Quick Takes on the Big Trek

We left on a Sunday afternoon at 2:00 EST. We got home nine days later, about midnight on a Tuesday night (or Wednesday morning).

We drove around 5,000 miles round trip. We saw license plates from 42 states and 6 Canadian provinces. We saw forests, rivers, fields, mountains, valleys, canyons, mesas, rocks, sand, bright lights, skyscrapers, casinos, military bases, airports, messages to aliens (Yes, really! Hoover Dam has a message to future extra-terrestrial visitors) and the ocean. We had five different motel rooms in four different motels (plus an extra room for Lulu & two little girls).

We stayed up late with my sister, talking and watching cooking shows (also: Hoarders. And The Bear Whisperer, in which we learned that if a bear has taken over our garage we should tell him, "Shame on You!" Forgive me if I don't try this myself.).  We walked to two different play grounds. We walked to the grocery store. We visited a mega-church. We saw "The Strip".

We ate too much. We slept in. We played with four dogs and four bouncy girls at the same time.

We got cold. We were almost blown away by strong winds. We got sunburned. We saw turtles, an octopus, dolphins, sea lions, otters, killer whales, beluga whales, an enormous walrus, sharks, rays, penguins, sea horses, and countless fish. We played ball with dolphins and some of us got to pet them.

We rode rides. We climbed. Some of us rode a roller coaster for the first time and found the experience exhilarating and a wee bit traumatic. Some of us played endless games of Mario Kart.

We confirmed a parenting truism: The stickier the object, the more likely to be dropped.

We heard things like:

Sweet Pea: "Oh, I like the mountains, the way they're build."
"I just did a burp!"
"Are we going back to the hotel?' - this after six hours of driving on the second day
"I wish I could walk on it." - after seeing a partially frozen mountain lake.
"The bus on the wheels goes round and round..." {singing}

Tigger: "No, I'm not playing mean games. It's just she loses every game!" - on a conflict with Sweet Pea
"Oh, I don't like Kansas! No one lives in Kansas." - on the trip home

In short, we had a fabulous time, we can't wait to do it again sometime, our girls make great travelers, and yes, it's true, there's no place like home.

Dear Lili - 6 Months

Dear Lili,

It doesn't seem possible, but you are 6 months old today. Half a year. I think - after experience with your big sisters - that I've learned to enjoy the days and savor each baby moment with you, but it doesn't stop the time from flying by.

I didn't write you last month because it was Sweet Pea's birthday. Sometimes having sisters means having to share: toys, Daddy, Mommy and even space on Mommy's blog. That's life. However, you're still small enough to demand that everything else come to halt if necessary.

You can roll over with ease now. You try to roll where you want to go, though you usually have a parent or sibling scooping you up and returning you to where you are supposed to be (usually your play mat). You sit in the high chair now, watching us do school work, or cook lunch, or eat.

You are pretty much always happy, unless you need a nap. And then we put in your bed, cover you with your favorite blanket, and you go to sleep. Sometimes you just want some quiet time in your bed with your blanket and then you start squealing for us to come rescue you. Either way, it works. I think your favorite time is bath-time. We put you in the big tub with Tigger and Sweet Pea and you have a blast.

You don't sleep through the night yet, although you sleep in your own little bed most of the time. You still nurse exclusively. And I am perfectly OK with those things. You're also a pretty determined "Mama's Girl". The people at church who want to hold you have to send me away because, if I am in your sight, you will not consent to be held by others. I'm OK with that too. (Hey, after 3 Daddy's girls, it's nice to get one who is Mom's Biggest Fan!)

You can hold your toys, put down a toy you don't want and pick up one that you prefer. You take out your "Boppy" (pacifier) and put it back in. Unless you throw it (often), in which case you enjoy watching us pick it up for you.

In short, you are absolutely perfect. Polly said the other day, "What did we do without Lili?!" I can't imagine.

Let's try to slow down the next 6 months, OK? These six have gone by way too quickly.

Love,
Mama

Dear Lili

It's hard to believe, but you are two months old today. You're growing and changing so much. You smile at us and our crazy antics now. You try to talk to us and sometimes it sounds like you're complaining about circumstances - you always get your point across.

