Small World

We're into little, small things and creature these days -- fairies, building mouse houses, birdies, worms and slugs -- so Molly and I embarked on a project that we both enjoyed -- painting for her (on something other than paper since I'm almost out of scrap paper and have reams and reams of artwork on my refrigerator) and something crafty for me -- and dolled up some bird houses (Oh Jo-Ann Fabrics, how I love you and your craftalicious good times). They came out... colorfully. I decided that they pay homage to our Italian ancestry and our love of bright, bright colors all swirled together in one place. Now, I just need to go find some plastic to cover the furniture and it really would be home for some Italian birds. Although I laughed and cringed (inwardly) at the color choices, it was fun to watch Molly very seriously pick her colors and her intensity in painting it just so. 

You Know You Are A...

Canadian when hockey captures every ounce of your attention. On TV, on your floor -- either place you can (sort of) yell, "he shoots! He scores!"

These playoffs are serious business... he just hopes it doesn't come down to a Bruins/Canucks final series (is that what it's even called in hockey? A series?). Yikes!

If You Give A Diva A Dress...

Can you guess which child I still get to dress?

Now, as these things go, this is a totally tame outfit choice... usually the colors and patterns that someone (who thinks she has a fashion degree) combines reside on a completely different color wheel and pattern board than my own. Today, though, was a case of how many shades of the same color can one combine and how can one accessorize? It's always an adventure...

18 Months... But Who's Counting?

The 18 month mark came and went last month for Mr. Baby Jack but since he hasn't radically changed in the last three weeks, I think this post can still be relevant. Who is my little man at a year and a half? Oh my, he's a sweet boy who is always looking for a good time.
- Wants to be in the midst of EVEYTHING? Check. Aye yay yay.
- Wants to do whatever Big Sister is doing? Check. This goes his way sometimes, and others, not so much.
- Mugs for the camera with a big ol' "cheeeeeeeeeeeese"? Check. It's like he smells a lens a mile away.
- Has early onset wild and crazy hair? Check. Wings.
- Loves his daddy and gets manic when he walks in the door? Check. Knows his car, knows his footsteps, and I'm expecting a whiplash injury to occur soon.
- Talks more and more each day to the point that I wonder if just waited to talk until he had an internal quota of words? Check. Many words still require translating but the window into his needs is pretty nice.
- Finds the nook on mom's neck to snuggle in before bed each night? Check. I love it.
- Backs into someone's lap like a box truck backing up when he wants to read books? Check. I think to myself "beep, beep, beep" every time.
- Has the deepest, most exuberant belly laugh that I've ever heard on anyone -- man, woman, or child? Check. It's infectious and hilarious.
- Squeals like a honking seal when there is something he wants and either can't have it or can't have it fast enough? Check. Dislike.
- Reaches new levels of motivation each day to climb and finagle new ways of getting food from the 'fridge, cabinets, bags, etc? Check. Welcome to the world of continuous bruising.
- Continues to throw big, fat, noisy fits when he gets frustrated? Check... but only if someone is watching. I've literally seen him face down on the floor, look for me, not see me and get up and toddle off. Drama, drama, drama.
- Is surprisingly coordinated, dextrous, and possess good fine motor skills? Check. I am terribly uncoordinated and clumsy so I never expected much beyond superior foot-tripping skills from my little ones.
- Possesses unflagging determination for making sly escapes. Check. It's awesome.

I love this age. I love the curiosity, the simplicity, the unfettered enthusiasm for life. I love this little boy.

Water Logged

What do you do when the rain REFUSES to quit? What else can you do besides go figure out where your water comes from. We went up to a really well done water museum north of here today and had the place pretty much to ourselves, which was great for our cooped up crew. A little education, a little puddle stomping, a little contaminating Seattle's water reservoir (Molly didn't like that this wasn't a lake she could swim in...) and it all worked out to be a good way to combat the unseasonably cold weather we've been having.

