Quotable Quotes

So much of what they're learning comes back at us in other situations... D: "Why did you tell that car what to do?" M: "I was just letting him know that I knew he was there, and he could go, so we didn't run into each other." D: "But you're not in charge of him..." M: "True, but sometimes it's polite.... [further explanation follows]" --- D: [to a friend who kept repeating a question] "I already told you that, why are you asking again?" --- D: "Laura, I'm just a little bit sad because Mommy forgot the custard [from the store]. Can you cheer me up? Just make funny faces at me..." - and Laura has her own too: L: [while I'm singing her a song] "I no like that song. Sing Clifford." "Now sing tickle tar [twinkle twinkle little star]." * Ahh, people tell me her strength of character means she'll be a leader. Let's hope so!

Lapping up the student lifestyle

A student husband = lots of vacations! We spent 8 days away from home and mostly at the beach... here's the photo album:

Easter with family friends. Daniel loved his baseball slippers (and two cute older girls to play with), and Laura just loved the chocolate!

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On the beach with the 4-wheel drive (only about 2 mph, but she LOVED it!) Thanks Darrell for your sand dune driving prowess!

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Really, what beats this?

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Eagle jumps on the dunes - what fun!

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And coloring can sometimes satisfy a 2 or 3 year old just as much as the sand - thanks for visiting Elise!

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Pirate treasures from Julie and Nir - do they know what 3 year old boys like, or what?! Sorry about the earring photo Nir, but you were such a superb pirate!

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Baseball with a cricket bat - what a confused American-Aussie Daniel will be!

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And then campfires, complete with dragon stories, hot chocolate and jiffy pop popcorn!

Seeing double

Just had an ultrasound this morning - happened to get into a doctor with little notice, which was surprising - and saw two little heartbeats where we had only seen one at the 6 week ultrasound... um, we're just taking big breaths and trying to see straight... * 11.30pm 1st April: Okay, the tally reached 10 (that I know of), and included my own parents, which I didn't expect (and a bonus freaked out sister who called me the next day without reading this addition to the post)!! Happy April Fools Day...

It was a good day

I was able to enjoy today for what it was.

A happy Laura playing while I sorted laundry.

And a boy on a mission to clean up the hedge clippings that the 'trimmer guys' cut during the day.

Not all the days have been fun or simple for me lately, but today was nice.

The warm sun helped too...

Goodbye music class

Laura looks as though she's really upset by the fact that this was our last music class. But no, it was a day of extreme moods, she just chose this moment to display them in the middle of the circle. Well done, Laura. Daniel, on the other hand gave 'Teacher Sara' a big goodbye hug!

Amusing irritations

Daniel likes 'sticky notes' - you know, post-its. And now we can't find any in the house because he gathers them, puts a rubber band around them, with other random objects, sticks them in some container somewhere amongst his toys, and we are left stickyless. We have started asking him for stickys now, and he thinks that's so funny. Calls himself the sticky-grabber, which comes from a book we have called the shoe-grabber. Am I odd to be mildly irritated by never being able to find a post-it note, or is he odd for this sticky obsession (not that it's his only obsession, mind you)?

Strange feelings

Well, I'm feeling like boycotting blogging for awhile. I probably won't, but there's 2 things I'm thinking: 1. public blogging (and i know it was my choice not to do a private blog) can make it all seem so idealistic - our lives i mean. yes i can post about the tough stuff, but i get most excited about posting fun stuff about the kids, so that's what goes on more, because really, that's more fun to share. 2. if i keep blogging, then i feel like i'm not doing justice to the sadness i feel about losing my father-in-law. i just want that post that i wrote about him to stay at the top and not fade into the blogging distance... Even just writing that seems like now I have permission to 'move on' in blogging without appearing as if I'm forgetting...

New found independence...

Daniel's always wanted help with his bike - getting it out and onto the path. Until yesterday. He wanted to ride it a few doors down (we're in a community-like courtyard), so after his helmet was on, he was off without looking back. Surprise - that's never happened. Then today we walked to a park and he really wanted to ride his bike. He said he could do it the whole way. I was doubtful - it's almost a 15 minute walk each way. But he did it both ways without one complaint of being tired or wanting to stop. So I was wrong. Cool. Simple things make me proud.

2+ Kids

Okay, so I added a "+" sign in the blog description a few weeks ago, but just to be official about it, here's a picture of our baby #3, due mid-October (I'm only 8 weeks along, but it takes too much effort to keep it a secret). It's not much in the way of a photo, I know, but at the bottom of the picture there is the recording of the heartbeat, which we saw and heard pumping away. I didn't think that 3rd time around it would bring tears, but yeah, just little happy tears. Maybe because of everything that had come to pass in the previous weeks, I don't know. There is something lovely in anticipating a new life at a time like this...

Daniel Jesus

Yesterday Daniel and Laura were playing in the laundry basket, using it like a boat. Daniel fell out and I said, "uh oh, Laura, get Daniel, he's falling into the water!" ...to which Daniel replies, "don't worry mom, I'm Jesus, I can walk on water!" And he promptly stands up and 'walks' back into the boat. Love it.