first day of school

sniff sniff

adventures in television

I’ve tried in vain – I don’t know what I was thinking – to explain the difference between live and recorded TV to Katie.

“Honey can you fast forward real life?”

“No.”

“That’s kind of like real television, you can’t fast forward it.”

“But you can freeze live television?” asks Katie cautiously.

“Umm, yes.”

And, yet again I’m backed into a corner trying to explain something to her.

I know I shouldn't even be having this conversation with her. It’s a lot to ask a three-year old to wrap her head around. But, it feels like at least every other day I get…

“Mama,” while watching a recorded Dora show which is showing a ‘what’s next’ advertisement, “Diego is going to be on next, can I watch it?”

The other day she was watching Arthur on live TV – because, as she explained her friend Jake likes the show. We paused it to go the bathroom. Ten minutes later (long bathroom trip) we get back and she insists on pressing the button herself.

She presses “last” instead of “play,” and the TV switches to the channel it was on – before Arthur -- which was of course, ESPN.

She was livid. And even more so after I told her we couldn't go back to the same place in Arthur anymore because we were watching live television.

I suppose in the end when it comes to technology savvy she will most certainly usurp me as each previous generation has done with their parents. In the end she most likely sigh patronizingly at me and show me how to use my new phone, television, beaming device, etc.

some cheese to go with that whine?

Actual words coming out of her mouth...

"My life is not easy."

"My life is so hard."

"I do lots and lots of stuff."

I told her to stop crying and she continued with:

"My body don’t want to stop crying."

and, finally...

"I need daddy."

lovies

Sounding a bit like a British-ism foreign to us Americans, I had no idea what a "lovie" was before I had kids.

Now, both my children have one.

Katie's lovie is White Bear. I asked her once if she wanted to give him a name like Steve or Mike.

"What do you want to name him honey?"

She looked at me blankly, "White Bear."

Maddie has two lovies: her little Curious George blanket and her thumb. They essentially go hand-in-hand. As soon as she grasps the blanket the thumb almost automatically enters her mouth no matter where she is or what time of day it is.

I try really hard not to let the love for the lovies go too far but they find so much comfort in them.

"Mama," Katie said the other day, "I want to keep White Bear for ever and ever because I love him so much."

Enough said.

me & maddie

Today Papa and Katie went to the air show.

I was going to run errands with Maddie, but decided last minute to stay home and do something with her.

I'm really glad I did. I don't get a lot of time alone with Maddie.

Today we painted for the first time -- and she loved it.

After, we cleaned brushes and had fun in the water.

Then we just played and had lunch in the backyard in the buff (well, I was dressed.)

She's getting one top tooth right now making for a funny little smile which I'm loving.

I think her art project turned out pretty good. She's got a blank wall that I haven't figured out what to do with. This little piece might just be the inspiration I needed to get it done.

cowboy cookies a la katie

oatmeal chocolate chip and raisin cookies

with icing and sprinkles (of course)

happy friday!

their own little giving trees

When Katie turned one my cousin Jennifer gave us money and instructed us to buy Katie a fruit tree.

Yesterday -- two and a half years later -- we finally got a dwarf apple tree (there was much discussion and contemplation between this and a peach tree).

Our friends the Fongs gave Maddie a dwarf tangelo tree for her first birthday so now both the girls have trees.

Hopefully there will be lots of sweet fruity goodness from these trees over the years!

our little shirley temple

This weekend Katie did her first tap show on the "real" stage at the fair.

She kept telling us how "eccited" (read: excited) she was.

I love that she has fun, I just like seeing her smile.

Ages ago we took dance lessons with some friends right before getting married. Our friend Teddy would do these exaggerated arm movements when he did the cha-cha.

"You've got to sell it," he'd tell us.

Katie clearly believes in the same theory of "selling it" with the arms.

long week

• Katie got up twice this week before 6:00 a.m.
• I managed to cut my thumb zipping -- yes, zipping -- up my jeans
• Maddie had her blood drawn
• I'm missing skin and my nail polish on one of toes because I got jumped on by Katie's lead foot that happened to also have a tap shoe on it
• I keep cleaning but the house still looks like a meth lab

fair rides - take two

We went back for more today, this time with pals Dylann and Mantha.

There was a lot -- and, I mean a lot of squealing this time around. The girls were old pros at this point and nothing scared them.

We were walking through the botanical section and Katie stops in her tracks and proclaims, "Oh no!"

I asked what was wrong. She points and says, "Smoke Mama."

We explained that it wasn't real. Katie remained somewhat skeptical.

Katie was very upset that she did not meet the 44 inch requirement to go on the swing ride.

She sat there and pouted watching it for some time.

"But I really want to go on it right now Mama!"

$12 sunk on games yielded us a pink panther prize which Katie was more than pleased about.

One more day of the fair this weekend when Katie has her tap show there. She is very excited about doing a show on a "real" stage again.

girls on slides

will's wedding

Will's marriage to his beautiful bride Michelle represents just about the last of Song's college buddies to get married.

Song and Greg were in the wedding, Teddy married the couple. It was an event -- as it always is when the boys get together. It's like they're 21 all over again.

Even though we see them maybe once a year, they are like brothers to me and it is always good to see everyone.

Gregory and Ted are shooting for a parents-only trip to Fiji in...(can't seem to remember the year).

We'll have to see.

isn't 5:00 supposed to be cocktail hour?

As of late Katie and I tend to get in what I call our "Five o'clock Fight."

It usually lasts the 45 minutes before Papa comes home and is smack-dab in the middle of my pick up the house, make dinner timeframe.

Lately even Maddie has been fussy.

Everyone loves the beach in our household and I've found if we make it there in the afternoon, the dukes don't seem to go up when the bell dings at five.

It takes some pre-afternoon planning to make sure we have something for dinner and I have to throw the sand monsters in the bath when we get home before we eat -- but it's worth it.

Because love is better than war...

Good times for all

Wednesday was a busy day. We had a really fun day at the fair. You can read our story here.

Here are some highlights.

We met up with Laura and Parker for a couple of rides.

This is my favorite picture of the day.

She had been on rides like this before, but this one was definitely bigger.

The first drop her eyes bugged out so big, I wasn't sure if she was going to be okay. Then the smile emerged.

We were laughing so hard. Song asked me if I brought extra underwear for her "because there may be a little pee pee in those."

Maddie stared and stared at the ponies.

We got two tickets for the price of one because a lady sold us hers as she was leaving the fair.

This is the only picture I got of Maddie on the pony before she burst into tears and we had to take her off.



Then, later that same evening Miyo and I went to the No Doubt concert.

We were in the pit which was a little intimidating being 5'2". I hadn't been in a pit at a concert since well, I don't even want to count the number of years because it will just be depressing.

It was a great concert and super fun. We were so close -- smashed, but close. And, I can report that Gwen Stefani is flawless from head to toe (if you were wondering).

Maddie's birthday bash

This weekend Madeleine decided that she was permanently a walker.

There is very little if any crawling anymore.

This was perfect because mama bought her a full dress with tulle underneath for the party that looked great with her standing up.

(Cute hair clip by Dana over at Made).

We had a Wall-'o-Maddie because mama had a tough time narrowing down pictures.

As with many families have learned, the day was almost as much for Kaitlyn as it was for Madeleine with crafts and games for the older kids.

For Kaitlyn's birthday we hung balloons. When we pulled them down the kids had a blast. So, this time we just left them on the floor to begin with.


pretty tame at first...
...until she started splashing frosting everywhere. All the big kids started laughing which was all the encouragement she needed to continue.


Saying goodbye to guests out front...

Happy first birthday Maddie Mo.