Reading Together

"Come on, Peter! I'll read you a book. I'm a really good reader."

My Doppelganger

Grandma passed along this jumper that used to be mine from when I was a little girl. We tried it on yesterday and it was a perfect fit! Lizzy wasn't too sure about the turtle neck (she kept calling it a "puffy shirt"), but she really liked the jumper. What do you think? Is she channeling her mommy circa '79?

Blocks

Oh, blocks.......everyone has their own favorite way of playing with them. And it's telling too, exactly how children like to use them, a little peak into their personalities. Peter loves (and by "love" I mean that it's practically an obsession) to put all the square blocks in a stroller and stroll them around the house. He gets very upset if any fall out or if anyone else tries to touch the blocks or the stroller. Sometimes after taking the blocks for a stroll he will stop and line them up......on the window sill, on the couch armrest, or really anywhere that can use a long line of blocks. He's pretty particular too, and really takes his time to line them up neatly. Yesterday Lizzy created "jewel mountain" out of blocks, and then took all the "treasures" (jewels, rocks, shiny stuff, coins, etc.) from her treasure box to decorate it. I wonder what we'll create today.....

Sit on my Lap

Today Peter threw up while he was eating his breakfast (yuk). He's a little under the weather, quiet, and crabby. I was holding him on my lap after he threw up and snuggling with him while the kids watched a show. After a few minutes I told him I had to go clean up the dishes, and he could sit by himself on the couch. He did not like that one bit, and started to fuss. Right away, Lizzy said, "Come here, Peter. You can sit on my lap." He walked right over the the couch and climbed up on her lap. That made him feel better and he snuggled with her for a while. Thank goodness for hugs of comfort where ever they come from!

The Great Snail Walk

After everyone wakes up from their naps and has a snack, Peter is usually itching to go outside. In fact, this afternoon he kept running to the front door saying "door, door" and even brought me his shoes. I got the hint, and truth be told, I usually love to get outside in the afternoon as well to get some fresh air and enjoy the afternoon before dinner time. We were able to pry Lizzy away from her coloring and as soon as she stepped onto the porch, she found lots of snails in the garden. We decided to see how many snails we could find on our walk. Boy do snails like the rain, because we found dozens! We also found rolly-pollies, ants, snail shells, and a grasshopper. Lizzy is uncanny in her ability to spot bugs. Seriously, she can see the tiniest ant under a bush while walking by. We had a great time finding all sorts of creepy-crawlies, and Lizzy said, "this is the best experiment ever!"

Monkeys

We got to meet Teresa and her darling girls, Gianna and Emily, at the park the other day. Even though Elizabeth and Gianna don't get to see each other very often, they really had a great time playing together. They took turns proving that they are turning into little monkeys. I couldn't believe the things that they could climb! Even this giant climbing structure was no match for their monkey ways. Lizzy took a stab at it several times and got scared, but with her usual persistence, she kept at it until she figured it out, then did it over and over until she became a master at it. The girls had a great time climbing and playing, and playing lots of make-believe games together. What a wonderful way to spend a sunny day!

Papa's Garden

Grandma told us that Papa had a gorgeous rose in his garden, and boy was she right. We loved getting to admire this beauty close up. It even had dew drops on it! Elizabeth, always a flower lover and an admirer of all of Papa's roses, was really impressed with this one. Peter, on the other hand, wasn't too taken with the flowers. He's turning into a real "boy" these days, and was way to busy jumping in a dirt pile, finding an enormous stick, and climbing into the tree house to waste time on flowers. I guess everyone admires nature in their own way.

Slip 'N Slide

Warm day outside....you know the drill- out come the water toys! I got a slip 'n slide for the kids to try, and was very excited that they would love it. But then.......I was having slip 'n slide regret. Are they too little for this? Will they even get it? Turns out, it was a big hit, and the cutest part was that everyone was able to access it in their own way. The bigger kids kind of got the whole sliding idea, though it mostly looked like step, step, fall, and became progressively bolder in their "slides" as time went on. Peter, who was afraid of the Barbie water mat and wouldn't even put his bathing suit on (but that's a different story), got right in line with everyone else, and loved delicately walking along the mat- too cute. Looks like we're on to something, and here's to many more slides in our future!

After-Church Fun

Not that church isn't always super fun, but spending time with special friends at church makes it even better! Peter is always very excited when he sees Trevor at church. He always runs right up to him and gives him a big hug. Today Lizzy and Trevor were debating who Peter liked to hug more (Trevor may have won out today- sorry Lizzy). Everyone had a lot of fun playing tag in the rose garden after church. It won't be too long before Connor is part of the games too- he's getting to be a big boy now! Thank goodness for Trevor in the parking lot: he never runs away and everyone likes to hold his hands.

