Michael is trying out his new stand mixer, making coffee cake. The girls, of course, are on hand to assist.
Hannah (as the mixer is going and they're adding ingredients): When does the coffee come in?
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Social life is tiring
...or at least Sim thinks so. We went to a beautiful Baptism yesterday, and in the reception afterwards, one of our friends was holding Sim. She was making funny noises and Sim was smiling at her. Then, she made a noise, he smiled, shut his eyes, and fell asleep.
Dressing up for Christmas Eve
Hannah sometimes makes interesting choices as far as dressing up for an occasion. Today, in honor of Christmas Eve, she has on a white shirt, her white short-sleeved leotard over that, and her pink ballet tights over that.
New vocabulary
Naomi has recently picked up on the adjective "awful." It makes for some interesting comments on her part:
"What's that awful smell?" Umm...it's dinner.
"What's that awful noise?" That one was awful -- it was the sound of the chains on the small area of road that didn't have packed snow and ice on it.
"What's that awful smell?" Umm...it's dinner.
"What's that awful noise?" That one was awful -- it was the sound of the chains on the small area of road that didn't have packed snow and ice on it.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Remember the bunny?
From the Halloween pictures? Naomi dressed as a bunny in a really cute costume that Grandma Ellie made. She loved it. She still regularly wears it. In fact, Michael got to take the bunny to Northwest Girlchoir the other day to watch Hannah's class. He was thrilled. But at least the costume is warm, and it's really cold here these days.
As they were pulling out of the driveway, Naomi said, "Good thing God made me a bunny."
Also, Naomi has become concerned with the level of candy in her Halloween bag. It's doled out in small amounts every so often, but it's still troubling her that it will be gone soon. So she's formulated a plan. Try to imagine this in a small voice with a bit of a Southern accent: "When my candy is gone, I will go to Microsoft to see Dada, and I will put on my bunny outfit. Dada will help me. [She can't get it on by herself yet.] Then I will go trick-or-treating to get more candy." I didn't really have the heart to tell her that Microsoft only has trick-or-treating on Halloween, not year-round.
As they were pulling out of the driveway, Naomi said, "Good thing God made me a bunny."
Also, Naomi has become concerned with the level of candy in her Halloween bag. It's doled out in small amounts every so often, but it's still troubling her that it will be gone soon. So she's formulated a plan. Try to imagine this in a small voice with a bit of a Southern accent: "When my candy is gone, I will go to Microsoft to see Dada, and I will put on my bunny outfit. Dada will help me. [She can't get it on by herself yet.] Then I will go trick-or-treating to get more candy." I didn't really have the heart to tell her that Microsoft only has trick-or-treating on Halloween, not year-round.
Logic and 2 year olds don't always mix
Naomi was wishing to sample one of the baked good Michael and I made today -- I made an old standby and Michael tried something new. The new recipe is what she was trying, having already had (and enjoyed) some of the old standby.
She ate a bite of the new recipe. Then she dawdled for a while. We needed to get to bed, and told her it was time to get ready.
"But I haven't finished!" she wailed.
We exhorted her to finish, then.
"But it doesn't TASTE good!" she wailed.
We told her she didn't have to eat it. Far be it from us to force our children to eat baked goods! We would happily clear it away and she could be finished.
"But I want to eat it!" she wailed.
We asked why, since she didn't like it. No reason was forthcoming, but she continued to object wildly to losing her baked good. We offered to trade her nasty-tasting baked good for some more of the old standby. She was very agreeable to the trade and promptly polished of more of the old standby. Then it was time to get ready for bed.
"Where's my [nasty baked good]?" she wailed.
We tried to remind her about how she didn't like it and had traded it in. We're still not sure if it worked. But she is in bed and asleep, and we have learned our lesson. The new baked good will not be offered to Naomi again.
She ate a bite of the new recipe. Then she dawdled for a while. We needed to get to bed, and told her it was time to get ready.
"But I haven't finished!" she wailed.
We exhorted her to finish, then.
"But it doesn't TASTE good!" she wailed.
We told her she didn't have to eat it. Far be it from us to force our children to eat baked goods! We would happily clear it away and she could be finished.
"But I want to eat it!" she wailed.
We asked why, since she didn't like it. No reason was forthcoming, but she continued to object wildly to losing her baked good. We offered to trade her nasty-tasting baked good for some more of the old standby. She was very agreeable to the trade and promptly polished of more of the old standby. Then it was time to get ready for bed.
"Where's my [nasty baked good]?" she wailed.
We tried to remind her about how she didn't like it and had traded it in. We're still not sure if it worked. But she is in bed and asleep, and we have learned our lesson. The new baked good will not be offered to Naomi again.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Mispronunciations
can be very amusing.
Hannah calls cupboards "covereds." This is amusing, because there is a lot of truth to this name -- things in cupboards are covered by the doors. Thank goodness, in many cases!
Naomi, when she feels she needs food, tells us that she's "hungee."
Naomi, when she wants us to pick her up and take her somewhere, says she wants us to "caaaaaaahhh" her. One syllable. Not carry, "caaaaahhhh." Which is odd, because she can easily pronounce Aunt Kerri. But maybe the spelling makes a difference. ;)
Simeon mispronounces pretty much everything. When he wants to say Mama (which, of course, is what he always wants to say :) ), he says, "Oooogoo." Well, that's pretty much what he says when he wants to say anything. Except, "I'm angry." That sounds more like "waaah."
Hannah calls cupboards "covereds." This is amusing, because there is a lot of truth to this name -- things in cupboards are covered by the doors. Thank goodness, in many cases!
Naomi, when she feels she needs food, tells us that she's "hungee."
Naomi, when she wants us to pick her up and take her somewhere, says she wants us to "caaaaaaahhh" her. One syllable. Not carry, "caaaaahhhh." Which is odd, because she can easily pronounce Aunt Kerri. But maybe the spelling makes a difference. ;)
Simeon mispronounces pretty much everything. When he wants to say Mama (which, of course, is what he always wants to say :) ), he says, "Oooogoo." Well, that's pretty much what he says when he wants to say anything. Except, "I'm angry." That sounds more like "waaah."
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Everyone's involved
in the process of getting information from the structural engineer. We had him come out to take a look at our house the other day so that we could get some information for future projects. The girls both went to the basement with Michael to show the engineer around. When they came back upstairs, Hannah began the questions.
Hannah: How many children do you have?
Engineer: I have 3 boys. They're 11, 7, and 4.
Hannah: I'm 5.
Engineer: I was going to guess either 5 or 6.
Hannah: My cousin is 6.
At this point, Michael had finished negotiating with Naomi about which toy she could bring up from the basement, so we sat with the engineer and discussed what he'd found, and a bit about the plans we had for renovating.
Hannah: And Naomi and I want a balcony on our room.
When the engineer was finished and beginning his goodbyes, Naomi began her portion of the interview.
Naomi: I want him to read me a story.
Michael: Umm...I don't think he's --
Engineer: Oh, sure, I'd be happy to.
Naomi: I want Pickles the Fire Cat.
Michael [finding Pickles]: Uh, this is a long one, sweetie, maybe we could choose another one.
Naomi: I want Pickles.
Monica: Okay, he can read some and then we'll put in a book mark.
Naomi (in her bunny costume, of course, because she's wearing it on a daily basis now) happily trooped over with the book, got onto the engineer's lap, and enjoyed a good reading of The Fire Cat. The engineer willingly read the whole thing, despite offers of book marks at various points.
Afterwards, I commented that perhaps he could update his list of services offered to include reading books to the children. He admitted that he'd never done so on a job before, though judging from his reading style, he probably reads to his own kids on a regular basis.
Naomi, by the way, regularly rebuffs people we've known for years, whom she sees on a regular basis.
Hannah: How many children do you have?
Engineer: I have 3 boys. They're 11, 7, and 4.
Hannah: I'm 5.
Engineer: I was going to guess either 5 or 6.
Hannah: My cousin is 6.
At this point, Michael had finished negotiating with Naomi about which toy she could bring up from the basement, so we sat with the engineer and discussed what he'd found, and a bit about the plans we had for renovating.
Hannah: And Naomi and I want a balcony on our room.
When the engineer was finished and beginning his goodbyes, Naomi began her portion of the interview.
Naomi: I want him to read me a story.
Michael: Umm...I don't think he's --
Engineer: Oh, sure, I'd be happy to.
Naomi: I want Pickles the Fire Cat.
Michael [finding Pickles]: Uh, this is a long one, sweetie, maybe we could choose another one.
Naomi: I want Pickles.
Monica: Okay, he can read some and then we'll put in a book mark.
Naomi (in her bunny costume, of course, because she's wearing it on a daily basis now) happily trooped over with the book, got onto the engineer's lap, and enjoyed a good reading of The Fire Cat. The engineer willingly read the whole thing, despite offers of book marks at various points.
Afterwards, I commented that perhaps he could update his list of services offered to include reading books to the children. He admitted that he'd never done so on a job before, though judging from his reading style, he probably reads to his own kids on a regular basis.
Naomi, by the way, regularly rebuffs people we've known for years, whom she sees on a regular basis.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
We've upgraded to the interactive model
Simeon has started laughing occasionally. It's very cute. Yesterday he was laughing at me making noises at him, and it gave him the hiccups. It also seems to wear him out.
He loves watching his sisters and smiling at them. He also really likes the black-white-and-red pictures we've put near his changing table -- he has really interesting (I suppose, since I can't quite get exactly what he's saying) conversations with them.
Sometimes he smiles so much that he can't quite take it and has to wiggle and squirm to show how excited he is about something.
We're all enjoying more interaction!
He loves watching his sisters and smiling at them. He also really likes the black-white-and-red pictures we've put near his changing table -- he has really interesting (I suppose, since I can't quite get exactly what he's saying) conversations with them.
Sometimes he smiles so much that he can't quite take it and has to wiggle and squirm to show how excited he is about something.
We're all enjoying more interaction!
Infant Care Leave!
Michael is home for the duration -- 4 weeks of infant care leave, courtesy of Michael's awesome benefits package at work. We're all very excited. Unfortunately, the girls both have a virus that's making them somewhat cranky and lethargic. But we have hope that they'll be better soon and we'll be doing fun Advent things together!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
More on the future life of Hannah
Hannah: When I get married, I will tell my husband to stop smoking. Or maybe I will marry someone who doesn't smoke. And then if he says he wants to try smoking, if he forgets to try I will not remind him that he wants to. And I will tell everyone else not to remind him. Or I will trick him out of trying to smoke.
Monica: You could also tell him you don't want him to try smoking, and talk about your reasons.
[No response.]
Monica: You could also tell him you don't want him to try smoking, and talk about your reasons.
[No response.]
I don't know what this is a sign of
but my children play fetch. Specifically, Hannah throws things for Naomi, who, being Jack the brindle bulldog, then fetches them. Not in her mouth (so far), but these two will often play this game for 20-30 minutes at a time. They both agree on the objective, and they're not arguing, because the Laura role and the Jack role don't overlap at all, so they have a great time with it.
And when Jack also has a virus that means she's running a low-grade fever and is cranky and out of sorts, it's nice to have a game that she does for 20-30 minutes with only barking and no crying.
And when Jack also has a virus that means she's running a low-grade fever and is cranky and out of sorts, it's nice to have a game that she does for 20-30 minutes with only barking and no crying.
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