Friday, November 26, 2010

Spotted Hill Farm

One more day till Suzanna! We took a little trip to Spotted Hill farm to see some animals and check out their barn sale. I got some very nice goat's milk soaps.

There were lots of goats, two pigs, a horse, and some turkeys.



The best part was Pip learning how to talk turkey. Apparently it's not just a saying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI8eLKyE7Zo

Later, Pip and Viv engage in a lively game of clean-up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBFzV8UqCkw
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Thursday, November 25, 2010

T-minus 2 days to Suzanna!

We were so excited to see Jen so pregnant! What a happy, relaxed mom-to-be. I don't think I heard a single complaint from this lovely lady. We didn't know it at the time, but Suzanna would be joining us in only 2 days!


Meanwhile, Pip was not exactly in nurturing spirits. Despite trying to keep guns out of the house and out of mind ... I think, it is inevitable. He's now constructing guns from duplos and spend Thanksgiving shooting everyone with pretend bullets.


We did manage to distact him briefly and got a tower for our reward.


Here Pip and Vivie hide in the pantry, eating Mentos and raisins!
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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Pirate Bowling!

Pip was invited to a bowling birthday party this weekend and right before we left a package of new clothes arrived. I selected the sweater, hat, scarf, and thermals all in a pirate motif per request. Here's the swash-buckler ready for winter.


And that explains why he was wearing thermals to the party...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI8eLKyE7Zo

But Pip's favorite activity was by far skeeball. The little man goes crazy for skeeball!!


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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Natalie's Princess/Gym Party

Natalie turned 3 this month. Truly can't believe it's been three years since she was born. Susan had a great idea to have Natalie's sitter and her friend dress up as princesses and come to a Princess Pre-party at her place. Vivie can dressed as Snow White and Natalie was Belle. Here they are with the two "real" princeses!



The boys were not too excited about the princess theme, mostly making themselves scarce upstairs. But we did tell them we needed the princes for a dance and they obliged. This video is admittedly rather boring, but if it is not a window into the awkward experience of middle school dances, I don't know what is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWyrteRghI4

Later, there was an awesome party at the Gymnastics Academy where Natalie takes classes. Pip and Viv LOVED it. We literally has to separate Pip from this rope swing forceably or he would have never left it.


There was also a huge trampoline and high jump into large foam squares. I found myself wondering whether it would be possible to construct something like this in the new house. I mean ... HOURS ... of free time ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8meFu0llBWE


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Eye Makeup

I got a big set of eye shadows at target the other day. A matrix of little colored sqaures. The set was irresistable -- shimmery ones, blue ones, red ones, golds, and silvers. I was having fun doing my eyes up a little more than usual for a few days there. Then Pip saw me in the bathroom one day and was enticed by the multi-hued squares himself. He insisted on getting a turn too.

Didn't turn out so well. Let's just say he's not getting many bookings yet.



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Friday, November 19, 2010

Caps for Sale!

Karen Yi got Pip Caps for Sale a while back. I think for his first birthday? It was selected on occasion but hadn't been chosen lately. Then one night Vivie grabbed it from the shelf and we read it again. There's something about re-reading a good book that's like comfort food.

Anyway, after we left the room, the sounds of unrest were heard -- but unlike the norm, these sounds weren't just talking or playing. It was Pip, reading the book to Vivie. Phil grabbed the camera and got this video. May be a bit hard to hear and see, but it's a true keeper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B7KEBr7444

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Sleep fort

I got home from work a bit late this evening and found a huge fort in our living room. Hiding inside were Pip and Vivie, ecstatic about their castle. We played lots of games crawling in and out (not easy for me these days) but soon it was time for bed. Of course, they weren't done with the fort, so I agreed to let them build one in their room and sleep in it.

Here it is! Not exactly fit for standing, but perfectly fine for sleeping. I think they slept two nights in a row in here ... then realize it was a bit lacking in the comfort department.


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Monday, November 15, 2010

All aboard!

Pip is a master lego builder these days. Quiet spells aren't necessarily a sign that trouble is underfoot anymore. Could just be that a spacescraft is under construction.

This particular one had seating for all his little men:


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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Breakthrough and Conquer!

