It Does A Body Good

Wood...

 It's what's for dinner.

Followed by a binky for dessert.

(Jack) Peter Cottontail and Sidekick Molly

Easter came to us over two days this year and the big bunny managed to find us in Seattle and Penticton. I'm going to work backwards and start with our morning of jelly goodness here at home (mostly because those pictures are downloaded and the others aren't). Now, I really like Easter. I'm not sure if it's because arts and crafts are not only an acceptable component of the holiday but are actually encouraged or if it's because we get to give the munchkins little presents without all the expectations of Christmas or birthdays or if it's because eating chocolate in the mornings is a-okay, but it's a fun holiday. We were traveling on Saturday, so unfortunately we didn't get a chance to dye eggs this year (some people have been crying in their coffee for days about it. Next year, John, next year), but still had a good time carrying on some old traditions.

We were debating about what to do for Easter dinner and decided to culinarily celebrate the other big event -- opening day -- instead. Not being big roast people (I seriously have no clue how to make one... is that what you're supposed to make on Easter?), we went for baseball fare. Oh boy, so fun. 

Spotting the jelly bean trail outside of her doorway...

The joy of finding special treats... Molly informed me today that she likes sweet potatoes better than jelly beans... but that chocolate is better than sweet potatoes. Well, duh.

Are you sure I can eat this, Mom? Really? 

I'm eating it... you're not going to stop me?

What would this be on my hands?

What's Easter without a new train?

The little Jackrabbit

Geared up for opening day. Jack is sporting the same 'do as many of his young faves and his stats are almost as good. 

We're having what? And have you told that crazy lady that I'm going to commandeer her booster seat soon? She didn't get the memo about sharing?

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

In an ongoing, perhaps slightly obsessive, attempt to figure out what my dear daughter is going to end up making herself out to be in this big world, I've now crossed off a few more things from the list: national security expert/CIA agent and professional poker player. This girl cannot keep her motor mouth shut. She invited half the plane to her birthday party. In December. When she turns three. And has three candles. Now, that's not actually fair; she only invited two college-aged boys to her party. They were one part psyched for the request of their presence and one part not sure how to RSVP to this rather insistent 9-month-from-now shindig. She's got an eye on her, though, I'll tell you. Not only were these young gentlemen not too shabby, but the other week she spotted a dad at the pool and reported that "that man is bee-you-ta-ful." He too, truth be told, was not bad looking. She also saw some pilots in the airport (duh) and shouted, for the world to hear, "look, there are PILOTS over there! PILOTS". There is no stealth (nor subtlety) to her whatsoever. I'm also reaping the fabulous rewards of teaching her the correct name for body parts. Eye-yey-yey. All this means that we are not entrusting our national security to this kid.

The poker player cross-off is because she cannot resist being the cat with the canary when she's got something up her sleeve. She'll announce when she's got my wallet (which I've now banned from her taking apart after ending up at the check out with no credit cards) or phone (too many crank calls) or special treats (I don't even know where I've hidden those sometimes) and I've haven't noticed her in due time. She'd be a terrible bluffer and just announce when she had a good hand. 

So, I'm narrowing it down. Slowly but surely, we are making progress. Some options still on the table are:

artiste

construction worker or firefighter

grocery clerk

common criminal.

Happy Easter, everyone! We have more to share from our time at Nana and Grandpa's house and from our early Easter adventure today. In the meantime, though, unless you want something broadcast to our neighborhood, keep your secrets to yourself. 

The Sunshine Band

 And the fun parade just keeps on marching...

After thoroughly impressing everyone with how far we traveled for a family wedding (British Columbia! Wow!) last weekend (they had jelly bean centerpieces and there was a marching band. I was in heaven), we headed east to Palm Coast to spend the week with Nana and Grampa. For all the New Englanders enduring yet another long stretch of rain, you really need to come hang out with us. We have had the weather gods smiling down on us yet again with a stretch of mostly sunny, warm, swimmingly perfect days.

The munchkins are happily basking in more grandparent glory and despite the stomach bug rearing its ugly head yet again (Jack is the only one to escape it), we're feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and have bellies full of yummy food. A lovely end to our extended vacation. We honestly haven't been up to too much -- some dolphin viewing and playground hunting having been our biggest trips. Mostly, we've been beaching and pooling it and trying to thoroughly tucker out the small people. Don't worry, I'm counting my lucky stars.

Chomping at the bit for this year's baseball season to begin in earnest. 

I lost my sunglasses right before we left Penticton and bought some cheap replacement ones to use in a pinch. I found real ones while we were in the Keys and someone happily took over the lease on my other ones. She likes to tell everyone that the triangle part goes on her nose and that the hinge can give you a little pinch. Duly noted.  

Oof, tough day being a baby. It's hard work staying out of the sun. 

Other people, however, worked hard perfecting their sand castle building skills. Sometimes she's the laborer, but more often she's the general contractor. It always seems to be someone else's turn to get the water... suspect.

The diva and her entourage. Please note that her sunglasses are now upside down. Despite informing me, you,  the lizard on the road, the lady on the bike passing by that the triangle part goes on her nose, she prefers to actually wear them upside down so that they stay on her face. Don't try and point out this little fact, however, unless getting a stern look is on your list of things to do today.

