May 22nd A little project

I have been wanting to do this for a while and finally made time on Friday.

Sylvie was hamming it up.

They turned out pretty cute, although I might go back and redo Jens's. He looked a little grouchy in the picture and strangely enough I think it shows in his silhouette.

PS for some reason in this picture it looks like his nose is really pointy, which it isn't.

May 21st Last Day of School

Today was Jens's last day of preschool at Folsom Montessori. I was so sad to pick him up I almost cried. We have loved the school so much. He has had such a positive experience there--the teachers were so kind and organized, the jobs were so engaging. There was never a day this year where he didn't want to go to school. (I should remember that because it will probably never happen again--a whole year without complaining about school!) I will always be glad he got to go there even if it makes the idea of public school horrifying. When I went in today they were singing "Listen" by Red Grammer, which is a sweet song about the brotherhood of man--it was so cute to see them all sitting together swaying back and forth singing, and while I was coming home I was thinking about how one of the best things about Montessori is the idealism that it teaches--loving everyone, protecting the earth--even taking care of insects, being gentle and never violent, being independent and learning for the joy of learning.

I know his public school experience will be fine. He is smart and will do well, but oh how I wish he could keep going to Folsom Montessori. I am jealous of Jessie and her Cincinnati Public Schools today!

This is to show the top of his visor which is decorated very awesomely.

May 21st New Baby

Before you get excited and think that applies to me (No THAnk You!), Sylvie is the one with the new baby doll. Her old baby doll met with catastrophe (let's just say she HAD to be washed, which resulted in water trapped in her head, which meant So Long, Dolly). Yesterday at Target we were picking up a birthday present for one of Jens's friends when we passed the baby aisle. Grabby hands galore, along with a definite "BABY!" from Sylvie convinced me to get her a new one. Of course it was in a huge box, but I handed it to her anyway. She immediately hugged the box and sucked her thumb. It was very cute.

She has been happily pushing the baby around in her shopping cart ever since.

Doesn't she look so big sitting up at the table? She has gotten very tall in the last couple of weeks.

PS--Do you like her attitude look? She has been pulling that out more and more often. She went to several tile stores with me on Wednesday and whenever a stranger addressed her, that was the response they got. The store employees at one place did think it was pretty funny when she was carrying my carpet sample around in her teeth, though.

And no, we haven't picked our tile yet.

May 17th Team Work

Nothing like putting the 18 month old to work learning how to vacuum. I have decided I need to cash in now, while vacuuming seems fun!

May 17th Practicing for the Circus

Mike and I are starting to wonder about Sylvie's future. I am thinking a galloping pony, a tutu, and three rings might be in her future . . .

After this dazzling trick, she jumped off of her bike onto the couch.

Sadly, this climbing thing is not a rarity. It all started with the trash can; now she will try to stand on top of anything. Jens was a climber, but Sylvie seems to be MORE of a climber. Oh dear.

Tour of California

Yesterday was the opening stage of the Tour of California. After Sylvie's late night Saturday, she really needed her nap on Sunday, so Jens and Mike went downtown to watch the end of the stage. They had a great time and found a good spot to watch the end of the race, right by the finish line. The people around them were really nice and helped Jens be right up by the rail for a good view of the bikers. Jens went prepared with a bag of snacks and paper and came home excited, telling me that "Mark won" and there was a big crash.

We watched the tv coverage afterwords and it was really fun to watch the riders go past our old apartments and down roads that Mike rides on often. Next year we will all get to go, I hope!

May 17

This week I have been doing yard work.

Lots and lots of it. I moved some plants around in front and put in some new things and cleaned the back yard on Saturday, which was a pretty serious undertaking. It involved a lot of trash pick up, including all of our plastic Easter eggs, which are now in the trash. As a result of being outside so much my allergies are going crazy, but I am okay with it. It has been so nice out I couldn't stay inside. We always enjoy when our yard is nice.

Well, nice might be an over statement, but neat.

I got it cleaned up under the pine trees so we have a good spot for our loaner hammock, which I think we will really enjoy. I took a 45 minute nap out there yesterday and it was so pleasant.

Also on Saturday I ran the Folsom "Run with Nature" 10k. I finished in under an hour, which was my goal, so I am happy about that. I am still stiff and a little sore today, though. Saturday night we had Mexican at our favorite place--Sylvie chowed down on refried beans. We paid for that! She was up at 10:30 sick, throwing up and having diarrhea. She was one sad punkin. I was up with her until 12:30 or so when she finally fell asleep. She is back to her cheerful self today, though.

Other things from this week--homemade pizza with friends to celebrate a birthday, a lovely dinner out to celebrate another birthday, lots of kids over to play, several bike ride/walks with the kids, a big bag of oranges from the farmer's market (I got up early before my race to drive down JUST for the oranges. Okay, and some eggs and cherries.), Mike has been working lots of hours, and some sprinkler repair.

Girl on the Go

PS: I love little girl summer clothes.

Nak!

Makes everyone at our house happy.

May 9th Happy Mother's Day

Our annual photo

My arms seem a lot fuller this year than they were in the past, even more than last year even though the number hasn't changed!

