Thank You, Oosje!

Our girl likes twirly, pretty princess things. She won't wear pajamas, only nightgowns, preferably one with sparkles, ruffles, and at least one princess. But, Getting out of a warm bed and having breakfast in a cold kitchen in the morning is unpleasant. So, we put in a request to Oosje, who has made robes with special messages for the whole family. Moolah requested pink. It arrived last week. To say she loves it is a giant understatement. She sleeps with it at night so that she can be sure to put it on first thing in the morning. I think it will also teach her to tie since she enjoys taking it off & putting it back on.

Some special cuddle time with Daddy....

On being Ace

Ace likes to climb inside the stool...

After we went to the park on Sunday, he was eating hungrily. Daddy and I were talking in the living room. Suddenly it was quiet...


He has also learned to climb up to Mama & Daddy's bed (I thought this one would take longer).

He can open the refrigerator and usually closes it. He likes to keep a drink in there and go get it, drink some, and return it. He can also get the bottle of juice out for a refill when his cup is empty.

Gallery Opening: The Fruit Tree Collection

Moolah brought home several paintings from school. I opened the first one and said "Oh, Moolah, what is it?"

"An apple tree. They are all fruit trees."

She distributed them.

This is the one I chose. It is a pear tree.


This one Ace chose. We hung it on the back of his door. He checks on it first thing every morning. It is an apple tree. Daddy also got an apple tree, but he took it to his office before I got a picture of it.


This one she wanted to hang in the corner between her room & Ace's room so they could share it. It is also a pear tree.

Overheard during parenting

Daddy to Moolah: "Good morning, Beautiful"

Moolah to Daddy: "Good morning. Where's Handsome?"

Early this year...

Today Moolah had her well-child check-up in the afternoon. I picked her up from school at noon instead of daytime Mama. It was a beautiful, clear, warm day. We had a picnic and played with some school friends at the park across the street. I saw the first red-breasted Robin of the year, and it felt like Spring had arrived. Usually the first RBR shows up about the first week of March, but after all the snow we had this year, I think we deserve an early arrival (although Fred says that RBRs are not really good indicators of Spring because they tend to arrive early... still... it's how I tell).

Our trip to the park included the most kids I've ever seen on one tire swing.

The girl next to Moolah is Victoria, one of her best school buddies.

The check-up went well. She's 39 inches and 33 pounds, which makes her eligible for the "pink big girl carseat" she's been asking for. Dr. Sheri says she's perfect, then again, we knew that.

Thursday night fun, round 2

Tonight was parent-child open house at Moolah's new school. She got to show us around and give us some lessons. We saw lots of things, including metal insets. She chose to invite Ace, who liked almost everything he saw, especially the bells.



Then we got to go to dinner at Moolah's new favorite place, and after mac & cheese, she got a pink heart cookie and he got a sundae. I also learned that he really likes olives (Moolah still isn't a fan).

The best part of the evening, though, was on our way to the open house. We were all in the car talking about school. I mentioned that it would be our turn to bring ingredients for snack soon. Moolah said

"Yeah, that's a food drive."

"What's a food drive, Moolah."

"Silly... that's when you put food in your car and drive it to school."

Thursday night fun, part 1

The first story is from last Thursday.

As we drove home past Albertsons, Moolah said that we should go to the store. Having no reason to go to the store during rush hour with two children in tow, I declined.

"We don't need anything at the store, Moolah."

"But we could get cookies."

So, instead we came home and made cookies. She got to choose between peanut butter and oatmeal. I was surprised that she chose peanut butter. She got to do some stirring, measuring, and the fork squishing, along with licking the spoons.

Daddy got to come home to the smell of fresh baked cookies.

Everyone had to finish dinner to have the cookies.

It was a nice evening.

The best of days, the worst of days

The long-awaited playdate with Zoey & Dima at OMSI was this morning. There was much running, shrieking, hugging, and a little bit of science. There was macaroni and cheese with popsicles afterward. From the time we woke up until about 3 pm, it was Moolah's perfect day.

Then the wheels came off.

We got home when Ace was napping. Moolah woke him up. Mama asked for a brief nap. Moolah came and woke me up, despite Daddy's instructions not to, then told me that Daddy told her to wake me, then told Daddy that I woke up by myself. We tried to give her an opportunity to succeed and put it right by cleaning her room (with plenty of assistance). Her performance was mediocre at best. She asked for a snack, then asked for a bath.

"Great idea, Moolah!"

She and Ace got in the bath. Mama sorted some laundry and did a few other things. I was downstairs in the under house when water started pouring through the ceiling, then it started coming out the light fixtures. I ran upstairs shouting at Daddy that we had a problem.

The problem? Moolah and Ace had dumped enough water out of the tub for to create a puddle about 2 inches deep, which was running down the heater vent and through whatever small fissures there are in the bathroom floor. She laughed "see what we did." She knows the rule is "water stays in the bathtub."

For now, I can say for sure this is the most trouble she's been in in her whole life. All her DVDs and her three favorite friends (Pink Baby, Tulip, and Meow) are are in custody of Daddy. She went to bed with no story, no song, no happy thoughts... just a kiss from both parents and a reminder that although we are very angry, we love her very much.

Daddy and I are wiped out. Discipline is hard.

Who are the birds in your neighborhood?

Moolah and I saw a turkey wandering the street on our way to school this morning. It stood quite calmly while we admired it.

Speaking of neoghborhood birds, Fred is taking us on the 'Raptor Roadtrip' tomorrow to with the local Audubon Society! We are very excited. Watch for a photojournal from Daddy.

An interview with Moolah

Moolah was up for "grown up time". She wanted to have a grown-up conversation.

Moolah, what is your favorite color? Pink

What is your favorite thing to wear? Twirly skirts

What is your favorite thing to eat? Oatmeal

Where is your favorite place? Home

What is your favorite room at home? My room

What is your favorite part of your room? Toys

What is your favorite toy? Dolls

What is your favorite doll? Pink Baby

What is your favorite place to go away from home? School. No, Boot Camp. No, (former) Daytime Family.

Daddy says...

I never really understood the need for child-proof caps on medicine until we had Ace. I always just thought they were designed to **** me off.

Pirate Princess

There was a post-work swordfight. Moolah declared that she was a pirate princess.