Park Friends

I'm so lucky that I have made truly wonderful friends over the years that I've shared so many laughs and hilarious times with. Some of my favorites are my college friends. We had a blast living in the Kappa house together, going to parties and games, and just being crazy together. Fastforward fifteen years and those young college co-eds are now a bunch of moms! It's still so surreal to me that we're all mothers now, and I absolutely love seeing my dear friends with their darling children. It makes me even happier that my own children get to know these special women, and are friends with the other kids. Many people come and go out of your life, and may only know you for a moment, and there is something really amazing about getting to share the journey with special friends and "grow-up" together. On Friday we were able to have a picnic at the park with Amy and Megan. The "big" kids ran all around and loved climbing trees. The little boys tried to keep up, and enjoyed the sandbox a lot. It was such a beautiful sunny day, I hope we can have another picnic again soon.

Coloring

Lizzy loves to color, and since she was a little baby, she has lined up the crayons she uses into a long line next to her work. She picks one color at a time, adds it to the line, and then won't reuse the same color until she has gone through all the crayons in her box. Lately she's into using the same color scheme, so her crayon line is full of a pink and purple rainbow. When I went into her room today, I saw the evidence of her coloring and it made me smile. I love knowing her habits and interests and having "traces" of her work all around the house. That evidence breathes life into a home, and gives a simple living space it's unique spirit.

Copycat

Yes, I really love my big sister. I love her so much, that I want to do everything she does. When she puts on her dance clothes to have a dance party, I must find an outfit to wear too (and even insist upon carrying the dance bag as my accessory). I even insist upon using the princess cup Lizzy loves by calling out "girl, girl" and pointing to it because I know Lizzy loves princesses so much. I mimic everything she does, from her dance moves, to her singing, to the inflection of her voice (which is true talent since I don't talk very much yet). One day I'll do my own thing, but for now, I just want to be like Lizzy.

From Pants to Bear

Lizzy had the idea to make a teddy bear the other day. I imagined having to hit the fabric store, break out the sewing machine, and begin a big project. Then something in me clicked: know your audience! The great thing about Lizzy is she is easily impressed, and really just wants to have fun and feel like she's involved in the project. We decided to use an old pair of pants to trace the bear outline, took turns sewing the parts together, and glue-gunned on the face and ears. Introducing "Lizzy-bear!" How fun it was to conspire together, to share ideas, and to create. As I've learned from Lizzy's preschool, the importance is often the project and not the product, and truly it's the time spent together that really matters.

My Backseat View

Sometimes when I peek into the back seat, this is what I see. It warms my heart instantly, and makes me so thankful that my children have one another to love and seek comfort from. I could hear Peter fussing around, and Lizzy said to him "It's okay, Peter! Why are you getting so upset?" I didn't know that she had reached out to him to calm him down until I turned around. Lizzy often does this for Peter. She seems to know when he needs a hug, or someone to hold his hand, or a friend to play with him. She has no idea the power she holds. How thoroughly he adores her, how much he seeks her approval, and how much he learns from her. I am thankful daily for her loving heart, and the kindness she shows him. Lizzy often includes Peter in what she is doing, even when he's grabbing at her things or pushing his way in. I am amazed by her generous spirit. And the generosity is mutual. Peter allows Lizzy to be the leader. He defers to her ideas and follows her guidance. He lets her shine with her sunny spirit and happily follows along. He knows when to give her her space, and when she needs a snuggle from mommy by herself. Peter has an open heart, that accepts his sister's love it all it's forms, and God bless him, he's persistent enough to come back when the "love" isn't quite so nice. What a blessing it is to have a sibling! When I'm struck to my core with love for my children, sometimes I'm equally amazed by the love they have for one another.

