Knock, Knock

Colored Eggs....The game goes: 

Wolf: "Knock, Knock" 
Kids: "Whose There?" 
W:" The big bad wolf." 
K: "What do you want?" 
W: "Colored Eggs" 
K: "What color?" 

 At the start of the game, the mother hen whispers a different color to each child. If the wolf picks their color they have to run to a certain distance and make it back home safe, if not, they are "eaten" by the wolf. 

 My mom made up the game and it has been a classic in our household ever since. 

 It's the favorite game of the week. 

 Avila designated herself as the wolf last night.

I do dress my children. Recently, they have been requesting to go shirtless. Who knows why; Avila always takes it to the next level.

Rearview

Potty Training Two Days In...

  One of the perks about potty training is that I get an all day "rear-view" and it is oh so delightful.  

SOMEBODY....is very much like her daddy.....

It Begins

Lord Help Me...

A Tantrum Story

It was the first t-ball game of the season. The stands were full of happy proud parents and grandparents. Their children played happily on the playground while their boys took the field. 

I sat in the front row, behind home plate. They giggled and played happily for the first 3 minutes. 

I thought this will be the summer I can actually watch the games. Avila is not the wandering one year old from last summer. 

I brought a sucker "just-in-case" Avila needs a distraction, but didn't think the hour long game would require one, after all she's almost two now.  

Why do I set myself up for inevitable disillusionment and failure? 

I gave Avila a sucker half way through, since she wanted to follow Christiana to the playground, but needed to stay with me. 

Then Christiana came back and wanted a treat, so I gave her a laffy taffy. 

Then Avila wanted Christiana's laffy taffy.

I didn't give it to her.

How dare I.  

It grew and escalated into piercing high pitch. 

Face turned purple. 

Squatty body went into full body convulsion and shaking. 

It was all out, throw to the ground, blood curdling screaming hysterical fit...for a full 5 minutes. 

And I was so fittingly behind home plate in between two full stands of people.

I had a half a thought to hold her by the feet and dunk her head first into the nearby trashcan to shake her from the fit, but resisted the idea. 

I had lots of other ideas come to mind too. 

But there was nothing that would have stopped this one. 

Thank you Avila for so wonderfully delivering me with yet another great parenting moment of humility. Especially the throw your blue sucker into my face move and the lashing of your sticky hands into my hair as you arched all the way back onto your head. An amazing performance for center stage. 

Children are a blessing. Children are a blessing. Children are a blessing. 

Who's Who?

We put Avila in one of our favorite outfits Christiana wore and realized we took similar pictures at the same age. Side by side we chuckled at similarities like build (love those big bellies!!) and same coloring, but their faces are different and unique in all their loveliness. 

Christiana Marie Summer 2010                              Avila Maria Spring 2013

Where We Are Right Now

Nicholas 

Favorite Past Time: Goodness that boy loves basketball, or playing the game Trouble with Christiana

Said Lately: Mom, mailbox is a compound word, so is basketball and applesauce.  (heck if I remember what compound words are...I do now, thanks son.)
                   When I grow up, I'm going to give away my toys when I become St. Nicholas. 


Big Steps: Starting to read music notes through piano lessons.

Christiana

Favorite Pastime: Cooking in the Kitchen, Writing me notes and coloring, playing Trouble with Nicholas, watering her plants for her garden.

Said Lately: Mom, I'm giving my dollars to the poor people. When asked what her name was at PreK day she told her teacher and classmates, "Pud". 

Big Steps: Learned how to read! She just finished her first three sets of Bob Books. Wanting to be just like her big brother may have played a big part in motivating her...along with getting a pink fishing pole if we read for 14 days in a row. 

Avila 

Coming very much into her own these days...oh what fun we are. 

Favorite Pastime: Dancing in living room to the Rio or Sound of Music soundtrack, stealing Trouble pieces and running away, turning on the water in the bathroom and watching it run, emptying out the entire contents of the cup and tupperware drawer.

Said Lately: Peas Mama Eat (Please Mama Eat)on the hour every hour
"I wuv you"
"Do Re Mi"

Big Steps: Matching our colors correctly, waking up happy, maintaining "stable" behavioral patterns for longer periods of time.