A few pictures of the girls in the backyard...beautiful, beautiful day...
Abby, from every angle =]
If they look busy, they are.
2.28.2008
Some of the Many Faces of the Desert
Here are some of the reasons why I love living here....
Yes, that is Abby...in her pajamas. We're out for our morning walk.
Low sagebrush-covered footfhills beneath snow-capped mountain majesties!
Lone trees amidst sagebrush and tumbleweed along the great Mojave
Great big ocean-blue skies
2.27.2008
Go Fish!
Today, while on our morning walk, Abby and I were discussing a spot where some people had been fishing. She said, "Mommy, I want to go fishing." I said, "Well, we're going to have to wait until Daddy can come take you. Mommy doesn't know how to fish [nor does she want to]." Abby, with her history of fishing with Daddy last summer, thought about that and said, "I can learn you how to fish." Here ensues Fishing 101.
Abby: First, you get the pole, and then you put it in the water.
Me: Just put it in the water? Tell me again, what do you do?
Abby: You get the pole, and you put a worm fish on it.
Me: A worm fish?
Abby: Yeah, you put a worm fish on it and put it in the water, and then out comes the worm.
Me: Out comes the worm or the fish?
Abby: The worm and the fish.
Pretty exceptional fishing points from a 3-year-old, huh?
Abby: First, you get the pole, and then you put it in the water.
Me: Just put it in the water? Tell me again, what do you do?
Abby: You get the pole, and you put a worm fish on it.
Me: A worm fish?
Abby: Yeah, you put a worm fish on it and put it in the water, and then out comes the worm.
Me: Out comes the worm or the fish?
Abby: The worm and the fish.
Pretty exceptional fishing points from a 3-year-old, huh?
2.24.2008
246 Rivers Edge Rd.
We have a new address at our house, thanks to Papa and Grammy B. The girls are subletting the little playhouse in our backyard. They are having a blast! Thanks, Papa and Grammy!!
2.21.2008
Esther's Cute-isms
2-19-08 -- In the car on the way to the store, I was telling my mom what we needed to buy, "I need to get some milk for Esther and..." Esther interrupted by saying, "Mmmmmmmmmmmmm," which she says every time we get her a bottle of milk.
Abby was saying, "Where's Esther's babydoll? Where is it?" I picked it up off the floor in front of Esther's car seat. Esther said, "There it is." Both my mom and I look at each other and say, "Did she just say that?" There have been many times when we could swear she is saying sentences. This is only one example.
On the way home, it started to rain. As the drops built up on the window, Esther pointed at them and said something nonsensical. I said, "That's called rain, Esther. Can you say rain?" As clear as day, she said, "Rain."
1/08 -- When we start counting with "One," Esther says, "Two."
12-31-07 -- Esther started hugging everyone at the doctor's office, anyone who would be a willing participant, including hugging an infant car-seat carrier, in which a baby lay. She tried hugging a 3-year-old boy, who turned his shoulder away at the last second. She stood there, mystified that someone didn't want to hug her. So she turned and hugged his mom's leg instead.
Abby was saying, "Where's Esther's babydoll? Where is it?" I picked it up off the floor in front of Esther's car seat. Esther said, "There it is." Both my mom and I look at each other and say, "Did she just say that?" There have been many times when we could swear she is saying sentences. This is only one example.
On the way home, it started to rain. As the drops built up on the window, Esther pointed at them and said something nonsensical. I said, "That's called rain, Esther. Can you say rain?" As clear as day, she said, "Rain."
1/08 -- When we start counting with "One," Esther says, "Two."
12-31-07 -- Esther started hugging everyone at the doctor's office, anyone who would be a willing participant, including hugging an infant car-seat carrier, in which a baby lay. She tried hugging a 3-year-old boy, who turned his shoulder away at the last second. She stood there, mystified that someone didn't want to hug her. So she turned and hugged his mom's leg instead.
Abby's Cute-isms
2-20-08 -- Abby was helping to feed Esther at breakfast and then wiping her up afterwards. I said, "You like being the Mommy, don't you, Abby?" She responded with, "When I grow up, I want to be JUST like YOU....a mommy."
2-2-08 -- Feeding Esther some grapes in the backseat of the car, Abby says, "You want MORE grapes, Esther? You're going to turn into a grape!"
1-27-08 -- Abby was complaining about an itch in her foot. She said, "My foot feels spicy!"
1-29-08 -- After tasting, with displeasure, some generic-brand green beans we don't usually buy, Abby said, "You need to buy Costco green beans, not Wal-Mart green beans."
