly deflated. It's pretty cute.

Oliver loves Play-Doh. He likes to make snowmen, Humpty-Dumpty & here is when dad made him look like a ridiculous boy scout or flight attendant. "Nice ascot." - - quote from Toy Story 3

Photo bombed by Pirate Bapa!

More afternoons playing in irrigation AND sprinklers. Double whammy! 

In preparation for The Minion Movie {which we were all excited for and extremely disappointed by - even Oliver was bored}, Grandma dressed Ollie like a minion.

He thought it was pretty awesome and I realized we had way more minion themed clothes than I originally thought.

That sums up June! On to July... 



Memorial Day in St. George

 

Since we've moved back to Arizona, it has been our goal to make a visit to Jordan's grandparents in St. George. They are our only living grandparents and we really wanted Oliver to see his great-grandparents. We finally decided Memorial Day weekend would be the perfect weekend. Oliver did great in the car and never complained about the 8 hour drive {usually only 7 hours, but add a toddler and it slows things down a bit}.

Watching movies...

 He did start to go bonkers around the 7th hour, but so did I.

 Oliver slept in a cot next to us and did so so...

most of the nights...

Can you imagine if you or I slept like that?!  I wouldn't walk for years.

It was so nice to see family we hadn't seen in years.

Grandma & Grandpa Stephenson are both now in their nineties! I hope I look this fabulous at 80!

My first time meeting Uncle Spencer - I quickly became a fan. He is such a sweetheart & his wife Pam was a perfect hostess.

We walked around the temple grounds. It is such a gorgeous temple. One of my faves.

 

 Time for a nap...

 

Oliver had such a fun time playing with new cousins.

Ollie & Jax were fast friends.

 Even Especially on vacation when you are two, your mom finds new 'time-out' spots. {'Time-Out' works so well for this kid. He re-groups and always comes out of his "two minutes" more reasonable."

 The view in the backyard overlooks St. George. Ollie loved playing out there...and Jordan loved retrieving whatever Ollie through overboard.

The drive home went just as well. Never a complaint from this dude.

I am so grateful we were able to finally visit. I love going on trips and making memories with my boys.



What We Do In the Summertime

Right before school got out we had the privilege of officially gaining another cousin. Hayes' adoption finally happened and it was a great day...

{Jordan was there too, but had to get back to work before we took pictures.}

We love that cute dude!

Now that summer is upon us, we take any opportunity we can to play in water. Ollie loves when irrigation comes during the day and he gets to play in it.

 Irrigation is just one giant bath {minus bubbles & soap...plus stinky & grassy water} so why not play with your bath toys?

 Cadbury doesn't need his water dish as badly as Ollie needed something to stand on, right?!

 

We discovered Olive Garden has the best kid's menus.

On days that are too hot for my liking we stay cool indoors. Oliver decided he was a ghost the other morning. He loved 'scaring' me.

 

 

A game of hide-'n-seek...

Speaking of hide-'n-seek, I couldn't find Woody's hat one morning until I found it in the most obvious {to a two-year old} spot. On the hat rack!

Duh, Mom!

Lately, Oliver has been calling people his "best buddy." He puts his arm around you and pats your back while he says, "Mamma. You're my best buddy." I've learned not to let it go to my head because the next minute Ben could be his best buddy. Or Cadbury. Or Drake. Or even an inanimate object. So...yeah.

I've also heard him say, "What you thinking? Are you kerrazzy?!" I honestly don't know where he picked that up, but it's hilarious.

He has also been busy perfecting his painting skills.

On extra special days, I make pancakes

...those aren't pancakes...these are though...

or cinnamon rolls

and Oliver gets to play with Drake - his "best buddy" in the whole world {except for his dad}.

Just add water and Oliver thinks he's died and gone to heaven...

Unless the addition of water means swim lessons. He is not a fan.

 

Turn your scowl off buddy.

We have had some nice rainy weather the past few days and we have enjoyed playing in the rain.

Ollie was so excited to see this rainbow!

 

 

If there is a puddle, you better believe Oliver Rogers is going to sit in it.

 

Angelic little rascally rabbit.

After a    l  o  n  g    summer day, Ollie enjoys his baths.

Mommy {Me} has been busy helping grandma piece/iron/sew together quilts. This is her Downton Abbey quilt...

which has been rearranged & rearranged again, but is finally sewn together and waiting on the back to get here.

I tried out my Carrabba's cookbook and made their Fried Zucchini with Roasted Aioli, which was delicious, but more work that I like to think about.

Big Daddy is finally getting his cataracts fixed. He had surgery on one eye a couple weeks ago and the other eye is scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Ollie called him "Pirate Bapa" when he wore this patch.

That's it for now. Can't wait for another day of swim lessons tomorrow & another afternoon playing in the irrigation that is scheduled to arrive mid-morning!