Patterns

This is a cool toy. My kids have loved playing with these magnetic shapes (pattern blocks), and they make the neatest things. Peter loves to place lots of shapes all over and pretend that he is making houses. He names who lives in each one. Lizzy enjoys copying the pictures that came with the toy, and then trying to make them again on her own. She's also super into patterns, and will fill the entire board with different, sometimes pretty complicated, ones. The kindergarten teacher in me loves to see that brain working! Good job, Lizzy:)

Block Fun

This is what I woke up to this morning. Lizzy shouting out, "Mommy, look! Come see what I made! It's a butterfly on a necklace!" Pretty cool, huh:)

Faces

Peter has started making pictures of different people when he's drawing, and I love it so much! It's so exciting to see this developmental leap, to see his scribbles begin to take shape, and to see the pride he has in his work. This is one of his best pictures. He spent such a long time carefully drawing all these people. If you look carefully (okay, you may have to use your imagination here), you can see some eyes, noses, mouths, and even hair. I can't wait to see what he's going to start making next.

Temporary Switch

Our neighbor, Annie, has style. She's one of those ladies that's effortlessly put-together, perfectly accessorized in a totally relaxed way, and totally cool. She knows what's hip. Her house is actually decorated, with cool, unique furniture, and sassy little items sprinkled around. You can imagine that Lizzy is quite taken with her. When Lizzy spots her out our window, she'll tell me, "I'm going to go outside and talk with Annie for a little while." Lizzy loves to show Annie all her treasures, and it turns out that Annie is quite a captive audience. As the mother to two boys, she loves having someone to show her treasures to also. Sometimes, as a special treat, Lizzy will get to visit Annie's closet. And "closet" doesn't really do it justice, because it's actually a room, with a display of gorgeous, fancy shoes, and a whole area for glittery jewelry. It's Lizzy's idea of heaven. Recently, Annie gave Lizzy a glittery blue brooch, which Lizzy either wears all around, accessorizes her stuffed animals with, or gazes at lovingly.

As fate would have it, I have a bit of a fan myself. Annie's son, Rowan, seeks me out to play games with outside. Every afternoon, if we're playing outside, Rowan will bound out of his house and say, "Hey, Mary! Want to play kickball? Want to play catch? Want to watch me ride my bike?" And the best part is...... I do! I love playing all those games, with all the kids. When I was playing catch with Rowan the other day, he said to me, "How did you learn to do all these things?" I had to stifle a chuckle, because by "all these things" he meant bounce passing, chest passing, and catching. I guess in his eyes, I'm pretty fancy in my own way. I guess we all have our own talents, and I wouldn't want it to be any different.

Hot Chocolate

We've had some chilly mornings. The weatherman even said it might snow here, which is crazy, because it never snows here. Yesterday we went downtown to run some errands. Pat suggested we get some hot chocolate, and we all quickly agreed. The kids love hot chocolate. They love to take the tops off their cups and marvel at the whip cream, sticking the tips of their fingers into it. Peter just says, "yum....yum....." over and over. There is something so cozy and sweet about enjoying hot chocolate on a brisk morning with your two little cuddle bugs.

Problem Solver

Lizzy and Peter are very into pretend games lately, full of action, and very exciting. They usually make quite a team, but as Peter gets more and more independent, and starts to have some of his own ideas and opinions, the delicate balance of power that makes these games so successful can easily topple. The other day Lizzy was making a "house" under the covers of our bed. She, of course, brought several friends to join her, like her new Valentine bear from Grandma. Peter wanted to come into the house too, but he wanted the hobby horse, with it's long stick, to come in with him. This posed a problem, as the stick kept messing up the house. Lots of shouting and not-too-nice words followed from Lizzy, who quickly wanted me to "fix" it. I, not really feeling in a fix-it mood, said if anyone wanted to play on my bed, they needed to "FIGURE IT OUT!" (sometimes even mommies shout and talk in not-nice-words). I was so proud of Lizzy. Instead of freaking out, hurting Peter, or excluding him, she figured out a way to include Peter, minus that pesky hobby horse, and the two of them had a great time playing house on the bed. It feels so great when I don't have to solve the problems, step in and be the referee, and instead, the kids can work it out. It's even better when no one gets socked along the way;)

