The Twirly Tunnel Slide

We took Wolfe Park by storm, too. You see that big twirly tunnel slide in the background there? Fans, Our Hero was all over that thing. He quite literally would just pitch himself down it. You know how many slides will have some sort of bar at the top allowing the slider to grab on to it and swing his or her legs forward before shoving off down the slide? Yeah. Who needs THAT? Not Our Hero. He always went down feet first, but not necessarily on his bottom given that he'd just fling himself into the opening. Ted realized Joe's approach before Julie because he followed Joe up and went down once, too. Julie was at the bottom listening to the racket Joe would make on the way down, sort of vaguely wondering what in the world. . .? But then Joe asked Julie to slide with him, and though Julie is not really a fan of enclosed spaces, she decided to be brave and go for it. Going for it allowed her to witness Our Hero's joyful plunges.

Joe ever so sweetly asked if Clara could slide down with him, but we explained that she was too little for such a big slide. But Clara climbed the steps and went over the weeble-wobble bridge. She swung for a bit, and we all rode a wide teeter-toter while we chanted the first part of Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom. The point, here, is, that Birdie is always game to try and already, is nearly eighteen months old! So before we know it, she'll be plunging down the twirly tunnel slide, too.

The Dynamic Duo Take the TJ's by Storm (and Basket)

This morning, we had no formal plans, so we just ratted around. We went to Whole Foods, and then, to the Trader Joe's before hitting nearby Wolfe Park. We didn't need enough things at Trader Joe's to justify a cart, but did need something to corral the bambini, if not literally, then sort of figuratively. So we asked Joe if he could help by toting the basket. He was game. Clara then of course needed a basket as well. She runs with the big dogs and, she never met a basket she didn't like. (She is fond of taking Julie's mini red toting basket at home and, well, toting it about and filling it with various treasures.) They cut a wide swath through the aisles, and our fellow shoppers were pretty good about giving them a similarly wide berth. Still, we were an unwieldy foursome so got what we needed (frozen peas, sweet potato fries, and honey mango shaving cream) and split for the park.

Pumpkins!

It also would not be fall without pumpkins. The past few years, we have not carved pumpkins, and this year, Ted said he wanted to make some jack-o-laterns. So, yesterday, we headed off to get some pumpkins to carve as Halloween draws closer. We went by way of the library, telling Joe that we were going to "the pumpkin spot," after the library, which led him to inquire if we were going to "the pumpkin library."

Once we arrived at the pumpkin library, the bambini had a good time running (Joe) and toddling (Clara) among all the mums and pumpkins. We picked out four pumpkins that seemed like prime jack-o-latern material, and two little pumpkins, that seemed like prime set-on-the-porch-and-look-festive-and-cute material.

Art Project

Well, Fans, the leaves are now falling in earnest, and would it be fall without doing an art project with some of those leaves? No. No, it would not. So it was that one evening this week found the kinds creating leaf and Play Doh sculptures.

We would be remiss if we did not mention that this art project was born of necessity: we were headed into the house from the car after arriving home from picking-up the bambini. We use the term "headed in" in a loose fashion as Our Hero was protesting. Of late, if Julie tries to unbuckle his car seat straps, he wants Ted to do it. If one of us asks him to take off his shoes or wash his hands, he doesn't want to take off his shoes or wash his hands. Or, he will, but would like for Ted to watch him take off his shoes or wash his hands. (You read that right, Fans. You shouldn't be trying to make sense of all this though. It doesn't make sense. Any sense.) So we were "headed in" by which we mean that Joe was mullygrubbing about something and, necessity is the mother of invention.

Later, Julie and Ted had this exchange:

Julie: BTW, I really like the "art project."

Ted: Um, he was about the burst into tears so I said grab a leaf and we'll do an art project with it!

Julie: No! I really meant nice art project.

Ted: Toddler whisperer. Right here.

leaf sculptures, fig. 1 and 2*

*You guess which bambino made which sculpture, Fans.

Mickey and Minne

Grandma Connie was in Orlando recently where she got Our Hero and his erstwhile sidekick, Birdie, some Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears. Joe's are in baseball hat form, and Joe immediately pointed out that this was a hat "like Graham's," as Graham is known to often sport a baseball cap. Joe wore the Mickey ears to school this past Friday. He thought he was hot stuff.

Clara's Minnie Mouse ears are on a headband, and sparkle from sequins. Birdie loves Minnie Mouse ears as much as Joe loves his Mickey Mouse ears, but the Minnie Mouse ears have been temporarily hidden* because it wasn't long before Clara put them into her mouth and we were worried about her maybe gnawing off and swallowing a sequin. (Sidebar: in this picture, she is pointing to her own ears in response to all the talk of ears.)

No matter though, because Clara also likes to wear Joe's Mickey Mouse ears if she is able. Rollin'-with-my-hommies style.

*On top of the TV cabinet. You remember, Fans. Where we "hide" all things.