Why I Never Get Anything Done

...Because of the new climbing activities going on in our house. First it was just climbing into the chairs. Then we replaced Marin and Silje's highchairs with boosters, so they have to be climbed into now. You know, as a stepping stone to the table and everything on it.

So I folded up the boosters, but that just raises the height to be climbed. Fun!

So I put them on the floor. But they started fighting over who got which one, so...

I now store the boosters in the basement between meals.

So next it's on to the stool, and whatever else will get my attention. Just watch the two videos in succession and you'll see just what keeps me from getting the most simple of tasks done in a timely manner! (I love a good excuse, especially when I get it on video!)

How to Eat a Corndog

Those of us who eat a corndog from the top down must be rather silly. Ailey taught me the right way to eat a corndog recently. You don't eat the dog for heaven's sake!

Hello Zoo!

We went to the zoo today, the first time with our membership. It was a lot of fun, though we tried to see too much. We got there around 10:30 and by the time we left early afternoon ... we should have left an hour earlier. Guess we're still on a learning curve. Ailey was tired. Marin and Silje were tired. I was tired. Though not as tired as I could have been had I actually been pushing the stretch limo stroller myself. Instead Eileen, who met us there, pushed it almost the whole time! I swear of her own free will. Thank you, Eileen!

Marin "talking" to the monkeys.

We got to see the baby orangutan up close!

Marin and Silje ate their lunch in the stroller. Here's Marin calling after the "Bo!" (birds)

"Where are the birds again, Marin?"

Eileen and Marin and Silje checking out the elephants.Ailey watching the elephants being fed. One of them even trumpeted for us.

We saw another one up close.

After all the elephants, penguins, monkeys, and even a ride on the carousel, this is what the kids looked like as I pulled into the garage. Wipe out! And if they all sleep in tomorrow morning I might just make the zoo trip a daily one!

Ailey Antics

Ailey's antics tonight while getting ready for bed cost her playtime in the bath, and a little later both of her bedtime books. I'll admit that my waning patience probably contributed to at least the second lost book, but she cleared herself of all charges with this dialog as I was tucking her in:

Me: "I don't like being angry with you, Ailey."

Ailey: "I don't like to either, Mom."

"I was angry with you tonight."

Giving me a hug, "Thank you for telling me, Mom."

"I love you, Ailey."

"I love you, too."

Sun and Play

We had a beautiful weekend to enjoy outside. Marin and Silje are getting old enough to really get something out of their trips to the backyard. And as Andy and I have marveled, with all the nice weather recently pulling us outdoors, we feel a bit like new parents seeing the twins become adventurous little toddlers. Because at this age Ailey was in a freshly minted spica cast, the extent of her physical quests being to spin fast on her home-made Spica chair.

(Ailey at almost exactly the same age that Marin and Silje are now.)


Marin and Silje, however, are a little crazy and a bit fearless when it comes to trying out the new outdoor toys. In fact, with a knock on our door yesterday we became the proud owners of a big, plastic, outside play structure for toddlers. During a conversation long forgotten on the sledding slopes this winter, our neighbor had offered us this "castle" that her kids were growing out of. They had been given it from their neighbors on the condition that they pass it on for free when done. We've been given the same conditions, and I'll say there's no better way to get stuff! Especially nice, expensive, sturdy toys for the kids. I look forward to passing it on to another parent of toddlers. Meanwhile, Marin and Silje are already climbing and sliding like crazy.


And a video of it if you want to see them in action:


We had two, read that TWO nice days this weekend. When does that ever happen in the NW?! We got a little yard work done and the kids got a whole lot of outside playing done.

Marin and Silje once again climbing into chairs...
Getting a wagon ride...
And having a picnic dinner...

Andy is starting the big play area project this weekend. With not a square inch of flat in our backyard he is renting a backhoe to make space for it. Should be another destructive, fun weekend!