Outdoor Adventures

It's wonderful to explore the world around you, to be amazed by the beauty of flowers, and birds, and nature, and to feel like you're discovering something new and precious, even if you're in a park surrounded by people. Mostly, it's just exhilarating to be out-and-about, enjoying the beautiful world, taking in all the sights and sounds. We headed to Golden Gate Park over the weekend. We loved getting to leisurely walk around the lake, and watch all the birds. Lizzy was amazed by this giant bird we saw resting on a rock. She stared at it in wonder, wishing it would move or notice her. While Lizzy watched the bird, I watched Lizzy, amazed at her boldness and bravery. She crept right up to the bird, daring it to move it's head, and even poked it with her finger (not too smart). She met her match, however, because this bird was unflappable, and calmly ignored her. Peter loved throwing rocks into the water, enjoying the "plop" they made as they splashed. We found so many gorgeous flowers in such brilliant colors. We walked all around, had lunch at the Academy, and played at the park. Whew, were we tired by the time we walked back to our car, but it was worth it- every moment.

Mommy

Guess what I hear creeping into Peter's conversations these day.............a word I hadn't expected..........Mommy! Peter (and Lizzy too) always calls me "Mama." I love "Mama!" I love how endearing it sounds, how sweet, how delightfully personal to our family. Now, more and more, I hear Peter calling out to me with, "Mommy!" Don't get me wrong, "mommy" is pretty great too, but I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that "mama" sticks around for a while too.

Special Visitors

We had some very special visitors over at our house over the weekend. Grandma Susan and Janelle came over with two of Grandma's sisters, Jane and Penny, Penny's husband, Eugene, and Penny and Eugene's adorable dog, Bree. We always love to get to spend time with Grandma Susan, and we hadn't seen Grandma's Canadian family since Philip's wedding over two years ago! It was wonderful to get to spend some time together. Of course Lizzy and Peter were excited to have so much company, but the one they really loved seeing was......Bree! Bree was such a sweet dog, and Eugene showed the kids how to make her sit and shake hands. They even got to give her some treats. We took a lovely walk around the neighborhood and admired all the gorgeous flowers blossoming, then came home to a wonderful BBQ made by daddy. What a great visit with some very special people.

The Perfect Garage

At last........our true love of magnatiles and cars has combined forces to become the ultimate car garage. We had so much fun making "homes" for all of our cars before a "huge storm" hit. The good new is, all the cars made it through undamaged.

Rainy Day Fun

What do you do when it's pouring rain outside, you can't go for a walk, and the natives are restless? Why make play-doh and listen to music, of course! Lizzy and Peter took turns pouring in all the ingredients, then helped me pick which colors we should make. We chose yellow, blue, red, and we tried for purple, but alas, it turned out a bland gray- oh well. Peter busied himself finding the perfect spots for all the animals. He would mutter to himself, "You go there.......you go there......" Lizzy, ever the artist, loved making butterfly shapes out of cookie-cutters, then decorating them. Oh play-doh, you never disappoint.

Girl Time

When we were at Target the other day, Lizzy talked me into buying some nail polish. When "you-know-who" was taking his nap, we opened up our salon and got busy. The nail polish was perfect for Lizzy, because it was clear and sparkly, and it was the kind that dried quickly and then you could peel off when you were done- great for those with short attention spans or difficulty making decisions. Lizzy thought Aurora should have some polish too, and I must say, she is looking lovely now with her painted nails.

Boats

All of a sudden, boats are the new craze in our house. Lizzy is constantly making "boats" and setting sail on marvelous adventures or avoiding terrible dangers. Her shipmates include her doll, some stuffed animals, and often her doll's closet full of clothes. I guess she knows what she can't live without!

Poser

Papa would say she has her "sorority smile" ready to go, and he may not be wrong. While some shy away from the camera, Lizzy seems to love it lately. Perhaps she's been conditioned by me constantly taking pictures, but she's ready to strike a pose whenever the camera comes out.

Pajama Day

The other day it was "Pajama Day" at Lizzy's school. We took the occasion to hit up Target for some new jammies, since all of ours were looking a little shabby. Yes, I say "we" because I was the helper mommy (so had to dress up too) and Peter, of course, couldn't be left behind, so he was in the mix too. You can feel a little ridiculous wearing your jammies in the car driving to school, not feeling quite put together or ready for the day. But Lizzy and Peter's excitement was contagious. Peter, even though he was the only kid in his class in jammies that day, was in his element, and ready to show his new Cars jammies to his teachers. It turned out to be rather a cozy way to spend the morning, lounging in jammies, drinking hot cocoa, and sampling special snack-time muffins. Yup, Pajama Day was pretty great.

