Birdie Works Out To Ellen

Julie's favorite memory from this Christmas might be when she opened up another of the Ellen Barrett fitness DVDs with which she is currently so taken, and Joe--also taken--hollered upon seeing it, "THE STUDIO!!!!!"  (Ellen comes to you in these DVDs from her studio in Connecticut and many of them bear "The Studio" on their covers.) But Julie and Joe are not the only White House residents taken with Ellen. The other morning, Birdie decided she wanted to work out, and it turns out, she, like Julie, is inspired by pretty work-out wear, as you can see here. Present yourself, Birdie!

Of Royal Lineage

Incidentally, the bambini had an interesting exchange this morning in which princesses figured. They were at Target with Julie doing the week's shopping and Birdie was refusing to move over in the big cart to allow Joe to climb up. Now it's true: Joe could have walked around. But Julie had already asked Clara to move over and as Koe pointed out to her, "Mommy is the boss." He notes that when she grew up and was a Mommy, she could be the boss. Clara-- through tears--informed him she wasn't going to be a mommy; she was going to be a princess. That's when Joe broke it down further for her in a very that's-what-you-think tone, telling her that princesses were the king's mommies.  That's when the Mommy Boss (the Queen) said she was going to count to five and by the time she got to five, she wanted the princes-to- be to have moved. And thus was peace restored to the realm.

All Hail Princesses!

As we recently reported, Clara got no fewer than three princess dresses for Christmas--one Tinkerbell dress, and two Ariel dresses. Clara also received two tiaras, two wands, and three pairs of shoes, as well as some necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Since Christmas, all of these things have been strewn hither and yon about the house as Biride changes from one princess to the next. For a few days, the necklaces, bracelets, and rings were draped and hung on the Christmas tree. (Clara is very much a fan of the Fancy Nancy books, which--for our Fans who do not have girls or girls of a certain age--feature a girl who prefers all things fancy.  Decorating with her jewelry was Clara's way of making the Christmas tree ever more fancy.) But tonight, all of Clara's princess accoutrements are hung in her room from hooks that Grandma Connie and Julie went and got the day after Christmas.

Aunt Kate--always so kind and generous in her perspective--congratulated Juie for embracing the whimsy of childhood. Perhaps, but it was most definitely an expression of Julie's continued embrace of neatness. Still, we knew our Birdie would love it, and indeed, she did. When she saw it, she walked straight up to it and hugged her dresses to her. She looked like a punch drunk bumble bee, in her yellow shirt with the flower on it, and black tights. (The bambini's latest is to dress up as Ariels and tights are a key part of their get-ups.)

Recently, a mother with a daughter younger than Clara asked Julie how she felt about the "princess culture." Julie is afraid she did not seem very erudite when responding because although the princess culture long ago registered as something she, as a Modern Woman, might want to worry about (in the way parents of boys might worry about gun play), there just didn't seem to ever be time to form an informed opinion about it. Julie always felt like she should get her story straight on it, but then, Cinderella and the gang weren't in the house anyway, and there were plenty of other worries to fill the void. Then one day, there Clara was saying that Tinkerbell was her favorite princess and telling you that you were wrong when you said Tinkerbell was a fairy, and then she wanted to be Tiana for Halloween, and then Ariel swam up to be part of her world. (Turns out, they learn more than just the alphabet at school.) Now that princess culture has most definitely invaded, Julie can't seem to think anything more than "Well, what the hell." For Clara, it seems to be not at all about landing a Prince Charming and everything about enjoying a good dress, some fabulous shoes, and some sparkles.

Julie can understand this. She remembers with fondness a dress she first saw in a shop window not long after she'd graduated from college and was working at her first "real" job. It was a hot pink, floor length, silk dupioni number with a backless back. She went in and tried it on and discovered the skirt had just the slightest train. In short, it was fantastic, and Julie felt fantastic in it--like royalty. She bought it, and wore it New Year's Eve 2000. (A tiara and long white gloes would not have been misplaced.)

So now Julie knows how she feels about princess culture, at least when it comes to her princess: she  doesn't think her little girl thinks a princess is anyone other than someone with really terrific clothes (and hair), someone who goes through the world a little more fancy, and Julie is all for terrific clothes and hair, being fancy, and our Birdie feeling terrific.

