A Day With the Babies

I was able to spend the afternoon and evening with my favorite babies today. We had lunch, napped, played, read books, went for a walk, had dinner, read more books, snuggled and went to bed. I wasn't able to attend Baby Girl's 2nd birthday party because I was sick so I brought over her present today. I think you can tell from her expression that she liked it pretty well. And how handsome is Auntie's boy, by the way?

Lunch

Have some tea with me, Auntie!

Future Rock Star

You talkin' to me?

He melts my heart 

She's waving good-bye...as in "Put away your camera and let's get this show on the road."

Present opening time

Look at that face!

So happy

Yesterday's Message

Tell me your story, show me your wounds

And I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you.

I see what I made in your mother's womb

I see the day I fell in love with you

I see your tomorrows, nothing left to chance

I see My Father's fingerprints

I see your story, I see My name

Written on every beautiful page

You see the struggle, you see the shame

I see the reason I came.

I came for your story, I came for your wounds

To show you what I see when I look at you.

Rice Bags with Girls' Club

Classroom Happenings

Cave Art

Windmills (Renewable Resources)

Finding the Center of Gravity

Can you guess which one is mine???

Here's a cool video, too.

Auntie and Baby Girl - Zoo Fun!

So, Baby Girl hung out with Auntie today and we went to the zoo...Auntie's favorite place in Seattle. We started at the penguin exhibit and ended at the food court. We pretty much went from one end of Woodland Park to the other. I think her favorite animal was the penguin and her very favorite part was the carousel. Several times during the day she would make the sign for "More" and then clap her hands. I got lots of happy squeals, several hugs and a few kisses. She was the best zoo buddy in the world and the best-behaved two year old I've ever spent time with. She was also good for Auntie's ego as she mimicked everything she saw me do. If my sunglasses were on my head, hers had to be on her head. If mine were on my face, that's where hers were. If my sleeves were pushed up, guess who had to have hers up? My hair seemed to be of particular interest. She kept stroking it and playing with it, then feeling her own. I wonder what was going through her little head? Auntie may be biased, but she thinks Baby Girl is pretty perfect. 

 

Stroller? Check. Hair bow? Check. Glam glasses? Check.

Let's get this party started.

 

Penguins...Look!

 

Don't put your fingers in the cage. Mr. Goat looks kinda hungry.

 

 

Hanging out in an African hut

 

Teacher is here - class can begin now.

 

 

Precious

 

 

Just my size. Can I take him home?

 

 

Who's afraid of a giant komodo dragon? That's for sissies.

 

See Auntie's shadow? We played a fun game of shadow tag while walking between exhibits.

 

 

Beautiful Girl

(Note the glasses on the head)

 

No, I won't smile. You can't make me.

 

 

Such a big girl. Auntie has her foot, Mom. She wasn't going anywhere.

 

 

Famished. Completely ate an entire kid's meal of chicken strips, carrots and mandarin oranges...then dove into the snacks Mommy sent along.

 

Show me your laugh

(And your chewed up chicken)

 

 

Exhausted - even Auntie's singing couldn't keep me awake on the way home.



Milestones

Saturday I watched my babies and a couple of big things happened. First, Baby Girl said "Auntie." I've been working on that with her for months and all I get in return is a big grin. Saturday, it was the same thing..."Say Auntie." Smile. "Come on. Say Auntie." Smile. I turned away to feed Little Boy and she said, "Auntie!" I almost fell off my chair. She was so proud of herself -- but that was it. She wouldn't say it again no matter how many times I asked. The second big thing was she had to show me how she uses the Big Girl potty. Quite impressive. The third thing was...drumroll...Auntie got to see Little Boy crawl for the very first time. Baby Girl and I were in the kitchen and I saw movement out of the corner of my eye...there was Little Boy, crawling like a pro, after one of his sister's toys. Aunties don't usually get to see these milestones the first time they happen, so I was excited. It was a big weekend for all of us :-) Next weekend, I get Baby Girl all to myself. We're heading out for an Auntie/Big Girl date. Can't wait.

Wearing Auntie's hoodie...with the hood up, please! The girl knows what she wants.

The Joy of Boys

We are making our own paint out of dirt for art class so we can replicate Cave Art paintings found in the 40's in France. I had the kids go outside and find three different colored kinds of dirt and spread it out (inside, on a paper towel) to dry. You can see the piles done by the girls and then there's the...um...well, you know...done by one of my boys. Look at his face. He's so proud of his creation. We all had a good laugh - and just for kicks - left one of them in its shape to see if anyone in the other classes would notice. Their expressions today have been priceless. Megan...see what you have to look forward to?