Daffodils

I can't stop..........I'm addicted to.........flowers! Seriously, they're everywhere, and it almost feels like I'm seeing them with new eyes. Sure, I've always loved a pretty flower, and been taken in by their sweet smell and charming colors, but now I'm beginning a love affair. It feels like they were waiting for me, quietly expecting sunnier days and blue skies, preparing to wow the world in their understated elegance, their constancy. Because on some level, maybe that's why I love them so much......because they're always there, a reminder to stop and appreciate their beauty, and soak it all in because their loveliness is as fleeting as it is wonderful.

I've secretly begun to think of daffodils as "my" flowers. They hold a special significance at our nursery school, so surely they've been working their way into my heart over the last few years. When I was telling my mom how much I loved them, she told me that when she was pregnant with me, her and Brian planted daffodil bulbs in the front of the house. She told Brian that when the flowers blossomed, they would have a new baby. So I'll chalk that up to another wonderment of flowers- rebirth. Every year, no matter what, they'll come back to you, give you another chance, inspire you.

These daffodils are from a neighbor's yard near Grandma and Papa's house. Turns out Grandma and Papa love daffodils too (of course they do). They know something special when they see it.

Flower Girl

We have been enjoying all the flowers that are beginning to blossom around our neighborhood. Every time Lizzy walks past these lilies, she stops to admire them. She is amazed (and so am I) that they only have one very large petal, delicately wrapped around a bright yellow center. They are pretty wonderful and unique when you stop to think about it, and I'm thankful for the reminder to do just that- stop.......slow down........and admire. The world, from the people around us, to the simple wonders of ladybugs on bushes and snails hiding under leaves, is truly remarkable, and so worth your attention, it can take your breath away when you let it.

On Valentines day, knowing Lizzy's love of flowers, Pat has started a very sweet tradition. He always comes home with a lovely bouquet for me, but he also brings a single flower for his other two Valentines too. At this stage in the game, the flowers quickly become swords, spoons to stir witches brew, or just something fun to swing around. On the surface, they loose their luster pretty quickly. But that initial reaction, the "Ooohhh, Daddy! What do you have for me," the sparkle in their eyes that they weren't forgotten, and in fact are as essential as every person in our family is, makes those roses truly priceless.

Be Mine

Like so many other things, it's just so fun to celebrate a holiday at school. Today at Lizzy's school, there was an entire station set up for "writing" Valentines. Then, when they had finished, the kids had to follow the arrows around the whole school, climbing over and under things, to make their way to the mailboxes and "deliver" their Valentines. They were so excited to put things inside the different mailboxes, but also, it was so fun to sneak a peek and see who had made a card for you!

My Little Valentines

Bike Time

Every Friday is "bike riding day" at Lizzy's school. When the kids come out after snack to play outside, all the bikes and scooters are ready to go. Everyone is excited to hop on, and they ride around and around a big path around the playground. Peter and I arrived a little early for pick-up. Of course, because Lizzy is Lizzy, she was so excited to see Peter, and brought him over to the swings. They enjoyed swinging for a little bit, but then Lizzy wanted to ride bikes. This could have proved disastrous as Peter is too small to ride the bikes on his own, and he nearly gets run over every time by the mad dash of bikes careening past him. But Lizzy waited patiently for a "two-person" bike to come around, then said, "Come on, Peter! Hop on!" Peter had a huge smile on his face the whole time, and loved getting to hitch a ride with his sister. As Grandma always says, everyone, from the littlest kid to the oldest granny, just wants to be included. Thank goodness for Peter his sister always thinks to include him!

Gooey-Goo

Lizzy and Peter are really into playing with "monsters" and "ghosts" lately. It's not often clear if one of them is pretending to be a monster/ghost, or if they are uniting forces against an imaginary monster/ghost. The game usually consists of one or both making "grrr" noises and then everyone chasing around squealing in delight or crying in fear. Sounds super fun, huh! It's not much of a spectator game (I guess the real thrill is in the action). Yesterday Lizzy began bringing out pillows to make a "boat" for her very special dolls and stuffed animals because the gooey-goo monster was coming, and they all had to get on board. Almost instantly, Peter popped out with his own "boat," slightly disheveled, but still effective against the goo. Their battle wages on! I think they're winning, but to be honest, it's hard to tell......

