Harvard Natural History Museum

I noticed tickets were available from our library for the Harvard natural History Museum, so Katie and I ventured to check it out with the kids. There's actually quite a lot of stuff there. Pip was a bit turned off by the smell of the place and the fact that all the animals were dead (except for one pretty cool bright blue poison frog). There weren't that many people there so we had the run of the place and were able to let them explore without too mcuh guilt for their running tendencies. I think we only stayed inside about an hour before boredom set in, but here are a few pics. Pip and Vivian doing a poor job sharing Chase:

 

Vivian & Pip showing off their angry faces:

Pip's blowfish imitation. You really can't tell where the blowfish ends and Pip starts!

We spied these squares in the courtyard from inside and Pip was very excited to climb them.

Lunch on the deck!

Phil got all our outdoor stuff form Brillo's and set it up this weekend so with the warm sun shining down on us, we decided to have lunch outside for the first time this season!  What a great day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKdnz-k6TTs

Me and Megalou are hanging out ... no changes.  Due tomorrow and no contractions to speak of!  This could be a while!!

Bizarre

What a strange afternoon! Pip donned his Iron Man pj's given to him by Nick, his leopard jacket (somehow it's become his) and his newly found stick gun -- and took aim at me! Honestly, if this doesn't deserve some sort of Avant Guard photo award, I don't know what does.



 

 Meanwhile, Vivian was working on her angry faces. She's actually happy as a clam, but giving me the serious business to see if she's scary. I think so!

 

Hokey Pokey

Vivian came home from her last week at school all about the Hokey Pokey.  She reeled Pip into it and soon they were dancing fools.  They best part is always the very end when you get to put your WHOLE SELF in.  But listening to them try to remember if they are doing hands or feet, left or right, is pretty funny as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19xGm5GaIvo

Tackle Football

Pip and Phil went out back to play in the new yard ... a nice day, especially for very rough tackle football! Apparently Pip was laughing hysterically every time Phil prevented him from grabbing the ball ... told him to stop making him laugh so hard because it was hurting it brain!   

Fireplace S'Mores

Fireplace dinner! Phil and Pip stoked up the fire after work this Friday and roasted hot dogs for dinner. Then we made S'Mores for dessert. We definitely needed longer sticks (skewers did not cut it) but with some gloves I was able to basically get the job done.

Vivie's first haircut!!

Well, first official one NOT given by Pip. The whole crew of us went before my appointment and Dana gave her a quick trim all the way around and fixed her bangs. She was VERY brave and didn't even hesitate. She had to stand on the chair and hold my hands -- keping steady throughout!

 Getting her model stare down!

Cutes!

Earlier in the day we were at Janel's for group. I think the highlight was when we were staging to leave and all the kids literally RAN outside for some fresh air. It was nothing close to warm, but it wasn't cold either and everyone is tired of being cooped up. So we hung out for a bit while the kids ran this way and that. Vivie had fun counting down to her blast off and tried to rally the other kids to race with her. Pretty successful overall. Note at the end of this video ... Pip is very naughty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6dlkH1Hj7k

Planting seeds

We got the Spring Green Thumb itch and went out this weekend to buy seeds, potting soil, and little planters. We decided to hold out a few days and wait for Grandma to arrive and plant with her. Good idea ... she was very excited to help us! Pip and Vivie selected watermelons, sunflowers, pumpkins, cucumbers, snap peas, red flowers, beefsteak tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes. We took advantage of our new sun room to plant the seeds and we're staging them in there so hopefully it's warm enough for them to sprout before we re-plant them outside.


 
 
 

  

Squats and barretts

Meanwhile, back inside Vivie was sporting some serious barretts. Pip actually put them all in for her!


Later it was time for P90X ... this is Vivie's favorite one, with all the squats. She excels at squats and likes to join Daddy in support.


Pip wonders why no one is outside with him...

Bricks and a hammer

Pip found some bricks left over from where the shed used to be in the back yard. In no time the little builder was hard at work.



Here's Pip-Hendge:


And the bench he made!!!

Sea Creatures Attack!

What a frightening morning! We awoke to find the house under attack by a variety of sea creatures. Luckily Pip and Vivie were very brave and rustled them all out of their hiding places and into safe baskets.