You still don't sleep in your bed. But you've found a new favorite place: your car seat. We snuggle you in your "magic" blanket, put you in the seat and you are out. We don't have a picture of you with your favorite blanket yet, but I'm sure we will soon because it's usually wherever you are.

We had pictures made this month. You weren't really into the whole picture taking experience. I guess you didn't understand why we had to dress you up and take you out to get pictures. Not to mention all the bright lights and nice ladies trying to get you to pose. You're really not into posing. But it doesn't matter because you're cute no matter what.

Happy Two Month Birthday, Little One!

Love,
Mom

Always

We hold them in our arms for a short time. (And, on occasion, in a well-beloved Moby wrap.) We sing, shush, whisper and just enjoy the closeness.

We walk alongside them, talking, listening, admonishing, encouraging, or just in silence. Enjoying the closeness.

But holding or walking, or even apart, they are always our babies.

And nothing can change that.

Snow Days

We remember not the summer

For it was long ago.

We remember not the summer

In this whirling blinding snow.

I will leave this frozen region,

I will travel farther south,

If you say one word against it

I will hit you in the mouth.

- Laura Ingalls during the "Long Winter"

The only trouble is: we'd have to go all the way to Rio to get away from the snow. I hear even our Texas friends are getting snow these days. 

At least the girls enjoy it.

Did You Ever Hear The One

where Little Bo Peep, Anne Shirley, Madeline and Winnie the Pooh spent the evening together?I have no idea what the punchline is. I just thought I'd set up the joke.

Tale of a Photo-Op

When arranging a family photo shoot, arrange for everyone to be in town. This is the first and hardest step.

Next, be sure to choose colors that co-ordinate with your blog: Just kidding. That's not really how we chose what to wear. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a group of eleven dressed in somewhat complimentary clothes? *small shudder*

Take lots because someone in the family is always a Blinker. (Contrary to popular opinion, the blinker in our family is not me. Or maybe Prince Charming was just really sleepy the day we had our pictures made.) Try to remove pacifiers from mouths (Fennec) and cover under-roos (Sweet Pea). Just give up on everyone looking the same direction. It's not going to happen:
At least pretend to be interested in what's going on: Try to be finished before the cutest, littlest members of the family are tired (I refer, of course, to Fen and not anyone else who may consider him- or herself the cutest): Oh, whatever, just take as many as you can of the littlest before he starts screaming, pacifier or not: That's all there is to it. (Top secret: A red feather boa helps coax some reluctant smilers in the group. Not to name any names...)

Post Father's Day Rambling

I know, I know, mea culpa: Father's Day has come and gone and I posted not one word about it. Yes, I did remember it (no doubt thanks to my dad's frequent reminders) and we managed to have a gift and card for all the necessary folks (Prince Charming, Prince Charming's Dad, Pastor Dad).

Prince Charming's gift was more laundry for me. Unless he finally takes his father-in-law's advice and just sends it out to the cleaners. I think we'd all be happier that way. (Can I just say: white dress shirts = bane of my laundry maid existence)

Our dads received coffee mugs with carefully selected and arranged pictures of the girls on them. Actually I designed mine and ordered if for my dad about 2 months ago. Prince Charming is a copy cat lazy decided his dad ought to have one too. At least one family member (not the men who received the mugs) has noticed that we tend to gravitate toward photo gifts. There was a bit of complaint that "you have it so easy: just stick a picture of your kids on something and everyone's happy".

Well, I suppose that's one thing to be said for having three children: gift giving is easier. It's just one of the perks to an often expensive and frequently exhausting job.

We're really hoping our church directory pictures turn out well tomorrow. Then Christmas will be covered.

Just kidding. I think.

Just a Few More...

Once we got to a more sensible hour today, the girls went to play at a friend's house (much appreciated, not least of all because the mother of their friend wasn't feeling well and was willing to watch them anyway!) while Uncle Prince Charming and I betook ourselves to the hospital.

Where, after patiently waiting a few minutes for his turn (Fennec has a lot of fans) Prince Charming bonded with his nephew: And, not long after, the precious bundle moved into my hands again: We enjoyed talking with Princess and her husband (haven't thought of a suitable blog name yet, but I suppose I must). I had the chance to help her with nursing, and changing, and dressing Fen (I am an old pro at such activities, after all), and above all, took lots more pictures: Don't let him fool you. He was awake. He seems to think if he pretends to sleep we'll stop taking pictures.