12-29-07 -- Excited that Daddy had put the Christmas tree up and said we could trim it, Abby said, "Daddy's the best babe, hah, Mommy?"
12-24-07 -- Papa was cleaning up from Christmas, piling presents on top of Abby who was seated in the new wagon; Abby said, "This ain't cool, Papa."
12-18-07 -- Looking at "Go, Dog, Go," all the dogs are asleep, except for one. Abby says, "Why isn't the dog sleeping?" I say, "Maybe he has insomnia." Abby says, "Or ice cream or chocolate."
12/11/07 -- "Breastfeeding" her doll, she switches sides and says, "This side is milk, and this side is juice."
12-6-07 -- Abby asked me about the whiteboard on the fridge. "What's that for, Mommy?" I respond, "Oh, it's for the things we need to buy at the store." She notices the OTHER whiteboard (my to-do list board). "What's that one for, Mommy?" I respond, "Well, that one is for the things I need to get done today." She thinks about it, and then, knowing we need milk, she points at the first board and says, "Add milk to THAT one."
12-2-07 -- While giving Abby a bath, I was playing with her bathtub letters, trying to show her that "p" is the same as "d," only upside-down. So I kept switching them -- p, d, p, d, p, d. Abby replys, "You're making me tired, Mama."
12-07 -- By looking at the picture directions, Abby figured out how to make the curling iron work on a doll Grandma bought her, even when Grandma was puzzled about it. She says, "You just open this and put water in there." Grandma says, "No, I don't think so," but Abby insists, "See, Grandma." She was correct.
2-2-08 -- Feeding Esther some grapes in the backseat of the car, Abby says, "You want MORE grapes, Esther? You're going to turn into a grape!"
1-27-08 -- Abby was complaining about an itch in her foot. She said, "My foot feels spicy!"
1-29-08 -- After tasting, with displeasure, some generic-brand green beans we don't usually buy, Abby said, "You need to buy Costco green beans, not Wal-Mart green beans."
12-29-07 -- Excited that Daddy had put the Christmas tree up and said we could trim it, Abby said, "Daddy's the best babe, hah, Mommy?"
12-24-07 -- Papa was cleaning up from Christmas, piling presents on top of Abby who was seated in the new wagon; Abby said, "This ain't cool, Papa."
12-18-07 -- Looking at "Go, Dog, Go," all the dogs are asleep, except for one. Abby says, "Why isn't the dog sleeping?" I say, "Maybe he has insomnia." Abby says, "Or ice cream or chocolate."
12/11/07 -- "Breastfeeding" her doll, she switches sides and says, "This side is milk, and this side is juice."
12-6-07 -- Abby asked me about the whiteboard on the fridge. "What's that for, Mommy?" I respond, "Oh, it's for the things we need to buy at the store." She notices the OTHER whiteboard (my to-do list board). "What's that one for, Mommy?" I respond, "Well, that one is for the things I need to get done today." She thinks about it, and then, knowing we need milk, she points at the first board and says, "Add milk to THAT one."
12-2-07 -- While giving Abby a bath, I was playing with her bathtub letters, trying to show her that "p" is the same as "d," only upside-down. So I kept switching them -- p, d, p, d, p, d. Abby replys, "You're making me tired, Mama."
12-07 -- By looking at the picture directions, Abby figured out how to make the curling iron work on a doll Grandma bought her, even when Grandma was puzzled about it. She says, "You just open this and put water in there." Grandma says, "No, I don't think so," but Abby insists, "See, Grandma." She was correct.
2.20.2008
Little Spelling Bee
Lately, Abby's been picking up on all the spelling we do around here...and the fact that usually it's tied to some kind of treat or something good. So today my mom said, "I was going to ask you if you want to go get a s-h-a-k-e"; Abby immediately said, "What are you talking about?"
For awhile now, she's been doing her own spelling when she wants a treat of some kind, for example, "I want some i-c-e c-d-m (or some other creative letter combination)," which usually refers to the fudgcicles in the freezer. She knows the first four letters are i-c-e c, so then she adds other letters of her own after that.
Also, a couple months ago, she identified the word "Costco." It was the first word she could identify all on its own, probably because we go there a lot, and the name is in big bold red letters above the entrance to the store. The incident was cute. I was looking at some photos I had ordered from Costco (in December, actually), and on the front of the photo envelope was the name of the store. She came up, "Mommy, Mommy, that says Costco!"
For awhile now, she's been doing her own spelling when she wants a treat of some kind, for example, "I want some i-c-e c-d-m (or some other creative letter combination)," which usually refers to the fudgcicles in the freezer. She knows the first four letters are i-c-e c, so then she adds other letters of her own after that.
