November 22, 2020

Leo Turns One

 







































    Let's work backwards today because that's the way the pictures loaded. We ended the week reading bedtime stories and doing allowance and all that only to be "done" around 6:30pm. We figured it was pretty dark, maybe the kids wouldn't notice that they were going to bed so early?? Well, it didn't work, haha! They were up off and on till 8pm anyways, worth a shot though! 

    Today we all needed to get out of the house so we headed over to Lettuce Lake Park for a walk on the boardwalk, two kids fell asleep on the way there so we took an extended drive and found a few more parks to go to another day! I also got to talk to Grandma Shutt about church and Covid (they were exposed so they are quarantining just to be safe). Lettuce Lake Park was great and the weather was awesome. We saw a lot of pretty plants, "lake lettuces", flowers and some huge trees.  We spotted three alligators, not too big but pretty close up which was very exciting! 

    Last Swim Day of 2020: November 21st! 

    Friday we celebrated Leo's 1st Birthday! It was a great day and I can't believe he's already ONE! Cat stopped by with the most thoughtful little gift bag for Leo, he was so happy to sit with her and open everything. We made a smash cake in the afternoon from a box and it was delicious. The night before Eli came with me to the store to help pick out Leo's gifts, he was so happy to help even though I couldn't tell if he was shopping for himself or for Leo, lol. It was so cute how excited they all were for Leo to turn one, you can see it in their faces in the picture where they are all sitting at the table and Leo is eating the cake. Leo is so cute, funny and brave. I think he understands so much of what we are saying and doing. He wants to be doing exactly what the older kids are doing all the time. He loves cellphones and remotes so we try to not let him see them or else he really can't think of anything else, haha!

    We've been checking the caterpillars every day, in fact, on Thursday the first little guy started to make his chrysalis. We noticed him hanging upside down and by the end of the day, boom! He was all wrapped up! We figured out that it takes about 12 hours for them to make their chrysalis. Now we have nine that are in a chrysalis and we are just waiting for them to emerge as beautiful butterflies. 

    On Wednesday I asked Zara "What would make today awesome?" and without skipping a beat she said "Going to The Little Play-place".  I was so surprised! But we did have some punches left on the card so  I made a reservation and we headed out. That place is so fun and the kids just jumped right in masks and all! They love shopping and being in charge of the register, they even had fake little wallets this time. Leo also enjoyed pushing the cart around and putting things in his cart. They played a ton in the little house area. At one point I looked over and Zara was ironing washcloths, Eli was making toast and Hazel was lounging on the couch looking at her phone (I have no idea where she learned that, haha). They played for a long time in the little cafe and eventually Leo and I made our way over to them so they could serve us a little snack. They wrapped up with a trip to the hair salon, it is just so cute, Zara was excited that they had a hairdryer that really blew out air... even though it wasn't hot. 

    Hazel continues to be my little kitchen helper. This week she cut up carrots for chicken noodle soup and I was so impressed because it's not easy chopping carrots with a butterknife, but safety first! 

No comments: