New Toys

Aunt Kate, Uncle Scott, and Cousin Nick got Clara a "Roly Pop" for Christmas, which we tucked away until Clara was a little older, and for later introduction into the rotation. We broke it out today. We set it in on the floor of the porch while the bambini were napping. After snack, Ted was making bolognese in the kitchen, and Julie was readying herself to go to yoga (or "yogo," as Joe calls it), when when noticed all was rather quiet. There the dynamic duo was on the porch, mesmerized by the roly pop. So bright! So shiny! So roly! So poppy!*

The other toy making an appearance after having been tucked away for months was a kind of puzzle where the puzzle master, if you will, places different colored tiles in geometric shapes (including a trapezoid; Julie had to confirm with Ted that she had labelled it correctly) into board with animals on them. Julie had set this on top of a book shelf thinking she'd break it out around bedtime, but Joe spied it straight away. So we hauled it down, and all played with it. Clara liked gathering the pieces up and putting them in a bowl (that had been serving as, alternately, an owl nest, a monkey nest, and a puppy nest)--a place for everything, and everything in its place! (Berenice also thought this new toy was awesome.)

*Close observers of this picture will note that Clara's shirt says "awesome" across its back. Despite the fact that Julie could probably not relay the rules of a single sport in full detail, she is fond of Sporty Spice athletic wear and thus, thought this shirt was, awesome, and is so happy its moment and season have arrived.