MNO

I'm back-blogging here b/c Danisa just sent us this pict from our Mom's Night Out. Another fabulous time with fabulous friends! Love these girls!

DC Aquarium

After seeing what a good time the kids had looking at the fish at PetSmart yesterday, I thought a trip to the National Aquarium in DC would be fun. Turns out, the DC aquarium is small...I think that as far as the kids were concerned, it was pretty much the same as the pet store. Oh well, it was a fun family trip in to DC.

At the pet store there is a sign requesting that folks not tap on the glass. Perhaps at the aquarium there should be a sign requesting daddies not let their daughters eat the glass. ;p I wonder, as they got a close-up of this cute little 1 year old, if the fish thought her outfit was as adorable as I did? Or maybe they were just trying to figure out if she wanted to eat them with her 6 little chicklet teeth or give them her latest lovey: open-mouth kisses?

The alligators were pretty cool...and one thing we don't get to see in the pet store. ;p

What did they seem to enjoy the most at the National Aquarium- DC? Um, the coral display that housed the donation ball-

and the "Wheel of Doom" that presented options explaining why few sharks reach 40 years old. Charming.

He's actually holding her back here to "pre-tect you Sewlvie" from the spinning Wheel of Doom. Sweet brother.

Giving that wheel one final spin, Pat Sajak-style...

It was CraZy windy today! Brady insisted on pushing Sylvie in the stroller down the sidewalk. Cuties.

Despite all the fun places where we could have eaten in DC, we went with Brady's choice and had dinner at our local IHOP.

What is it with our kids and lemons?! We discovered that just like her big bro, Sylvie loves them too (despite the inevitable sour face she makes when chomping on them). We sat there laughing as we watched her eat and then ask for more.

Spring Preview

I think it's supposed to be in the 70's today! (I say "think" b/c I'm generally surprised by news events and weather these days. I really only watch my recorded shows or Nick Jr. So unless Moose A. Moose starts doing the weather and reporting current events, I'm remaining clueless about the world around me.) :p When I got the kids dressed with their lighter jackets, I thought how cute! and wanted a picture of the little jeans kids. Here's what happens when we're trying to get out the door on a weekday morning and I want to take their picture:
Yup, that would be Spiderman standing next to Sylvie who is finishing her first breakfast. No, she's not scared of him...she has her security blanket after all!

Time to put our shoes on (we always do this on the stairs). Maybe we'll have better luck getting a picture here. They're both looking at their Daddy in the one on the right.

For the first time in a long time, I pulled out Big Red and walked to pick both kids up from daycare this afternoon. I took these pictures of Sylvie b/c she looked so cute. What a big girl! I love how she's holding the cup with one pudgy hand and sticking the other in it to retrieve her snack.

I think Brady's getting a little too big to ride in this stroller, but he has to do what Sylvie is sometimes so if I'd brought the single stroller and asked him to walk home with me it would have been trouble. Despite the fact that he's crammed in his seat, that is not a look of pain- the cheeese! face continues. Meanwhile, Sylvie has the "I have a handful of cereal in my mouth" face on.

We stopped at the swings and played at the playground.

I wanted their picture together on the double slide. Amazingly, it was Brady who waited patiently for me to take the picture and Sylvie who just took off on her own! :p

They were chomping on their leftovers from Dough-nation Dinner yesterday and sort of chatting to each other. It was very cute. It was a little too dark for a good picture though.

btw, we laugh over the way Sylvie struts around sometimes. Brett says she walks around like she's the bee's knees. I think her belly makes her posture that way...and it sure is cute! I took this video of her walking to the playground today.

(They) Be Mine

Happy Valentine's Day!

V-party loot from his daycare pals

The beads Daddy brought home from NOLa are a pretty popular item- a necklace for Sylvie; a tow line for Brady (and his cars when he wants one to pull another). ha!

Heart Sunday

Since it was Sunday and we all were home (and not rushing off to work and daycare and would be all together for dinner), we sort of observed Valentine's Day (food wise anyway) today. We began by attempting to make heart shaped muffins using this trick I read about in a magazine: putting an aluminum foil ball in the muffin pan. It was fun making the muffins and the foil balls, but the result wasn't exactly a heart shape. I think our foil balls were too small. oh well. We also had heart shaped pancakes and strawberries.

Sylvie was really the only one showing some love for breakfast. (Once his sous chef duties were complete, Brady was off playing in "construction land.")

Brady has his heart breaker (pajama- shh!) shirt on and Sylvie's wearing Valentine colors (I heart tights!). This morning we were playing in their rooms. I love doing this. Usually we play downstairs, but every so often we play in their rooms and for some reason I think it's fun.

He's playing patty-cake with her feet. She thought it was hilarious.

Then he decided to read. She did the same. Sort of.

"Sibling moments" are plentiful around here. Most of the time Brady initiates it and takes something from Sylvie, or pushes her out of the way, or something like that. But every so often, Sylvie's the instigator. Sometimes you get what you give, big bro. I have to admit, it can be very amusing. Today was one of those times. At first, I really don't think she intended to bother him. But he's so reactive, and that eggs her on. It was funny to watch. I smirked and giggled from behind the camera. :p

The wind-up. I think she really was just playing (she loves to put things over her head) but when she brought the book down, it bumped him and he got all, "Sylvie! ow! Sylvie! This is MY space!" in a whiny voice...and she thought that was f.u.n.n.y. (it was, oh it was)

Retaliation: he's rounding his back, mad-cat style, to expand "his space"

Then she abandoned the book and began drumming on his back. Note his mad face (and verbal protests) and her glee. LOL!

Still joyful wee! face and still sulky mad face. I think it's still LOVE though. Sibling Love.

Our heart shaped meals continued through dinner. Nothing saves LOVE like green peas on top of heart shaped mashed potato-meatloaf, right? ;p Well, according to Brady it says something else. After telling us the letters, we asked him what he thought this said. He quickly and proudly exclaimed, "It says DINNER!" with certainty. So cute dude.