We are not a dealership

This morning Kari asked, "Mommy, how old will I be when we have a new baby?" (I'm not sure whether she just really wants another sibling or whether she's heard us discussing the possibility, but we're NOT expecting at the moment.)

Me: "Do you think we should have a new baby?"
Kari: "Yes!"
Joel: "NO!!!"
Kind of surprised by his adamant "no" and curious, I asked, "Why not, Joel?"
"Because I want to keep Aubrey!"

Apparently, "new" meant "different" in his little three-year-old mind. No wonder he was upset. His mother had just asked whether we should trade in his sister for a new model.

Sick Kari

Kari missed her very last day of preschool and her "graduation" because she was sick, sick, sick with a high fever and some kind of stomach bug. Thankfully, the tummy troubles didn't last very long, but the fever persisted over the next couple days--kinda put a damper on our weekend. By Sunday afternoon she was feeling much better, though, and we were able to do some BBQing with friends and family and even squeezed in some pool time today.

Sprinkler

Last week it was warm enough to finally justify some backyard sprinkler time.

So much to see, so much to do

The library passes I had on reserve to go to The Portland Children's Museum arrived this week, so I took the kids yesterday, and this time Grandma M. was able to come with us. (These kids have it pretty good-- they got to have a grandpa come to the zoo and then a grandma come with them to the museum.) The Children's Museum is such a fun place. It's amazing the creativity and thought the designers put into each exhibit. They just know how to think like kids.

Grandma brought her camera and documented our morning for us.
This is outside the theater/stage. We used the "R" for Kari's name (all the other R's were in use on the other side of the wall, I found out later) since Aubrey doesn't care about such things yet.

In the Bob the Builder exhibit. Joel says this is "Roley"

Playing in the water

Small Victory

Joel entered the pool without crying today at swimming lessons! We had the beginnings of tears in the locker room because Daddy wasn't there yet. Apparently, Mommy isn't good enough when it comes to feeling secure at the pool. Greg took Kari and Joel to the swim lesson pool Friday night for the open swim time. We were hoping that maybe a positive, safe, fun experience in the same environment as swim lessons might help Joel feel better and not panic. It appears to have worked (for today's lesson, at least--no guarantees). Just better make sure Greg can make it to the next lesson!

[Sidenote: Kari is doing GREAT! She's already swimming (I use the term loosely) across the pool and treading water a little.]

Almost summer

It's been feeling more like summer these last couple days. We've been enjoying the sunshine and warmth.
We had popcorn and fruit smoothie pops for dinner one night this weekend, and the kids thought that was pretty funny. (Greg doesn't understand popcorn for dinner either, but he wasn't very hungry that night, so...). The kids were pretty cute in their chairs. Aubrey was so proud to be in a chair just like the big kids. I had to hose down the chair when she was done, as it was pretty well covered with strawberry smoothie.

Miller Picnic

This is everyone who was able to make it to the Miller family (Greg's mom's side) gathering today. It was a beautiful day for a picnic, and we had a great time together. Click here to see more photos of the day.

Spoke too soon

Swim lessons 1 and 2--great! Lesson 3--horrendous. Joel cried and cried and wouldn't go in. He finally entered the pool, after much coaxing, for the last 10 minutes of the 30 minute session. May lesson 4 be a more pleasant experience for all.

Swim Lessons

In an attempt to get a head start on this year's pool season, we enrolled the kids in swim lessons. Two lessons in, and they're both doing great! We figured Kari would enjoy it and do well (and she did), but I was nervous about how Joel would respond. He hates getting water in his eyes, tends to be more timid/cautious overall, and just hasn't ever taken to the whole pool thing. He camped out on the steps of G&G's pool last summer and only ventured in with Grandma at the end of the season. He surprised us this week, though, and after some initial tears and torment, he participated and had a good time, too. You can see the progression here:

fearful on the steps and glad his sister is there with him

kicking water at Teacher Bob, as asked

a little smile!

moved over with the other kids on the ledge, did what Teacher Bob asked

I didn't get to watch today (can only watch the first and last lessons), but I heard that they both pushed off the side to the teacher and that they had fun. So far, so good.

Just act natural

Aubrey just developed her cheezy camera face. This is the smile we get when she sees we're trying to take her photo.

Isn't that special?

You're a little too big, but that's ok.

This last weekend Aubrey discovered a new use for the doll cradle my Grandpa made me when I was little and that now my girls get to use. It's become her evening lounger. (Good thing you made it nice and sturdy, Grandpa!)

She brought her baby in with her the next night.


I'm not exactly sure what she was doing with the marker, but she never tried to take the lid off (and it's washable), so we let her keep it.

Monday, Monday

We stayed home today, and this is some of what was going on at our house this morning.

Aubrey wore the tutu all morning and got some good farm time in. She's learning to make animal sounds. She seems to think the cow's "moo" sounds like the noise you're supposed to make before you kiss someone, so I got a lot of Aubrey kisses this morning--"mmmmm...wha!"

Kari (a.k.a Dorothy) worked on some paper doll princesses.

Joel built some mighty fine towers.

Happy Monday!

Zoo, Part 2 (much better than part 1)

Click here to view the great video my dad made of our zoo venture today. Thanks, Dad! So fun. The kids LOVED the video. I'm sure we'll be watching it over and over (and getting that song stuck in our heads).

Zoo

The kids have been asking to go to the zoo since Christmas when G&G gave us a zoo pass, so today was the day. We met Leah and the kids there, and the kids got a special treat when Grandpa decided to join us on his day off. It was fun to watch Aubrey's reaction to everything, as this was the first time she actually was able to participate and enjoy the zoo. She waved enthusiastically and said "hi"to all the animals, fully expecting that they would say "hi" back. "Oooo" and "wow" were the other things she said over and over. She squealed with delight at the sheep and when she pet the goats. The big kids had a good time, too, and were VERY tired by the time we left. Miles didn't make a peep the whole time were were there. He just enjoyed snuggling with his mama in the baby carrier, so I guess he had a good time, too.

I only took 2 photos, and here they are. I'm pretty sure my dad had a better time than it appears. :)

We took a snack break towards the end of our visit, and the kids loved running free all over the grassy area. Kari's taking care of Aubrey and making sure she doesn't fall down the concrete steps (Aubrey really needs to develop some healthy fear). I wish I'd gotten my camera out sooner because they were so cute walking together.

Big Boy Bike

We got a bike for Joel off Craigslist, and for the first day or so, he wouldn't even sit on it. Yesterday, however, Kari convinced him to give it a try. Kari has WAY more sway with him these days than we do. "Is Kari going to...?" is the question we hear a lot right now. He had to figure it out in the garage, though, because I realized after two minutes out on the sidewalk that I couldn't help my three-year-old learn to pedal AND watch my 14-month-old wild child at the same time.

This is the view we are frequently seeing of Miss Aubrey. She's walking/running away as fast as her toddler legs will allow, every chance she gets. About ten seconds after I snapped this photo, she biffed it and ended up with a nice goose egg on her forehead. That's when we headed into the garage.



After Greg got home, the kids rode out in front of our house and no longer had to go in small circles and run into each other in the garage.

We're hoping Kari will be up for learning to ride without training wheels this summer. We may have to have her learn on a slightly smaller bike, but we'll see. We tried at the end of last summer with her 12", but that one was almost too small for her, and the fear factor was still too high. It might be more doable this year.