Christmas Memories

Well, Fans, Santa found us here at the White House, including Grandma Connie and Grandpa Charles, who drove up from Chicago again having done the same about a month ago for Thanksgiving.  They are I-94 Rockstars and if we'd thought of it sooner, we'd have gotten them something for their car to denote them as such.

Santa brought (almost) everything the bambini had written on their respective lists.  Joe's list was Angry Birds Go Pirate Ship game and "Star Wars stuff" with a written-on-the-sealed-envelope last minute addition: a DS.  Clara's list was a princess, a ballerina, and a net (by which she meant a butterfly net though we already have one of these so it was a bit confusing) and a written-on-the-sealed-envelope last minute addition: bracelets.

If we are honest with you, Joe was initially disappointed by the absence of a DS and especially with us when it was revealed that we had told Santa not to bring him a DS because he was being given greater access to the iPad for which Mommy and Daddy had gotten him more games.  Julie broke this news to Joe, and though her heart hurt to see Joe so disappointed, it was also cheered to see him striving for maturity beyond his five years.  Joe was able express his disappointment almost entirely with words.  He told Julie that he really wanted a DS because the iPad didn't have Mario and he hardly ever got to play Mario at school.  Follow-up questions revealed that "school" in this instance is KinderCare where one of Joe's classmates once brought in a DS to show 'n' share (clearly the show 'n' share champion that day) and Joe got to play Mario briefly then.  We didn't ask him to understand that we didn't want to introduce another screen into the house at this time and how that might make screen time management more difficult overall.  Instead, we sought understanding on being grateful for that which has been given us, and especially for the people who are giving us things, which includes their love. (We also showed him how to play Fruit Ninjas.  Current high score: 65.)  He seemed to understand because he played happily all day (and not just slicing fruit on a screen).  But as Julie tucked him in, he did inform her that he was going to ask for a DS again, and then asked her to please not tell Santa not to bring one.  Julie agreed (and didn't say anything about his birthday in July).

Clara for her part shimmered, literally.  The last thing she opened was a complete Tinkerbell costume, replete with twinkling wings and shoes with pom-poms on the toes and heels that light up as one walks (or, as the case may be when your foot doesn't quite reach all the way to the back of the shoe, stomps).  Birdie Brigade, you should have seen her because the pictures don't quite do justice to her decked out in her fairy finery.  She has a new baby doll to take care of, art to create, all kinds of jewelry to make and wear, and a Hello Kitty bike to ride come spring.  Fingers crossed, come then, you'll be seeing a picture here of a little girl rolling down he street in twinkle wings and a helmet, streamers fluttering in the wind.

So we say goodbye to another Christmas, but not the people who gave us so many lovely things, including their love, for which we are grateful at Christmas, and always.  And here, by request from one of them, are more pictures.

You just know the good folks at the post office were mystified if they opened this one.  "Does that say 'net?'  Is that an E?  It's gotta be. . .because what's an NFT?????"

The only town-only address there is.

It's a good thing Joe doesn't know the names of all the reindeer, or he might still be writing the salutation and introduction.

But where's Mrs. Claus and Rudolph here, huh?

Grandpa, do you want some help opening that?  I'm really good at opening presents.

Grandma Connie and and Joe.

A Fruit Ninja and his father.

Mommy, did you get this one over here?  Make sure you get them all.

It fits!

Julie with two of the greatest gifts ever.

First princess costume change.

"Ned?  Who's Ned?"  (Joe handing Ted a gift with a childhood nickname on it.)

Thats right.  The second princess costume change happened when you blinked, Fans.

Tink.

How she glows.

Grandpa, I gotta put a little fairy dust on you.  Trust me.  You're gonna love what it does for you.

A merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

A Big Birdie Naps Like A Little Birdie

Joe still had his reindeer nose come Monday, but Clara had napped hers off. She has been just the tiniest bit under the weather with just the tiniest bit of a cold, but it wasn't so tiny that it wasn't affecting her sleep. When sick, Birdie sleeps fitfully and not very well unless she is nestled against Ted or Julie.  Sunday afternoon, she padded downstairs mewling and sad and climbed up on the couch on top of Julie and slept while Julie read and Ted and Joe made the Swiss Crisp cookies Ted grew up eating at Christmas.  When Clara was little bitty, she often slept on Julie's chest, and continued to do so even when she was more of a would-be colt--all arms and legs.  It'd been some time since Birdie had fallen asleep on top of Julie, and while Julie wouldn't wish Clara sick, but it was a lovely way to spend Sunday afternoon all the same.

