lazy Sunday afternoon

while waiting on the curb for our ride...

...the kids found ways to entertain themselves.

(notice how Riceball is diligently watching and making a mental note to try this out in the future)

"look, mom, we're like astronauts!"

zoo...quake

we went to the zoo this morning and L. must have been sensing the seismic shifting going on and she had a giant meltdown right about quarter to noon so we had to come home and then I learned on the news about the quake. the timeframe seemed about right when I thought about it. she's perceptive, that one...

A. (still obsessed with spiders): "Look, L.! There's something exciting! It's a baby longlegs!"

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L.: "When I am big and I'm a mommy, I'm going to be the boss and I'm going to go running."

puzzle mania

we are so proud.

and so is she.

at the beach with B. & C.

snug as a bug in a rug

A.'s world

I cannot possibly capture all that she says, let alone the little chipmunk voice, but here is a little sampling...

"close your eyes and go to sleep, A."
"ok, and I'm going to dream about panda bears and dolphins and L. is going to dream about dinosaurs and ponies..."

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"I spy something that is...red! Is it that shirt? No... Is it the firetruck? No..."

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many long and complex sentences...
"Here's a Dr. Seuss book for you to read to me, Mommy. And here's another Dr. Seuss one. How 'bout after you read this one, then you can read that one. No! Riceball! Don't break my 'Red Fish, Blue Fish' book!" (yes, she actually calls him 'riceball')

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and here is one of my favorites that I've overheard a few times in the last few days. oh and very honestly, i do NOT know where she got this from. maybe from her experiences with bugs?

she is waddling around doing something--that is no doubt very important--and in the background somewhere a little ball of Rice topples over and lands in a heap on the floor (for some reason. wait, do 1 yr-olds NEED a reason? seems like they do this every few minutes...). She'll look over and casually say, "Oh, he's dead." and then back to whatever she was doing.

trauma-free

I prepared L. for her annual visit to the pediatrician with a case for a small amount of pain from a needle in the arm or leg versus the great amount of suffering and hardship one might endure should one contract such an easily preventable disease. She felt this was a fair trade and went to her checkup, accompanied by dad, feeling pretty ready to face this small trial.

When she got back, I asked for a report:

"Well, they were out of pony stickers so I had to get a truck one, but it was ok."

Sounds ok so far, but let's back up; how about the actual exam?

"My leg was asleep when we got there, but a little hammer woke up my knee."

I think she was fine.

(And yes, ponies are all the rage around here.)

he speaks!

the Riceball was trying to get my attention this morning and I thought it was the typical baby babble he usually thinks are words. Then I realized he was asking for something: "Ball!"

How appropriate that this should be his first real ("uh oh" and "da da da da" don't really count) word.

fun with grandma

fun with grandma's camera

(photo credits: L.)

i am so proud

they're watching a show, an educational one thank you very much. Every day they learn something new. There are skits, a few songs, some older kids answering some questions and showing off what they've learned.
It's a great show, they probably watch it two or three times a week because they love to learn. Today's topic: habits. Plenty of examples of good and bad habits and some tips on how to break the bad ones, too. Like I said, great show.
L. walks over to me: "Look, Mommy, I have a habit!"
finger in her nose.

things I will miss in a few years...

A: "Mommy, come see something exciting! It's a spider!"

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could she be more adorable!?!

plants, part II

more birthday fun

rolling, rolling, rolling

"hey, mommy, make a movie of me rolling down the hill."

birthday report

me: "L, stop telling A. what to do; you're not in charge of her."
her: "But, Mommy, now I'm four years old."

we had a nice day and celebrated with a little cupcake (real cake and party will happen this Sunday) and L. wasted no time and played with her new toys all afternoon.

then, this morning: "Mommy, is it Sunday yet?"
me: "No, just a few more days."
L.: "because I want it to be ice cream sundae!"
(thanks for the gift, B & C; I better get to the store quick so she can find out what it is!)

we must be doing something right

sometimes I worry about whether the good dr. and I are doing a good job as parents.
today I asked L. what she wanted me to make for her birthday dinner: "shrimp curry and corn on the cob."

phew.

going on an adventure

He's vertical and trying to keep up with those girls.

I think of you, olittles, when I watch BR walk. Just recently his hands came down to shoulder-length when he toddles around. Up until last week, though, he held them high up in the air, reaching for those mama hands he still thinks should be there, I guess!