Tag Archives: Viv

May Des’ Fourth Be With You

What was certain to be a good omen, Desmond starts his birthday party day with the season’s first snowfall. On a trip with dad to nab folding chairs, Des also gets a special birthday hot chocolate

All warm

A young Jedi recreating a scene in Star Wars

Eleanor is in a phase where any material, regardless of how small, is either spread out as a blanket to lay on or cover something that is “going sleepy”

Ella is as surprised as everyone else that the snow is sticking and begins to accumulate

What dad thought would be just a nice background (while Beatles played on the speakers) ended up being an early focal point of the birthday party

Getting pigtails with aunt Megan, who is significantly more skilled than mom and dad

Snack picnic

When originally prompted for birthday theme ideas, Des, almost without thinking, replied “Star Wars and Rainbows.” Safe to say, mom and dad’s baker friend nailed it. Mom took to the next level with action figures.

Ella and pa negotiating terms for sharing chips

One can only assume he’s wishing to watch Empire Strikes Back. Or for real-life dinosaurs…

Ella showing off her fork skills for great-grandma Jan

Action figures rivaling cake and ice cream for attention

When you’re so cute, everyone offers you a bite of cake

Desmond solicits help from Liam reading cards

Making the rounds

Mom demonstrating how the R2-D2 candy dispenser works

Hug pile with ma

And the party inevitably ends in some sort of balloon-oriented mayhem

(Mom gets award for best birthday installation)

September 23rd, 2018

After a hotel room picnic breakfast, it was time for swimsuits and the most invigorating morning swim ever. Mostly docking in the jacuzzi, there were a few adrenaline junkie excursions to the main and kiddie pools

Future deep marine explorer Eleanor doesn’t seem to mind

Out for the annul classic car show. On the hunt for Mustangs and before the defeating search for any non-deep-fried-dessert vegetarian food option.

Mom’s resourceful idea to source a few slices of Casey’s cheese pizza provided the foundation of the late lunch picnic

Desmond further testing heights, summits the playground dome eerily reminiscent of dad’s (and aunt Kellie’s) elementary school

Today, Eleanor appears to be pro-swing (it varies)

On the drive home, naps are had by all (but dad)

Cause what could be the proper end scene of a 20-hour road trip? A visit to Surfside for Aunt Megan’s birthday was (unexpectedly easy and) enjoyable

When your order for corn fritters is still waiting, you apparently practice tossing rocks towards the river

Des quickly finds the bounce house (cause that’s apparently permanent?)

Eleanor and Ol’ Monkey Butt

Des catching a peek at the evening’s special birthday treat

Waiting the requisite six full minutes before engaging in gravity-jarring, nausea-inducing fun of bouncing uncontrollably…

August 31st, 2018

Some serious coloring at Zio’s for aunt Megan’s birthday

Playing another round of “Ma or pa?”

Ma won.

Eleanor proclaiming how “hot” her pizza is, as usual

Cookies = not hot

Where’s Spot?

August 19th, 2018

Post-Maha mornings…

With maybe not the best of sleep the night before, some late-morning nature programming was on deck

Bed-head level: pro

Festival swag bracelets are Eleanor’s new favorite accessories

Let’s all pile on dad…

Bats Over Omaha 2018

For the first time in several years, the timing was just right to take the kids to the annual bat release at Joslyn. Each winter, a non-profit accepts calls for wildlife removal. The animals commonly need cared for, then in the case of the bats, returned back into the wild.

The welcoming committee was out in full force

Ella and her pa

The coffee filter craft project was a bat (?)

Baby’s first deli sandwich

And for a treat, a mini cupcake

After dinner, Eleanor was fueled-up and ready to go run.

And run.

Here comes the high stepper.

That moment “stepping down” by way of jumping, when the suprise dawns on Ella- “yup, you’re falling”

Des gets a close-up view of one of the stars of the evening

She’ll forever keep the older three on their toes

And now she’s beginning to wind down

Des and Viv look on at the volunteer holding her arms out with bats attached, waiting to fly away

They were mesmorized

One fella need to take a breather before trying to take off again, but eventually made it

April 14th, 2018

Peekaboo and snacks

Sometimes you just need a hug to help wake up

“Tut, tut, looks like snacks”

Just two gals resting after a Saturday afternoon dance party

Testing the new mattress before Des’ first sleepover, brother points to sister’s absolutely criminal behavior of standing on the bed

<3

And now it’s snowing. Again.

Reminiscing about her first spring, Eleanor yearns for another, pondering, “will this winter ever end?” (note the ironic selection of the stuffed snowman in her arm)

Mom is ready for the sleepover with her grilled cheese game dialed up to “serious” mode

Let the wild rumpus begin! Or, let’s all watch Inside Out and watch dad hold back the tears

Liam reading The Lorax quite well, despite the many tongue-twisters

Although Liam eventually tired and tapped uncle David to finish. He too read quite well, despite mom’s heckling about the Lorax sounding a bit too derivative of Sean Connery

Cousins, quietly winding down before bedtime 😉

This moment captures the grand experiment perfectly. While there was some initial chatter between all three of them, it was immediately apparent that Desmond was going to assume the time-honored role of “The Instigator.” He was certainly keyed up (read: overly tired) and excited about his new sleeping buddies. However, the older—and much wiser—cousins knew folks may not be happy about the current noise level and instinctively ducked into sleep-like postures when they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. “Lay down Desmond! Be quiet, you fool, or we’ll all get it!” they seemed to warn in hushed tones. Everyone eventually fell asleep without ever waking up sister in the nearby room. Overall it was a wholly successful first sleepover with Liam and Viv.

Easter 2018

Easter is a spring celebration for Team LLama, and while there were a few treats, it was mostly an opportunity to gift springtime necessities to the kids

Ok, and one indoor/outdoor activity for “exercise”

Cool baby found a pouch almost instantaneously

Des models this spring’s rain fashion

Can only assume her grunting and gesturing was an attempt to say, “Mom, there appears to be treats hidden in these egg-shaped contraptions. Can you open this, please?”

Let the egg hunt begin!

Des spots an egg up above

Taking a craisin break

After plowing through her own craisins, Eleanor begins scavenging for more elsewhere. “PLEASE BROTHER! I need just four more!!”

Ella celebrating her dunk

She was, and continues to be, a big fan of her rain boots

So much so that Ella begins handing out footwear to everyone in the vacinity

Easter bunny did well with the stuffed dinosaur

Snack time with Ella and one of her many BFFs

Yup, wind-up chicks are hilarious!

In addition to coming over for dinner with ma and pa, aunt Megan brings over a basket of Liam and Viv’s old children books. Liam and Des go right for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles book.

Everyone has a book they’re waiting to be read

Eventually the kids self-organize their own book clubs

Eleanor is getting to the age where she usually picks out her own books to read before nap/bed time. Originally from great-aunt Molly to Desmond, Duck & Goose, It’s Time for Christmas is still in regular rotation.

March 9th, 2018

While the real event was celebrating ma’s 60th birthday, the kids were equally excited about the mini-arcade at Mama’s Pizza

Ok, the pizza was a hit too

Desmond learning his first emotional lesson about gambling. Of course it was entirely skewed since Viv someone won three prizes out of “The Claw!” machine

However, the third win was after everyone left, so it wasn’t until the following weekend until she was able to gift the green hippo to Des

Toddler in a big-kid world. Although trick’s on them, Ella was grunting…

Happy birthday, ma! Eleanor was certainly focused on the cake

Yup, she’s a cake fan