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.

Bathtime Fun

We made bathtub paints the other night and tried them out.

The girls loved it.

It made for a very soapy tub, but the clean up was easy.
Recipe...2 T. cornstarch
1/3 cup liquid soap
a few drops of food coloring

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:)

Whirling Dervish

This morning Delaney woke up at 5 and only took a 35 minute nap. Then tonight while I was trying to put her down for bed, when she should have been incredibly tired, she tossed and turned, kicking the wall and jabbering on about everything for about 25 minutes. It was as if she was afraid to go to sleep and miss out on all the wonderful things she was thinking and could say.I realized Delaney is having a language explosion, and she's too excited to sleep. SO MUCH TO SAY...it's a Dave Matthews song, and it perfectly describes what is going on with that girl. I tried really hard to pay attention to everything she was saying because it was so funny and rapid fire.

First she was singing a song from Emma's preschool. "Roly poly, roly poly, ever so slow." And then remembering something we had said on the way home from dinner she said,"Ice cream morrow." She won't let me forget. She moved on to a recent memory about her and Emma's vaccinations saying, "Both shots. Emma. All done. Better." Sam was trying to pat her to calm her down and she said angrily, "Stop it Papa!" And then just before her switch seemed to be turned instantly to off she said randomly, "Arms. Pants. Pocket. Ice, ice. Papa."






It is amazing to get a view into that brain of hers and it's workings!!

New Gnome

Here is my newest gnome creation for St. Patrick's Day. I can't wait to make more.

Little Holiday Gnomes

I have been having fun sewing ornaments lately. These little gnomes are my newest craft obsession. They have lots of handmade dolls like this at the Waldorf school we go to and I am enjoying the creativity of making my own. So fun!! These were a birthday gift for a friend. I can't wait to make more.

House Full of Crazy People

It has been a long time since I have posted. Lots of excitement is always afoot at Casa Gonzales, it's just finding the time to write about it that is hard. Today I closed the kitchen gate as I went out into the house to do chores. A little while later I found Delaney in the kitchen with the fridge open, chugging chocolate almond milk from the carton. She just learned that wonderful trick!! I wondered to myself if I had closed the gate or if maybe Emma had opened it. I removed her from the kitchen and shut the gate. A few moments later I heard the familiar sound of someone jumping up and down on the foot lever to release the gate. I turns out that not only can Delaney open the fridge, she can open the gate to the kitchen...the gate we put up specifically for her. Ahhhh!! She is one smart monkey.



Emma is busy with all sorts of reading (looking at books) as usual. She just can't put down a book if it is nearby. She actually read one to me the other day that she had memorized. I was very impressed. We are joyfully reading the Ramona series.She is enjoying painting and drawing. Right now we are opening an advent calendar every morning with exciting ideas and activities. She looks forward to that. She has been the voice of reason when Delaney is driving me crazy..."Mom, she just wants to be with you." Her sense of style is a bit crazy at times, but she always pulls it off, looking chic. Here is a picture of one of her heading off to preschool in one of her crazier outfits. I don't bother to get in the way.


Here are some other random pix of the girls enjoying a rope swing at a nearby park, Delaney doing some dishes etc...