Gigi and the kids, last July. 

Little girl's 15 months older now  - so many changes.

Though this wasn't the best picture of her

(I usually delete the overly vacant shots)

It was also freakishly cold for July, hence the awkward blanket.

I took the boy to lunch yesterday after a MD visit.  The hostess at our local Steak & Shake had DS.  I think I'm ok with this all but I spent our lunchtime watching her, and eyeballing her co-workers.  I would have guessed they were all in high school but it was noon on a Thursday so probably early 20s (which dates me a bit, but nevermind that)... working in a burger joint far from any college.  Surely they're old enough to have outgrown the bullying.  Are they kind to her?  Do they include her? 

The surfer-dude/waiter knocked over a bunch of silverware and I was relieved it wasn't her.  Later, when some people came in and self-seated, I caught an eye roll.  Our girl had clearly gone on break - we'll assume the eye rolling was for the presumptuous customers? And not the absent hostess?  Yes?  I wanted to know more but what do you ask?  Are you happy?  Do you like working here?  How did you get the job?  How often do weirdly solicitous customers ask you overly-personal questions?  Are the truckers and construction guys eating there patient with her?  Do rowdy teenager boys come in and.... can't even go there.  

But then again it should be normal & I shouldn't be making a fuss. 

But I know where we're going to be eating henceforth. 

The Baby Show

With narration provided by the director.

[Many apologies for the soundtrack]

Flashback

Or, Variations on a Theme.

Or, What happens without a hairbrush.



s'ghetti!

 Before:

After (the first few bites)

I am kindly not sharing the after-after-dinner shot. 

The dogs were thrilled.

BFF

Sunday

So excited - on his way to visit Auntie A. 

She has all the good treats

Stinker will actually scurry away from you if you try to get her off the stairs.

 Back off mom!

Just including this shot so you can see the cute matching bow.

Batteries!

 Renewed/ongoing escape attempts

Signs.

No photos today. Need new camera batteries again. Next camera will be rechargeable, I don’t care what the pixels are doing. (I can’t discuss pixels without thinking of pixies flying around.  'Cause we clearly have those around here, causing mischief & using up all my battery juice).

So instead I thought I’d document the girl’s signs to date, for posterity.
Mom
Dog
Book
Love
Sunshine
Shoes
Eat
Milk
Gentle
Ears (their location, not the ASL sign thereof)
She’ll also sign along as I sing Wheels on the Bus and Doors Open and Close (the latter of which is the same sign as when the spider is washed OUT of the waterspout.  She's very emphatic when signing OUT.  Poor spider).

Things we are working on, or should be. Shortly.
Bedtime
Toothbrush
Diaper
Clothes (maybe just jammies. They’re in a drawer she can reach & then we won’t need to distinguish between the finer points of girls’ fashion)
Hair - or Head? Head & ears might get mixed up then.  Or feet?  Need to settle on body part #2 but nose/toes sound alike, and she’s already patting her tummy (instead of her thigh) in the sign for dogs, so that might be confusing.
Considering specific foods? 
Chair
Fork
Slide
Some sign for her brother – no way she’s spelling out his name yet & I can’t even remember the ASL sign for brother.

Other idea?

Falling

This is why I wanted ivy. 

No school yesterday so the boys decorated...

with Bordello lights, naturally.

I don't think you can actually hang vampires, but nice try guys.

Sunday at the Park

It got down into the 30s overnight and we scrambled to get new winter jammies but it was back into the high 80s today.  Needless to say it was crowded at the park today. 



Parties

You can't tell, but we're on a hay ride.  Because that's how we roll.

 Pinata

 Mad dash

 

Flashback

1977 in the happiest place on earth  (see you soon Gigi!)

 Is it just me, or are these characters CREEPY?

PJ Day

[Insert obscure Vulcan reference here...]

   ClimbingClimbingClimbing

Leaving so soon?

She can totally get the doors open now.

Little Red Riding Hood

Supergirl!

  She does love those dogs!

Oh! And she got up there all by herself & will go down the slide unprompted.

 The boy's robot, before the tin foil.

Fall is Here.

(Note the sweater.  The only one I could find without venturing into the basement)

...unfortunately, the dump truck really works. 

She landed on her butt.

(which we'll all pretend isn't visible in this shot)

Plotting revenge.

Ha!!  That'll show it.

Victory dance.

(actually the moves to 'You are my Sunshine', but work with me here)

Telling mommy what she did. 

(This is the sign for Mom)

Dressed up for picture day, cheesy smile and all.

(we're also going to ignore the wrinkles.  Kindergarten can be ROUGH)