Oh!  You don't make cookies in your underwear?

Breakfast With Santa

Those are reindeer antlers on Joe.  (They were a fun while eating.)  Birdie got a butterfly.

The keen-eyed among you, Fans, may have noticed in the photo accompanying the last post, that Our Hero's nose was red, like Rudolph's you might say. Yesterday morning found us brunching again this holiday season with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  It's true: out of all the places in the world they could go for brunch, they brunch at the Lakeshore Grill in the Macy's in our local Southdale mall! The Lakeshore Grill folks run a slick operation for Santa and his guests. Guests pay when they make their reservations, so when they are done eating (or one of the smallest guests is scared by the well-meaning hosts), they don't have to wait to leave, but can instead beat a hasty retreat, snagging a winter-themed stuffed creature from the basket by the entrance to the restaurant. In the meantime, there are face painters, balloon animal makers, and ready bowls of Cinnamon Toast Crunch to entertain the little people until the big guy in red appears.  And the buffet has cheesy hash browns! Santa does it up right and we love having brunch with him.

For Joe, A Heart To Heart

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid.

Frederick Buechner

Palo,

Today is the first day of your first ever winter break! You are home with me and your sister; Daddy is at work. You wanted to go to the zoo, but it's in the single digits out here and even though the Minnesota Zoo has an indoor trail, I said no because we'd really be limiting the number of animals we
could see by going today. I think you understood this, but you were disappointed all the same.

Instead, I took you and Clara to see the new Disney movie, Frozen.  Things can be pretty fraught in
the "wonderful" world of Disney, and so it was in Frozen.  You weren't terribly keen on the wolves chasing one of our heroines, or the ice monster chasing that same heroine, or any of the other myriad obstacles thrown up to thwart her along her way.  (Clara wasn't either, but she was more enchanted by  the frozen landscape.) What really crushed your heart though, was the older sister possessing the magical power to turn everything into snow or ice pushing her little sister away out of fear that she wouldn't be able to control her power and hurt her little sister or someone else.  And the parents of the sisters dying.  (The parents almost always kick it the so-called wonderful world of Disney. Or they are separated from their kids.  It's all "wonderful."). So of course it crushed your sensitive heart that I love so much, and that beats so close to the surface of this life. There was a silly snowman and a reindeer providing some comic relief, but not enough. I know, because we stayed and you were beside yourself in my arms for most of the movie and in spite of the eventual happy ending and the beautiful animation.

We went to McDonald's after it was all over. I cried quietly almost the whole way there. I was feeling guilty, and sad, and worried; guilty because maybe I should have known better, sad because you were sad, and worried because this world is beautiful and terrible, and I am one of the people who has to teach you to move through it with awareness and courage, and I'm not so sure myself sometimes the best way to do that.

You didn't notice me crying and neither did Clara.  You were both tired after such an emotional hour and a half and so lost in the world passing by outside the windows.  (You both rallied quick enough at the prospect of a happy meal toy though.)

I rallied, too, and now that we are at home and I am writing this while Clara naps and you construct some enormous art installation with--so far--Scotch tape, blue painter's tape, paper, and staples (oh and paper of course), I am thinking that maybe the way I teach you how to meet the world with an open heart but protect it, too, is to show you how to rally.  And maybe that's what you are doing with all that tape.  Nurturing resiliency--sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously; rallying--works pretty well when you've got a sensitive and open heart in a world that is beautiful and terrible.  (It's even better than just going to the zoo. But we'll skip out on Disney for a while. Now those Berenstein Bears? They know how to make a movie.)

I love you and your heart, Palo, with all of mine.

Mommy

At the installation's start.  Much bigger now.

The Baby Whatever

As you know, Fans, from time to time, we like to recount for you conversations between, or with one of, the bambini. Here is a conversation that occurred in the car on the way to the nature center last night:

Clara (breathless, giddy): "Christmas lights!"

Julie: "You might want to get in the habit of saying holiday lights because not everyone celebrates Christmas, but might still put up lights for other holidays."

[beat]

Clara: "Yeah, like Baby Gina."

Joe: "Jesus."

Clara: "Yeah, that's hard for me."

Ted notes that although Joe was only too happy to school Clara here, he recently referred to the Baby Jesus as the Baby Genius. Which is, of course, genius.

Jesus. Mary and Joseph.

