You didn't really think that was all the pictures I had did you?  Really I have a problem when it comes to pictures.  I love to take them, but rarely have time to do with them as I'd like.  For the blog I simply crop, resize, and post with an occassional edit out of red eyes.  I'd love to get fancy, but ha! when would I do that?  I will also remind you that I post additional pictures in the photo gallery.

Here are some of the kids recently at a park.  It was a little cold and damp that day, but they were able to get out and stretch their legs for a short while.  Then the rain started back and we headed home for dry clothes (and a nap).

And their all time favorite at any park - the swings!  For a little boy that didn't really care for the baby swing he sure loves to swing now.



She has always loved to swing even as a baby.



Puzzles are another favorite of these two.  The problem there is that they are at different levels.

He proved to be a real pro at his new puzzle.  Which might mean he is ready to move up, which I'm sure will lend itself to more "help" from his big sister.

And here he is busy being cute (and without his "cheese" face which I appreciated)

(For some reason my children put their feet and / or legs up during some photos, but oh well.  Sometimes those are the ones that I end up liking best.)

I know that at least one person feels that I am behind on posting pictures.  I can hear her thinking that she needs a picture fix, so this one is for you.  :-)

I've said it before and I'll say it again it warms my heart to see the two kids really playing with one another.  They both loves books, so it is nice when she will sit down and read to him.  Here she is using her Tag, but other times she will "read" it herself.  Sometimes she knows every word of the book and others she will just tell the story.  Sometimes I wonder if she really can read, but isn't letting on.  

Other times they are both into their own individual things and they do not care to share.  As long as they are nice about it I don't mind.  They are intitled to be individuals after all.  Here is our princess busy being a princess.

I understand some parents not wanting to buy a costume their child will only wear once.  But really to our princess they are a part of her everyday life.  So much so that he has decided to see what the fuss is all about.

He walked the walk and then promptly put the shoes back.  I guess a princess he is not.  :-)

Then in pj's and ready for bed they were back to being sweet and sharing a story.

But her love for books is longer than his attention span, so it usually ends like this.

And one more of them together since it can be so rare.

So while on the way home from a birthday party yesterday for a school friend, my daughter and I were having a sweet conversation.  Somehow the subject got to loosing teeth and the tooth fairy.  She was excited to tell me all about how it works, which I found interesting as we've never discussed it before.  So I figure she's heard all about it from one of her friends.  As she's going along she concludes that the only problem is that none of her teeth are loose.  So I pointed out that she will likely be 5 or 6 before she looses a tooth.  Complete silence for a moment or two.  Then I hear this "But 6 is old!"  Seriously?  6?  Oh, man I'm in BIG trouble!

We decided to take the kids to the fair yesterday for a few hours.  We aren't serious fair goers, but we did go spend a little time.  He was a little indifferent to it, but she was excited.  They saw animals

 

and exibits (including some they would have preferred not to have gotten so close to).

She rode rides including the merry-go-round

the swings

the strawberries (though we thought they were apples at first)

and the balloons.

He was very happy NOT to ride the rides.  For some reason he is terrified of the merry-go-round as of late, so he was worried that he was getting on.  But once he realized he was just going to watch, all was good.

They got to taste the fair food as well.  We decided to give the fried oreos a try this year.  Not bad at all.

And then for a final treat we let them have cotton candy.  Just the thought of getting some was more than she could handle.

(Notice that he feet aren't touching the ground.)



Yes, she loved the cotton candy.  He on the other hand wanted to know what cruel joke of a food it was.  He was NOT impressed and passed on the treat.  No complaints here - did we really need both hyped on sugar?  :-)  Yes indeed it was a fun time at the fair. 

Our little boy loves food in general.  But there have been some foods that he has traditionally not been as fond of.  Meat falls into this category from time to time, but beans area always ok.  Blueberries are a favorite, while strawberries have always been turned away.  So the other day when we were unloading groceries and he saw the strawberries and decided that he needed some I dismissed him.  After all he's never taken more than one bite and made a face.  But he was persistent.  So I finally gave in figuring a snack of fruit is ok and I'm tired of listening to him ask knowing he won't eat them.  So I sat him down with two clean nice looking strawberries.  And do you know he ate them?  In fact, he wanted more. 