Thanks Tasha for the inspiration! I have been feeling quite tired lately with this pregnancy coming to and end and the more I find myself not taking the initiative for these kinds of things, the less they happen and the less fun we all have over-all. She was telling me about a Leprechaun hunt she organized for Aislinn and her cousins and I figured it was about time I got myself moving. Started off a great day for us. After herding creatures, we played Uno Moo, did the Highlights magazine that came -- including a bear craft activity, and visited Ipswich River Park. That turned out to be an awesome place just down the road that I am sure we will visit again many times. Pip and Viv rode their bikes, climbed the climbers, swung on the swings, and played in the little sand box. Pip also honed his goalie skills against Daddy one-on-one soccer style.

St Patty's Group

Nearly St Patty's day and although we couldn't get all the kids to sit still for a photo, we were all together.  Including our newest member, Julia!  Jess looks great and Ella is already a fabulous big sister!

Here, Viv gets some points on life as a big sister from Ella.


Julia and Jess snuggle up.


Lucky Pip stops chasing everyone with swords for a moment to read a book.  Didn't think that would ever happen.

Write me a love note

Today we had two of Pip's friend's from his old school over for a play date.  It was very nice to see them and they had a blast.  There was one moment in the day, though, that cracked me up (at least once it was over and resolved). 

Vivie and I were painting in the playroom (an activity long before abandoned by Pip, Morgan, and Adam) when Morgan and Adam came running in reporting that Pip was growling and scaring them.  I brushed it off at first figuring they'd resolve it on their own, but a few minutes later they were back with the same complaint.  So I went to investigate.  Sure enough, Pip was up in the loft growling in the corner.  He said he was playing Smaug the dragon and was quite upset that they wouldn't play it with him.  I explained they didn't like this game and he rolled over onto his back with full grump face on. 

As he spiraled downward he said he was hurt that they didn't like his game and that he thought they didn't like him anymore either.  I reassured him that this was not true, they just didn't like the game.  But his heels were dug in and he refused to give up Smaug.  Not sure what else to do (but knowing from experience that coercion only makes matters worse), I told him he'd have to pull himself together and come back down when he was ready to play nice.

Then I went down and apologized to Morgan and Adam and suggested they play on their own until he returned.  After a couple more minutes I heard Pip calling out again.  I went into the room and asked what he needed "NOT YOU MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!"  About face.  Calling continued, but this time I could make out that he was calling for Morgan and Adam.  They took a turn going to see what he needed.  Gracious little ones.  To my amusement, they came back to me reporting that Pip said if they sent him a love note he would come down and play nice.  The love note had to have two hearts and say "PIP". 

So Adam and Morgan, amused by this, got to work on two love notes.  Morgan's had two hearts and said "PIP"; Adam "ADAM L" and "PIP" were good enough.  They were hand delivered.  Pip was very happy.  He descended from his pity party and came down all smiles, hugging it out with Adam and Morgan and playing the rest of the day happy as clams.

There is something very deep in this little story about wanting control and not getting it and being able to express how this makes one feel profoundly disconnected and alone.  Maybe I read too far ... but I was impressed that he was able to express himself and ask for a little love from his friends.  And I was relieved that Adam and Morgan were willing to give him the assurance he needed.  Here are their notes:

Onto more surface matters ... it was also a beautiful day today and Pip and Viv spent lots of time outside.  We went for a family walk/run/trike adventure down the new neighborhood.  Daddy ran with Pip and Viv (alternating) in the jogging stroller.  I walked with each in turn and Vivie rode her trike a bit.  They ended it by giving Phil rock tickets for rides on the Stroller Coaster.  An awesome ride involving a sprint (Phil running, pushing the stroller) up the top of our little hill and then a full speed ahead dash back down to a crash landing in the slowly melting snow pile at the end of our driveway.

It still hasn't gotten old

Well we've been here about two months and tub-jumping has not gotten stale yet. They have found ways to improve it, though, like this 80's version with the radio blaring as loud as possible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmIucJlyi5c



Note Vivie's complete lack of desire to join in the jumping. She's the dj in the background and perfectly happy, thank you very much!

Viv-ceratops

Check out Vivie's tri-horns!! She let me put them in after we got her pj's on and she rocked them!




Meanwhile, Daddy was doing a great job reading Go Dog Do!