The All-Powerful Random Number Generator has declared comment #2 the contest winner: Sarah of Rum Tum. I was sort of glad it was a low number so I didn't have to do any actual counting. Congratulations, Sarah! I have about half of your package ready, but Sayid has filed a restraining order against me so we have hit a snag in that department. Sadly, Sarah is as lame as I was a few weeks ago and doesn't have MyFaceSocialNetwork so she can't take advantage of that aspect of the prize. Anyway, Sarah will have a contest on her blog shortly and have you seen the cool bags that she makes? She is way creative and her package will undoubtedly be very cool (no pressure, Sarah!). I will let you know when Sarah holds her contest and you all can enter there, too. You are also welcome to be a rebel (like moi) and start your own contest. We can't have too many Just Because packages circulating, can we?
We didn't end up going to the zoo yesterday, partly because there was a constant threat of (ALLEGED) thunderstorms (THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED) and also because we were pooped after our wild and crazy Sunday partying. I didn't want to drive all the way there, pay the ridiculously expensive admission fee, and then get rained out. Maybe later this summer.
Instead, we did what most of you were planning to do: yardwork and grilling. We planted and edged and dug and weeded. I love planting with E and L, but I want them to be just a little older and less likely to smush and pulverize the plants. They each picked some marigolds that will be their very own marigolds (I figure they are hardy and maybe won't mind being over watered?) and we planted wave petunias and impatiens and pansies again. I've discovered that day lilies and irises grow very well in my front yard, but my azalea looks sad and awfully brown. I still have some empty space so I think I'll stop at the farmer's market on the way home from work next weekend and pick up a few perennials.
After we did yardwork, we painted thank you notes for the extremely generous family members who sent gifts. Total aside: I was reading one of the you're-doing-everything-wrong parenting magazines in the work pumping room a few weeks ago and I am now inspired to string a piece of twine up and clothespin their artwork to it. Our basement is extremely neutral and that should brighten it up a bit. Plus, I've felt guilty recycling everything they've brought home. Now I'll have somewhere to put it and there is plenty of wall space down there.
This weekend C started moving forward, slowly, but with clear intention. It's a definite army crawl, she's not up on her hands and knees, and she uses her elbows to pull herself forward. She's 8.5 months old.
Sunday we celebrated E and L's fourth birthday. We ate blueberry pancakes and sausages and strawberries. They helped make and decorate their own cake and I sat on my hands as their knives dug into the cake and whipped millions of crumbs into the frosting. Then I let them dump gallons of sprinkles on top and cut and serve the cake themselves. It is so freaking hard to let them do stuff sometimes. I want a nicely frosted and decorated cake, cut into neat pieces, but is that the important thing? NO. (but it would be nice.)
We had already given them their bikes that I bought at the moms of twin garage sale. They also got a couple games (Hungry Hungry Hippos is a HUGE hit) (plus Go Fish, Dominoes, and Zingo) so it will be nice to say goodbye to Candyland for a while. My in-laws got them a train set and three Fancy Nancy books (which are super cute). We bought them a few books, too, because IT IS A SICKNESS*: the other Ella the Elegant Elephant books, a few Harold and The Purple Crayon (one of A's childhood favorites), and another Olivia book (I think I like Olivia and the Missing Toy best thus far). The best present, though, was a dress up costume for each. I let them pick their own (thanks, Amazon!) and L picked a beautiful pink princess dress and E picked . . . Batman. She asked for Spiderman, but I couldn't find any that described the sizing accurately and I didn't want to guess too big/small, so Batman was her backup choice. I thought that they would enjoy fancy dresses since preschool is over for the summer, so I was surprised by E's choice of a superhero. We spent yesterday morning playing a game in which I was the Queen and I was mean to the princess and Batman put her hands on her hips and glared at me until I said I was sorry and I would be nice. I have to admit, it is gratifying to be addressed as Queen Mama.
*One of the things I like best about Amazon is that you can buy the book new through them, but you can also peruse the used booksellers that sell through Amazon. I had to pay full price for the newest Ella book, but I got all the other books for a fraction of the cost of new. Who cares if there are library stamps somewhere or some pages are creased?
Over here, you can see a few cake pictures, both girls with their birthday balloons, a hilarious picture of them both wearing their costumes, C enjoying some cake, and a family picture where I look every bit as tired as I am. It doesn't help that I forgot to reapply my lipstick.
We didn't end up going to the zoo yesterday, partly because there was a constant threat of (ALLEGED) thunderstorms (THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED) and also because we were pooped after our wild and crazy Sunday partying. I didn't want to drive all the way there, pay the ridiculously expensive admission fee, and then get rained out. Maybe later this summer.
Instead, we did what most of you were planning to do: yardwork and grilling. We planted and edged and dug and weeded. I love planting with E and L, but I want them to be just a little older and less likely to smush and pulverize the plants. They each picked some marigolds that will be their very own marigolds (I figure they are hardy and maybe won't mind being over watered?) and we planted wave petunias and impatiens and pansies again. I've discovered that day lilies and irises grow very well in my front yard, but my azalea looks sad and awfully brown. I still have some empty space so I think I'll stop at the farmer's market on the way home from work next weekend and pick up a few perennials.
