Visiting Isabella

Here are a few photos from the day Amy, Jenny, and I visited Jessie and Isabella at home in Lynnwood.
Sooooooooooo adorable!

Dad's Night

Last Wednesday Monica's preschool held a Dad's nite. Whoever thought of this ingenius idea should be given a raise. This is right up there with "weekend at grandma's" in terms of mom's favorites. Anyway, the theme of the evening was camping. As you can see from the picture of Monica and Eva below, there was a tent set up in the classroom. There was also a pretend campfire. They all had a great time eating hot dogs and smores, telling stories, and playing camp bingo (which apparently Monica won twice in a row). Meanwhile I was home tucking Jack into bed and enjoying a moment of rare solitude watching Oprah. Can we make Dad's night a weekly event?

Brownies

A truce

"Now we BOTH have helmets!"

True Love???

Conversation at the lunch table yesterday:
Monica: I'm a Kramer.
Kyle: I'm a Martin.
Me: Yes and your intials are the same, only backwards: KM and MK.
(Quiet processing)
Kyle: Kyle Kramer!
Monica: Monica Martin!
(Giggling)
Me: Well, Monica ,if you and Kyle got married then you'd be Monica Martin.
Monica: Or he would be a Kramer!
(More giggling)
Monica: Kyle, do you want to do that?
Kyle: What?
Monica: Do you want to get married when we grow up?
Kyle: OK.
(More giggling)
Should we throw them a Dora and Diego themed engagement party?

Roller Skates

Here's Monica sporting her new Dora-the-Explorer roller skates and knee pads, which she wears with her Polly Pocket bike helmet. Her first go at skating went pretty well. Only one fall, but she hasn't quite figured out how to actually roll instead of just walking in the skates.
This afternoon she and dad are at a covered playground practicing again, before going to Goodwill to look for her next endeavor: a new bike!

Jealousy

Jack sure is jealous of big sister's new roller skates and all the gear that goes with them!

Sorry, buddy, maybe next year!

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is back by popular demand, so here are some pics from the first session last night: first in warm-ups complete with pumpkin socks, then in her favorite pink leotard. We thought the instructor looked a bit like Auntie Lisa.

Spring fresh

We had the carpets cleaned this morning, which is always one of those annoying necessities. The guy did a good job, however when he left they were still sopping wet! Is this normal? I don't seem to remember from last time. So we went out shopping for a while and now they are a little better. I love the pretty lines, but I know: I am a nerd.

Our Son is Two

OK, not really. He's actually 20 months to be exact, but we sure are getting some heavy doses of stereotypical "two's" behavior! I have noticed being home all week for spring break that Jack is much more assertive when big sister is not around. In some ways I am glad about this... wouldn't want to raise a total pushover. However, I think we may really be in for it with him over the next few months, hopefully not years.

He has now figured out that he has opinions and how to tell us, even with his limited vocab of "yes" and "no." Here's a few recent examples:
-Today while waiting for Monica's class to be done we waited in the empty classroom across the hall where he played with some of the cars. When it was time to go I had to forcibly take the cars from him and strongarm him out of the room and up to the van while he threw a tantrum.
-When he is offered a toy he doesn't want, he will sometimes cry and throw it (we are REALLY trying to nip this one in the bud.)
-He wants to feed himself. And prefers not to have us cut up his food into toddler size bites, thank you very much.
-When at all possible he climbs into Kyle's booster seat in the van and pretends it is his.
-He prefers anything big boy over anything baby, when possible.

Amanda's First Communion

I was in Salem this weekend for the first Eucharist celebration for my little goddaughter, Amanda... who's really not so little any more! It was a wonderful mass and party afterwards and so great to connect with Amanda and her family, who I see so rarely now that I don't live in Oregon. It was also fun to be back at Queen of Peace, which in many ways will always be my home church, since I was confirmed there and made so many wonderful friends.

I also enjoyed a trip to the spa and lunch with my super-sister-in-law Mia as well as an overnight stay and breakfast with my friends Tricia and Bob. I didn't even mind the long drive, thanks to my new Dolly Parton CD. :)

Back at the ranch, Anton and Uncle Buck worked on my parents' deck rebuild project. The kids had fun with grandparents, including a special trip to a kids' concert with Nanie and Grandpa Gordon.

All the kids came forward to listen to the homily. Amanda is the girl in the middle of the pack with the flower crown in her hair.

Amanda with her three godparents.

Dennis, Amanda's grandma (Jill's mom), Amanda, Ian, and Jill.

Opening gifts with her cousins.

While mom is at work....

Anton and Monica both have spring break from school this week. So today they met up with Eva, Sophia, and their dad for lunch and fun in the park. Here are a few photos Anton took and a video of Jack playing ball, proving he only needs himself for entertainment.

Birthday Party Special!

Today we made a special trip to Auntie Tina's salon in Marysville in honor of Abigail's 7th birthday. She and Monica had the "Birthday Party Special" package, which included a mini-manicure, hairstyle, and light makeup. We topped off the afternoon with ice cream. Sara and I had a great time also (she got a manicure and I got a pedicure-- so we were pampered too!)
For the rest of the afternoon the girls "played salon" and pretended to do eachother's hair and makeup. Monica also announced she doesn't ever want to wash her hair again, lest she lose the curls. Maybe I can coax her into the bath tomorrow in exchange for a promise to visit Auntie Tina's salon again!

The anatomy of a peanut butter sandwich

Jack will now demonstrate how a 1 1/2-year-old should eat a peanut butter sandwich:

Step #1 Open sandwich and smash into your face, scraping off the peanut butter with your teeth
Step #2 Show off your peanut butter beard while preparing for next step

Step #3 Smoosh sandwich in your fingers
Step #4 Shove sandwich into your mouth (all)

Step #5 Devour and enjoy

Hey, at least he was occuped while Monica helped me make meatloaf. We used the Joel family recipe. Joel as in Billy. We even had his music playing in the background while we made it. It was delish!