Liv Does Lynnfield

On Super Bowl Weekend, Andrea and Drew had plans to drive to NJ to visit their friends Emily and Mike. Liv was coming to stay with us. However, because a major recordbreaking snow storm was forecast for the weekend, they decided not to travel. But, Liv came and spent the weekend with us anyway and we had a great time. Liv arrived on Friday night. After some dinner and a bath, she put on her favorite pj's - Buzz Lightyear.

After we played for a while, it was time for bed. Liv loves to read her books before she goes to sleep. So on Friday night, she climbed up onto her bed and read stories to Mr. Saks before getting tucked in for the night.

Early Saturday morning (pre-dawn if you ask me!), she was up and ready for her breakfast. Nonno lets Liv pick which cup she wants juice in each morning - pink, yellow or purple. Yellow was the color of choice for this Saturday morning juice.

Pretty soon she started to wonder "What's taking breakfast so long, anyway?"

After breakfast, it was time for a little playtime downstairs in Nonno and Nonna's playroom. Like her Nonno, there was some dancing...

and then some bike riding...

and some coloring.

By this time, the sun was up so it was time to put the shades up. When Liv sleeps at Nonno's house, each morning she and Nonno walk around the house and put up each shade together. It's nice to watch them go through this little ritual.

Once the shades were up, it was time to get dressed and do some more playing. As Andrea mentioned in her blog, Liv likes to line all her friends up for a nap.

But there was to be no napping for the Liv.

After all, there were too many cars and trucks just waiting to be played with to waste time on a nap.

It had been a busy morning and we needed some refueling to hold us over until lunch. So, we stopped playing and had a little mid-morning snack. Yellow was the cup of choice once again.

Let me remind you that at this point, it probably only about 10:30 in the morning....Normally we are just drinking our lattes and watching TV Diner with Billy Costa. So, Neal made us lattes while Liv had her snack. (Thank you again, Neal!!)

Once we all finished our morning snacks, Liv was ready to go. She climbed into Nonno's boots and wanted to head out!

So, we brushed our teeth and headed out to do a few errands at Target.

When we went to Target, we told Liv she could choose 1 toy. As you can see, she chose "Snow White and the Five Cars". (That's 1 toy, right?)

Nonno helped get Snow White ("White", to Liv) and the matchbox cars out of their boxes so Liv could play with them.

Nonno, Liv and "White" played together with the cars in the dining room.

"White" quickly became the favorite toy and got preferred seating on Liv's bike,

By now, it was lunch time (yes, we did all of that before noon!). "White" got to sit right up there with Liv while she ate her lunch.

After lunch, we decided to set up the couch and put "Toy Story" on theTV in hopes that Liv would take a little nap. This is her favorite movie and Andrea said it's good for quiet time. She loves Buzz the most. She even has special Buzz pj's!

She likes Woody, too.

We watched the movie a couple of times. But there was no napping in the cards for Liv - but I think Nonno would have enjoyed one!

Yes, a Vienna Finger cookie while I watch the movie is just fine, thank you very much!

On Sunday morning after helping Nonno put up all the shades, Liv and her new best friend "White" climbed into the shoe basket to have a look outside to see what was going on.

It was a nice Sunday morning. So after helping Nonno put up the shades, we got dressed and Liv helped Nonno take care of his birds. They filled up the birdfeeders together.

And hung them back out in the trees so the birds could have some food, too.

With the birds all fed, Liv took "White" for a bike ride down the street.

After such a busy morning, it was refueling time again so we stopped for a little mid-morning snack.

Nonno likes it when Liv comes because he gets to have morning snack-time, too! Here he is dunking his graham crackers into his milk!

When snack-time was over, we all headed to the mall. It was Nonno and Nonna and Liv - with "White" in hand because we go nowhere without "White".

But something happened at the mall.... we found Buzz Lightyear and Woody dolls at the Disney Store. Liv grinned from ear-to-ear every time she stopped and looked inside the Disney Store bag. She couldn't believe she had Buzz and Woody dolls.

It's great to be the Liv. She's got Buzz, Woody and Nonno! It doesn't get any better than this!

When we got back home, it was time for lunch. Purple cup this time. But what's this? Has "White" been replaced????

I'm afraid that may be the case..."what used to be's don't count anymore, they just lay on the floor 'til you sweep them away".

After lunch, Buzz and Woody in hand, we headed downstairs to watch "Toy Story" again. There is a cute little song that plays while the credits roll at the end of the movie that Liv likes! She danced with Buzz and Woody at first but then put them down so she could let loose!

After the movie, Nonna and Liv did some more coloring.

On Monday, Andrea and Drew came by to get Liv. When they arrived, Andrea had made me an amazing birthday cake. Check this cake out - it was absolutely perfect. She said it was a fondant.

She made a 'ribbon' and shaped it into an amazing and intricate bow for the top of the cake.

The ends of the bow flowed delicately down both sides of the cake.

She made a small, round pearl shaped edging all around the base of the entire cake. It was highly detailed and added a very elegent look to the cake.

But, it was cake after all and meant to be eaten. And it was chocolate......! So Neal and I cut it and ate it. Not only did this cake look fantastic, it was delicious, too!

Thanks for such a special birthday cake! I won't forget this one!

As you can tell, we had a really wonderful time with Liv and hope she'll come back and stay with us again soon!