Beach Day

Is there anything better than a beautiful beach day? We decided to visit one of our favorite beaches in Half Moon Bay. To clarify, we LOVE the beach, but we are NOT lay out in the hot sun types. Usually, believe it or not, we end up wearing jeans and sweaters to the beach and barely putting our toes in. Saturday was a gorgeous day though, so we were able to enjoy the sand and water this time. We put up our beach tent (a wonderful gift from mom) and played in the sand for a long time. Peter loved playing with his dump truck and was so happy just digging around. He's so much bigger this spring than last, and he's so much more fun at the beach. Last year, the wind and sand really bugged him, but this year he was so happy, and really into the whole thing. I loved watching him dig and explore and just having so much fun sitting in the sand. Lizzy started combing the beach for shells and "treasure" the moment we got there, and she found quite a collection. We had a wonderful picnic in our tent and watched the huge waves roll in and crash on the beach. After lunch, we buried both kids and turned them into a "mermaid" and "merman" and they loved it! They laughed through the whole thing- so much fun! But the best part of the day was playing in the water. As someone once said about Lizzy at the beach "she's never cold, and she loves the water" which pretty much sums up why she is so fun to play with. Lizzy put her suit on, and had the best time splashing in the tide, and chasing the water. Peter saw what fun she was having and joined her. They both loved playing around in the waves, and it was just the best to hear their giggles and see their little dancing feet splashing around. I'm looking forward to many more beach trips this spring and summer.

Sprinklers

A sure sign of spring: the sprinklers are coming out! Very often on Friday afternoons, someone will put out their sprinkler toys and people will congregate as they're out on walks. Usually there are treats, and drinks for the mommies and daddies, and the kids love getting soaked and running around. It was so nice on Friday, we were able to put our suits on for the first time this spring. I don't think Peter remembered what it was like having a bathing suit on, because he wasn't too sure about his swim shirt, but he went with the flow. Poor guy didn't have any flip-flops, so he had to wear his socks and tennis shoes with his suit (super nerdy) but thankfully didn't seem to mind at all. Peter tentatively put his foot in the water, and really seemed to enjoy jumping around once he got the hang of it. I kept flashing back to Peter last spring and remembering what a baby he looked like in his darling little swim suit, just starting to pull up and begin and scoot around. Wow, what a difference a year makes! He looks like such a big boy now in his swim suit, and really enjoyed the water. Lizzy loved running around with the big kids and dashing in and out of the sprinklers. We were having so much fun Amy ordered pizza for all the kids and everyone, even the little ones like Connor and Peter, sat together on the picnic blanket and ate their dinners! Everyone wants to be part of the crew, I guess:)

Amy's Birthday Lunch

It was our dear friend Amy's birthday, so we had a special birthday lunch for her at our house. We zipped home right after soccer, and our friends can to play, eat lunch, and of course, have cupcakes. It was a gorgeous spring day, so the kids were all having lots of fun playing out front on the roller coaster, with bubbles, and in the sandbox. When it was time for lunch, the little boys sat with the mommies, and the big kids had their own picnic out front. It was a really fun, special day, especially when all those little darlings sang "Happy Birthday" to Amy, and helped her blow out her candles. We decided we should have many more playdate lunches, regardless of birthdays, because everyone loves playing and having picnics!

"I Can Do It"

Lizzy has been itching to visit Fairyland again, so today we had a free day and decided to go. Lizzy and Peter love to just run around and explore all the different fairytales and nursery rhymes. Today, however, running around took a backseat to climbing. I've mentioned before that Lizzy LOVES climbing lately, and no climbing challenge seems too big for her these days. We spotted this big crows nest, and Lizzy wanted to climb up to the very top. First, she tried the shaky ladder, but once she was a few feet up she decided it was too scary. She even tried the net a few times but couldn't quite figure it out. We left this pirate area and looked around at other things, but it wasn't long before Lizzy wanted to give it another try. "I know I can do it!" she kept saying. And guess what? She did! She scaled that net like a pro, and made it inside the crow's nest. After a little help from me, she was able to figure out how to get down, and then did the whole thing again by herself. She kept exclaiming, "I told you I could do it!" And that seems to be the essence of it all: stick with it, persevere, and with a little help, anything's possible. I so admire Lizzy's determination, bravery, and constant willingness to challenge herself to try new things. Great job, Lizzy!

"My Family"

Lizzy presented this beautiful picture to me this morning. She had been in her room drawing, and I wasn't quite sure what she was working on. Boy, did I love the result! I don't think she's ever made a picture of all of us before (certainly not on her own). I love this picture so much, because I love how she included small details about each of us that show who we are. We're standing on a beach by a river. Lizzy is in a big pencil phase now, and loves to use pencils to draw and write. I LOVE watching both kids draw, write, and create. It amazes me how they are learning right before my eyes, and I am in awe of what they are capable of. I've watched each tiny step along the way- beginning to hold a crayon, scribbling, making circles, getting more control and beginning to draw lines and shapes. It is amazing all the little pieces that come together as children learn, and I am constantly in awe of their work, their patience with themselves, and their dedication to plug along and improve.

