Play at your own risk

When my kids got up from their nap yesterday, there was general whining and all manner of crankiness. They wanted to go to the playground, which was really fine by me; fresh air and change of scenery never hurt anyone.

It was almost time for dinner – but thanks to their little counter cookie raid, no one was in danger of immediate starvation.

So we went. I had thrown on a grubby shirt and Madeline had found me some (unmatching) shoes. I figured we weren’t going to see anyone we knew, so it didn’t really matter and, due to the whining, I just wanted to get there fast.

We immediately saw people we know. Figures. I chatted with Janna a bit, but she and her hubby had family in town and so eventually she followed her in-laws and son over to another area of the park.

I was pushing Adelaide on the swing when suddenly I heard Madeline crying, loudly. Very loudly. And there was Craig, carrying Madeline down the steps toward me as she screamed.

(So, yes, the one time I don’t want anyone to take notice of us, we are naturally the front and center of attention.)

(In a very crowded playground.)

He said she had fallen and hit her eye – probably tripped on the step up to the slide. And I’m sure she was running because she never stops. Anyway, by the time I got to her, the eye was already huge.

He was so gracious and kind to carry my kids’ bikes all the way home. I mostly carried both girls, one of them screaming in my ear, the other trying forcefully to be let down.

I tried to get Madeline to ice it but have you ever tried to keep an ice pack on a three-year-old’s face, much less an eye, before?? High near impossible.

It doesn’t seem to bother her much today, and it probably looks much worse than it feels because she hasn’t said a thing about it.



Almost looks like she got into some of her mama's purple eyeshadow.

(If I owned any.)

Deep & Wide

This just cracks me up.

Madeline's rendition:


Deep & Wide from Please Pass the Salt on Vimeo.

Showering Babies

We live in a college town. My sisters (twins, nine years my junior) are back in the area for their sophomore year.

Hello, Free Babysitting. How very nice to meet you.

They came over last night to watch the kids so I could go to Nicky’s baby shower. Nevermind that I didn’t bring her a gift, I was just there for the coffee.

I mean decaffeinated Earl Grey tea.

And chocolate cake.

I think she got some great stuff, although I couldn’t see a thing during the gift-opening process, but she said she got a ton of diapers (which she asked for). It’s a good thing, too, because I already gave her all of Drew’s old clothes.

(4 huge Rubbermaid tubs' worth. How many clothes does one boy need?)

The shower was also for another friend (Hi, K!) who is having her first boy after two girls. So I’m sure she got some wee boy clothes, but again I couldn’t really see from where I sat. (But I was only there for the party, remember?)

When I got home I hung out with my sisters for a while and Carrissa told me she had asked Madeline when her birthday was.

“Twenty minutes.”

Yeah, baby girl, I sometimes wish that, too.

Hair Diva

Her services are now available, by appointment only.

Found!

As Nicky was picking up her boys this evening, Madeline ran into the kitchen exclaiming and carrying my phone: "LOOK MOM! IT WAS IN MY PURSE!!!"

Note to self: check Madeline's purses next time anything goes missing.

Apparently we need to work on color and pattern coordination

Just give her 11 years

Yesterday I got a glimpse of Madeline at fourteen. Of my three, she is almost always the most amusing to watch.

She saw me with my ipod, folding laundry, and begged to listen to it. So I slipped it “safely” into her pocket and put the buds in her ears. She had to hold them in since her ears are so small.

I caught her dancing around, totally in tune to the rhythm and oblivious to the rest of the world. Can we say free spirited?

Just watching her made me laugh. She looked like a mini teenager. Her hair goes half way down her back (yes, I know she has adult hair) and her clothes and the ipod only completed the teen-esque look.



(She’s eating a strawberry. Apparently it’s sour.)

This post has nothing to do with July 4th but it is in fact July 4th, just so you know.

Coffee?

More.

MORE!

Ahhhhh.

Okay. Now we can have us a chat. (Do people blog on holidays?)

My plan worked! I was able to run to Walmart and then get the kitchen almost done after the kids went to bed last night.

I KNOW!

It gives me a reference point to move outwards from and maybe we can start seeing some real progress soon.

(I'm also trying to ignore the urge to repaint all the walls. Priorities, you know?)

In other silliness, I discovered something yesterday. Madeline thinks toes are called 'piggies.'

Like, for real.

Like, you might go to the doctor with a broken toe and he would reply, "well now, the x-ray shoes the fifth piggy is in fact broken."

In all seriousness.

But I can't bring myself to correct her.

At least for now.

Three.

Sampled prematurely:






Gifts from Grandmom and Grandpop:


I love Drew's reaction:


(Clearly she's been brainwashed by Drew into asking for a bike for her birthday.)


Singing "Happy Birthday to Madeline, Happy Birthday to you!":




And she's off!



There they go!

Thanks but no thanks

Twice today Madeline brought me a dead fly, carrying it by a wing or other extremity. Twice.

Gross.

No thanks.

Since we've been here...

• When we first arrived at my parents' house, my mom dropped everything to get ready for an event she had to go to that night. She was just finishing up getting dressed in this gorgeously feminine red suit and Drew walked in, took one look at her, and goes, "NICE!" I fully expected him to give her a high-five.



• One day we grown-ups were discussing plans our for the day when Drew piped up with a very enthusiastic "won't that be great?!"



• Drew: "What's the atter, Madelaide?" I think Adelaide was whining about something. It was cute to see such a little boy get tongue-tied.
  
  
• I asked Drew if he wanted his socks and shoes on to go outside, and he replied "No, just my feet."
  
  
• Somehow Drew and Madeline climbed up into my parents' Blazer and found an old dark pink lipstick in the console compartment. I won't even tell you what a mess that was or how hard it was to remove from clothing, hands, and faces.
  
