This and That

Emma loves her scooter. She is really fast on it, and graceful (if one can said to be graceful on a scooter). She loves to ride it when we go on walks or just to the corner if we are out front. I was really touched when she was helping Delaney to use it, because it can be hard to share.

I was feeling sort of unmotivated the other day. It was gray and cold outside, and I was thinking about how I did so many more creative things at home when I only had one. Delaney is a lot more active and doesn't always stick with little experiences I set up for her the way Emma did. She is also so busy interacting with Emma that I get kind of lazy. I needed to do dishes, so I decided to set up our water table in the kitchen. Delaney had been interested in the one at Emma's school the day before, so I set about scrubbing all the nooks and crannies. It was kind of a mess from sitting outside. I set it up on some beach towels and filled it with warm water, sea shells, kitchen utensils and other goodies, and she loved it. She played in it for 45 minutes and I got my work done. I was even able to sit down and enjoy watching her play.

Sometimes I wonder why we don't paint very often. I guess this picture is a reminder. I know, what a grinch I am! I love it when the weather is warm and we can just hose off outdoors. Emma's nickname for Delaney is Big Eyed Chub Chub, which I think is hilarious. She still has the big eyes which you see here, but has really lost her chub chub as she approaches her 2nd birthday. The other day she was saying Big Eyed Chub Chub over and over in the car in her gravelly little voice and it gave us all a laugh.I love how self motivated Emma is. She is such a busy girl and does not need to be entertained. This is great on one hand, but can be very messy. She is constantly taping and shredding and creating. Wads of wet construction paper are her constellations drying on the edge of the sink. Rolls of tape disappear into thin air. I find weird little piles of stuff in drawers and cupboards. Her stuffed animals are always taped, bandaged and wrapped in a myriad of dishtowels. She is sort of like a maternal rat with her nests and lovies. This is her telescope. She was busy in the kitchen for a long time when she called me in to look at the universe through her wonderful creation.

Keeping Busy

Emma really loves to play in the water...especially if it involves doing dishes or hand washing clothes. She would have been such a good pioneer. Every once in a while I find a wad of towels with wet clothes wrapped up inside from one of her washing stints. She actually asked me this time, so I had the opportunity to find a shirt that had avocado stains for her to try her elbow grease out on, and it worked! She is hired!! I love how long she will work on jobs that interest her.



She and Delaney worked well together on this which was a lovely. Emma said something about being in charge of soaping up the clothes while Delaney "assisted" her with the scrub brush. They were very proud of their work and made sure to show it to Sam when he got home. Sure our clothes will wear out in 1/2 the time, but having them productive and happy is priceless.


A few Emma funnies to entertain you...I overheard her saying, "I'm a girl. I'll make the bed." Me-incredulous:"Don't boys make the bed??!!" She replies back as if I should know, "No! It's the 18,1970's!"

Sam is reading the paper and Emma grabs some saying, "Wow, it looks like taxes are up to 70 points!"

We are listening to "Peace Like a River" in the car when Emma says, "This is talking about when you die." Me:"It is?" Emma:"Yah, it's talking about your soul."

Emma is hurt and Delaney is trying to pat and hug her. Emma says, "I hate it when she tries to comfort me!" Ahhh...sisterly love:)

Emma Succumbs and Delaney & Papa Pix

Emma was helping Sam replace a part on the toilet when she got very, very tired. She made a little bed in there and asked for some bread. When Sam came back in to work she had fallen asleep. She had what Delaney did, but it seemed milder.

Here are a few shots I love of Sam and Delaney goofing around. She was in a silly mood, crawling around the kitchen very fast and getting in my face to grab the camera.

Pistol

Delaney is a pistol. She is a climber, a diaper ripper offer and a runner. She loves to run from me and crawl under Emma's bed if I am trying to change her diaper, get her dressed, or take a dangerous object from her. Our bathroom, specifically the toilet, is her favorite place. If it is too quiet, I know where to find her. She is a busy girl, and she's wearing her mom out!

She loves to sing when the radio is on. She loves the bunny at Emma's school, my friend's dogs, our cat Hopper and petting them. She is learning about being "dentle", but Hopper is getting quite tired of her advances.

She still uses some baby signs. Here she is telling me she heard the paper getting delivered. Mostly she talks. Some of her favorite words...mine, stop, don't, no,no, Hopper, outside, hat, and weggie (drink). She is so much fun.

Grueling Day

Here Emma is after a particularly grueling day playing with her best friend Aidan. We came home and all was quiet in her room. When Sam went to check on her she had keeled over on the foot rest and fallen asleep. Comfortable?

She fell in love with this outfit at Aidan's and asked to bring it home. She wore it to bed that night and part of the next day. It was hilarious because she looked so different, sort of like a really pretty little boy, and also because it was so out of character for the girl who only wears dresses. She kept asking if we could get her a tie of her own. She would have fit in really well at a school dance in the 80's.

Batgirl

Emma was so excited when this came in the mail today. Her friend Aidan has a Batman costume, so she decided she wanted something too. It is shiny and beautiful. I am jealous. Ha, ha! Here are some action shots.

Summer

We are enjoying summer and the new house. The girls have adjusted well and love the bigger space. We have been swimming at my mom's pool. It is so warm this year, and the girls love it.

Emma is into some alone time with me. What's new? The other night while putting her to bed, she told me I could go. I joked, "Are you trying to get rid of me?" She laughed and patted my arm endearingly and said, "I'd never get rid of you." Whew! What a sweet girl. She has been making up songs. The latest overheard by Sam, "I don't have to do what my mom and dad is telling me to do." It could be an opera!! She hates brushing her hair, going to bed, and naps. She loves something sugary, reading chapter books, her new bunny bed, snuggling, twirly dresses, and barbeque sauce on everything.

Delaney is enjoying throwing things into the toilet and then fishing them out. That thing in her hands there, yup, that went for a swim. You'd think a toilet lock would be strong enough to keep the persistent out, but you'd be wrong. She's also throwing things into the shower while I am in there. Why are they always electronic devices?? She is climbing furniture, destroying library books, eating unpleasant things off the ground, going down large slides at the park by herself, and generally keeping me on my toes. That girl lives life-full tilt!! Her newest words are helmet, bike, and bite. She loves watermelon, oatmeal and avocado. She has a throaty little laugh that is very endearing.

Popsicle Weather

It has been very hot here recently, and this allows Emma to indulge in two of her favorites, one old and one new; popsicles and dresses. We are reading the Little House series, and she has decided she wants to be Mary. Really now, who doesn't? Ahhh...but in reality she is so like Laura it makes me smile while we read. Every morning she selects a new dress from her extensive collection (a very timely gift of used clothes from a parent at Sam's school). She especially likes her "calico" dresses. The other day on the way to the park to meet some friends she said, "Miles can be Almanzo and I'll be Laura. Oh shoot...we need to get a gun."

She brought popsicles out back the other day. I started to share mine with Delaney. It was quickly taken over by the little dictator. It made her instantly happy and then completely miserable. I wish I had a video of it. She grabbed it in both hands and sucked the juice out of it like her life depended on it. Clinging to it the cold began to be a problem, but she wouldn't put it down or let me take it. She cried and cried, and I finally I couldn't stand her misery, so I took it away. No more popsicles for that girl.