Loose Ends on a Sunday Afternoon

We were invited out to play games with our best game friends. Their invitation was declined in deference to quality family time- since it's so rare right now. I no sooner hung up the phone than I began to wonder what we were going to do with so many uninterrupted hours together. Daunting. What we did was sit on the couch and stare. And wrestle. And tell corny jokes. And... it's so very relaxing. Not in the least boring. I mean it's not something you brag about, especially if you want to appear interesting. "Hey, what'd you do this weekend?" "Oh-I had a marathon couch sit. It was fabulous. You?" Still it is very nice to have a foot rub from Willy. To glow in his baskiness.

Willy really wanted a chance to 'work' the camera. I obliged him.



Here Isabella is up to her old tricks. She's supposed to be making a kissy face. And she assured me she was... but she was only pretending to follow instructions.

In Other News:
Isabella started preschool last week. She likes it. Neither one of us is suffering from separation anxiety. Although I expected to be lost without her, and couldn't sleep the whole night before her first day for worrying. AND she can swim from the pool wall to me (about 8ft away) sans swim vest. The life guard swears she could do the whole length of the pool on her own, if she could hold her breath that long. He's right. Isabella is thrilled about her abilities.

Luke got a hair cut with much less trauma this time. Go Luke. I've discovered he has patches of black hair all over his head, it must be his original hair. All his new hair is platinum. He's like a salt and pepper cat.

My cousin had a baby boy on July 13, what an auspicious beginning. Congrats Jen! I'm gonna make you a baby towel. Soon.

Happy Birthday Luke

Luke is now two!

He likes race cars and backhoes. He likes backyardigans. He's afraid of the monsters on Sesame Street. His favourite phrase is "go away" (apparently he likes time out too). When he plays with his cars they have conversations where the discernible parts are "okay car, bye bye!" He bosses Isabella around- recently he commanded "Buggy sit down!" repeatedly during the confirmation at a baptism. When the prayer was finally over he informed me "Buggy, no sit mommy!" Isabella hates being called Buggy, she has taught Luke all four syllables of her name. Is-A-Bell-A. They are friends, but he can't resist teasing her. Usually after a fight, they make up with a wrestling match. Luke loves his toy dog, but can't abide real-live dogs. He has commandeered Isabella's "Baby Stella"- he feeds her and changes her diaper and he takes her for stroller walks and he puts her down for naps. The doll, not Buggy. Luke is very cuddly. He especially likes being cuddled when I am in the shower. Then he strips down and joins me, whether he's invited or not. He likes to 'sleep walk' into bed with Willy and I, and make loud sucking noises until we get him a bottle of milk. And he likes to jump on people. He pretends he's going to jump over you and then crack he's jackhammered your thigh. When he helpswith the laundry, he carries the soap in his toy stroller (his own idea too). For all these things and more, I love him.

Gone Fishing

Willy takes The BAR in two weeks. He's been studying diligently since May 12. Good Job Willy! Meantime he's also foiled my plans to save $$$ on health insurance by contracting a medley of sicknesses- a flu/bronchitis/sinus infection thing. Poor Willy! [go ahead, laugh at my puny joke] But maybe he's not so unfortunate, Willy tells me his behind the counter codiene infused cough syrup makes him feel way way better*.
In order to survive without his munificence the kids and I have simplified our life a little. Basically if we're not watching TV, we're swimming. For FHE, when I feel like holding it, we play Candy Land using the new improved rules; they involve eating lots and lots of candy. No baths, no laundry, no dishes, no blog and lots of BoiledEggs. This is the life. Seriously, I'm wondering why I used to try so hard. Anyhow, we miss Willy, and hope he joins us in our naked-hungry-and-dirty dissipation soon.


*I should just mention that Willy layed off the syrup after I accused him of being a junkie. The man has no sense of humour right now, what can I say.

Dear Heavenly Father

...thank you that all the dinosaurs are dead so the raptors don't scratch us with their big toenails....

amen

(no Isabella has not been watching Jurassic Park)

Memorial Day 2010

We went to the local memorial day event. We did the pony ride and the moon bounce. We climbed all over a fire truck. We ground up some chicken feed. We licked ice cream cones. We stood with our hands over our hearts during the National Anthem. But we didn't stay for the parade. Instead we raced home to eat lunch with Willy. Then we went swimming all afternoon, while Willy studied in the shade.
Chicken Feed? You're probably thinking there was some sort of petting zoo. But noooooo. There were just a bunch of parents walking around with bags full of cracked corn. I was trying to avoid dishing out 50 cents so I could tote a similar bag. No luck. Granted, cracking the corn was fun, only afterwards it left a 'now what' on Isabella's face. "Where's the chickens?", She asked me. "I don't know. Maybe they got lost.", I said. "I know", she said, "let's pretend these sticks are chickens." So all the way home, she fed the chickens. For two miles she called to me"Wait mom! Wait while I feed these chickens." It was so hot and muggy I didn't think we'd ever make it home. At one point she was running to catch up to me and she fell. "Did you hurt yourself", I asked, "looks like you dropped your stick." "No mom, I dropped my chicken." Oh.

Nap Time

For the last month Luke has been unleashed. There is nothing the child can't get into. He can open the fridge. Unlock the balcony door. The other day I found him hanging out his window. Open Window. Six Stories up. It's frightening. I'm not sure if it's gender, birth order, or personality - but I never feared for Isabella's life. On the endearing-in-twenty-years-side Luke and his elbows have been greeting Willy and me every morning at 5:30, with heart felt pleas for "Milk. Milk. Milk." He's got us pinned and he's right in our face. Like a cat.

Eating Green

Here's our poster child. Yep. We're cruel parents.