In the Cellar

I went down the cellar to do laundry and heard a distinct animal sound but couldn't locate the source. I sent the kids down to figure out what was going on, hoping it was a toy.
As they walked down the stairs I hear:

Sam: "If it's a cat, I call dibs!"
Vivian: "That's not fair! Fine. I get it if it's a squirrel, or a dog."
Sam: "I don't want a squirrel anyway. And Viv, it's totally not a dog."

When I went to check they were well prepared.

Forty-five minutes later they came up holding a small stuffed cat that Vivian had rescued from the rain earlier today. I had told her to put in downstairs to do through the wash. It had never made a noise before, but since it was rain soaked, apparently it set the batteries off.

Disco Party

When they get disco/band gifts, they use them.

Vivian's Room

This room may be the end of me. Constant stages of progression and transformation with most of the room being stored in her closet or siblings rooms, or sometimes the hall.

Today:

Sleeping

Lanie Christmas Dance

 

Lanie's very, very short Christmas dance today.

Sam's Buffalo Bills Shrines

Sam decked out his room to cheer on his favorite football team. They made the playoffs but just lost to the Patriots. (Sam and Chris went to the game despite below freezing temperatures).

Apple Picking

Even though a certain nine year old was convinced he wouldn't enjoy it and refused to go, I did see a couple of smiles. We lucked out and the weather was perfect. Sam also commented, "see mom, I told you we should have just gone to the grocery store," when I told Vivian that $18 was too much to spend on a medium size bag of apples. There was a good variety available though, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Macintosh, and a few more.

Princesses

Lanie and Vivian were dressing up to play princess and Lanie changed into her dress.
"Oh!" she said, "I have a wedgie! Well, that's so silly. Princesses don't get wedgies!"

All the etiquette.

Chocolaty Face

After enjoying a little ice-cream dessert, Lanie said to me, "look, Mom! No mess!"
"Really?" I replied, "have you seen your face?"
"No," said Lanie, "my eyes is not closer to my nose to see it."

Point taken.

Lanie and Joe

This is what happens after an overnight and day trip with the kids.

Joe and Lanie resting.

Lanie's Bed and Chocolate Inquiry

I found some brown marks on Lanie's bed and thought the worst, but then I located a mini Kit Kat wrapper on her bedside table. She felt no guilt.

Three Year Old Fashion

I love two and three year old fashion. It's seriously my favorite. No cares about what anyone thinks and they can pretty much pull off any look.

Here's Lanie the past few days.

With the pose.

And Vivian at age 2 with the fashion.

On the Dresser

I came into Vivian's room and asked another stupid question.
"What are you doing?"
"Sitting on my dresser."
Because I apparently will never learn.

Fridge Problems

Every evening the floor under the fridge was wet, so Chris finally called the repairman.

I mean, it's nice that it's an easy fix.

Scooter Crashing

I never walk to the park that is three/four blocks away, partially out of laziness and partially because I know when I do, they will inevitably get hurt, sick, or we will need the one thing that I don't have. I remember hiking home once from somewhere when Sam was around three, after he had wiped out and was bleeding and I was carrying him screaming, a scooter and pushing a stroller. Which doesn't seem like a big deal until you have to execute such a feat.

So last night the kids hadn't been out a ton during the day and I decided it would be a good idea to walk/scoot to the park to burn off some energy. All good until their "five minute warning" to go home, when they decided to do races around the basketball court. The girls on scooters got a head start.

Obviously we had a wipe out and Vivian screamed bloody murder. Her ego was more wounded than her body. To get her to feel better Sam asked her to race again. Because how could that happen twice?

Naturally she went down harder the second time and freaked out more because there was blood (and her wrist hurt). It definitely was a big fall and must have hurt a lot. I ended up calling Chris to drive us home.

Nothing a few Band-Aids and ice-cream couldn't solve in the end. Poor kid.

Women's World Cup

Viewing party of England vs. USA with a divided fan base. 

 

The calmest moment of the game while everyone is eating ice-cream sandwiches.

We have been watching the Women's World Cup soccer.  I think it's especially important as the girls see Sam do so many sports to know that there are professional women athletes. This usually involves some kind of family fight, Vivian doing headstands on the couches, and Sam yelling that he can't hear. But anyway, today Lanie walked by (she was busy playing), and said, "oh, yes, when I have a braid like that I will kick the ball like that," and continued on her way through the room. Vivian left to go and ask the Google Home questions such as, "show me pictures of England," (she thinks she'll move there), and "show me photos of Long Island," and "hey Google, play calm music."

When the USA won today, Lanie passed back through and asked, "did she get it in the goal?"

"Yes," said Sam, "twice."

At least he watched the games through and saw the determination and skill level (and head injuries).

July 4th Trip 2019

Sam and Lanie at the ferry terminal.

Our trip to Long Island in photos- Chris and Vivian drove first and took the ferry from New London to Orient Point, NY. Then Sam, Lanie, and I took the train to the ferry the next day and Chris picked us up at the ferry terminal.

Fourth of July Bloody Mary on the ferry.

Viv at the swimming pool with all the miniature roses.

Making faces.

The kids making fairy lamps.

Catching frogs.

Putting out flags, including the British Virgins Island flag.

Games.

Sam standing still for possibly one of the only minutes that we were there.

Checking for ticks when we got home. That's the kids checking my giant white bum and finding one!

Suffolk Downs

We took one last trip to Suffolk Downs, a racetrack in Revere that my Dad's family used to go to.
Chris took Sam with my grandmother when he was little a few times, so we did one last visit.

When Chris told Lanie she was going to "see horses," she got very excited and kept asking when we were going "to the farm?" We finally convinced her it wasn't a farm, it was horses running, at which point she went and retrieved her bike helmet, which she wouldn't take off. She thought she needed it in case she "fell off a horse." Better safe than sorry. She even slept in it, only taking it off after a few hours of direct sunlight when it must have become apparent that there was no horse riding to be done.

Outside after the couple of races we saw, before a big storm came in.

Lanie keeping safe.

Watching the horses run.

Sam studying the program.

Lanie finally removed the helmet.

Horses racing. Sam's reaction was, "I think they're hurting them, oh no, that's so sad!" Meanwhile he was intent on betting.

The older area falling into disrepair.

Older section.