Red Bones, Baby

Isabelle and Olivia were curious about Curious George, but not up for a hug, or even really in a get-within-10-feet-of-him mood! But his house on the third floor of the Children's Museum was a hit. The two little towheads played mini golf, carried a heavy grocery basket together, and styled the hair of mannequin clients at the African Queen Beauty Shop.

Matt and Heather saved the day with a banilla/vabana/nillaba yogurt, and the girls were just scraping the last bit off the bottom of the tupperware when we were informed of the No Eating Policy.

Ultimately, the doorway was the museum's biggest source of enjoyment! WWRPD? What would responsible parents do? It was apparent to all that we didn't have a clue how to answer that question!
Then we went to Red Bones in Davis Square. It was... perfectly caveman-esque. Isabelle and Olivia shared an order of baby back ribs, candied yams and broccoli. Check out the matching shirts Matt got these two little monkeys! Thanks, Matt! (Before meeting up with everyone Isabelle asked Dennis: Is Olivia's Mommy going to be there? Yes. Is Olivia's Mommy Olivia's Daddy's wife?)

We wrapped the day with a Zac Taylor serenade: I ate my ribs... without wearing a bib... the corn bread rocks... and matches my yellow socks...

The End of an Era: Pre-School Begins

Isabelle started pre-school today. She's 2 years and 6 months old, and only a recent state law change makes it possible for her to move up before the 2 year 9 month milestone. Now, pre-schools are allowed to have two underage kids in the class. Great timing! While we are so excited to welcome Miss Joyce, Miss Mary and Miss Amy into our lives, it's hard to say goodbye to Miss Shannon and Kate who Isabelle--and her parents--absolutely adore!


ODE TO MISS SHANNON & MISS KATE

How can I put this,
Miss Shannon and Kate?
You two are magnificent!
That’s fancy for great!

You fed me my bottle
Well before I could talk
And when my crab crawl was ending
You then helped me to walk

You watched me take my first steps
And heard my very first words
You’re so special to me
It’s almost absurd!

You always held me so tight
When the choo-choo passed by
You pushed me high on the swing
And bought new outfits for Mcfly

Thanks for getting so excited
About all my adventures in pottyland
It seemed like everything I did
You thought was just grand

When you played Boom Boom Pow
It always made me boogie and shout
I guess it’s just the country music
Mom said I could do without! (smiley face)

The turkeys, the reindeer
The sweetest album and holiday notes
Mommy and Daddy will cherish forever
All the precious things that you wrote

Now that I’ve moved on to pre-school
I’ll miss both of you so much
But I’ll see you on the playground
For lots of kisses and hugs!!!

Love,
Isabelle & The Polka Docks

Valentine's Day 2010

(Briana and Anika riding the Gondola down from lunch at the top.)

Dateline: Stowe, Vermont - Trapp Family Lodge

Chicken pot pie in hand, we arrive at Trapp just in time for dinner. Isabelle and Anika quickly lock themselves up in the bedroom and spend the next two hours squealing. Bonnie, Michael, RJ, Lexi and Ethan arrive next. After watching Michael unpack for several hours, we begin taking wagers on what they didn't bring!

The next morning Dennis and I head to the little store for some yummy breakfast (i.e. bacon). We notice how still the air is, and report back to everyone that there isn't a whisper of a breeze outside. When we get to the mountain, we take the gondola across the street to rent skis. That's where we learn that the mountain is shut down because of the high winds.

The pool! All five cousins have a blast splashing around. New fondu. Oh, Swiss Pot how we long for you. Although you didn't have a former almost-Olympian as your waiter. (Or was it that he grabbed a bag of chips and watched the Olympics?)

The next day, Anika learns to ski first thing in the morning! Go, Anika!



Isabelle takes to the slopes that afternoon!

Work

Isabelle had to go to work the yesterday. An "important meeting" she had to attend, she told us.

"What do you do at work?" we asked.

"I make M&Ms for her," she declared, pointing back at her baby doll.

Winter Wonderland

Ten inches of snow on the ground, nine Christmas albums on shuffle, eight hours for the split pea soup to cook, seven cousins soon to reunite, six trains that keep falling off their tracks, five days 'til Christmas, four juices to mix with the champagne, three Christmas trees twinkling, two cars parked in the garage, and one splendid girl eating snow cones topped with pomegranate seeds.

Conversation

Isabelle: Let's bring the stroller inside.
Dad: No, let's not.
Isabelle: But it'll fit!
Dad: That's not the point.
Isabelle: Let's bring the stroller inside!
(Stroller comes inside)
Isabelle: See, Daddy - it fits! That's my point!

This Baby Is Ridiculous

There's only one way to describe a baby doll who won't open her mouth wide enough for a bottle:

Other stuff:

A near accident on I-93 on the way to Kevin's 40th bday prompts Isabelle to ask, "Mom, are you freaking out?"

Isabelle tests negative for swine flu, dries her hair for the first time and has come to believe that I work at the airport.

She calls vitamin C "medicine C."

After she wakes up and notices my absence, she cries out, "Mommy, I'm your daughter, and I'm crying!"

Every day when we pick her up, we ask, "How was your day?" The answer is always the same: "I played with my baby and her bottle and the blanket." At home she informs us that she needs tools, and once she has a hammer and two screwdrivers in hand, she goes to work on her high chair. Living the dichotomy!

Thanks to the Beach House, she knows what quarters are! And we have a healthy collection of mini-stuffed animals, Red Sox balls and squishy balls.