Last weekend we had an awesome visit from Iris (4 3/4)and Camille (8 mo), who came all the way from Sweden! Evelyn is very impressed by the distance between here and Sweden on the shower curtain map.

More from Allison's wedding

 

 

After the wedding, Lindita explored the Wash U campus. "Sit on rock. Mama sit on rock."

OK, and a totally unrelated story about Evelyn:
one of her teachers said that the other day, she was trying to get the kids to guess "something that we all need to bring to our meeting." Kids guessed toys and books. "It is something with four legs." A dog! A cat! "It is something that is not alive." Evelyn: "A dead horse!"

Arrrr

 

You have to talk about piratey things!

sisters

 

Where is Evelyn?

 

This is from our 4th of July trip to Kentucky, iirc.

Tyler's House

 

Tyler and his wonderful mother invited us to visit their house down in the woods in southern MO. We had a fabulous time. Here, the girls help bake cookie dough. Check out the awesome cupboard with the rising-up shelf that holds the mixer.

Marble Play

 

Family Portrait

 

Cake Bakers

 

 

Mom turns 32

 

For my birthday, nana helped the girls make me a cake. It was beautiful, orange with orange sparkles!

First tandem motorcycle ride

 

Here we are on Eric's motorcycle, Mango. We took our first ride together in my new gear. Next week I take the class to learn how to drive.

Allison's wedding

 

Here are Eric and me on the way to Allison's wedding. I should have taken that sweater off to show my pretty dress. You can see my new haircut. It's too short for my taste, but that's a problem that will fix itself.

The wedding was amazing and very fun!

May

This morning I sent Evelyn to the dining room to put on her shoes. She came out with her princess shoes (not suitable for play.) Then Lindita came out with shoes: two different Evelyn sneakers. Very silly! Later, Evelyn got revenge.

 

 

 

Also this morning, we found a large beetle in the kitchen, under the farmer's market bag. Lindita picked it up and took it outside for me.

Yesterday was Evelyn's Show and Share day at school. She took her Sorry Sliders game to play with the other children. Only when it's her day to Show and Share (and mark the calendar, and be Line Leader) does she say, "Can we go yet? Let's go to school!"

Last week we went to Chattanooga to visit with family, because my great-grandmother (their great-great-grandmother) died. The girls had a great time playing with cousins. They miss Faith, Ellie, Amanda ("man-a!" -lindita), Toni, and Liz. The morning after we came home, Evelyn came down the stairs chanting, "Mama Cat. Mama Cat. Mama Cat!" She was sad to hear that Mama Cat had gone home to Hannibal. "Why?"

They both loved having extra time with me. Evelyn is going to be unhappy when I go back to work full time. Me: "I will not leave you, Evelyn. I will never leave you." Her: "You leave me every day to go to work!" ouch. ouch ouch ouch.

Linda and Lindita

 

Friday's playdate photos

 

 

 

 

Freedom!

Last week I was laid off from my job. I'm supposed to be sad about that, eh? Not yet.
Word is there are Java development positions around, and I'm eminently qualified and experienced. Nothing has cropped up in the first week, but I've spent most of it getting my resume in order. Next week I'll send it around to more than just my friends and recruiters.

Meantime, the time off is fantastic. We went to a playdate on Friday -- when I find the camera, I'll put up some of the excellent pictures. Next week is pretty open, so who wants a visit?

Sisters in the morning

This morning Evelyn and Lindita woke up (both in my bed) and hugged each other. Evelyn said, "I love you, Linda."
Then: "Do you want to come play with me? Say yes!" "yeth." "Then come on!"

Lindita always answers "No," whether she means it or not, but if you ask her to say "yes," then she will. Evelyn cleverly helped her out on that one.

Quote of the Day:

Oh mighty American guru, what is the core of manliness?

Fatherhood Jorge, fatherhood. Any male who can get down on the floor and play cars with his son or dolls with his daughter, who will give up his own time and money, who will clean up puke, shit and other bodily fluids, who will delay selfish pleasures so his children can go to Chuckie Cheese.... that's a man. It also helps if he's got enough confidence to dance.

Minutiae

Last night Evelyn dreamed that trash trucks and cars could go on the sidewalk and grass. They chased her. They kind of caught her a little bit. She made a mud ball out of clay and threw it at them.

This morning, when the trash truck was heard, Lindita had to get down from breakfast and both girls ran to the window to see and discuss the trash truck.

At parent-teacher conference this morning, Evelyn's teacher reported that Evelyn is growing in her group-work skills. She is more inclined to join in with a group activity, whereas early in the year she preferred to choose an activity of her own. Of course her verbal skills are tremendous, and she shows loads of imagination.

A great weekend

This weekend Rachel and Tyler came to visit. Wow, we had a great time! We played some games. Tyler chased Evelyn around the house, inside and out.

Saturday was a big day: Eric went to a lifting clinic, Evelyn visited Jorge, Lindita stayed with Uncle Seth, and Eva and Nana and I painted with Mama Cat. It was a long day trip, but we all had a great time. Evelyn learned to play several board games. She's really getting interested in them. Hurray!

On Sunday, the teenagers and I saw Spring Awakening at the Fox. Great show! My favorite part was hearing Rach and Tyler sing "A Whole New World" in the car. Tyler played the piano and sang, back at our house, which Evelyn thought was way too loud. She has sensitive ears.

Evelyn convinced Rachel and Tyler to swing her back and forth, flip her upside down, wrestle her, etc etc. Through twenty minutes of this horseplay, Lindita laid on the floor and played with a doll, looking at it and talking to it.

Everybody has to be somebody

Saturday, Evelyn was Lightning Boy. Lightning Boy, whoever that is, wears a blue shirt and jeans. Half an hour later, she's taking off her pants and undies: "Lightning Boy doesn't wear Dora panties."

Five minutes later, despair: "I can't find any boy panties!"

Yeah, Evelyn, that's because boys don't wear panties. I forced her to settle for a blue Tinkerbell pair. Guess we should get some solid colors in the next size.

Where are my ears?