Random Scenes from the Circus

Now that he can stand, John David loves to play at the little kitchen. You can find him there almost anytime he's let loose to play. (Once I even watched him try to climb up the kitchen. He doesn't even know how to climb! Still, he grabbed the edge, threw his little leg partway up the front, and pulled. He didn't get up, exactly, but he did get both feet off the floor. We're going to be busy, folks.)

The girls love playing with him, too.

They can often be found making pizza. (The wooden pizza set is easily one of their favorite toys.)

Maybe one day they'll open a pizza parlor together. Pizzas of every variety! Just name your topping! No charge for the drool...

(I feel obliged to point out that while John David is a large little guy, his rear is not as large as it looks in those photos. That's the cloth diaper there...)

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Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean.
And so betwixt them both,
they licked the platter clean.

Notice: Madeline has eaten all of her sherbet, but no cake. Kathleen has eaten all of her cake, but no sherbet. It's always like that. With everything. Kathleen won't eat pizza crust; Madeline starts with the crust. Kathleen likes the cereal; Madeline likes the milk. It amazes me.

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John David recently developed a bit of an infection in his toe, which required a trip to the after-hours clinic on Monday, some poking and prodding, and a course of horrible-tasting antibiotics. (To his credit, the child takes the truly offensive medicine without complaint.) Kathleen has taken to calling the sickly toe, "John David's expensive toe," rather than "infected toe." I chuckle whenever she says this because, were it not for our health insurance, it would be true! (According to the pharmacy, John David's noxious antibiotic should have cost $165... but we pay only $9. Whew!)

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I am loving the extended attention span of a four year-old. A few mornings ago, Kathleen played with playdough for over an hour and a half!

Crafting is certainly more appealing now that Kathleen's projects won't necessarily be abandoned more quickly than they were prepared!

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An actual suppertime conversation:

Madeline: Mama, more please!
Me: Um, Jim? Should I give her more? This will be her fifth helping! I mean, how much can we let her eat?
Jim: Are you kidding me? Kristen, they're peas. She can have as many as she wants.
Me: Oh, right.

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It's been pouring here this week. (We know, a week of rain is nothing. It's not like we're in Alaska without heat or something, but still, it's unusual for us.) Being trapped inside has called for some creative entertainment. Like a mini-photoshoot.

I'm not sure who was more entertained by it, though...

Nah, definitely me. Nothing brightens dreary days like goofy little girls!