The Beauty of Time

Yesterday I was in the midst of the usual morning drudge (dishes, bed making, getting dressed) when Lizzy asked her daily morning question: "What are we going to do today, Mama?" What almost escaped my lips was "go to Target," but somehow that awful statement (seriously, is there any bigger horror than dragging two kids along on errands?) never passed my lips. Instead I asked, "What do you want to do?" Well, Lizzy's thirst for adventure is legendary, so she was quick to say, "How about the big zoo?" I thought to myself, "Why not? We have no real place to be today, and errands can always wait until another day, right?" Oh, the luxury of time! It is a blessing beyond measure to be able to have time to enjoy the day, enjoy one another, and have fun together. We packed a quick lunch and were on our way. Since our friends Nicole, Abby, and baby Ella live so close to the zoo, we told them to meet up with us. They were only able to stay a little while, but it's always fun to play with Abby. Lizzy and Peter are both at such a fun age now. They love being out-and-about, and have such fun exploring the world around them. Lizzy loves to climb now, and is eager to climb pretty much anything she can. And Peter is right there too, trying his best to keep up with his sister.

A Balloon at Safeway: The Inevitable Outcome

Today a very nice lady gave the kids balloons while we were at Safeway. They were very excited, and I was very wary: this never usually ends well. Lizzy FINALLY will let me tie the balloon string around her wrist, and there is a high likelihood the balloon will actually make it home. Peter......all bets are off. He won't tie it around his wrist and insists upon holding on to the string, which is great.....until he forgets and it flies away and the predictable panic and hysteria result. This exact scenario unfolded in produce, except a kindly produce man stepped in and was able to run and jump and just reach the balloon string and, like the hero he was, had it back to Peter! Success, you are so sweet, yet so fleeting! Barely two minutes later off flew the balloon in the meat area and, due to the higher ceilings, was out of reach, but still so frustratingly close, a total teaser, right beyond our grasp. Oh poor Peter, crying and reaching up for his balloon, not understanding why it wouldn't come down! This could have been the sad ending to our balloon saga, but because Peter is so lucky, and has such a very nice big sister, Lizzy stepped in right away and said, "Here Peter! You can hold on to part of my balloon! You can have this part of the string and we can share." And because Peter is so agreeable, and easily loves any suggestion his sister makes, he grabbed right on and was happy as could be the rest of the time. And as those two little ones meandered around, clutching onto their piece of the string, a single balloon bobbing between them, I was the only one that knew that on this day we won the balloon battle and kindness and generosity won out over the finicky fleetingness of balloons.

Grandma's Birthday!

It's always REALLY fun when we get to see all of our cousins and family at the same time, and in the same place- a rarity, for sure, so you know it must be for something important. And it was: our Grandma's Birthday! Our Grandma has had a long, tough year, battling lymphoma and recovering from a knee replacement, so we were all so thankful to celebrate not only her birthday, but her courage, her spirit, and her beautiful heart. Her greatest joy is to see her children and grandchildren all together (a joy I can totally understand because it's my favorite thing too). We met at a restaurant in Davis and had a big room all to ourselves, so the kids were in heaven. Everyone did great at lunch, laughing and playing together, and it was a very fun day. We even got to play at our cousins' house after, which is always the best. We love you Grandma, and we hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Playdate with Maddie and Jack

Our neighbors had an afternoon playdate in honor of their daddy's birthday. You can tell everyone is growing up, because all the kids had lots of fun playing together, and even the mommies and daddies got to enjoy themselves a little bit while the kids played. One of the favorite activities of the night: dress-up! Paige, Maddie, Lizzy, and Drew made a very beautiful (and handsome) crew, and paraded all around in their gorgeous get-ups. Peter saw what they were doing and pulled me into the house to help him put on a skirt and high heels. Here he is, in all his manly glory, playing in the kitchen in his skirt. Oh, his daddy must be so proud! I guess we'll let it go for a little while.....since he's also super in to cars, trains, and balls too;)

Team Cheer

Lizzy's soccer class has started up again. She had a great time dribbling the ball around and kicking it into the goal. At the end of every class, all the kids get together for a team cheer. Look carefully and you may spot an interloper- someone ran over to join the big kids, put his hand in with the others, and joined in on the cheer. Too cute!

Farmer's Market!

