In which I attempt to catch up. Again.

So, once again, it's been an appallingly long time since a proper update.  Here's what we've been doing since the first of the year...

Being Goofy.

The girls call this "Who-Hair." (You know, like Dr. Seuss's "whos down in who-ville")  It's possibly their favorite thing about bathtime.

Being Adorable.

Almost three months in, and his hair is still (we think) sort of red.  I love it!  I just wonder how long it will stay that way.


I know this photo is blurry, but it's still so cute!  Luke has great expressions.

Taking a spur-of-the-moment adventure.

On a sad and rainy Saturday morning we jumped into the van and headed down to Monterey to the aquarium there.  It was quite literally a spur-of-the-moment decision.  One minute we were lounging around in our pajamas and the next 45 minutes later we were driving down highway 101.  It was a great decision.  The girls and John David loved the aquarium.  And the weather in Monterey was far, far better than at home.

The sunshiny day meant lunch outside -- with a view of the ocean.  Jim and I liked the view, but the children were more impressed by the sea gulls.  Go figure.

Dancing.

Both girls performed in their dance class's "Big Show."  The class was a lot of fun; not only were the girls able to be in class together, but there were only two other girls in the class.  It was like a semi-private lesson.  Some days we were the only folks there!  (Also, we loved the "Hawaiian Rainbow" music.)

Learning how to help out.

Fortunately for me, our little people seem to enjoy helping out around the house.  (Well, not "picking up."  That requires coercion encouragement.)  The girls are quick to volunteer to help dress or undress little Luke, to fetch diapers or burp cloths or such.  Kathleen has really enjoyed helping in the kitchen and has recently learned to peel carrots.  (A word of warning -- if not closely supervised, the carrot will be peeled away entirely!)  And John David loves to vacuum.  I can't take the vacuum out of the closet without him begging to use it.

Being a star.  (Or at least the Star of the Week.)

Kathleen was the "Star of the Week" at her preschool during the last week of January.  She worked hard on her poster.  It reads:  All about Kathleen Golby.  I am 5 years old.  My favorite color is pink.  My favorite animal is a snail.  My favorite food is hamburgers.  Illinois is my favorite place (my cousins live there).  When I grow up I want to be a mommy.  My favorite thing to do is go to the beach.  If I had one wish, I would wish for another stuffed animal dog to play baby dog with.

Acquiring pets.
No, we've not gotten a dog.  Or a cat.  But Jim has allowed the girls to keep two snails (found in our garden, no less) as pets.  The snails, Katherine (Kathleen's) and James (Madeline's), live in a very large clear plastic jug that has been made more hospitable with some river rock and sticks and such.  The snails seem to like their diet of kale, spinach, and romaine lettuce.  And the girls absolutely love having pets, even though everyone knows that the snails will be staying in California, even when we move.  (Now you have a better idea why Kathleen's favorite animal is a snail.)

Hanging out at the park.

John David is scheming about how to get up as high as Madeline...

How terrifying cool is that rope climbing park?  Our children love it!

The "I Rule" shirt cracks me up.  The girls are just old enough to understand the pun, so they love it, too.

Playing soccer.

Kathleen has begun a soccer class, which meets one day a week in the early afternoon.  (We play at the park while she plays.)

She was a bit tentative at first, but warmed up quickly.

And gives soccer a thumbs up!

Developing our fashion sense.

"Look at me, Mama," she called, "I'm so dylish!"  (Stylish!)

Smiling!

Luke might be our most smiley baby yet.  His grins delight all of us.  Even when I stagger out of bed in the morning to pick him up, completely exhausted, he has only to smile up at me and he completely wins me over.

Kathleen is such a proud big sister.  And look at Luke.  He adores her, too!

It's nearly impossible to take a photo of Luke alone.  Everyone wants to be in the picture with him.

Being unstoppable.
   
John David continues to give us a run for our money.  He has recently discovered that he can defeat the gate closing off the kitchen by barreling into it.  When the gate falls down, he steps careful over/on it and then continues into the kitchen.  This little maneuver takes no time at all.  He can complete a mission for a banana (which he elected to eat with a wooden knife!) or chocolate syrup in less time than it takes to change his brother's diaper.  He'll climb anything.  He'll open anything.  He'll spill anything.  (How about red nail polish on carpet?  If you ever need to know, Windex will take care of that.  It'll take an entire bottle, but it will work.  Thank you, internet.)  Honestly, he's smart and he's unstoppable.  But he's sweet and he's cute.  And he absolutely melts my heart when he leans in and says, "Wub you, Mama."  (Good thing, huh?)

These first two months of 2011 have been, yet again, a whirlwind.  Jim is working like crazy to finish up his dissertation (he's scheduled to defend on Good Friday) and we're slowly coming to grips with the fact that we'll be moving across the country in four short months.  We're doing our best to deal with the chaos of our circus while soaking up the last of our time here...