May 8th A Saturday Date

Mike and I went for a bike ride together today. We have been wanting to for a long time now and the opportunity finally presented itself. We had the neighbor girl babysit for the first time--she is 12 and had information forms for me to fill out and everything. The kids had a great time with her, and Mike and I had a great time together. We rode a lot farther than I have ever ridden before--22 miles, so my legs are a little noodl-y now, but it was a beautiful day for a bike ride!

$23.80 at the Farmer's Market

May 5th Laundry Room

The laundry room is reassembled. There are still a couple of things to do, namely extend the boxes and put light covers on the switches and plug. But you can't tell that in the picture. Really, it's a shame I don't have a before picture. I can't believe I didn't take a before! Oh well.

Any thoughts on the combination of neutrals? Is it too many different shades of white/tan? The bead board and cupboards do not match, which I did on purpose, but Mike isn't sure about all the different whites. I am also wondering if I should put a simple brushed nickle nob on the cupboards. Feel free to weigh in.

Sylvie was a great helper, as always.

May 4th So Big

Doesn't she just look so big sitting up and having a snack? I am afraid that if I blink for too long she will suddenly be going to school!

May 4th Signed up for Soccer

Yesterday we registered Jens for soccer. He is pretty excited--when I mentioned it to him in the morning, he ran upstairs, put on his "88" shirt and went outside where he practiced kicking the soccer ball and ran laps around the yard. Mike took him to the registration and they bought his uniform at the same time. Of course, it had to be tried on immediately.

And of course, it looked awesome. Now we have to wait. And wait. And wait, because practice doesn't start until August . . .

A side note--yesterday we were at the park and were walking back to the car. We were a little late, so I was walking quickly. Jens said "Mom! Wait! Your legs are big! My legs are just medium, I can't keep up!"

May 3

We are enjoying some real spring weather. Not much news to report, except that I am working on painting the laundry room cupboards. I will put up a picture when they are finished and put back together. Mike has had a cold and has been working a lot this week. He has a big deadline coming up this Friday, so I am guessing I won't be seeing much of him this week, either.

Jens helped Sylvie get settled in her chair. She loves the magnadoodle, and it is a great way for her to draw without actually using any media! She is a disaster with real pencils, crayons, and markers.

After helping her, he wanted his picture taken , too.

Mike is showing off his work computer.

Our neighbors are having their pool replastered, which means lots of jack hammering today, which isn't very fun.

Jens only has a few weeks of school left. This has been a very successful year for him--he has learned so much and has loved learning. I think he and I will both miss school this summer. I can't believe he will be going to the elementary school for kindergarten next fall. It seems impossible that he is getting so big! He and Mike are reading James and the Giant Peach together right now, and they are both liking it. He got a Darth Vador mask at a birthday party on Saturday and is still delighting in putting it on, saying "Mom, look at me!" and having me be very afraid.

Yesterday he was very insistent on reinacting a Sesame Street moment--the Step Forward/Step Back Song (performed by Bow Wow). He made a line, got his radio, and then fizzled out. We were hoping it was going to be a little more exciting, but the preparation was the fun part for Jens, apparently. Once we were all out there standing on the line and waiting for his instructions, he was finished and wandered away.

He continues to be an artist--I love seeing the things he comes up with. He also continues to snitch things he shouldn't. My salt shaker/pepper grinder from Pampered Chef is currently missing. Who knows where it will turn up?

Sylvie has been breaking a tooth--her last one for a little while, I think. It was her eye tooth--I was starting to get worried that all her other teeth had come in except for the one right on the top towards the front! So she has been a little cranky this week, but for her that means she just complains every once in a while. We can't believe her sweet temper and happy disposition. Some of my favorite things about her right now:

She sings a lot, especially in the car when we are going some where. She just hums a little tune. She especially likes the song Old MacDonald, and sometimes even does the "woof woof" for the dog.

She loves to carry around her animals. She is starting to get opinionated about it, too. Saturday we went out for dinner and she had a dog with her in the car. I left it in the car when we got out and as soon as I closed the door she let me know my mistake. She threw herself to the ground sobbing. We quickly retrieved dog and were all sunshine and smiles again.

She loves shoes. All shoes.

She also loves snacks and calls for them. Yesterday at church she just said "nak nak nak!" all day long. She also says WOAHWOAHWOAH! If she is trying to climb onto something perilous.

Also, she dances like this:

Last night we had dinner with friends, which was fun and delicious. There were brownies for dessert. Sadly, they had milk in them, so Sylvie couldn't have any. She threw such a fit! She knew we were all having something tasty and I kept offering her plain bread, which just wasn't cutting it. I felt bad, especially when she kept throwing herself down on the pavement and crying, but it was also a little, tiny bit funny. I do hope she grows out of this allergy thing, though.

May 1 The Zoo

We had a family outing Saturday morning. It was one I have been looking forward to for awhile--Sylvie's first trip to the zoo. It did not disappoint. We had beautiful weather and a great time. Sylvie had a perpetual smile on her face--she loved seeing all the different animals, and it was cool enough that they put on quite a show. The wolves were especially active, chasing each other and playing in their enclosure, and the deer are quite tame and hang out close to the fence.