Utencil Use ... Or Something Like It

Have you ever noticed how, throughout childhood, kids learn and then unlearn skills. They grow and then regress. They are so proud of a new accomplished skill, then only days/months/years later they shun that skill.

My oldest is only 4, so that is the extent of my experience on this. But tonight I saw two of my girls on opposite ends of a learned skill:

My 4-year-old would rather eat with her fingers, but obliges me by "using her spoon", i.e. scooping her food onto the spoon with her fingers so that she can eat it off the spoon like I've requested.
My 1-1/2 year old excitedly stabs her food with the fork that is usually denied her, only to pull the food off with her fingers to stuff it in her mouth.
My youngest is the only one who used her fork as it is intended tonight. (Though notice this doesn't equate to clean hands and face.)

1 for 3 ain't bad in baseball, but how does .333 translate in my world of Mommy-hood? ... Don't answer that.

"Breakfast"

We went to the SNOMOMS annual family picnic today. Ailey and I went separately so that we could stay longer while Andy took "the babies" home for naps. On the way Ailey noticed a produce stand, and I noticed the sign advertising their 39 cents/pound Fujis, so we decided to stop on our way home. We got the apples. And oranges and grapefruit. And a mango that Ailey had to have. Of course we couldn't pass up the 3/$1 corn-on-the-cob -- two for Ailey, one for Marin and Silje to split. (We didn't get the plums, pears, grapes, okras, pickles, mushrooms or pineapple that Ailey "really wanted". We only had $7 after all.)

When we got home we went straight outside. Ailey played in the pool, Marin and Silje came outside when they woke up from their nap. Andy looked over and sorted some of the yard waste that is still hanging around the backyard since "the Big Landscape". I picked and sliced rhubarb and did a load of laundry while they all enjoyed the nice day outside, then made an easy eat-by-hand dinner for the kids to eat outside. They all came in for baths and bedtime.

When Ailey called me upstairs 45 minutes after lights-out, it was to tell me that we forgot to have the corn-on-the-cob for dinner. There was a bit of drama and a few tears while I tried to convince her that we weren't going to have it "right now" and that she could eat her two cobs tomorrow. "Do you want them for lunch or dinner?"

"Breakfast."

I laughed. But she was serious.

Silje's ABCs

Silje loves to sing. Since so many of the electronic toys sing the ABCs she hears that song quite often. She started mimicking it months ago, but I've noticed in the last few days it has become nearly recognizable, even if you aren't around her every day. So here, without further ado, is Silje's rendition of "the ABCs"!

"Happy To Luuuuuuuke!"

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, LUKE!

About 45 seconds into the first video I got Ailey to sing "Happy Birthday" to Luke, who turns 1-year-old today. The second video is Silje and Marin wishing Luke a Happy Birthday too!

Marin and Silje Picture

It's not easy to get good pictures of moving toddlers. (Or wasn't that obvious enough in my last post?) Andy had a little bit of luck added in with his exceptional skill and determination when shooting this picture last week. Such a cute picture of both girls! (If I may say so...)

Riddle Me This...

My sister and her family were here for a week visit, her son Luke's first visit to Washington, and I got two pictures the whole week. That's sort of how it goes these days, and I blame the three kids that have been allotted to me. I just can't seem to pick up the camera when the moment is right. OR, all is going smoothly and I end up with 50 pictures of my girls being cute. Ah well. There were two other cameras snapping constantly, so we won't be left without any memories of the week.

We did attempt to get a picture of the four little cousins together: nice outfits, combed hair, pretty backdrop, a few extra people on hand to manhandle and entertain the subjects, and a plea for help to Ailey, the only one old enough to understand. All thought out, and yet ... here comes the riddle:

How do you get a 4-year-old, two 18-month-olds, and an 11-month-old to sit and smile for a picture?

You Don't.