It's been a while...

Doodler

Bonnie and Clyde

In the car after the park,

Gabe, "I spy with my little eye, something that is shaped like a fence."

Sam, "um....a fence?

Gabe, "Yep!  Ok, you're turn!"

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These two. 

 Right now Gabe is the idea-man and Sam is the muscle.  At this playdate they decided to open TWO 32 oz gatorade bottles and pour themselves glasses...in the basement...in the closet.  

I'd discovered Gabe eyeing the Gatorade when he'd opened our food storage cabinet.  I looked at Samantha (knowing it would have to be her to open it if it were to happen) and said to both- "You leave the Gatorade alone.  Hands OFF.  Do you understand me?"

Welp, I guess not enough to sneak into it later!

How did I find out?  Why, when 1/2 of one of the containers spilled. 

 Luckily it was on the cement in the closet so it was an easy clean-up (don't tell them that I made a big to-do about how huge of a mess it was!)

After it was cleaned up they were ALL too cooperative with their punishments.

Freezing at the Park

Over Easter break we had a cold-spell.  Since the girls were used to getting outside by then I knew I'd have to take them to a park...even in the 32 degree windy weather.  Two friends canceled on me because of the weather but I knew an indoor playdate wouldn't cut it.  So we bundled up and headed out.

SO glad we went.  The first 30 minutes were just them running and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Then they calmed down enough to do bubbles...

...and chalk.

As I sat bundled up shivering under a blanket the only one that complained of being cold was Charlotte.  Once I put socks on her hands she was good.  

After 1hr + I finally was able to convince them to leave...the car ride afterwards was so quiet!!

I Gotta Sweepit

After fixin' the mower for a while she moved on to sweeping...

After making a pile she wasn't sure how to clean them up and started to use her hands!

She got really good at making piles and sweeping them into the grass.

And then she'd sweep it BACK onto the cement to do again.

She's learned to open the front door by herself.  So she left her pile and told me as she went in, "Don't step in my pile, OK??"

30 seconds later she came out, pointed a finger a me and demanded, "DID YOU STEP IN MY PILE?"

When I Grow Up

She's currently convinced and very much looking forward to becoming a Sister.  After learning about St. Therese at Easter she was even more determined.
Just keep listening, my love!  Just find those times of quiet and listen...

New Success

So, for over a year now we've been trying to teach Sam how to ride a bike.  It's been quite the journey. 

 1) she gives us at the slightest frustration (AHEMjeremyCOUGH)

2) she's got a sensory overload thing.  The SLIGHTEST bump/brush/scrape turns into a meltdown

Once we took off her training wheels she was upset after her first attempt.  But this spring we really pushed her to try, try again.  Whenever we gave it a shot, she wasn't allowed to stop until she had a success.  The success generally gave her such a rush that she'd continue after she was allowed to go back in.

Finally she got to the point where SHE'D ask to practice riding her bike!

I know, I know, it's WAY too small.  She has one her size from Santa..she''s just building confidence right now!  Every once in a while she wants to try "my big bike".

This is how it usually goes...GREAT start.

Goes as FAST AS SHE CAN...

loses control, forgets how to stop and falls.  Commence tears and screams.  I'm REALLY glad no one has called the police by now.  She screams a LOT.

BUT (and this is new) she GETS BACK ON TO GO AGAIN!

And falls...cries (she yelled, "GAH!  I'm such a crybaby!  I always cry!" Sorry baby, you got that from me :( )

Inspects the damage...

And goes again!  We are SO PROUD!

Water break...

I Gotta Fixit

This cracked me UP.

Just mowin' the sidewalk.

Hey Mom.

She stopped and said it was broken.

Then she positioned herself...

to "fix it".

For about 45 minutes.

I had to move her to a safe spot...apparently it was quite broken.

Keep in mind we don't even own a mower (ah, association living!)

Big sis had to give it a try.

for about 1 minute.

Then Charlotte took over again.

Big Helper

Believe it or not, those are folded washcloths.  She's gotten a lot better too.

She calls this her "Mni Mouse Ballerina" outfit.

Brigadoon

One perk of working at Pius is getting 2 free tickets for each play...AND knowing almost all the performers!

Sam love love loves the musicals.

To be taken again in 10 years!

Can You Help Me Put My Ballerina's On?

Still the first question out of her mouth.

Every. Single. Day.

A Bow

Part of the ballerina outfit for a few days.

Keens

There is some family in Lincoln that sells their purple Keen sandals to the local thrift place and has a girl just one size bigger than Samantha.  We currently own five pairs in different sizes (the next size up for Charlotte once she'll let me).  I fight Sam every year on wearing them but once she accepts that we are NOT buying flip-flops, she looooooves her Keens again.  Jeremy wears them too and just goes on and on about how much he loves them.  I wear Ahnu's, but since 3/4 of us wear Keens I'd say we're a Keen family.  

Yay for warm weather!

GG

We are so so so blessed to have my Grandma still with us.  She's had a rough year- she just lost another brother and brother-in-law (within the same week) and her back was having so many problems that she had to give up dancing for several months.  She's eagerly looking forward to trying again this week!  Both of the girls love her.  

I hope I look this good when I'm 77!