The Moms Have It

Full on paragraphs are not forming in my brain this morning but there are some things blowing around in that drafty upstairs of mine. Some things like...

how the best mother's day present is one little voice chirping up from the side of the bed saying "happymother'sdayiloveyoumama" while another one giggles slightly manically, just happy to be included in the big people stuff.

how much I missed being with my own mom on mother's day and I hope she knows how much she means to me every day and not just the second Sunday in May. Being away from home is hard even when you like your life a lot... I couldn't say it nearly as well as she does, though.

how I am lucky to have a mother-in-law who is wonderful no matter which "mother" hat -- mom, mother-in-law, Nana -- she has on.

how special it was that I got to spend this mother's day with two really great moms who are relatively new additions to my life but who feel like I've known forever.

how I have a husband who can turn some pretty interesting lemons into lemonade whereas I would just have a big sticky mess on my hands and cry.

how grateful I am that my family and friends who are moms are willing to share their highs and lows, their funny stories, their triumphs and disasters with me and each other. That we don't walk this path alone is priceless, sustaining, and joyful.

how the weight of two little bodies never really feels heavy and, in fact, feels like a treasure I'd happily carry every day of my life.

Happy Belated Mother's Day (we were in Jack's motherland for the weekend but have happily returned home once again).

Dynamic Duo

There has been a subtle but definite shift in our house over the past several weeks... a lovely, welcome, timely one. Recently, the peals of laughter bouncing off the walls haven't all been because of my hysterical jokes and actually have very little to do with me... and everything to do with the small people. Although there still is, and I assume always will be, antagonism afoot, these two have been playing more and more together and really becoming a thick-as-thieves twosome. I was picking up the other night when I heard scampering across the floor and giggling up the wazoo and I was able to sneak upstairs and just watch these two love on each other and be each other's best buddy without them immediately noticing me. It was so fun... so, so, so fun and rewarding and sweet and funny. It touched off a lot of emotions, actually. I'm used to being in the middle of things with one or both of them -- mediating or helping or soothing or getting something or just mommying -- but these days I'm getting edged out a little bit. Trust me, it's FINE -- I WANT it to happen. I want them to scheme and conspire and confide and help each other, but it is a shift in our dynamic and that takes getting used to a little bit. This really isn't about me, though, it's about them and their growing relationship. The big gulf of ability that used to separate them is slowly closing and their different personalities have started to really complement each other. Jack is always, always looking for a good time and he tends to make his own fun no matter what. Molly is more elaborate and deliberate in her constructs of hilarity but these guys just click as they discover the best parts of each other more and more each day. It's a gift to watch them and to see them appreciate what the other brings to the table without overanalyzing it all -- it's just pure, sweet childhood and siblinghood at its best. 

Tea for two, please. I'll write more on this at some other time and how it devolved into a nekked tea party. 

Here's what I heard when I got upstairs... "I wanna be a cow girl and you can be my cow boy"... Dads teach their kids all sorts of important things about life like '80s one hit wonders and drinking milk from your cereal bowl... ahem. 

The big fish's #1 fan.

Braving the drool to swoop in for a hug.

Serious, serious fun.

I'm not sure exactly what game Jack got roped into playing here but he's a happy camper...

Why Be On Time? The Easter Post

The cuteness of Easter pageantry is too much, no? Every year gets more and more fun with Mrs. E. Bunny (Molly told me it's a lady bunny) coming to visit, rabbit ears sprouting up left and right, treats and baskets popping up overnight, and Peeps still being banned from the house. For me, Easter is a time when I can go nutty on my love for family traditions without too much resistance from the peanut gallery and I think we achieved that well this year. We had fun with the fam, enjoyed good weather, and just generally enjoyed a mellow weekend. And then, true to form, I got rid of all the Easter gear the next day... I love all the baskets and eggs and stuff leading up to the day but once the clock strikes midnight, I get all antsy about the stuff floating around... and I'm about the furthest thing from a mcneaty pants (yeah, yeah, you all know that). 

Peter, Peterette, and Papa Bunny

Sometimes, good things never come to an end. 

No, the entry to the dining room is not usually gated off but I figured if I actually wanted to walk the jelly bean trail before the jelly beans were consumed, I'd better control the chaos.

And she loved it...

And Jack loved it, too...

Because he just ate the jelly beans that got overlooked.

Crunched carrots, baskets of loot... happy day. 

Sneaky little guy...

Even though egg dying might be on John's least favorite thing to do ever list, it is right at the top of my must do every year list. He does enjoy being sneaky, though, so while the kids and I dyed eggs earlier in the week, he got to hide them without even getting his fingertips stained.