If you are patient ... which I am not nearly enough ... and you don't try to control everything ... which I do too much ... then you can really get to see some amazing things. I learn this from Phil, who is more patient than I. I hope I can change. Because I would have told them not to make this big mess. But in the end, I would have been wrong.
http://youtu.be/F6erZethUo4
I do wonder who is going to pick up all the books on the floor though.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Fun in the Yard
There is lots of fun to be had in the yard. Pip, Viv, and Bridget are fixtures out there. Making fairy houses, playing freeze tag, dragging toys all over the place. There can be lots of drama and fighting. But there can also be exploration and fun.
Here Pip and Viv are finding mushrooms:
http://youtu.be/QJiB1BiqZM4
And here Vivie is following an impressive leaf maze set up by Pip and Bridget:
http://youtu.be/HoSe3eMbO10
Here Pip and Viv are finding mushrooms:
http://youtu.be/QJiB1BiqZM4
And here Vivie is following an impressive leaf maze set up by Pip and Bridget:
http://youtu.be/HoSe3eMbO10
Thursday, September 22, 2011
She sits and starts to crawl!
Seemed like Meg was completely and totally not interested in sitting on her own. She was ok in the Bumbo, but not out of it. Here she is with gloves on her feet in the Bumbo!
Then one day she was up and wobbly. Then she was up and not so wobbly! You still can't leave her unassisted, but now this little one is getting to sturdy!
Her favorite activity, by far, is trying to crawl. If you put her down she immediately flips over to her tummy, pushes up on all fours, and rocks. And flops. And reaches. And talks! She is persistent!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Daredevil
I could not have predicted this. Vivie refused ALL, literally ALL rides last year. At dinner club week she turned a corner and was mighty brave. This trip to Canobie for the Raytheon picnic she was unstoppable. The little lady decided she would do ANY ride Phil would do, "because Daddy is so warm and I love him". (She also mentioned she loves him most of all. "Don't worry Mom, I like you. I mean, I like everyone. But I LOVE Daddy. He is so warm.")
She did the timber slide. A body slide about 3 stories up. All the 8 year olds were coming done bone dry. Phil figured it would be fun to do with Vivie on his lap. Did not factor in the weight. They were soaked to the bone. I mean to ... the .. bone. It was quite brisk! Vivie had a change of clothes, poor Phil did not. Still, Daddy was warm in her eyes.
Pip and Viv did so many rides this time. But the favorite was the bumper cars. Pip would drive, Vivie would direct him. "BUST HIM!" she'd yell and point this way and that!
I got to ride the hot air balloons with Viv.
And Meg enjoyed her first ever ride. It was the last ride of the night. The carousel!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Dominos!
I picked up some Dominos the other day. Figured maybe it would keep Pip and Viv busy. Kinda worked. We tried to create a full line of them ... suffered one full meltdown in the process. But here's our final result!
http://youtu.be/G_Q8oFYSD74
Even better, what Pip and Viv decided to do with them. I mean, you just can't get better than this.
http://youtu.be/G_Q8oFYSD74
Even better, what Pip and Viv decided to do with them. I mean, you just can't get better than this.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Die Man
I guess this is a bit morbid. But it stuck in my mind as such a sweet moment. Pip and Viv were drawing for a long time one day. They really are getting to where they feel much more confident with their skills and can keep at it for a while.
I was praising their work. I was so excited that Pip said ... "When you die, I will bring these to the die-man to take with you". If "I" do actually go "somewhere" I do hope I get to take the memories of my loves with me.
I was praising their work. I was so excited that Pip said ... "When you die, I will bring these to the die-man to take with you". If "I" do actually go "somewhere" I do hope I get to take the memories of my loves with me.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Mechanic
I can't believe it. But it hit me like a ton of bricks that a new era has shuffled in and an old one passed. Pip ALWAYS accompanied me to the machanic for our oil changes. First by himself. Then with Viv, then with Meg.
Now he's in kindergarten. It felt vert strange to be there without him.
Vivie took hold of the reins, though. She even wore her triceratops to make me laugh!
Now he's in kindergarten. It felt vert strange to be there without him.
Vivie took hold of the reins, though. She even wore her triceratops to make me laugh!
Meg was hanging out just next to her, sleeping away.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Car Talk
Pip loves his sister. Really and truly loves her. She's the only one who can make it better when he gets hurt sometimes or feels betrayed by me. He'll go over and hug her and release it all.
He loves that he cam make her smile. He gets incredibly sad when he can't. The only time I've ever taken one of my kids out of the car seat when we were still driving was a couple weeks ago when we were at a dead stand-still for a long time and Meg was full out crying. I could take Meg ... I could not take Pip crying because SHE was crying. He just didn't understand why we couldn't help her. So I grabbed her out and it was over.
