Christmas!

Smarty Pants

The scenario: Bronwen is doing her business on the potty. For a long time. A very, long time.

Conversation is as follows:
Jen: Bronwen are you finished?
B: Not yet.
Jen: You HAVE to be finished. You've been in here a LONG time!
B: Okay, I am ready.
Jen: You've been in here so long, you're now seven! You've missed 2 birthdays while you were sitting here.
B: Actually, that would be 3 birthdays.

Lila Speak

So cute--I don't want to forget!

Diego (as in the show)--Day-gee-o
Hula Hoop--Hooda Loop
Adam--Al-um

Phrases:
Will you cuddle wif me?
Can I play Angree burds?
Can we watch a cho?

Ariel

While discussing the movie The Little Mermaid:

Bronwen: But Mom, she isn't little, she is SIXTEEN.
Me: This is true, Bronwen, she is sixteen.
Bronwen: They should rename it "The Big Mermaid."

Happy Birthday Adam!

It's hard to believe that one year ago, this little guy joined our family. From the moment he entered the world, he was full of sweet smile and gentle sweetness. As he has grown, oh so quickly, he has continued to fill our lives with laughter and surprises. Sweet Adam I can't imagine our family without you! Thank you so much for your silliness, wet kisses, quiet intelligence, and all the joy you bring to each and every day! Every one comments on how large and heavy you are, but it is because you are full to the brim with love, kindness, and laughter.

Lila 12/6

For the past week, Lila has been really interested in writing her name. She has known for a while now how to recognize it (at least since the end of last year), and with Bronwen learning how to spell and write her own name, Lila has learned the letters in Bronwen's as well as her own.

A couple days ago I was helping her write the letters. She is doing great: the bottom right has the first time she wrote it herself (I helped a tiny bit with the "a". Then right above it is where she wrote it completely on her own. The letters after are her practicing her "L"s.

Part 2

TJ took the girls to New Orleans to the Insectarium. They met up with their cousins and had a great time, so I am told. TJ took an awesome picture in the butterfly room, but not of the girls.
All the cousins! (minus Adam and the NC girls)


After the Insectarium and lunch, TJ took the girls to Story Book Land where it was rumored that one of their favorite characters was hanging out.

He wasn't in the Alice in Wonderland castle.
Nor was he in Cinderella's carriage.
They couldn't even find him on Captain Hook's pirate ship.
Right when they had all but given up hope...
They found Epossumundus and his Mama!!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Louisiana Visit Pt 1

After enduring a 12-hour car drive down to Baton Rouge, we were all ready to enjoy the tastes and treats Louisiana has to offer. Luckily, the Beignet place is right down the road from TJ's parents' house! The girls were totally focused of cleaning up the powdered sugar, while Adam was a sport about posing.We also got to swing by the old neighborhood, where we visited with our former neighbor Donalyn and fed her fish.

Nature walk

My friend Jess came for a visit with her sweet Madeleine. While Adam was napping, she and TJ took the girls for a walk in the woods.
And the unexpected request:"Take a Picture of my bottom!" Oh, she thinks she is soooo funny.

Watch Out!

Look who is coming up the stairs!

Worth the Risk?

Bronwen: Lila, I wear panties to bed every night.

Lila: Yeah, I wear a diaper and then panties when I wake up.

Bronwen: Lila, why don't you wear panties all the time?

Lila: Well, I just don't do that.

Bronwen: But Lila, you're risking your life.

Nature Walk

The weather has been gorgeous here, and TJ decided to take the girls on a nature walk in some woods down the street. I had to help Lila use the bathroom before hand, so TJ took the opportunity to snap some shots of Bronwen's stylish ensemble.

And they were off!
Almost. (looking at snails)
Bronwen got a little silly with her hat--she has my family's large noggin.
Posing in the fall light.
And then, of course, there is Lila:
Two silly girls!!

Bronwen's Picture

Not sure what it is, but I think it is super-awesome.

October 8

Uncle Johnny was visiting from Louisiana, so TJ and he took the girls to Stowe park for the local fall festival. I stayed home while Adam took his nap. It looks like they had a great time, and Uncle Johnny even found a neglected kid who just happened to be named John Jr. After they returned from the park they went to our next-door neighbor's house for a birthday party. The final activity involved paint and pumpkins.

There was still some time to get a few pictures of Uncle Johnny with Adam, and then more of the boys together.

Skipped Naptime (Oct 9)

Due to circumstances beyond my control and TJ's international traveling, the kids skipped naptime. I put the girls to bed really early, right around 7:40, and within 5 minutes, this is what I found.

Pumpkin Patch

Once again we headed over to Hodge farm for our annual pumpkin patch visit. We went early in the year--Oct 1st, but it was a lovely cool day and really got everyone in the spirit of the season.

The first order of business was getting the elusive shot of my kiddos and me.Then it was off to the corn maze!

Lila knew her way, no problem. Bronwen and I found some deer tracks that we followed.The next important task, procuring the largest wagon they had (we got it!).Even Daddy could fit in it! Thankfully we had the strong-man capabilities of our Lila to pull them along.
Next stop--visit the residents.
Then it was time to look for pumpkins! We found all kinds.

Last order of business, the hayride!

Lila and Bronwen

In the last two weeks, Lila has figured out how to go #2 in the potty. It is a bit of an exercise in patience, as she insists on privacy, but she also wants to show you every time she plops something into the potty. The adult's role, therefore, is to get the hell out whenever she says, and then run in and give proper accolades when she calls.

I think I have finally convinced Bronwen that a monster lives in her nostril and will bite her finger off when she picks her nose. Okay, so I haven't convinced her at all, since she knows when I am pulling her leg. Still, I am hoping there is enough doubt to make her hesitate just a little...
She also has a bad habit of chewing on her hair. She doesn't eat it, but she gets her spit all in it which is kind of gross. She asked me this morning if there was a monster in her hair that was going to get her for chewing on it, and I told her yep. I should write a book of parenting techniques.

Time Out

Lila spilled a very interesting secret to me tonight. A little background, if you will:

TJ had a little difficulty with Lila tonight; I heard her wailing and crying as he put her in Time Out for not listening to him. It was loud and outraged crying, resonating throughout the house in waves of tears and vociferous protest.

When I went to kiss her goodnight, I crawled into bed with her, and the following transpired:

M: Lila, did you have trouble listening to Daddy?

L: Nooooo

M: Are you sure?

L: Yes.

M: Did you to go time out for not listening?

L: Yes.

M: Do you like time out?

L: Yes

M: Yes!? Are you sure?

L: Yes. I like to cry like a baby!!

Lila's Logic

Lila's new favorite saying is, and I am going to write it in Lila-ese just so I can remember how dang cute it is:

"I hugwree, Mama, I hugwree!"

Today she was up from her nap before Bronwen, so with her cute little face, sunny smile, and batting eyelashes, she told me that she was hungry. Then she asked for some goldfish. I could tell TJ wanted her to have something more substantial/healthy, and he suggested a banana. Lila wanted none of it, and looked back at me with her ginormous eyes and cute face and asked again for goldfish. Naturally, I caved (I do, afterall, get the whole grain goldfish).

This part I missed, but it was recounted to me at dinner. Lila ate her goldfish and asked for more.

TJ: How about some milk?

Lila: Milk is a drink. I want food.

Game Part 2:

Our Game...

Part One: The girls get it on the action!

Silliness

Some post-bath time shenanigans:

Post in Pictures