A Dog And a Fair, and a Thomas Affair!

We went to visit aunt Jackie and uncle Jeff this weekend. There was much excitement and a jolly good time was had by all (I think... Right, J&J? Gaston? Maybe???) This can only be summarized by a few slideshows, I think. Enjoy!

Behold the hippo...

So, in somewhat good news, Justine has overcome her fear of hippos... It would be entirely good news unless the image of the frightening roaring hippo was not replaced with the current image, which is discussed ardently by Vasco during every car ride. Perhaps I should elaborate. We went to the zoo this weekend, and were encouraged by Justine's request to see the hippo (previous trips to zoo were accompanied by "No see the hippo? No hippo?? Mommy, no hippo at the zoo?"). So we aim to see the hippo right before we head home. The hippo was is in the outdoor area, waddling around in all his glory (by the way, these things are enormous!!!!!). As the kids were staring intently at the hippo, (warning, toilet talk) he starts doing this really weird thing with his tail, wagging it like a windshield wiper on supersonic high speed, and.... ummm ... peeing. A lot. I suppose it was an impressive sight in its own right. And it is now forever (well, hopefully not) part of our zoo experience...(V, this morning: "Excuse me, mommy?", me: "Vasco, those are very nice manners, what do you need, honey?", V:"Mommy, the hippo wagged its tail and... and... and.. peed!!!" me, "yes, honey, it did, didn't it...")

In other entirely good news, the kids are back to their happy angelic selves and totally fun to be around. Whew! They started a soccer class at pre-school this Monday. I'll try to sneak out for a few minutes next Monday morning and take some pictures.

Yipes!?!

Kids crazy. Parents tired and confused.

We have no idea what has happened these last two days, but the kids have been rebelious, defiant, whiney. The tantrums are back, "No" has been uttered 72 times in 26 minutes, and we don't know how to fix it: they are normally so sweet! So, given that we are in no position to 1) write about cute things they have done nor 2) dispense parenting advice, how about some pictures?


Very recently,







Roughly one year ago (Sept 2006):








Roughly two years ago (Sept 2005):

Is the chicken half eaten or half whole?

J (sitting in my lap while she's eating dessert after dinner): "Mommy, you didn't finish your chicken."
Me: "There was too much chicken on my plate. I ate most of it".
J: "Finish your chicken, mommy!"
Me: "I can't eat anymore, honey, I put too much on my plate"
J: "Finish your chicken, mommy!!!"
Mike, intervening: "Justine, you have some chicken left on your plate, you didn't finish yours either.."
J:"No talking!"

First Week of Pre-School

The kids started pre-school on Tuesday, and really seem to enjoy this next level of interaction with their peers and their teacher. By the second day there, it was clear that they were comfortable in their new place: Justine strutting around the classroom like the princess-queen surveying her kingdom, and Vasco repeating the rules to the "kids that are not listening, mommy!"
She ran out of the bathroom after her shower tonight, and while we were cuddling, she giggled, waved her finger in my face and said, "You should know better!" More giggling. This is a brand new phrase, and neither Mike nor I use it, so it must have come from her teacher, no doubt in response to some crazy thing she must have concocted at school. I couldn't extract any more details, though, because my immense amusement at the phrase only encouraged her to repeat it.

Overheard:
J: "See this mosquito bite on my finger??!! I need to go to the eye doctor!"
V: "That's silly! There's no doctor in pre-school!"

J:(upon taking a bite of food): "Look, I'm growing!!!!"