Jack still smiles with his mouth wide open (and his little dimple proudly on display). His newest trick is scooting into all sorts of random places -- like under the coffee table. Just plug him in and wind him up...

Fabulous At Five

My little man was five months old on Thursday. All the cliches ring true -- time has flown, I am more in love with him each day, and it's so incredibly fun to see his personality develop. Each milestone in our children's lives feels, to me anyway, like it's the first time it's ever been done -- as if he or she has the first tooth to ever pop, is the first baby to roll over, or gives the first big, slobbery grin to light up our morning (or middle of the night). Never mind that I've had another slobbery grinner before, these little joys are just as exciting the second time around.

I suddenly feel as if I don't have an infant on my hands; he has really become a baby over the past few weeks. He's still in love with Molly but he has his own little attitude now -- he'll grab at her hair, which sends her into a tizzy, or try and reach for her nose or lips and she gets her knickers all in a twist about that. I like that he's a little fighter and already seems to know a bit about pushing his big sister's buttons. I also love how sweet sweet sweet they can be with each other; she's still his biggest cheerleader and he loves to grace her with a gummy smile. I love both of them separately, obviously, but I really adore the relationship that they already have with each other.

He's still an active little man, rolling back and forth, scooting 360s, jumping and standing when he's held (move over Denise Austin, I am coming out with my own Arms of Steel videos soon... actually, I think I said this about Molly, too. I need to get on this), and very interested in being in the middle of the action. He's a better sleeper now that his tummy issues are medicated but he still would prefer to know the who, what, where, why of a situation rather than fall asleep. He's a cuddler, though, and I love that about him. He's getting better at sitting up, which I think will please him immensely when he can really do it on his own, since his vantage point will be that much closer to the action.

I don't know why five months feels so momentous to me (maybe because 3-4 months was difficult), but here we are and it feels big. I really do love this little man more and more every day.

Teach Your Children Well

Like most parents, I spend a lot of my parental energies thinking about the boundaries I set for my children, how to teach them to operate in the world, about the process of give and take and sharing, and how to lose gracefully. I have to remind Molly sometimes that other kids get to use the playground (it wasn't dropped in that exact location for her and her alone, much to her chagrin) and we all have interceded in a dispute about a truck, a doll, a puzzle, etc. So, we spend all this time teaching these lessons to our little ones and then, when they grow and up and become members of Congress, they apparently get to forget all of these life lessons, that someone hopefully taught them and, instead, act incredibly ungraciously.

I don't mean to be overly misty-eyed about our process of government (although, in reality, I can be), but reading about the conduct of some members of Congress during the passage of the health care bill over the weekend was disgusting. Seriously. Disgusting. I don't mean to condemn the passion that many of these people bring to their cause -- that's fine. It's great, really. But, if you lose, no matter how you lose, no matter how much the loss hurts, hurling insults as your colleagues (or your president, for that matter) is simply illustrating your own horrendous manners that someone likely took a long time to teach you. How do we teach our children to set boundaries when they see examples by our Congressmen and women that directly contradict our lessons? These are people who have chosen to serve and be examples -- they were not drafted, they were not magically elevated to their positions, and they are not there because of some un-asked for physical talent. They decided to become examples all by themselves, yet many of them gave up that responsibility during these debates just because they lost a (granted, very big) vote.

I know that our heroes let us down, almost daily as of late. I know that these are just men and woman who are allowed to make errors and I know that the opposition isn't blameless and not without many flaws. But, that this day and age, we have leaders who are egging on protesters hurling racial and homophobic epithets at their colleagues is unconscionable. I'm not saying don't go down without an argument, but it does make me wonder why I take the time to make my kids play fairly on the playground if these guys and ladies can't play fairly on theirs.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some nice kids who actually do like the playground around here.

Postcards From the Edge

You might think that with daylight savings plus a three hour time change, not to mention lingering RSV in Jack and a random stomach bug for Molly, might spell disaster for our Florida adventures but the sand in our bathing suits proves otherwise. The little ones and I accomplished our first mommy-and-me cross country trip, which was surprisingly uneventful, and we've been soaking up the sunshine and the sand ever since last weekend. Thankfully, John got a pass to come back to the gate with us (I think the check-in lady took one look at our merry traveling band of craziness and realized that it was in everyone's best interest to let him help us through security) and our vacation started off well and has kept on going. We've been able to swim, play at the beach, have even managed a few dinners out, and have just generally been enjoying ourselves and all the extra hands and love.

We've had mostly beautiful weather but Jack asked us to please abort a walk through what amounted to a wind tunnel.

And he likes getting his vitamin D the old fashioned way (don't worry, John, I've been covering him up and there have been no dome burns to date).

Molly has been splish splashing away and has been loving the ocean (despite her INSISTENCE that it's a lake). I'm shocked at the difference between now and last summer in how independent and adventurous she is in the water.

and on the beach... lots of building, knocking down, remodeling, and getting completely, completely sandy. The amount of sand she gets covered with is her Aunt Holly's idea of a dream come true.

And we've been absolutely loving the help and entertainment that only grandparents can provide.

Cheers to that!