Runaway

I'm not posting this to try to scare any grandparents ... only to help me remember since my multiple attempts at keeping a normal journal keep failing.

Yesterday, we got home from church and all came inside. While I was fixing lunch, Audrey came in the kitchen and said "Hurry, hurry, Avery's going a long way!" So I asked "where?" and she said "I don't know. Come!" So the 3 of us ran outside, down the driveway and didn't see her anywhere. I was about to go look in the backyard, when Iain spied her at the next door neighbor's house, trying to get into their swing. So apparently, after we all came in from church, Avery decided to go back outside and take a little afternoon stroll solo. Of course, she wasn't the least bit fazed when we found her (she didn't know she was lost), though she's now been warned that if it happens again, she has a spanking in her future. And mad props to Audrey for coming to tell us! It makes my heart start racing again, even thinking about it. Anyway, lesson learned!

Audrey's first show & tell

Iain and Audrey did a joint presentation at Audrey's school today about helicopters. They both wore their flight suits, and Audrey festively adorned the outfit with pink cowboy boots (courtesy of the Wrights -- thank you!). Iain said that Audrey had a great time, loudly identified the parts of the helicopter on the model, and also was able to answer ALL questions that Iain directed to the rest of the class. =)

When Iain went back at lunchtime to pick up Audrey, one of her classmates came up to him and said "I have something to tell you." So Iain waited, and the little boy said "Can you come to my house?" So cute.

I'm also including a picture of Avery on her way out the door this morning, because everyone knows that a good pilot needs a good wingman (or sippy-cup-carrying water girl, whatever the case may be).

Random pix

1. The 4 of us at Mt Vernon a couple of weeks ago.
2. Avery with the George Washington family.
3. The girls, Iain's Aunt Siz and I at the Liberty Bell a few days later.
4. Avery on a carousel after the Liberty Bell (the girls were far more impressed with the carousel than with the Bell)!
5. Me, at a restaurant after church today. I look a little crazy, but Iain says I should put it on the blog.

In other news, Audrey's first week of school went well. She doesn't even want me to pick her up until after the optional "lunch bunch" so that she can stay and eat with her friends. The teacher says she's doing really well with everything, and the only thing she needs to work on is being willing to dance with her class in total free-form at the end of each day. The problem is that I think she might have inherited my gene for thinking "um, no way, lady." =) And Avery has learned exceptional manners lately...she will automatically say "thank you mommy" for many things without being reminded. We love these girls sooooooooo much!

Before Church

The girls wanted to take pix this morning before church. Aves took the one of Audrey(I held the camera steady for her ... she's a wild woman w/ the camera), Audrey took the one of Avery and I (really a great job by a 3-year old of getting everyone's heads in the pix), and I took the one of them together. They had just finished their in-house tap recital for me....

Our Garden

So we planted a garden in mid-August. Audrey helped put the plants in the ground and they both help water every day. It was looking awesome! The broccoli and cauliflower still look pretty good. But sometime between Friday morning and Saturday morning, the deer ate all of our spinach and beans. All of it. I know that some of you reading this blog think that's not a big loss. =) Audrey just said "I guess we'll have to buy some more."

Separately, I have some video from yesterday at our church's community picnic. The problem is that they won't upload this morning for some reason. I'll try again later. But the girls had a great time! We took the little roller coaster that Mim gave Avery for her birthday and it was a HIT! And the girls did a great job of sharing! They got their faces painted (Audrey chose Dora, Avery chose Cinderella), got balloon animals, and ate Oreos. It doesn't get much better. =)

Audrey's first day of preschool

She did a great job! She was excited last night (she picked out her clothes, decided how she wanted her hair, and selected her breakfast menu) and this morning, but I was afraid that when it was time for Avery and I to leave her there, she was going to be sad. Nope. She kissed me, hugged Avery (Avery started crying because she thought she was getting left there also) and then walked to the other side of the classroom to start playing. Not even a glimmer of a sad look, which was a little sad for me, but mostly makes me ecstatic!

When we picked her up, she wanted to stay for an extra 30 minutes to have lunch with her new friends. Awesome!

Here are some pix of her before school eating breakfast, some before-school trampoline play, pushing the button in the elevator, and standing next to her cubbyhole.

A little late

First, happy 2nd birthday Avery (2 weeks late)!! She's been walking around singing Happy Birthday in both English and Spanish for the last 3 weeks (she even sang it for the doctor on Tuesday at her 2-year check-up). As soon as I can find the video camera, I'll upload some video of her in action. She's obviously the 2nd child ... I think Audrey's 2nd birthday pix were up within hours of the action... =)

Second, Iain's first day of class was on Tuesday, and so far, so good. Again, as soon as I find the video camera, I'll upload the video of him on his way out the door (at 5:57am to catch the bus to the train to the next train to walk a few blocks to school).

Third, Audrey's favorite new thing to do is to set Avery up so that Audrey can tell on her. As background, Avery almost always says "yes" or "uh-huh" to anything Audrey asks. So earlier this week, Avery was drinking water out of a cup we were all sharing. The conversation went like this:

Audrey: "Avery, are you going to drink all the water?"
Avery: "Uh-huh"
Audrey (in a tattle-tale voice): "MOMMY, Avery says she's going to drink all the water."

Then, this morning, Avery and Audrey were standing in the kitchen while I was getting breakfast ready. Audrey said she wanted to help and I told her okay. Avery was standing there, minding her own business. Then Audrey says "Mommy, I just need to ask Avery one thing." The next part:

Audrey: "Avery, do you want Mommy to do it by herself so that I can't help?"
Avery: "Uh-huh."
Audrey: "MOMMY, Avery says she doesn't want me to help!"

Lastly, a couple of pix of the girls from this afternoon on their new roller coaster.