Anyway, here's Pip talking to his love in the car about all the apples we were about to pick at the farm!
http://youtu.be/vQBNU7NJxoU
He loves that he cam make her smile. He gets incredibly sad when he can't. The only time I've ever taken one of my kids out of the car seat when we were still driving was a couple weeks ago when we were at a dead stand-still for a long time and Meg was full out crying. I could take Meg ... I could not take Pip crying because SHE was crying. He just didn't understand why we couldn't help her. So I grabbed her out and it was over.
Anyway, here's Pip talking to his love in the car about all the apples we were about to pick at the farm!
http://youtu.be/vQBNU7NJxoU
Jen, Matt, and Suzy visit!
An incredible visit with Suzy this weekend. I can not get over how fabulous that girl is! She smiles all day long, does amazing feats to physical skill, and sleeps like a champ! Perfection. Jen and Matt are so attuned to her, it really is wonderful to watch. Even a seasoned vet like myself picked up a few pointers here and there!
Meg and I had to work Friday so everybody else got to pack up a lunch and head to the lake for a picnic. Here's Vivie and Auny Jenny making the guac!
http://youtu.be/VqFQZJjMC9E
And relaxing by the lake:
Meg and I had to work Friday so everybody else got to pack up a lunch and head to the lake for a picnic. Here's Vivie and Auny Jenny making the guac!
http://youtu.be/VqFQZJjMC9E
And relaxing by the lake:
On Saturday we headed to Smolak farms to pick apples. It was a beautiful day and there were lots of huge apples. Unfortunately, we fell prey to some mealy ones. Next time we'll stick with the tart varieties.
Meg actually was happy for a while in the Ergo ... this picture maybe doesn't do her justice!
The apples have a definite size advantage over Suzy!
Duck races!
On Sunday we went to the Reading Street Faire. But rewinding a bit ... I woke up a bit hungover from a visit to the Devlin's the night before. I put it behind me and ran a 5k race with the Hoffenbergs because I said I would. It was hot. I hadn't really eaten. I did ok (30 minutes) and then went back to shower before heading to the Faire. By the time we got there I was very hungry. And kinda tired. It was loud. It was crowded. I couldn't get food because Meg was having lots of fits. It was not really fun for me by then!
But Pip, Viv, and Ella did not mind. Here they are dancing to the live music:
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Placard System
So there is no bus in Reading. Have to drop Pip off myself. The upside is I get to see my love a bit longer each day. I get to drop him off and know he is there safely. I get to see some of his friends and talk with moms.
The downside ... the placard system. In its defense, it is a necessity. There are not nearly enough parking spaces at the school. Kids would literally be run over and parents would inevitably spiral into fits of rage without it. But MAN is it slow! Takes a half hour to get Pip. Either I get there a half hour early and grab him first, or 15 minutes early and wait 15 minutes, or a half hour late and get him last when he's nice and dejected.
Megan is also not a fan. Infants don't like to be stuck in the car seat when the car is not moving.
Here we are waiting one day:
http://youtu.be/7ipe4UPvWhA
Solution .. park the car nearby the school and walk. Works like a charm. We'll see what we do when winter kicks in.
The downside ... the placard system. In its defense, it is a necessity. There are not nearly enough parking spaces at the school. Kids would literally be run over and parents would inevitably spiral into fits of rage without it. But MAN is it slow! Takes a half hour to get Pip. Either I get there a half hour early and grab him first, or 15 minutes early and wait 15 minutes, or a half hour late and get him last when he's nice and dejected.
Megan is also not a fan. Infants don't like to be stuck in the car seat when the car is not moving.
Here we are waiting one day:
http://youtu.be/7ipe4UPvWhA
Solution .. park the car nearby the school and walk. Works like a charm. We'll see what we do when winter kicks in.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Meg cries it out, and the Breakheart Reservation
Needless to say, feeding Meg did not make a difference at all in her sleep. Up all night.
So time to get serious. We let little Meg cry it out last night. I tried not to time it, but I think it was about an hour and a half. I gave her Tylenol to be sure she would not be in teeth pain. Then the crying began. I went in about 3 times in the hour and a half to reassure her I was there. Finally she gave up. I didn't even swaddle her because now she can flip over with one arm out of the swaddle and I didn't want her not to have both arms to life her head. So it was a big change. She woke a couple of hours in to the night and cried about 5 minutes but I didn't have to go to her. Finally woke at 5:30, ate like a champ, and fell asleep again til 7:30.
The next day we decided to take advantage of Labor Day but not to get too crazy. Hit Breakheart. With Pip and Viv's bikes. It was very rough starting. Lots of hills and neither P or V were having it. Plus we turned the wrong way and were about a half mile into the loop when we realized the beach was the other way. I wasn't sure we'd make it. But then we just sort of rallied. Vivie swapped to Phil, I swapped to Pip and some how it worked.
I got Pip to learn how to ride the brakes down the big hills so he could actually enjoy that part ... so soon he was willing to push on up the hard parts to get to race down the hills. Here he is in action (and me behind with Meg in the stroller!)
http://youtu.be/QXq4e14jKqc
Finally we found the beach (well, pond beach!)!