  
• "I eat all the tic-tacs!" Madeline, pointing to her mouthful of half-eaten tic-tacs, sugary drool dripping down her chin.
  
  
• A couple of nights ago before dinner we were starting to pray and Drew looked up, interrupted and said "we're praying, Cassandra." (In the most condescending tone ever.) We all bust out laughing.
  
  
• I left Drew and Madeline with Carrissa over at my grandparents' house Sunday night so I could come back and put the baby to bed. They were playing Legos with my Granddad and didn't want to leave, and she was watching the Country Music Awards there anyway. Later when they walked through the door, Madeline was carrying this flat rectangular lego creation she'd made. Carrissa told me she had asked her what it was and Madeline had replied, "a dog." Could've fooled me.
  
  
• Last night as my mom was tucking Drew and Madeline in bed, Drew looked up at her and said, "thanks for having us, Grandmommy." She melted. And no, I did not put him up to it.

Madeline, the twelve year old

Today was gorgeous. We spent the morning and a picnic lunch with some friends at a local playground. Madeline hammed it up as usual, acting like she’s at least twelve. I don’t know where that girl gets her material.

Which reminds me. Yesterday morning as I was first coming down the stairs, all I could think about was “MAN, SOMETHING STINKS IN HERE!”

I turned the corner to find Madeline had tried to change Adelaide’s diaper. By herself.

It might have been kind of funny, if not for the poop on the carpet.

Here she is the other night, commanding Adelaide to eat her food:


And then watching to make sure the baby listened and obeyed:


She didn't.

(*In case you don't know us in real life, Madeline is really only 2 1/2.)

Sneaking Sweets

First of all, this is the outfit she was wearing when I opened the door after her nap. Who says two-and-a-half-year-olds don't have a sense of style?


Caught red-handed with the marshmallow bag:




The monkey method of procurement:


Helping herself to the candy basket:


(Keeping it out of reach is clearly pointless.)



But really, who could possibly say no to that face?

She'll take the green ones.

Somehow when I said "yes, you may have some fruit snacks," Madeline heard "go find the green sprinkles in the pantry, have some, and spill the rest all over the floor!"

Revisiting "Only Madeline"

Speaking of ingenuity...


See the end of that protractor? I found Madeline sitting at the kitchen table using it like a spoon, dipping into the icing like there was no tomorrow. She turned around and gushed, "I'm eating the sugah!"

Like I said, only Madeline.

Only Madeline

"Moriah? You might not want to eat that apple. Madeline was in the bathroom washing it with handsoap and water."

And, it's no wonder we're always out of bandaids:


Okay, totally changing subjects.

A few winter pictures from after playgroup today:


(Still pushing umbrella strollers full of matchbox cars around, even in the snow.)




"Brr, Mom! It's cold!"

For Your Viewing Pleasure

And, another funny one. I'll just be thankful my very proper Nanny probably has no idea what a weblog is.


I'm sorry. I couldn't help it.

Recent Happenings

Yesterday afternoon Andy and I drove up to New York City to go to my cousin Evangeline's ("Vangie") organ recital for her master's degree. The kids got to have a little slumber party at Grandmom's house. And we got to have an evening free of them.

Also in attendance were my aunt and uncle (which I believe I haven't seen in a year and a half) and Vangie's sister, Bryonie, recently moved back to the States from Scotland. And, naturally, I haven't seen much of her lately either. I mean, it's not like you can just take a day trip to Scotland every week.

The recital was wonderful! (As if we had any doubt it would be.) And very fun to catch up with everyone. Fun not to have to put anyone to bed for once. Do adult things like sip champagne and eat cake and talk to other people taller than, say, three feet.

Here's a little proof. (Not that it's a terribly good picture, but, well, oh well.)

Cousins (gotta love 'em):



And then this morning, we woke up to torrential rain. And my cupboards were still woefully bare. But since the kids were over at the in-law's, I took full advantage of my solitude and stopped at the store before I picked them up. [You know what? There's an Aldi right around the corner practically. I can't believe I'm just now getting around to shopping there. *hanging head in shame* Well. It's the beginning of a very lovely relationship.]

When I walked into their kitchen, Madeline was sitting on a stool at the counter, sticking her fingers into the sugar bowl, licking them, and then repeating the whole process. Lick, dip. Lick, dip.

The words "sugar, spice, and everything nice" immediately came to mind.

Lick, dip.

We'll work on manners later.

See, Mom, she still has plenty

I made the mistake of telling my mom I sort of got carried away the other day cutting layers into Madeline's hair. She had been sitting perfectly still, watching a movie and eating fruit snacks, so of course I snatched up that hair-layering opportunity.

I had been wanting to cut it for a while because I was tired of the frizzy that was the top half of her head. And of course it turned out totally as I planned (*wink*). Thankfully curly hair gives you LOTS of room for error.

Ok, so these pictures are to set my mom's mind at ease. I think she was a little concerned that I had cut all Madeline's hair off.


(Not really super excited about mama taking her picture, obviously.)






See? Still an abundance of tangles.

Let's compare hair notes

[I've mentioned this to some of my friends before, but I thought it might be fun to share with the interpeeps.]

This is why, looking back, Madeline always felt older to me than Adelaide does now.

Here's Madeline at 9ish months:


(That pink outfit in the first picture, coincidentally, was mine. I think my mother made it. Which is why I stuffed her in it and took a picture.)



Did you notice anything? Like a full head of hair? Beginnings of the curly madness now going on in this house?

Now, here are a few shots of Adelaide I took before she went to bed tonight. She will be 10 months tomorrow.





The hair. It is not all created equal.