Let's Go!

The other day, Peter, who often likes to go "out" for an afternoon walk, decided to bring the magnifying glass on his adventure. Believe it or not, Lizzy and Peter are pretty good about sharing stuff like that, with only an occasional push or yell thrown in for good measure. They both took turns finding worthy things to examine, and oohed and aahed at their discoveries. I was amazed at all the little blossoms popping up everywhere, and the bulbs beginning to creep out from the ground. Pretty soon, we'll have tulips and daffodils to admire on our walks- my favorite.

Playtime With Grandma and Papa

Who could have guessed that Grandma and Papa's house was full of so much wonder, so many treasures to discover, so many games to be played? Whenever we go there, Lizzy and Peter have the best time searching and discovering, and of course, Grandma has lots of treasures to share. This past time, Lizzy loved going through Grandma's entire shell collection. And, of course, since it's Grandma, it's not anything like our shell collection, which is chipped and worn from playing with it and dropping it a million times. No, Grandma has shells from 30 years ago, from all over the country, even as far away as France! Lizzy loved them all, and admired each one. Lizzy, like Grandma, has a wonderful eye for "special" things. On a short walk around the block, Lizzy found the first ladybug we've seen in a long time, sitting comfortably on a rosemary bush. Peter loved to ride his scooter all around the court. He even talked Papa into playing some "baseball" with him, which actually resembled golf much more than baseball (daddy would be so happy). Time is such a gift, the little discoveries and "adventures" of each day such a treasure. It's a blessing to enjoy it all with special people.

Pe-Ter

Well, the day has finally arrived, bittersweet though it is, when Peter can finally say his own name. You know how you can wish and wish for something, get really excited with the anticipation, and then...........wish you hadn't done all that silly wishing in the first place? Well, that's how I feel. Because while I'm thrilled to meet "Pe-Ter," and I love the darling deliberate way he punches out each syllable of his name, I secretly, wistfully wish he were still Pay-pay, my darling little guy still mushing up lots of words, trying so desperately to be big. Well, turns out, he doesn't have to try so hard now, because he is getting big, can do more and more amazing things each day, and is full of lots to say, most of it pretty clearly. And here's a painful parenting lesson it didn't take me too long to figure out: don't bother wishing for the "hard" times to be better, or the annoying ticks to go away, because like it or not, it's all ever-changing, slowly slipping away, drop by drop. Before you know it, they're big! I'm very thankful that my "baby" still holds my hand, and wants me to hold him, and that my little girl snuggles in my lap, and kisses my cheek softly. But I'm mostly thankful that I "get it," and even when I may be tired, or crabby, or out-of-sorts, I know in my heart-of-hearts I've got the best thing going here, and I wouldn't change a single second of it for anything.

Exploring

I love the moments when it feels like you're escaping from the world, or rather finally becoming one with the world, and you're alive, in the moment, aware of how precious this time is, and how awesome it is that you get to experience it. We went for a great walk with all the kids where it felt like, just for a little while, we left our adult world and entered the magical imaginary place that children create. We followed the winding roads down to a parking lot with a magical "bridge" that everyone climbed all over. Then, we discovered a dry lake bed, that is only full during the summer. We played around in the sand, and oohed and ahhed at the giant splashes we made throwing rocks into a small "river." We found a "tunnel" with water running through it, and then the kids had the best time finding "boats" (leaves and small pieces of tree bark) that they "sailed" through the tunnel. I loved stepping back and seeing all the children busy at their very important work of being children- digging, throwing, splashing, exploring- the dutiful work of childhood in all it's glory.

Snowmobile!

In for a penny, in for a pound......right? What's the perfect thing to do after a wonderful morning sledding, when everyone's starting to get really worn out and tired, sick of their layers of clothes, and ready for a rest? Did you say "snowmobile ride," because you'd be dead on! What kid, or mom for that matter, wouldn't want to wear an uncomfortably tight Evil Knievel helmet, inhale a nauseating amount of gasoline fumes, and bump, and I do mean BUMP, their way through picturesque mountain trails? We decided to indulge the dads and all go for a ride. Pat left with a big smile on his face, Lizzy kept complaining her head hurt, and Peter fell asleep. Hmmm, not sure we'll go for the snowmobile ride next year.........unless I get a turn to drive!