Old Friends, new friends

I am shocked to realize that it has been two years since I have seen my college friend Krystin. She only lives an hour away - how does life happen so fast?

Last time we saw her, Anna and Stella were infants - born just 8 weeks apart . Kate and Violet were three - they were born just 5 weeks apart.

We all went to the Children's Museum together. That is Krys helping Stella, Violet on the left and Anna in the background.


And Violet and Kate.


That's about it for my pictures from the museum. If my pictures are not up to snuff, it's because - well, there were four kids and two grownups who really just wanted to talk.No, we didn't really get much of that done, and we were pressed for time to get Violet to school. So we dropped Violet off and headed on over to Burger King. After we fed the kids, and enticed them onto the playground (seriously - we had to entice them), Krys and I got about 10 minutes to chat.


Those kids just go go go go go.

Meeting new family

My brother is getting married in June, to a very nice girl named Meaghan. Last weekend [actually, I am so far behind in posting, it was almost a month ago now], we went to Newport to meet Judy and John, her parents; Patrick, her brother; and Katie, her niece and more importantly - the other flower girl!

Katie, Violet and Amelia had a great time playing Wii. Check out Amelia's Wii Fit 'board'. Can you see it? It's a scale. That's how she does it at home so she can 'play' with the grownups.

You already know we also got to see Amelia and Karen. So some quality cousin time was had.


Amelia taught Violet a thing or two about dancing to the Wiggles. Seriously. Even though it looks like Violet is dancing a little more enthusiastically in this picture, Amelia is a girl with rhythm. She copies every move the Wiggles make. Or any other dancers for that matter. The girl loves to dance.


Violet got her first chance to wear lipstick. I'm not even sure she has ever seen lipstick before. Chapstick, yes, but not lipstick. Bad mama.


Katie is obviously an old pro at this stuff.

And here is Uncle Kentie with almost all his little nieces. Sadly, Katie's two year old sister, Lily, was sick and couldn't be there.

Pajamas

I went on a shopping spree one day, which is kind of unlike me. But making sure everyone has matching pajamas? That is definitely like me. Not all the pajama owners were there for this impromptu photo shoot, which occurred at a hotel in Newport when we went to meet our soon to be new relatives - my brother's fiancee's parents, brother and niece.

In case you can't tell, it was so much fun to share a suite with Amelia and Karen. The kids were exhausted, and yet, we couldn't bring ourselves to stop the crazy running around. After all, they don't get to see each other that often.


When was the last time you saw a picture of just Jason and me?


And here is my favorite picture of them all, though I didn't expect to get this shot for at least another 15 years or so.

Delicious

It's been a while since I posted a video. Here's Stella with her free sample of raspberry applesauce in the grocery store. She kept repeating this word and it took me a while to understand what she was saying. That's Violet in the back waving a Wubbzy movie around. We heart RedBox around here.

Totoro! Fimo!

Well first off, I have to brag a little about the dress I just finished making for Violet. She loves it. Me, too. Those are Totoro on there, and if you haven't seen the movie, do so immediately. It's called My Neighbor Totoro. Go ahead and see Spirited Away while you're at it.

I made the buttons out of Fimo last night and Violet was desperate to help. So she made some buttons, too. Here are mine.


And hers. I was duly impressed. I didn't do anything but put the holes in and cook them.

I don't know why I never thought to give her polymer clay before now. She was thrilled. She made a duck family and a pig. You knew she was going to make a pig, didn't you?


The ducks fascinate me. Look at how she made the bodies. And they have such - character. Do all parent's think their kids art is something more than kids art? I mean, I love Violet's art, but her sculptures and 3-D stuff really amaze me. I think I'll be getting her more Fimo. Besides the result, she was so intent while working with it. Calm, organized, and working on those fine motor skills and finger strength.

Quiet

Firsts

If you don't already know, Stella is allergic to a number of foods; eggs and dairy being high up on the list. There is hope that she will outgrow it, and those chances increase as her consumption of said allergens decreases. No pressure, right? So not only are every toddler's go-to snacks banned - think string cheese, yogurt, goldfish - but anything containing even a little dairy. Think donuts, french fries and... chocolate.

I think she has had a bite of my extra-dark espresso laced chocolate before, but I can't say I've been exactly keen on sharing. But the other day I gave her a spoonful of milk free melted chocolate that I was dipping our homemade marshmallows into.


Have you ever seen her so maniacal? Needless to say, she loved it. She's not so fond of marshmallows, though, so it was with great reluctance that upon her insistence I gave her some of those to lick. She absolutely would not be convinced that the chips I put in front of her were the same substance. But hey, it was valentine's day, after all.


And in other firsts, Stella and I have had a nice quiet morning laying on my bed in the sunshine looking at the things in my special box. This is an activity Violet used to adore, and I had quite forgotten about.

Stella was particularly interested in the small magnifying glass and the rings.


Here is Violet just before her second birthday. She was all about the rings, with her parent's old IDs and drivers licenses coming in a distant second.