Vintage girl

She looks so 40s...



She must have liked what she saw in the mirror, because shortly after she moved to my bedroom bench where she could watch herself in the mirror (standing on bench and then tried sitting on the footstool) and sang what started out as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" but quickly morphed into something about fairies, and then she "flew" off the bench.

Self-esteem

Today as we were discussing why Daniel's babysitter and not mother (an oncologist) takes him to school every day.

Me: His mommy has a really important job. She helps people that are really sick.
Harper: Oh. So for your job, you just go and listen to what you are supposed to do? (her face said it all, you are lame)

Ouch. She also told the babysitter that I am "kind of old and have lots of molds and freckles." I'm feeling so beautiful and competent. On the flip side I often hear how pretty I am or how cute my outfit is. Lovely.

Meanwhile Lucy has supreme self-confidence. Just yesterday after I told them they would be starting soccer she said "I am so good at soccer. I'm awesome." Keep it up girls, soon iCarly and Hannah Montana mean girls will try to tear you down. Stay strong.

San Antonio

Presidents day meant no school, so Ruth (gus and truman)and we decided to take a fied trip to San Antonio. I took it a step further and suggested we go down on Sunday night and stay at Hill Country Hyatt. There was noone there, we got a great rate, the kids got to swim, AND they enthusiastically went into Camp Hyatt. In fact, they told us to go away when we picked them up before they finished their "treasure boxes".




this was pretty amazing. she couldn't reach the bars, but shimmied her way up there and made it all the way across.



The next day we visited the zoo and the Witte Museum. It was a fun day, but whew, exhausting. Not helped by the fact they were up until 10 pm. the night before.

I think the way to go is hit the museums first and then stay and relax at the resort. You care a lot less if someone is grumpy and demanding the 6th snack of the day at the pool than at the rhino exhibit. Plus, there is always Camp Hyatt and a spa for the mommies.

The hippo: only time I've seen one underwater.


Crocodile


Green Mambo


Termites


baby elephant


Feeding parakeets - she was so brave when this one landed on her head. I'm just happy it held itss bowels.


The much anticipated train to nowhere


Exhausted





Celebratory ice cream

Driving Miss Crazy

This was the conversation in the backseat as we were leaving the vet on Monday...

Lucy: I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up.
Harper: I want to be a dog.
Lucy: Harper, you can't be a dog. You have to be something that is a grown up.
Harper: I want to be a puppy.
Lucy: No no, you have to do something in human form.

She stuck to the dog bit for quite a while.

Wisdom

Harper (at bedtime): If you put your head against me, I will get good dreams. Because that means you give me your thoughts.

Lucy (during coloring): I don't like Wonder Woman. She looks bad. Because she doesn't wear pants.

Sucker

This past weekend Lucy stopped sucking her thumb (for now). We did this with a bitter nailpolish (mavala) and gum bribery. Now we need to get her off the methadone - I mean gum.

I have mixed feelings about this. I know it is the right thing for her physical (germs, viruses runinng rampant) and her dental health, but I worry about my and her mental health. She has had more trouble getting to sleep. This a.m. she came in to snuggle. This used to be a the highlight of my day, she would nestle in, suck her thumb and we'd drift back to sleep. This a.m. I had to stroke her arm, so no more sleep for me. *sigh* I know she'll figure out how to calm herself without the thumb, but I also feel like I lost a little bit of her babyness.

But I'm trying to raise healthy little people, not keep babies for myself (that's what pets are for, right?) That's why sometimes you put bitter nailpolish on their sucky thumb and take them to school in their pajamas (more on that later).

Happy B-day bro

My own little brother turned 35 this Saturday. How did this happen? And he's expecting their 3rd. My mom sent me a picture of #2 who is a doppleganger of his Daddy. The vintagey 70s feel of the picture only accentuates that.


This is how I think of buckles (we have weird nicknames in our family).