We had a spell of beautiful weather up here over the weekend. Saturday was almost 70 degrees! Pip and I were inspired to head out to the fields across the street for a little sporting action. Soccer, football.... then I busted out a classic: Breakthrough and Conquer.

Basically, a defender lays on the ground along the goal line. The runner starts with the ball about 10 yards away. He yells "Go!" and tries to score across the goal. The defender jumps up and tries to tackle the runner. Pip had a blast, and we returned home to the girls with grass and mud stains and giant grins.

Well, after chattering about it all night, we of course had to head out again today. This time Vivi joined us. "As a cheerleader?" you ask? Not this one! Check out that mean look in her eye as she scoped out the defense looking for a gap. And yes, that's a Pats hoodie.


Now my turn. Here is the iron curtain ready to shut me down.


And the linebacker and safety closing in!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

An Awesome Day with Nick and Natalie!

Pip and Vivie were VERY happy that Mommy Susan had to go out of town for work this week. It was definitely the highlight of their month to have Nick and Natalie spend the day with us. I was a bit concerned about the cold, windy, rainy weather since it meant we'd be stuck indoors all day. But actually, and I am being completely honest here. It was a very easy day.

Nick and Natalie were on A+ behavior all day (shaking there heads at my crazy kids whenever they threw whining fits) and they basically amused themselves the whole time.

I did make a batch of play dough, for the first time -- which really is as easy as I'd heard, and that kept them occupied for a bit.



Mostly, though, it was hide and seek, closet parties, drawing, and sword fighting. Here, Nick lured Pip into a rousing game of "cat". I am not really proud of the fact that Pip chased the light bean around the apartment fruitlessly for a very long time ... but it was funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0appyA9ZCQg


I also invited Janel and her crew over and was happy for the company! After 3 trips down to the mailbox, all the kids were thrilled to find Pip's Netflix had arrived. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs had arrived! Oh JOY! I think they watched it from start to finish!


Ok, well almost all of them watched it. Vivie decided about half way through to try on my boots ...


and try her hand at walking. She's a natural!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w04q_ZO_2iM
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Sunday, November 7, 2010

How to flood your kitchen

Get yourself good and tired. Realize you've been out and about all day and your kids haven't slept. Too late to nap them now. The whining has been increasing at a steady pace. You've got two hours til bedtime. Soon enough this idea starts to seem genius.

Set them up on a bench by the sink. Give them various cups, bowls, spoons, and the spare baster.

Retire to the sofa and watch some TV in peace.


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Acorn Avalanche

Pip and Vivie specifically requested a local playground to visit Sunday after seeing a few (fruitless) open houses. It was very cold and I wasn't sure we'd last very long. We tried the swings, the slides, a few games of hide and seek, and then we found the acorns.

What prolific oak trees!!! They were everywhere! At first you just saw a few poking out beneath the leaves and woodchips. But as soon as you bent to grab one, you noticed 10 more, then 20, and then your pockets were full. Before I could say suffering squirrel attack Pip was lugging his stash to the top of the twist slide and launching them down.

MANY, MANY, MANY times later, we got this video. Pip and I were up top with our loads while Vivie and Daddy waited below for the onslaught.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdMkroa1DFc

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Rite of Passage

I think it's written that every young boy worth his salt must sleep in a Star Wars bed for approximately 10 years. It nourishes their soul while they sleep. Pip was initiated into the brotherhood this weekend when his bog boy bed arrived. (We're waiting for the new house to buy the official bunk bed, but the mattress could wait no longer).

Here we are setting up the bed:



Then we went to Kohl's -- no Star Wars bedding. Boycott? Luckily Target delivered.


Ahhh -- happily nurturing dreams of light sabres and droids. Never slept better.
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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Chicken Soup

Vivie had a tough week, digestively speaking. She got sick Wednesday night out of nowhere and threw up (we're talking MASSIVELY) right before bed. There were several more episodes during the night, requiring back to back laundry loads and tasking our supply of clean linens. Needless to say, school Thursday was not an option.

She lost her breakfast, but afterwards held on strong for the rest of the day. Perhaps this chicken soup was responsible for her quick recovery. She and Daddy made it (after a bath) and she loved it!


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Tuesday, November 2, 2010