So time to get serious. We let little Meg cry it out last night. I tried not to time it, but I think it was about an hour and a half. I gave her Tylenol to be sure she would not be in teeth pain. Then the crying began. I went in about 3 times in the hour and a half to reassure her I was there. Finally she gave up. I didn't even swaddle her because now she can flip over with one arm out of the swaddle and I didn't want her not to have both arms to life her head. So it was a big change. She woke a couple of hours in to the night and cried about 5 minutes but I didn't have to go to her. Finally woke at 5:30, ate like a champ, and fell asleep again til 7:30.
The next day we decided to take advantage of Labor Day but not to get too crazy. Hit Breakheart. With Pip and Viv's bikes. It was very rough starting. Lots of hills and neither P or V were having it. Plus we turned the wrong way and were about a half mile into the loop when we realized the beach was the other way. I wasn't sure we'd make it. But then we just sort of rallied. Vivie swapped to Phil, I swapped to Pip and some how it worked.
I got Pip to learn how to ride the brakes down the big hills so he could actually enjoy that part ... so soon he was willing to push on up the hard parts to get to race down the hills. Here he is in action (and me behind with Meg in the stroller!)
http://youtu.be/QXq4e14jKqc
Finally we found the beach (well, pond beach!)!
Meg was all smiles in the stroller.
And there was an ice cream truck!
Afterwards we hit the Border Cafe for lunch/dinner. We sat in a noisy corner by the speakers so as not to disturb everyone. Got to video the cowgirl dance. Vivie coined it, and they both love it!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Meg's first food
So the truth is ever since mid-August Meg's nighttime sleep has been deteriorating. Started off gradually, waking a bit here and there. Then we went camping and that was rough. After that we just haven't been able to get back to normal, which was sleeping 11 hours at night no waking at all.
I've tried everything ... tylenol, motrin, feed her, let her cry, swaddle her, unswaddle her, send Phil to her instead of me. Nothing was working. Now she's up nearly every 1-2 hours and has a hard time going down to begin with. UGH!
After lamenting this for a while I decided to try rice cereal. It was a beautiful night on the deck, if you don't count the mosquitos, that are driving all of us nuts. Pip and I even made this roaring fire while Phil and Viv ran to home depot to look for tiki torches (no luck, out of season??)
Anyway, she kinda liked it!
http://youtu.be/0yJIzIc2_w8
I've tried everything ... tylenol, motrin, feed her, let her cry, swaddle her, unswaddle her, send Phil to her instead of me. Nothing was working. Now she's up nearly every 1-2 hours and has a hard time going down to begin with. UGH!
After lamenting this for a while I decided to try rice cereal. It was a beautiful night on the deck, if you don't count the mosquitos, that are driving all of us nuts. Pip and I even made this roaring fire while Phil and Viv ran to home depot to look for tiki torches (no luck, out of season??)
Anyway, she kinda liked it!
http://youtu.be/0yJIzIc2_w8
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Angry Birds
Joined the PTO. Figured it was a good way to meet people. Asked to help out at the Harvest Fair. Before I knew it I was the co-chair. This is a disaster. It's apparently a huge deal. I'm out of my mind doing stuff every day at the present.
Even have Phil executing on my game idea. Angry Birds ... life-size. Check out the "slingshot" he's working on!
http://youtu.be/hnrAEM9cTkU
Even have Phil executing on my game idea. Angry Birds ... life-size. Check out the "slingshot" he's working on!
http://youtu.be/hnrAEM9cTkU
Matthew's birthday party
Pip, Viv, and I went to Matthew's birthday party this weekend. He's a friend from the Y who Pip still loves. I think all those kids will be part of his subconscious, maybe conscious, memory forever. Thought these were cute pics!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Bubble Gum Ice Cream!
Vivie is a pretty solid gum-chewer at only 3 years old. If she discovers a pack somewhere, she'll devour it in no time, chomping away like a valley girl.
So we stopped for ice cream after school one day and she decided to try Bubble Gum Ice cream! It has a fabulous tastse, but there's no escaping that those bits of gum are gross.
Green Eggs and Ham
Vivie picked this book at the library last week. I overheard Phil reading it to them one night and after about 10 minutes I started up the stairs, confused as to why Phil was heatedly berating them for the longest time. Turns out he was just nararrating with gusto and the poor guy was just getting more and more frustrated with Sam I Am.
I guess it inspired Phil. This is what he made for breakfast the next morning:
Pip was not amused. Check out the resemblance!
Vivie was very adventurous, and decided that she does like Green Eggs and Ham!
Here's Pip's full fit in video form. Nasty yell he has right at the outset.
http://youtu.be/FrAQM3mxbiQ
I guess it inspired Phil. This is what he made for breakfast the next morning:
Pip was not amused. Check out the resemblance!
Vivie was very adventurous, and decided that she does like Green Eggs and Ham!
Here's Pip's full fit in video form. Nasty yell he has right at the outset.
http://youtu.be/FrAQM3mxbiQ
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