Also, a couple months ago, she identified the word "Costco." It was the first word she could identify all on its own, probably because we go there a lot, and the name is in big bold red letters above the entrance to the store. The incident was cute. I was looking at some photos I had ordered from Costco (in December, actually), and on the front of the photo envelope was the name of the store. She came up, "Mommy, Mommy, that says Costco!"
Abby Gets to Ride
Abby finally got her day in the sun with the neighbor's toy car next door. His name is Jacob, and Abby now calls him her buddy. When she first saw him riding it, she ran up to me and said, "Mommy, ask him if I can ride it." I explained to her that his mommy wasn't around for me to ask. So a week later, when his mommy came out with him, she said, "Now you can ask his mommy if I can ride it." She never forgets a thing.
Anyway, after making her acquaintance, I asked her if it would be okay to lift Abby over the fence so she could play with Jacob for a little bit. -- [Previous to this moment, they had been playing through the fence. At one point, Abby put her hand over the fence (while standing on the higher garden part), and Jacob held her outstretched hand for a few seconds.
It was too cute. ] -- She agreed.
I had no more lifted Abby over when she was crawling up into his car. Jacob's mom said it was fine, amidst my rebuke of Abby's presumptuousness. However, Abby needed driver's training. She kept getting into accidents. So we told her to scoot over and have Jacob drive, since he, at the ripe old age of 4, is apparently a pro. She happily agreed, and they had a blast! Here are some photos of the event. The picture of Abby is dark because it was dusk by the time we gave her another chance at the wheel (which was still a big mistake).
2.15.2008
Forces for Entropy
The Entropy
Force 1
Force 2
Do you want to know what I do all day? Well, at least part of what I do all day. I am constantly putting things back that have been taken out, usually by my youngest. I walk around and see shoes taken out of the shoe caddy (which I'm still working on her not touching), toys out of the toy box, tupperware out of the cupboard (the kitchen cupboard I've designated the girls' cupboard), letter magnets off the fridge, magazines out of baskets, and on and on...not even to mention their bedroom, which is always a constant tornado of toys. Abby has a little blame to take for this mess; hers is just a little more purposeful, but nonethless messy. And yeah, I know I need to train her to clean up, but it's always more work and time to have her clean up her own messes. I usually have her "assist," which generally means she puts one or two of the 30-piece toy back into the container/bag/box/compartment. I often will notice one toy on the ground, in the hallway, for example, and I will ignore it. It will literally stay there several days/weeks before I finally get to it. A lone toy is often not worth the energy expended relative to the satisfaction of a clean surface. Now, a group of toys put away is well worth the energy spent. And what about grouping toys back into their families? Putting the cup and saucer with the tea set, for example. That occurs once every 6 months or so. That's usually when I begin to have a meltdown of sorts, pondering the vanity of trying to fight entropy. Oh well, I guess this is my life right now. I sure do love my two little forces; it's only the entropy that makes me feel a little useless at times. :)
2.14.2008
Hugs and Kisses...
...from the Backyardigans
What better way to spend the day with the girls
than outside in our beautiful backyard (well, it's getting there, okay!).
The girls develop a little bit of the green-eyed monster...
A tender moment of sisterly love...
The Pose
Sweet Sissies on "V" Day
Beautiful, huh?
Sweet Sissies on "V" Day
Beautiful, huh?
Puzzled
Abby was sitting in her room during playtime, trying to configure a puzzle. Soon she announced, "I did it! You have to come see this, Mama!" When I entered her room, this is what I saw...grant it, it's only a 9-piece puzzle, but she did it all herself.
A Day in the Snow
Finally a Smile!
Taking a Stumpy Snow Break
A Full Load 
Sampling the Snow
Starting to Adjust 
Weeeeeeeee! 
Essie's Happy Place 
Papa and Grammy 
Joel and Richelle
Essie's Opinion of it All 
Sledding with Daddy 
The Onlooker 
Getting in on the Fight 
The Snow Fight 
The Fam in Big Bear 
Papa and Abby in the Backyard of the Cabin
We recently took a trip up to Big Bear and stayed for 3 nights, thanks to my generous folks who paid for a beautiful 3-story cabin.
Joel and Richelle came, along with my parents.
We had a blast in the snow...snow fights, sledding, etc...
Abby absolutely loved the sledding; Esther wasn't too crazy about the whole experience, especially the ice-cold greeting of the snow on her little hands whenever she would topple over from the uneven surfaces. (She would have nothing to do with mittens.) She eventually did begin to roam from her comfort zone and have fun with the snow.
All in all it was a great first-snow experience for the girls.
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