OurWildflowers

Here is part two of the summer photos I have been trying to catch up on.  

strawberry picking, Mom did most of the picking and Olivia did most of the running around and dropping berries on the ground

enjoying the fruit of our labor, with whipped cream , of course

Swim Lessons! 

Olivia took swim lessons thru the Oswegoland Park District.  She is a successful graduate of Preschool Level I.  She proved herself to be a brave and mighty swimmer.  I was proud of her for trying things she doesn't like (like the back float) and for showing with gusto her strength (blindly leaping into deep water and going all the way under).  She had to endure several classes with some pretty frigid pool temps and a nice summer rain, but she endured and didn't give up.  Way to go our little fish!! 

Another big deal this summer was Olivia and her good behavior chart.  We had some struggles a few months ago with Olivia's listening- the memory that sticks out in my mind as the breaking point was when in the middle of yet another particular dinner where Olivia didn't want to sit in her chair and eat, she decided she had to go potty....but rather than go potty, she just went into the bathroom, stripped naked and ran around pretending to be a race car all around the kitchen table while Jon and I tried to eat our dinner without breaking into tears from laughing.  At two, I would have have let out the laughs, but at 3 1/2 we broke out the "behavior chart" .   

Olivia earned stickers for good behavior, her bullet points were

• getting dressed nicely (without Mom having to chase you around waving underpants around)
• Good listening to Mommy and Daddy
• Staying in your chair during dinner (no tantrums over food, and running off to her bed) 
• Being a good helper

The chart worked like a charm for our tenacious Olivia and once it was filled, we headed to Olivia's dream restaurant   CHUCK E. CHEESE!

Olivia with her full sticker chart!  So proud!!