Owling

Fans, we went owling tonight and we saw TWO owls--!!!!! A great horned owl and either that same owl again, or a barred owl as well. We don't know because excitement was high at the moment of each spottings and we were absorbed in trying to describe where they were in the trees to the bambini which distracted us from listening to our guide. But we know that a pair of great horned owls live at our nature center, together with a barred owl. Apparently great horns will often prey on barred owls but these three have made a non-aggression pact and have shared this bit of woods happily for years.

We were at the nature center in early evening but the sun had set so we were seeing the owls in silhouette, which is why it was tough for the bambini to spot them in the trees-. The bambini were looking for brown feathers, maybe a white face. But the bambini had them for sure when the owls took off.

We learned all manner of cool owl facts. The family favorite was the secret of owls' silent flight demonstrated with wings from a found-dead red tailed hawk (loud) and also found-dead great horned owl (silent): the leading edge of a owl's feathers are fringed, making the air move over them differently thus allowing owls to be utterly silent.

It was actually sort of amazing that we saw an owl, let alone two, since we were to be quiet as mice (which, by the way, owls can hear under the snow--!!!!!), which is a tall order for about eight young kids and their 12 or so shushing chaperones.

At the end of the hike, we made s'mores and Ranger Dude Mark read us Owl Moon. By that point, 

our toes were cold, especially Birdie's. (The deep freeze has broken, but it's still December in
Minnesota.) So we hurried to Bronzie and scooted home where, after the Birds had stood in a tub of warm water, we all piled into the big bed where we read Owl Moon again, and Knuffle Bunny Two.

So we had owls, moons, snuggles, books, and each other. That's so many of our favorite things! As Birdie might say, it was moony.

The P Is Hidden

Clara has her phonics class on Mondays so the letter up for discussion there is also often a topic of discussion at Monday's dinner table. Yesterday's letter was L. Clara contributed lollipop, lizard, and ladder ("like Daddy sometimes uses to do stuff on the roof!") to the class list of L words. Longtime Fans know that what we White Housers like to do sometimes for fun is rattle off words that begin with a particular letter and there's nothing like a phonics class discussion to kick off a round. (Oh we do dorky fun up right here at the White House, Fans.) Sometimes the bambini tee up a word that has a the letter of the moment in it.  Different, advanced letter gaming and tough to discern the degree of deliberate choice being except used in so doing, so it's a banned practice. Somehow last night--the exact connective tissue lost in the letter fun--Joe said he had a hidden letter in his name: the P, which he drew on the outside of his cheek with his finger--like it was hiding in his mouth? He said it's there, but you can't hear it. It's true that it's not Joe-sep. Right? Right. This kid!  This kid! Right?! Right.

The Sledding Hill

We are in a deep freeze here in Minnesota, and day one was last Friday which was also an early release day for Joe. Ted took the afternoon off and planned for the first sledding outing of the season with Joe at our local park which has a fantastic sledding hill. Ted had put a note in Joe's lunchbox telling him they would go sledding after school so when Ted picked him up at school he was already wearing his snow pants. That meant the boys were the first at the hill.

Given the cold they only stayed about 20 minutes, but they got some good runs in. Joe fell over toward the end of his runs because he was going so fast which resulted in a few frustrated tears, but he did his best to brush himself off and head back to the top. Hopefully it will warm up a bit this weekend and we can head back out with the whole family!

Here is Joe on one of his more successful runs.

ABCD Blanket Pattern

Grandma Connie and Grandpa Charles brought Joe a Spiderman pillow and blanket when they came at Thanksgiving. The pillow is in the shape of Spidey's head, and has been a permanent fixture in Joe's bed since it arrived. Tragically, the blanket has to be washed. Julie insists on it being washed at least once a week, and more often if Joe insist on dragging it across the dog hair strewn floor. Joe no doubt feels Julie is a drag on this point, but frankly, the feeling is mutual. When the Spidey blanket was last in the wash, and the Angry Birds blanket was on Joe's bed, Joe announced that he wanted the dog blanket next. So this weekend, when Julie took the Angry Birds blanket to wash, she got out the dog blanket. Tonight, when Joe asked plaintively where the Spidey blanket was--!!!--Julie reminded him of his request for the dog blanket.  Joe laughed and then said next, he wanted maybe the Thomas blanket. When Julie said "What about Spidey?!", Joe said "I'm gonna do an ABCD pattern." Presumably this means Spidey, dogs, Thomas, and. . .Angry Birds??? Joe is working on patterns at schools, but we are way beyond colored squares with this rotation.

