Alcatraz

Two year olds are really good at escaping. Like that time at the airport that John left us for 3 seconds to buy some food and Anya darted into the Men's Restroom . . . However, two year olds are unafraid of moving cars, large drop-offs, deep water, etc. So when Anya gets together with her friends for a walk and some playtime, it gets interesting. Because Anya and her pals all have a sibling under the age of 8 months, sometimes the escaping gets a little easier for this trio, as their mothers are pre-occupied. Fortunately, some things (like fences) are still keeping them from danger.


So we (the mothers) did what all mothers would do, we hired a trusty guard and guard dog. Natalie and Cocker Spaniel Oreo have been keeping the trio out of numerous potentially dangerous situations. However, we obviously aren't paying them enough since Natalie and Oreo are considering other daytime jobs with employers who are offering substantially more money. But until things are final, we are enjoying their assistance.

For now, I am happy Austria can't escape quite as easily :)

Toys?

One question has been on my mind of late: Why do we have so many toys for our girls? Household items seem to be more fun and they are easier to clean up, easier to store, easier to move, and much more of a temptation to play with :)



When asking Anya if we should clean up the toys in preparation for some guests, she replied, "Yes, Austria has a lot of toys out."

I said, "Oh really." She said, "Really. She dumped them out." Already passing the blame . . .

April Showers

Have brought a few things at our house. First of all green trees!

Secondly, gossiping birds. I asked Anya one morning what the birds were saying outside, she thoughtfully listened for a minute. Then I prompted, "are they saying tweet, tweet?" She said, "No, they are talking about the other birds."

And lastly, Austria's first tooth. I'm actually not sure when it came. She grabbed my finger today and bit it, and I felt a tooth! With Anya, we know when EVERY tooth is coming :) Her first one, she was so sick. I guess I've become a negligent parent (coupled with the fact that Austria NEVER complains, obviously she gets that from her Dad) . . . I feel sorry for the third child, I probably won't notice until he/she has a full mouth of teeth.

Trains

Anya likes to make "trains" as she calls them--meaning lining things up. Here are a couple examples:



She also has a few books about trains and her Dad rides the train every day to school/work.

We were talking about trains yesterday and she brought up another train--the Potty Train. Apparently she has been listening to John and I discuss this "train." Perhaps this is why this "train" seems to be stuck on the tracks, she doesn't quite understand how to use this "train." Maybe if we buy 20 of them and line them up, she will be more interested.

Until then, the diaper count is at 5558! (that's both kids)

Music

Anya's singing career is starting to take off! She has not yet begun to compose on her own, but rather is taking some of the "classics" and changing them a little.

Anya: " . . . lead me, hide me, walk beside me . . . "

Anya: "I will go, I will do, I will dream!"

Anya: "Twinkle Twinkie . . . that's a funny joke!"


Here's our little singer. (Notice her "stage" in the background, sorry it's not the best picture, we had seats in the nosebleeds.) We did get a good close up of her biggest fan.:

Careful and Sharing

Me: "Anya, are you being careful?"
Anya: "No."
Thinking she must have misunderstood me because she continues with what she is NOT supposed to be doing, I ask again, "Anya, are you being careful?"
Anya: "No. I'm not being careful."
Me: "Okay, at least you are honest."
Anya: "Yeah."




Me as Anya tries to feed Austria: "Oh Anya, only Mommy or Daddy can feed Austria."
Anya: "No, I want to do it."
Me as Anya and I are fighting over Austria's bowl of oatmeal: "I know you are trying to help, but just let Mommy do it and you can watch."
Anya: "No, share Mommy, share the bowl with Anya!"
I guess all those "sharing" lessons are starting to backfire . . .