In Our Midst

It was with great interest that I watched Nicholas pretend to punch in the code that he can barely reach to the daycare classrooms  the other day.  When the door opened, I figured he had caught one of the moments that the thing had not hooked all the way closed.

They rushed in.

Then, when he did it again the next day, I asked.

"Nicholas, how do you know the code?"

"I watch.  I'm like a spy."

But of course.

The Weekend Outings: Bravery

Didn't you just get back?

See ya.

My plan was to just drive around in the new car all weekend with movies playing. But either I realized what kind of gas money I would be spending or I realized that in a short five weeks we would be sentenced to home confinement or get over ourselves and start going. So we headed to the Botanical Gardens, which I really like to imagine are just my own gardens. The crowd was small enough that each kid had their own play house with one to spare.

After lunch, we took the long way to the zoo.

And maybe sat in the parking lot once we got there for a few minutes to finish naps and the movie.

We trekked to the Teton Trek at the zoo, which was beautiful. This would be where Nicholas decided it would be fun to run off on his own. So the camera went away. And for good or bad, I let him wander on the porch while I watched him through the window for a minute or two to let the whole vastness of being lost sink in. We've been talking a lot lately about how important it is that we stick together in every sense of the word.

And then this on the way back.

It was nearly like camouflaging a set of twins.

Mostly I don't mind the attention we get, but I have my days. This had been a long day. We had been at the zoo for about three hours at this point. I was alone in large open space with them for the first time really. So every time I passed someone and they stared at us; every time I passed someone and I heard them exclaim behind us; every time we negotiated a door and someone just stood and stared at us to watch how we do it (with a little quiet help and a smile from a stranger would be nice); every time people felt comfortable just stopping us to chat; every time someone new walked in the bathroom and stopped short to assess how I was dealing with my kids, I looked away. I wasn't in the mood Saturday. I wasn't trying to be rude, I was really just pretending there was nothing to see.

Really, they were so good that we all got ice-cream at the end and stayed an extra half an hour lingering at the zoo entrance area. Because there was no way that combination was getting in the new van.

And wearing them out must have worked because the escape artist and her sister Alida didn't show up at my door until 7 Sunday morning. And they were perfectly happy to do this while I took a shower and poured a cup of coffee.

Is This Even Possible?

Two years ago you lived your waking days in this bouncy seat prior to the days you would climb out it at will and use it to stand on and bounce.

And this morning I ran into you on the stairs, and you exclaimed, "I got out bed myself!"

I'm not sure I even remember the past two years little one, but I do know they have been a blur of crazy. Somehow we made it here. You love princesses now. I'm not clear where that came from or why I find it so charming, but I do. You are the first child to figure out the baseball knob on the pantry door. But you don't rub it in, you just start handing out treats to everyone. But you always keep the box of Kleenex to yourself, and the box of Kleenex I let you keep this particular day was what gave you that big smile. I have no idea what to do with your hair so we leave it to hang in its little bits. As you got dressed this morning you screamed, "Tickle me, mommy! Tickle me!" And when I pick you up, you sit in my arms and pat my back with whatever hand is there while we walk around. You have figured out charm little one. We are completely charmed. At least this morning, we are completely charmed. Thanks for a good one, it makes up for the part where you wandered into my bedroom at 4 this morning.

Here We Go

Cuteness

"Do you think they'll like their beds, Nicholas?"

"Yeah. But, the girls won't sleep in them. I think you'll have to lock the door."

Alida was not impressed.

After eleven persistent placements back at bedtime, the girl went to sleep. Elaine took only one.

It took four months with the boys to get the hang of this.

We'll see how long until we declare the girls out of cribs.

Elaine got up at 5 this morning and got her brother out of bed.

I found them just wandering the circle from kitchen to living room to dining room.

I think we'll have to lock the door.

Hey. Get Back In There!

Elaine.

Remember just 2 short years ago when we could lay you on the floor, the couch, the whatever, and you would just stay put?

I think you do a little warm up in the crib these days right before you leap out of it.

At will.

Anytime there is light enough to do it.

Stop it. I'm not ready to go crib free. This is not a good time for me.