Meet George

Warning: this post contains multiple references to poop. Non-parents, proceed with caution. Parents, read on; this is nothing new to you.

Everyone, say hi to George:


So, Clara may not have been the hardest child ever to fully potty train, but she's certainly up near the top. In a fit of desperation a few weeks ago, I promised her a fish just like her friend's if she would just poop in the toilet. Four-and-a-half years of changing poopy diapers will do that to you. She finally did it, and we are now completely pull-up free. And of course, she remembered that rash promise I made and has held me to it. Last night we made a trip to the pet store to pick up her new little friend. Today she informed me that she'll be getting a second fish next week. Um, no.

Unless we prove ourselves to be incompetent fish handlers. Which is quite possible. Then she just might get a second fish next week. Wish us all luck.

Utensils

Because I'm Anna, and I like to do things the hard way, I'm gonna use this spoon instead:




She also likes to eat popcorn with kitchen tongs.

She's weird. And makes me laugh.

Tugging on the Heartstrings

We've had a rough couple of days; Oliver is out of town, Clara has been even more demanding of attention than usual (and that is really saying something), and Anna has been pulling out all the stops on the two-year-old attitude. And she's getting molars. Super awesome.

Mommy would like a vacation.

But.

Then things like this happen:

Clara: Look, Anna, I hurt my knee.
Anna: (bends down and kisses Clara's knee)
Clara: Thanks, Anna. You're the best sister ever.

Okay. You're all forgiven.

Keeping Busy

Today my sister brought her girls over for a cousin play-date/sister craft project time. Given that all four girls were experiencing varying degrees of exhaustion, grouchiness, and general emotional malaise, we spent more time breaking up arguments and drying tears until Clara unwittingly came up with an activity that gave us 20 minutes of nearly uninterrupted project time.

She found three rolls of crepe streamers left over from Anna's birthday decorations. You can imagine the joy of this discovery.






Didn't get a picture of them in their bedroom jumping from bed to bed while wrapped in streamers. Good times.

So, the real question is, does the fact that I let the girls destroy the streamers and then chow down on a bunch of Nilla Wafers while sitting on my pile of clean laundry make me a really awesome mom, or a really terrible one?

Either way, they had a good time. I'm going to go with at least slightly awesome mom.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Hey, look at me! Three days in a row! I don't think we've posted three days in a row since Anna was born. Sick of me yet?

Anyway, our brief taste of summer seems to have gone by the wayside today, so to combat the stuck-in-the-house blues, we decided to make ourselves a little flower garden.

Anna loves markers and now views crayons as completely beneath her. But Anna with markers and Mommy don't always get along. Tangent - the other day Clara was using markers when Anna snatched a few and tried to bring them out into the living room. Marker use is strictly limited to the kitchen/dining room, so I directed Anna back into the kitchen. She disapproved (loudly), and, to show her displeasure, started coloring all over her t-shirt. When I informed her that she could not do that and was on her last warning, she growled at me and started coloring on the kitchen cabinets. Needless to say, no more markers for Miss Anna that day. But back to today...when she's buckled into her high chair, she does great:


And here's our table in full project glory:


Clara loved gluing flowers and gems onto the "grass", but then decided we needed some original artwork as well:



Clara has given Anna a nickname - the Goofer. I think it's appropriate, don't you?


And the finished product, for now. Maybe we'll add some butterflies and bumblebees on our next gray day.

Catching Up - Summer/Fall 2010

As I looked back through my "recent" posts, I realized just how badly we've neglected this poor blog since last summer. So, to begin my penance, here are some photos from last summer/fall...up through Halloween-ish. Clara's fourth birthday, Christmas, and beyond to come soon.

Here are a few favorite outside activities we enjoyed during the three most perfect summer months you can find anywhere. Seriously, summer in Seattle is awesome. The other nine months...well, we don't talk about those.

Backyard picnics, where Anna discovered a love of salsa, and Clara got as much cream in her belly as she did on her nose:



Enjoying the sunshine at one of the many city parks:



Or just enjoying the sunshine in our own backyard:


Sidewalk chalk isn't just for the sidewalk:





And on those days when the weather isn't quite so fabulous, we find ways to stay entertained:





Anna's self-feeding skills keeps improving...except when it comes to spaghetti:


And, last, but not least, a picture of the Halloween costumes Clara came up with. Here are our little fairy princess and bumblebee all ready to hit the Stake Trunk or Treat:

Video Fun

So, I've been inspired to work on improving my blogging frequency (thanks Bonnie!), but I have a house to clean before I can start getting caught up on the happenings of the past few months. In the meantime, here are a couple of videos to enjoy.

Yesterday, during some Sacrament meeting wanderings, Anna discovered the podium in the Primary room at church. She proceeded to climb up and do this for close to five minutes. I figure she's just practicing for her first Primary talk...two years ahead of time.



And another Anna clip. A few weeks ago she learned this most valuable skill:



More to come soon!