How sweetly misguided! The only thing that made Prince Charming stop snapping away was the camera's batteries running out. But we can get more batteries and I have a feeling we're going to need them once Polly, Tigger, and Sweet Pea get a chance to see, hold and love on "our baby" (as Polly and Tigger referred to him today).

Most Recent Pictures of the Girls

We took these last week in an attempt to get something we could use for Mother's Day. We tried several different arrangements but it was hard work getting three girls to look one direction and smile.
We almost used this one:
But we settled for this one (Tigger was, obviously, in a serene mood and never smiled a genuine smile):
"Two out of three isn't bad" is becoming our photographing motto. These are the best four out of the fifty that we took. Yes, 50, fifty.

And yes, we are aware that Sweet Pea's sandals are on the wrong feet. Consider it a fashion statement from Sweet Pea.

Another Trip Downtown

We made another pilgrimage Downtown today. Yes, we were back at Children's Theatre. This time we didn't lose Prince Charming (see the December archives if you missed that story) and we got to go in that four story bookstore that calls my name every time we're Downtown.

Plus we tried out our new camera. It was windy but not very cold. And it didn't rain on us, this time, though it threatened to. And even with a new camera, the girls' penchant for silly faces remained.



Miss Polly is very proud of her city. She said today that it is, "The busiest and best place to go."

We took over one hundred pictures and I'll show more another day.

Play = good
Eating Downtown = good
Bookstore Downtown = amazing
Not losing anyone = priceless

More Playing Around

Lest I be accused of favoritism (surely not) here are a couple more pictures of the girls playing outside the other day: Sweet Pea trying to work the bubble wand. That big bubble glistening over her head was made by Polly.
Try, try again. Or spill all the bubble solution. Either way, it's all good on a warm, Spring-y, day.
Today the girls are all back outside. It's a gorgeous warm and sunny day.

I've given up lamenting that they don't have a swing set - they make their own play. (OK, Polly was pretending yesterday to be Joan of Arc leading troops to the dauphin. That's a little odd. But now you know what we studied in History this week!)

They'll probably dig in the dirt again. They may find another worm (Actual shout from Tigger: "It's our treasure, Mom! This little worm is our treasure." Um, sure, if you say so!) They may even try to wash the dirt off with toothbrushes again. That's a small price to pay to see all the girls back in the sunshine after what has felt like a very long winter.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in
it. - Psalm 118:24 KJV

I know we should rejoice in every new day but it seems a little bit easier when the sun is shining and you don't have to wear a coat, doesn't it? My girls seem to think so.

An Announcement from Tigger

Spring is here! OK, not really, not officially. But the weather is mild and breezy and that counts.

So throw on your favorite stripey sweater, roll up those pant legs and

Go outside! Don't forget to roll on the ground. It isn't really Spring until you've gotten dirt on your nose.
Oh and, when wearing your favorite sweater, don't worry if you happen to have too many button holes. Who cares about button holes when you can Go Outside!

A Peek at Sweet Pea Week

Sweet Pea's birthday celebration lasted nearly a week.

She got cards with money in them:

Pretty clothes to dress up in:

And lots of other wonderful packages to open. She clapped her hands when she realized all this loot was for her:

And then there was the cake. And oh, what a cake! My friend Rachel made it (she has made most of our cakes in the past four years) and then brought it over to our house to decorate. Decorating was nearly as fun as eating it, especially when you can eat the extra candy.

The wafers at the bottom spelled out her name, but Prince Charming has blurred those.

Sweet Pea's favorite? The gumdrops. We could tell she's grown up since her last birthday. Last year she was wearing as much cake as she ate. This year she was quite tidy.

So the birthday week came to an end. Which is just as well. Because yesterday we were all laid low with some vicious head colds. (As Pastor Dad would say, "Cough due to cold") So with all the sneezing and coughing and blowing noses, we're thankful we planned the party for the day before her real birthday. She doesn't know the difference. Yet. We may not be able to get away with that for much longer. She is a remarkable child, after all.