Of Blankies, Lighthas, and Duvets

A few minutes ago, Julie was reading Birdie Fancy Nancy, which the Grandparents Trump brought when they were visiting for Thanksgiving. It's charming and fun. In it, Nancy attempts to get her family to be more fancy--fancy is when you describe your favorite color as fuss his instead of purple. After Julie had closed the book, Clara said, "Hey, Mommy! Do you want to know a fancy word for blankie? Light. . .haaa!" Julie laughed and said, "How about duvet?" Birdie seemed o-kay with that. She's a real love, Brigade. And like Fancy Nancy says, there's not a fancier or better way to say I love you than I love you.

E is for Ekkers

We think all schools should adopt this curriculum.

The Girl's Alright

Last night, after reading books, Julie asked Clara to tell her one thing about the day that hat made her happy, and Clara said, "Nobody hit me."  Now if that doesn't just crush your heart, Birdie Brigade, we don't know what does. One knows, of course, what a rough a tumble world it can be out there, especially in preschool, but still, there are moments that bring you up short. Julie asked Clara who hits her and learned it's the Frenemy Daphne.  FD also apparently tells Clara she's yucky, and while we could tell that big smelly stupid head a thing or two, instead, Julie told Clara that she loved her, and her tender little heart; and her creativity; how confident she is, always game for anything; and how she loves dazzle and sparkles and doing her hair up just like Mommy; and how she likes books, and just so many things and that Clara would always be in her heart.  And Clara said, "I love you, too, Mommy."  So that's alright, and that's what Our Birdie is.

Up on the Countetop

Working out is clearly agreeing with Joe because recently, he's taken to hoisting himself up on to the center island in the kitchen. Here he is perched up there after working out with Julie (and Ellen), eating pita chips, and thinking he's all kinds of hot stuff.

Our Hero Works Out

The other thing that Joe still thinks is pretty cool to do with Julie is work out.  (Clara, not so much.)  He's getting the lingo down as well as the moves.  The other work he informed Clara that it wasn't "doing exercises," it was "working out."  Joe is always a little disappointed when the DVD up in the rotation is the one requiring light hand weights.  Little wonder, Fans: Julie started out doing the workout with three-pound weights and then decided she was going to have to work up to those, so she uses two-pound weights.  That of course leaves the three-pound weights rattling around and Joe insists on using them, even though one of the people in the DVD (Michelle; oh we are on a first name basis with our preferred instructor, Ellen, and all her demonstration ladies, Fans) modifies the workout by not using weights at all.  So it is fair to say that Sleek Sculpt Express is the most difficult workout for Joe which is maybe why last night, he stripped down to his underwear for it.  We hasten to reassure you, Fans, that he does not actually hoist six pounds about for the whole workout.  The hand weights come and go even if, for the most part, he does not.  It's all very charming, Fans.  Especially when he turns to Julie and says things like, "We worked up some good energy, right, Mommy?"  As we say, he's getting the lingo down, and well, we like to talk to Ellen while we're working out.  When she's all, "We're doin' it today, man!", we're all "That's right, Ellen!"  And when she's all "I know the going gets tough, but you can do it!  You're tough!", we bite our tongue because we can't say "Shut up, Ellen," in front our five-year-old, because the going really is tough at that particular point.  Maybe it's less so in Batman underwear.

Getting Cooler Every Day

Snow fell all Monday afternoon here in the Great White North, so that by early evening when it was time to collect Our Hero from chess club, it was looking very winter wonderland outside.  Julie decided to walk to get Joe so they could crunch their way home in the snow and look at holiday lights on the way.  She'd brought his boots along, so Joe threw his backpack down in the hallway and plopped down to put them on.  After he got up and had tossed his backpack over one shoulder, Julie asked if he'd like to put his backpack straps on both shoulders.  This is when she got schooled again in not framing something she wants to happen as a question and elementary school trend setting, because this is when Joe looked at her and with great solemnity said, "No.  The big kids don't do that and I want to be like the big kids."  At least he's not too cool to walk home with his mommy in a new fallen snow looking at holiday lights--yet.

