Happy Birthday Daddy

Yesterday was Luke's birthday. I have a hard time picking out gifts for my husband. I basically just give him the gift of an extra errand because he almost always has to return or exchange whatever it is I so foolishly purchased. This year I gave him a too-small hat and a Rolodex. All time low, I think...especially in light of the fact that my birthday is today, and he totally put me to shame. In honor of my dear sweet husband, I thought I would share a recent conversation between Audrey and Nanny (they talk on the phone a lot.)
Audrey: "My Dad does a lot of work on the lawn. He trimmed that big tree."
Nanny: "That's nice."
Audrey: "Yep." (Pause) "He's a good man."

Once again, Audrey displays her tendency to cut through the B.S. and tell it like it is.
He's a good man.

Which nobody can deny. We love him so much!

It's back

The heat. After a lovely little bonus of unexpectedly cool weather, our old companion has come back to Phoenix, so we closed the windows, turned on the AC, and scrubbed out Kateri's water table. It had been upside down in a corner of the back yard used frequently as a hideout by spiders and infrequently as a spaceship by Lili and Audrey. Audrey also had some fun with our ancient Dora the Explorer sprinkler before joining her sister.

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.