Our cousins were on Spring Break, so we decided it would be a perfect time to visit them and spend some time with our favorite people. Of course we had to hit our favorite spot- the most awesome farmer's market in the world! We made a "scooter parade," with Patrick as our leader, and rode all the way there. Much to Peter's chagrin, he wasn't quite ready for scootering, so he followed in his car. We had a great pizza dinner and listened to the live music. Patrick danced while the girls and Peter climbed on a nearby railing. We went to the bouncy houses, and were amazed that all the kids, even Peter, waited so patiently in line for their turns. After we played at the playground for a little while and went on the merry-go-round. I was nervous that Peter was a little small for it, but in typical fashion, he loved it, and held on very proudly. We hit the face painting station and Lizzy and Peter got hearts (yes, even Peter wanted to join in), Caroline got ballet shoes, and Patrick got the most hilarious mustache ever. We finished the night with ice cream cones and then scootered home. Whew! Who could imagine that so much fun could be squeezed into just a few hours, but the kids had a blast, and we can't wait to go again!

Look Who Came To Dinner!

Peter has been crabbing and fussing about getting in his high chair. He never wants to come to the table, and fusses and cries about sitting in his chair. Turns out he was trying to tell us something......he wanted to join us at the "big" table! I finally caught a clue and pulled out Lizzy's old booster seat- problem solved! Now Peter comes right to the table, and he loves being a part of all the action close up. His favorite new part of eating together.....doing lots of "cheers!" with our glasses. What a social guy!

Three's A Crowd

The other day Lizzy had her friend, Hazel, come over for a playdate after school. We were just able to squeeze in Hazel's booster seat between Lizzy and Peter, so I was able to take the kids home from school. I felt like such a "mom" because I've never driven anyone else's kids around before- it was so fun:) I loved hearing the chit-chat in the back seat between the girls- sharing about their brothers and sisters, giggling and being silly. Peter couldn't quite figure it out. He seemed confused and just kept pointing to Hazel and saying "Oh! Oh!" I think our next car may need to be a little bigger, so we can fit more friends inside:)

Nothing To Do....

It feels like almost every day there is "something" to do- school, classes, events- some activity becomes the center of our day and we hurry and plan to get ready for the "something." Lot's of days, that's just fine. It's nice to have a place to go, fun things to do, friends to see. But some days, when there's nothing to hurry off to, I'm reminded of all the wonderful little things that are happening right under my nose. Things so seemingly insignificant, that when I recount the days happenings they may sound silly or unimportant, but when you're fortunate enough to have the front row seat, you can feel how magical and special the day really was. The other day I got to watch Lizzy and Peter really enjoy playing with one another. I got to listen in to all the "Come on, Peters" and "Look Mommy! We're playing together! We thought of a new game!" For a few moments, I became second fiddle, and the games being created between the two of them became center stage. They played in their kitchen, had a picnic in the living room, read books together on the couch, and "drove" like maniacs in the grocery store. I've never been so happy to have "nothing" to do, because watching these two children come together so beautifully to share their time and imaginations together, was exactly what was on the schedule that day.

A Great Dye Job

I love dying Easter eggs so much! There's just something to be said for the fun traditions of the holidays. I remember dying eggs with my family as a little girl- those funny little tablets that you're never quite sure what color they'll produce, the vinegar and egg smell, using the clear crayon to make designs, putting on the stickers afterwards, using the special egg holder to dip the eggs- it's all just so great, and I always get so thrilled when I can do these same traditions with my own children. It is so darling to see the kids get so excited, and now that they are a little older, both kids really had a fun time. They both "helped" me boil the eggs, and we lined up the little cups on the counter, kids standing on chairs for a good view, as Lizzy helped me fill the cups with vinegar and water. The kids loved watching their eggs become so colorful and beautiful. When we were all finished, Peter stuck around outside for his favorite part of egg-dying: the ol' dump and pour. And I guess that's what's also special about traditions: everyone gets to make them their own!

Twins

You're wearing that too? I thought I told you I was going with gray sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers today!

The Hunt Is On!

We got together with our neighbors for an Easter egg hunt. Everyone gathered for some donuts and coffee and a quick hello with the Easter Bunny. The hunt was set up in a great way. Using several different front lawns, the eggs were hidden for the various age groups. Peter's group was first, and he had lots of fun finding his eggs. Then when he returned his eggs to the Easter Bunny (to be used next year), he gives you a prize. Lizzy's group was next, and while the kids in her group were certainly more enthusiastic, they were still little enough to avoid the full-out crazy elbow throwing search of the older kids. After all the hunts were finished, there were egg-and-spoon relays and other fun games. All the kids had lots of fun, and it looks like even Peter is warming up to the Easter Bunny:)