Rainbow Snowflakes Are Falling

We did quite a bit of crafting at the White House this past Thanksgiving weekend, as well as offsite at two different open kids' art studios.  The the second one we visited, they had Do-A-Dot paint markers at a table with some snowmen cutouts and larger sheets of paper.  The idea was to make wrapping paper, but the paper wasn't really of the wrapping paper weight, so Julie took to making snowflakes with it, and then do-a-dotting around them to make greeting cards, all of which made her realize snow flake making season was also upon us.  And that realization led to the attendant realization that the White House has large expanses of floor just ripe for spreading craft paper, all of which meant that it was probably high time to invest in some Do-A-Dot paint markers of our very own.  So she did, which is how Sunday afternoon found her making snowflakes which she and the bambini then do-a-dotted (or did a doodle-dot, as Clara would say) about them on the craft paper on the floor.  (This was when Ted was at Target purchasing their Christmas presents!)  The bambini passed the Do-A-Dot markers back and forth like there were eight thousand of them instead of just eight.  All was calm and all was bright.  And now we have stained glass colored snow flakes to hang up on the back doors.  It's the craft project that keeps on giving, Fans!

Glory to the Newborn King, Right There on the Mantel

We also unpacked the creche this weekend.  As you know, it is substantial.  In addition to the Holy Family gathered round the major, the arrival of the baby Jesus is celebrated by creatures in a number of areas.  Working from left to right on the mantel--oh you read that right, Fans, the mantel (the creche extends for a good portion of the length of the mantel), we have: the African and Asian continents; the farm; the woodlands; the ocean; the Arctic; and the angels, on high.  Well o holy night.  Each year, the bambini each select a new member to join the menagerie.  Fans, we will not keep you in suspense: we are pleased to announce the arrival of a pig (christened Wilbur, naturally) and a shark to our mantel.  The menagerie's ranks actually swelled by two more this year because Ted decided he wanted a penguin and a polar bear--hence the creation of the Arctic area, complete with an ice berg, which longtime Fans (and even longer time creche watchers among them), will perhaps have noted are entirely new area.  It's a real glory to the new born king.

Tree Trimming

These past few years, we have take to putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.  This year was no different, except for the bit where Ted and Grandpa Charles had to restring the lights because a good portion of them were out.  Our Hero still loves to trim him a Christmas tree, Fans.  Though he is learning at he heels of a master Christmas tree trimmer (also known as Grandma Connie), Our Hero's enthusiasm for the task still outstrips his abilities.  That's why most of the ornament hanging occurs when Clara is napping or both bambini are being wooed with something they love more than tree trimming: swimming in a pool.  Our strategy is to begin when the bambini are about, complete most of the decorating when they are not, and finish up when they are back about so they, too, can take it all in with contented sighs--or try to touch every single ornament they can reach.

We Did Not Fall Into the Gravy

Our Little Turkeys

You thought we fell into the gravy, didn't you, Fans?  Well, we have been up to all kinds of things since last we left you and time flies. Grandma Connie and Grandpa Charles were up from Chicago to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with us. They came with all kinds of fun things to do: ornament making kits, gingerbread house building kits, new books, princess mirrors to decorate, Lego sets. . .So we were terribly busy constructing things, glitter glue-ing it up, reading, making turkey. . .

Over that turkey, we all shared something for which we were grateful this past year. Turns out, we were all grateful for our family that loves us through thick and thin.  And school.  Birdie is grateful for school. Our cups runneth over.

"Grandpa Charles, this Nancy's got nothing on me.  Oh, I'll show her fancy."

Grandma Connie was in charge of the icing.

It takes a very steady hand. . .

The Bambini Visit Ms. Debbie

The bambini got haircuts yesterday.  They are always very excited to visit Ms. Debbie and Ms. Debbie never disappoints.  She gave Clara curls, a purple half pony, and a blue ribbon.  Our Birdie felt just like a princess and was so excited she could barely keep still.  Joe was allowed to sweep up and use the central vacuum system with which he has been taken ever since learning of its existence.

So excited about my curls and purple half pony and blue ribbon that I can't stop waving my hands!

Scarfing it up just like Mommy.

Ready for my close-up.

Can't look at you.  Too busy sweeping.

Just A Picture. . .

Birdie, for her part, can often be found drawing pictures, or adding to the outlines of princesses that usually Ted has drawn for her.  She has taken to hanging them about the house with the blue painters tape (that we might as well buy in bulk).  Here are a few of her recent efforts.

Practicing curly hair!

Princess in sunglasses!  (Like Mommy.)