See You On The Flip

We wanted to capture this little moment: yesterday, we went to the Little Target to return some things, and pick up some more infant Motrin. Julie was holding Joe's hand, and Ted had Clara in his arms. As we reached the doors, Joe turned back to Ted and Clara and oh so casually tosses out, "You go on ahead. Mommy and me will do the returns and we'll see you on the flip."

We kid you not, Fans. We kid you not.

Quiet Time

Fans, we would be remiss if we did not report on the biggest happening of the weekend before its close. We know: what could be bigger than Santa?! Fans. Our Hero has dropped his afternoon nap. !!!!! It was time. Of late, he wasn't napping so much as making the mischief of a bored three-and-a-half year old boy, and waking up his sister in the process. Also, though he would go into his room at 7:30pm for bed, he was up in there, sometimes past 9pm. It wasn't good for him, and it wasn't good for Birdie. And so, we took a deep breath and introduced Joe to quiet time, outside of his room, and pushed his bedtime up to 7pm.

We first attempted quiet time a bit ago, but in his room. However, Clara, though a good sleeper, is a lighter sleeper, and the moment she would wake, it was all over but the shoutin'--and the gigglin', and the partyin'. (The good news is, they're buddies, and it makes our hearts flip flop--it really does.) And so, quiet time, on the outside, was introduced. So far, the way it's gone down is Joe monkeys around upstairs with his new Dado blocks from Aunt Kate and Uncle Scott, and puzzles. After about an hour--which is a super long time!--he gets, understandably fidgety. Then, we try and fold him into whatever we're doing.

Today, we were taking down the scuzzy, dilapidated drapes that have hung in the dining room since we moved in, and which have hung less than a foot away from the table at which two children have learned to eat solid foods. The silvery gray ones we have seen in many a dining photo op, you may be thinking, Dear Readers? Yes, you've got it--except that the drapes were crisp, snowy white when first hung. Really dazzling against the cranberry walls. . .You will all have to wait for the reveal because after Ted fixed the curtain rod that was hung incorrectly from the get-go, he decided to paint the windows, which had suffered much abuse at the paws of Raleigh. Fans, we're gettin' all respectable 'round here at Raleigh House!

So Joe pitched in by going to the Target with Julie for the drapery panels, toting the mini-vac to Ted as needed, and merrily shoving the step stool hither and yon in the dining room with the two corner cabinets filled with the wedding china and wine glasses, until Julie's nerves were just about shot and he said he just. Had. To. Stop.

Julie will say that it had been a long time since she'd kicked it with Joe by himself, outside of story time and was reminded that the kid is one cool little dude. We covered off on tons of things on the way to and from Target, and in and out of Target. On the way out, he remarked that maybe Mommy would get Frosty soon. Here, he was casting back a day or two, when we were talking about a buddy of his at school who will soon have a brother arriving.* We discussed the fact that Joe has a sister, and so does Daddy, and--MINDBLOWING (still as we've covered this before)--it's AUNT KATE--!!!!! It was at this time that we relayed that Julie did not have a sister, or a brother, and when Joe said something along the lines of we should get one for Mommy, and she should be called Frosty. So today, when we ran into Ms. Melissa of KinderCare with her son and daughter at Target, and were discussing that her son and daughter were brother and sister, it was all very top of mind, apparently, that Mommy does not have a sister (or a brother). But, it must be said--and it was--a pretty fab son. (And, though no actual Frosty, some pretty great Frostys-of-her-heart.)

*Apparently, to be named Mickey like In the Night Kitchen which makes this little bro instantly awesome.

Just a Splash

Yesterday, we received Christmas greetings from the bambini's Great Aunt Janie (and Ted's Straight Up Aunt Janie), which contained a bit about a juice glass, the last remaining from a set of four that Ted had given her when she lived in her New York City apartment. She noted that it was from the days when juice was a luxury so the juice glasses were rather small by today's standards.* This put us in mind of a phrase Joe has picked up and uses to our amusement.

Though the juice glasses of today are bigger, Julie often doesn't want a lot of juice, at least at breakfast, especially if we are already having something sweet with breakfast, as we tend to on the weekends. So, she will often request water, and "just a splash of juice." Naturally, now our three-and-a-half year old can sometimes be heard asking for his own water, and "just a splash of juice." (We have a set of six plastic cups from IKEA that are perfect for little hands, and those who want just a splash of anything.)

*Janie, I know just what you mean! I grew up with a set that were ringed with four large starbursts. We never used them for juice. In fact, one always held toothpicks in the cupboard!

Pajama Walk

Since we had so many new toys, we decided we needed to leave the house! As local Fans know, there is nary a flake of snow on the ground here in the Great Not So White North. Also, it's been downright balmy, especially if you still rock the knee high socks and puffy coats. So after the presents had been opened, we went on what was billed as a pajama walk. (Everything is more fun in pajamas. Also, with a grocery cart, a stroller, and in Mommy's sunglasses.)

Christmas 2011

Good news, Fans: Santa Claus came to Raleigh House. He knew that we have a pretty awesome pair of bambini because he did not disappoint: he brought the fishing pole and Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle for which Joe had asked. Other loot included a "cupcake kitchen," a "basket of babies," a toy record player, books, some Thomas the Tank Engine tracks and trains, a viewfinder, assorted puzzles, and several types of blocks. We are ready to dig a foundation for an addition. Clara also got a dress and a swim cover-up, or so she was told. She thumb her nose at such provincial fashion backwardness and wore them together a good portion of the morning. She'll be mailing some sketches to Santa for next Christmas.

[It's kind of a wild time, making cupcakes.]

[We got train sets. Julie put them together separately. Ted said we should connect the. Julie said, "You need, like, and Engineering degree to do that." It's true. She is very subtle.]

[Berenice, you gotta see this.]

[Daddy, who is this Titian-haired beauty? She has a horse and a sporty blue roadster? Wait, this is Mommy's book? What?]

[Often imitated. Never duplicated.]