Of puppies and ferris wheels

Its been a busy weekend.

Whew.

Today we drove out to Chardon for the Maple Festival -- or as it shall be known henceforth, the Festival of Extorsionism.  Seriously.  Pay to park, then ride tickets were $1, then each ride cost at least 3 tickets... And it was crowded.  I tell ya, festivals aren't what they used to be...

 The gloriously sunny perfection of the day was nearly eclipsed by my righteous anger.

But we totally bought Jack some ride tickets.

The boy was so very excited about the rides, and the smile on his face made me wish we'd sprung for the wristband.  Next time.

The other redeeming feature of this morning's outing?  Bathtub races.
Yes.  Bathtubs on wheels.  Who knew?

We had a leisurely trip home via the Chardon Burger King-- which was really, I think, the best part of the day. The kids ate and played and played and ate. Nat and I shared a sundae.  Jack helped Ivy clamber up to the top level of the climber so they could play together.  "Ivy, let's go in the helicopter!  You  drive, Ivy!"

It makes it all worthwhile, you know?

Yesterday we spent the day in Lakewood so that children and puppies could be babysat by everyone in alternation... it was a carefully scheduled and rather complex day that involved resale events, a haircut, shoe shopping for the kids at the mall, a Magic tournament, pizza, and a benefit auction.  And lots of time of with a puppy.

Pip, or Prince Phillip of Lakewood, is an 8 week-old tri-colored Springer Spaniel and he is such a love.  So soft!  So stumbly!  And he's even sleeping well and taking to the housebreaking very well for my mom.  What a good dog.  The kids are crazy about him. Ivy has even let him lick her a few times.  Jack loves to carry him around.  There is something about a puppy that is so very irresistible.  Luckily we have a perfectly wonderful (and much easier!) grown up dog to snuggle, that helps me resist...

The boy

 Today, he was a lumberjack.  Wielding a double-headed axe nearly as tall as he is, full of concentration and unafraid. 

He loves to help and to flirt with danger, playing with independence through handling sharp knives, trying on "big kid" for size.

When did I get a big kid??

Last night I took some work time at Starbucks and ended up meeting a few Boulevard moms, there for a story-and-hot cocoa night that our little coffee shop puts on a few times a year for our neighborhood school.  (I fell in love with our neighborhood all over again when I found that out!)  I was watching the children in their group, second and third graders most likely, as they fetched their hot cocoa and chatted and gathered, so independently, and I marveled.

Tonight, as we lounged with our toddlers and watched Sprout at Melinda and Will's, M. pointed out to me that the age difference between Jack and our littles-- is about the same as that between Jack and those amazing, grown up children at Starbucks. 

Um,  wow.

I love this big kid, though.  Even if he's all elbows and knees and has a tendency to be rude. 

He's damn cute.  And he's loving and sweet and kind, in spite of all the swords in our house right now.

He's smart and curious and interested in so much, and he has the most wonderful laugh.  He takes care of his sister, watching out for her always even when she doesn't really want his help.  He's figuring out the world one day at a time, our little scientist.  He's not afraid to say what he really thinks, and never lets little social niceties get in his way.  I need to work on appreciating that about him a bit more...

He's funny and ever-so-serious all at the same time.  He's frustrating and joyful and easy, independent and needy, walking the line on the edge of childhood but still my baby.

He's going to Kindergarten soon.  How time does fly.

We're still here...

...and mostly recovered.  Our home has been hit by a bout of illness followed by a bout of "we live with a 4 1/2 year old and an almost-2-year-old".  It's been intense.

The illnesses have passed but the 4 1/2 year old and the almost 2-year-old (thankfully) remain.  They are mostly delightful little humans in between the moments of whining, demanding and not listening (that would be Mr. 4 1/2) and the screaming and tantrumming over slight injustices (that would be little miss almost-2).  Suffice it to say this past weekend had some trying moments.

But I'll leave my venting at the door and use this moment to reflect on the finer points of the two little people sharing our home...

Tonight-- the girl:

She's almost two and sweet as sunshine, full of love and opinions and new words to express it all.  Her speech has been exploding recently.  Every day she  is amazing us with new sentences, new words, her expressiveness and her sense of humour.  She pronounces "water" like "wat-oh" and she is so very polite.  "Help me pick up dat?  Peeese?" "Nank you, Mommy!"  She knows how to take compliments beautifully, a confident "Nanks!" greeting us when we praise her.  She still loves her "nummies" and nurses after naps and at bed and during her (still ongoing) nighttime wakings.  I try not to begrudge her those mid-night snuggles because I know tiny girl will never be this small again and before too long my strong will little girl will not press herself into the crook of my arm and snuggle in, one hand over her eyes, softly peaceful.  Already her independence is growing every day. "Me do it!!!"  A little emphatic elbow pushing away our offer of support, a frustrated yell when we buckle her carseat straps for her...No one will push this girl around, that is for sure.   She tempers her strength with that sunny smile and kisses and pat-on-the-back hugs and sweet questions of concern for others-- "'kay, Jack??"  and it is impossible to be frustrated with her for long. That blond hair is getting longer every moment and still has some curl but she won't leave a bow in and usually impersonates a tiny, doll-beautiful street urchin.  I love her beyond measure.

Tune in tomorrow for the boy.

For tonight, a few more pictures I uncovered from Lulu's recent visit.  I love all the love in these photos...

And-- spring in our neighborhood...

 
Don't you wish you were here?

Illnesses and frustrations aside-- this is a beautiful life, isn't it?

Easter 2012 (the "third time's a charm" edition)

 
Easter morning egg hunt before church....

A quick, breezy visit to Rocky River beach after church....

I loved the study in contrasts, the fluffy-dress princess clambering through the driftwood and sand...

We had a wonderful afternoon, relaxing at home with Gram-Gram, hunting eggs and playing with toys, eating a lovely ham dinner.  Somehow we completely neglected to get a nice, family picture to memorialize the holiday.

But never fear, we did get a picture of the shredded wheat bird's nests we made for dessert.

Some things are just important.

Easter 2012, the next installment

Easter continued beautifully. The kids got bugs in their baskets.



And too much candy.

Next year, we are putting fruit in the eggs.  Or maybe salad.

All I know is my children were somethin' else that day.


There are more pictures of Easter day, including Ivy in her pink cloud dress hunting eggs in the yard, but they are on another computer and will have to wait.  In the meantime here are a few other moment from Easter weekend...

Hunting eggs last Friday.  Gotta get ready.

I love my dog.  I LOVE her.

More from the Gardens on Saturday.  The gardens are very photogenic.