I'd like to say it was because they were so tasty, but there is part of me that thinks it was just to prove me wrong.

At least that was my impression of this cutie.  But either way he ate a few and enjoyed every moment of it.  With half a dozen or so berries he managed to get a path of juice down the front of the bib so good that it covered the front of his shirt.  At least it seems to have washed out.  So maybe the trick for him to eat some foods is to say no.  Sigh.  The bad news is that now when we have berries I have two thiefs.  :-)  Next summer should be interesting around here.  Wonder how much I'll end up buying just so I can have some too?  

This past weekend we attended a family wedding.  So first I must say congrats to the bride and groom - Leslie and David! 

And then of course I have to share some highlights and pictures.  Yes, the kids went with (as where else were they to go?).  We were prepared though to have to exit the ceremony as quickly as possible should one of them not cooperate.  Jordan was an angel.  She has this whole wedding thing going anyway as she loves to see wedding dresses (aka princess dresses to her).  In fact just Friday she announced that her prince told her she was getting married that day.  Yes, she announced she was marrying her Prince Eric Friday.  We tried to get details, but alas I guess we weren't privy.  So as far as we know the wedding didn't go off.  :)  And yes, this is all related to her obsession with Ariel and the Little Mermaid.  But anyway, back to the real wedding of the weekend.  

Like I said she was into the whole wedding.  

He wasn't into the wedding, particularly the ceremony.  But then again it was nap time and he had eaten a snack, but not lunch.  So, no it wasn't his deal.  Until the ceremony was over and we were leaving to congratulate the bride and groom.  And then he discovered the rose petals that the flower girl had dropped.  Then he knew his purpose.  To pick up all the rose petals and give them to Mommy.  So he did (or at least the ones from our last pew on out the door).  And then when there were no more petals he started handing me leaves that had gotten tracked in. 

So yes, that was our little boy on the floor picking up leaves.  Sigh.

And then he realized there was food at the reception and he was in love.  

And cake just put them over the top.

 

So then with bellies full - especially with cake - they had fun playing with the other kids.  It seems they were entertained by the older kids who did a short puppet show for them, hula hooped, and played with pin wheels.  Because that is what all kids do at weddings isn't it? 

 

All in all a good time was had by all!

And then it was time for us to head home.

Our children always listen.  They always do as they should and never try things that we as parents would prefer they not do.  Ha!  Yeah right!  They have an adventurous side.  One of them seems to more so than the other.  Can you guess which?

That isn't to say that the other didn't try this (just no photo evidence).  In fact, she might have gone so far as to tip it over to find out why we say no.  Hmmm....   No, not my child.  :-)

But most of the time they are playing more along the lines of what they should be doing.  You know using toys the way they were designed to be used?  

But even then it can be hard to catch them in action.  They have perfected the art of looking away.  Even now he will sit with his back to me.  But sometimes they indulge me with a great shot.

And sometimes they get so wrapped up in what they are doing that apparently they forget all about me.  (Here they were playing in their pop up tents and dancing to music.)

A video would have been better, but oh well.  Maybe next time...

Every weekend morning our oldest has decided that instead of cartoons she would like to watch a movie.  And by movie I mean The Little Mermaid.  You see that is her absolute favorite.  To the point that if our youngest sees you with a DVD he will start yelling "Mermaid!"  Really it is that bad.  At least I was able to find a copy of the trilogy, so that we can mix in a few versions of the favorite.  But this morning she suprised me.  After not watching anything yesterday she asked to watch a movie.  I knew what was coming.  It was still in the DVD player from last week.  But instead she asked to watch Cinderella.  I had to check to make sure I'd heard correctly.  Yes, indeed Cinderella it was.  So as they gathered chairs, I put the movie in to cries of "Mermaid!"  She had to explain - no Cinderella.  Boy was he confused.

But that didn't keep the grins from coming!

And his tradition of only staying in the chair and watching it for a few minutes held true.  Even less than normal as there wasn't a Mermaid or fish to point out.  He wasn't overly impressed with Cinderella.  He went back to his vehicles and balls.