Leave Your Sleep

Several days ago I got an unexpected gift from a very dear cousin of mine. It was Natalie Merchant's latest musical endeavor: Leave Your Sleep, a whole album of poetry she has put to music. The project was inspired by her young daughter and features the work of poets from Gerard Manley Hopkins to Ogden Nash to e.e. cummings to Mother Goose. Needless to say, my girls have become obsessed with it. Everyday after Lili comes home and finishes her homework the dress-up and dancing begin. They have even been dressing up Kateri. (I don't know who came up with the zebra stripes/ Angels jersey combo but Kateri seems to think it works.)

It has been hours of fun already...

Lili takes turns dancing and reading along with the lyrics insert, pausing occasionally to ask me "But what does that MEAN?" whereupon I usually sigh and stutter my way through an explanation, wondering where my powers of analysis have gone. I mean, I got a degree in English, right? I managed to pass Junior Poet and write a Thesis and all of that? Luckily, most of the poems/songs are lighthearted and straightforward and don't involve me talking to Lili about contemplating her own mortality.

Anyway, we have enjoyed this gift so much. I highly recommend the album. It's made me remember how much I love poetry, and made me realize I'm pretty rusty.
I think I'll go dig out one of my old Norton Anthologies... I need to be a little bit more on my game with Lili around.

I had to include these pictures to document Kateri's recent habit of squeezing her eyes shut anytime I ask her to smile for a photo.

Guess who is really happy...

...about Uncle Justin's decision to retire? Kateri. I don't know if it is a reflection of the godfather-goddaughter connection,

or his willingness to push her on the swing and snuggle on the couch for hours at a time,

but my finicky third-born has formed quite the bond with him lately.

As you can see, the older two are pretty excited about the bonus time with their Uncle too, (especially since he brings their fun Aunt Brittany around and spoils them with trips to Yogurt Builders where no topping is refused.)

Kateri Sleeping

Lately Kateri has been inspired by her cousin Fiona to adopt a new favorite sleeping position. It looks uncomfortable to me, but I have tried several times to flatten her down, and her rear goes right back up in the air...

This one variation is my favorite:

the modified spread eagle.

Easter at St. Michael's Abbey

On Easter Sunday we drove up to St. Michael's Abbey with Uncle Cole for Mass with Uncle Travis. It was a beautiful experience all around. The Mass, the singing, the grounds, and best of all getting to spend some time with Travis and see how much he is enjoying life with the Norbertines was a great way to spend our last day in California.

First Time on a Ferris Wheel

This type of experience never fails to highlight the personality differences between my two older girls. The first time on a Ferris Wheel for both, their immediate reaction was utter delight, with Audrey giggling uncontrollably and Lili saying over and over, "Oh, this is amazing, this is so amazing!" Then after the first few revolutions, Lili started reading the sign that said "No Rocking" and worrying aloud about how if her father had taken her he would "totally be rocking right now." (She know her father well; he totally WOULD have been rocking.) Meanwhile, Audrey is repeatedly shoving the arm I had wrapped protectively around her waist away and leaning over the bar with her hands raised over her head to get the maximum thrill from the ride.

I think this might have to be a new tradition for our little California trips. I'll let Audrey and Luke ride together next time.

So much to see at the Balboa Pier

This little interlude was as good as a zoo. In the space of ten minutes, Kateri got to see lots of wriggling fish being hauled up from the water, big brown pelicans soaring by, a pod of dolphin, and one inquisitive sea lion.

She loved every second.

She was so happy she just had to give her Daddy a smooch.

Sunset Walks

It's so nice to have someone to watch the sunset with...

Even if that someone sometimes squabbles with you over who gets to push the button at the crosswalk.

You are so lucky to have each other.

Crystal Cove State Park

A day at Crystal Cove. It was sunny and clear, but not particularly warm, so Kateri was rocking her 70-year-old-lady-in-a-warm-up-suit look. However, we learned early on in the trip that no matter how chilly the breeze might be, or how many layers of clothing she will soak, Audrey simply cannot control herself around the water and has to charge into the waves. I have to do much less laundry if we just let her wear her swimsuit.

Kateri has decided she loves wearing hats. I think she heard the doctor tell us to keep the stitches out of the sun to minimize the chance of scarring. Speaking of which, my little rule-follower Lili took it upon herself to thoroughly read all of Kateri's discharge papers and freak out on me anytime a ray of sunlight fell upon Kateri's face or if she felt it had been too long in between Neosporin applications.

Lili and I did some great tide pool exploration. I did not, however, bring the camera on our little expedition, since I was afraid of dropping it in the water the way my luck was running. Earlier in the day I had carefully applied spray-n-wash to the blood stains on my one sweatshirt (the one I wore to the ER with Kateri) and then sent it through the washing machine with my cell phone in the pocket. :(

We had a great dinner at The Beachcomber before enjoying the wildflowers on our walk back to the parking lot.

California

Our much-anticipated trip to California got off to a bit of a rocky start. On our first morning, Kateri took a fall from the second stair into a banister at Justin's house. Yes, it was on my watch. No, my husband did not enjoy being awoken at 7:30 am to rush to the ER. It seems to be a cruel irony that while I am the neurotic, worry-filled parent and Luke is the one balancing babies on one hand and throwing them around the pool...they never get hurt on his watch. But after the stitches were in place Kateri bounced back and was ready to enjoy the sunshine and a trip to Rose Donuts and Inspiration Point.