After we did yardwork, we painted thank you notes for the extremely generous family members who sent gifts. Total aside: I was reading one of the you're-doing-everything-wrong parenting magazines in the work pumping room a few weeks ago and I am now inspired to string a piece of twine up and clothespin their artwork to it. Our basement is extremely neutral and that should brighten it up a bit. Plus, I've felt guilty recycling everything they've brought home. Now I'll have somewhere to put it and there is plenty of wall space down there.
This weekend C started moving forward, slowly, but with clear intention. It's a definite army crawl, she's not up on her hands and knees, and she uses her elbows to pull herself forward. She's 8.5 months old.
Sunday we celebrated E and L's fourth birthday. We ate blueberry pancakes and sausages and strawberries. They helped make and decorate their own cake and I sat on my hands as their knives dug into the cake and whipped millions of crumbs into the frosting. Then I let them dump gallons of sprinkles on top and cut and serve the cake themselves. It is so freaking hard to let them do stuff sometimes. I want a nicely frosted and decorated cake, cut into neat pieces, but is that the important thing? NO. (but it would be nice.)
We had already given them their bikes that I bought at the moms of twin garage sale. They also got a couple games (Hungry Hungry Hippos is a HUGE hit) (plus Go Fish, Dominoes, and Zingo) so it will be nice to say goodbye to Candyland for a while. My in-laws got them a train set and three Fancy Nancy books (which are super cute). We bought them a few books, too, because IT IS A SICKNESS*: the other Ella the Elegant Elephant books, a few Harold and The Purple Crayon (one of A's childhood favorites), and another Olivia book (I think I like Olivia and the Missing Toy best thus far). The best present, though, was a dress up costume for each. I let them pick their own (thanks, Amazon!) and L picked a beautiful pink princess dress and E picked . . . Batman. She asked for Spiderman, but I couldn't find any that described the sizing accurately and I didn't want to guess too big/small, so Batman was her backup choice. I thought that they would enjoy fancy dresses since preschool is over for the summer, so I was surprised by E's choice of a superhero. We spent yesterday morning playing a game in which I was the Queen and I was mean to the princess and Batman put her hands on her hips and glared at me until I said I was sorry and I would be nice. I have to admit, it is gratifying to be addressed as Queen Mama.
*One of the things I like best about Amazon is that you can buy the book new through them, but you can also peruse the used booksellers that sell through Amazon. I had to pay full price for the newest Ella book, but I got all the other books for a fraction of the cost of new. Who cares if there are library stamps somewhere or some pages are creased?
Over here, you can see a few cake pictures, both girls with their birthday balloons, a hilarious picture of them both wearing their costumes, C enjoying some cake, and a family picture where I look every bit as tired as I am. It doesn't help that I forgot to reapply my lipstick.
we do that too with our basement walls with school/camp artwork. now if only i got around to changing it ever....the boys have an empty wall over A's bed, so another string goes there. ebay has the PB ones and some crafty people make their own too (basically, the ends are cute objects and the hooks come strung on wire already. whatever, im lazy)
happy birthday! i wouldve done the exact same thing re:cakes (or, made another "pretty" one for the big party) so im impressed with you!!!
zingo is a great game. A, the 2.5 year old, plays it well!
Posted by: obabe | May 27, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Go Queen Mama!
Posted by: Sylvie | May 27, 2008 at 01:54 PM
I'm just tickled that E picked Batman as her dress up costume, how adorable is that?!? Love the pics and as my grandmother would say, pshaw you do not look tired in the family pic. My girls got Zingo for Xmas and I feel really guilty now that I've realized it is still, um, in the box, shrink-wrapped even.
Speaking of cheap books I've spent way too much money over at http://www.sortfloorbooks.com/. The book buying, I agree, is a sickness.
Posted by: Melody_NC | May 27, 2008 at 02:26 PM
I searched high and low for an Elastagirl costume for my L but here in the UK there was nothing. She will however be thrilled to learn there are more Fancy Nancy books - only one seems to have made it into the bookshops this side of the Atlantic.
Posted by: Betty M | May 27, 2008 at 02:49 PM
I didn't know that there was more than one Fancy Nancy book. We got one of those from the library, and Katrina loved it. I'll have to look for more.
I love that E picked a batman costume. That's just totally awesome. Maybe Houston would let her borrow his Spiderman costume for a little while if she asked him. It would probably fit her since he can still squeeze into it when he wants to.
And you're a much nicer Mama than i am. I haven't even thought of letting my kids decorate their own cakes. Wow. That would take will power.
Posted by: karen | May 28, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Happy Birthday! That reminds me, you mentioned some cards that have easy games on them for pre-readers. What were those called again?
Posted by: KatS | May 28, 2008 at 01:28 AM
If you get tired of being Queen Mama, I will gladly take over duties.
We're big fans of Hungry Hippos here too, but holy chocking hazard, eh??
Posted by: Jen H. | May 28, 2008 at 12:37 PM
I was defiantly riding my scooter during those alleged thunderstorms. And, the "going commando" post from the future? TOTALLY HILARIOUS!!! Seriously. I laughed until i stopped.
Posted by: juanito | June 02, 2008 at 11:39 PM