a butterfly? a flower? no. an artistic cutie.

dates x 2

Michael and I have been talking about it for a while, but we went on a real date for the 3rd or 4th time since David was born.  We hired a babysitter, had no other function to attend, and could stay out as late as we wanted since we did not have to rush back to the church to pick up children from Parent's Night Out.  It was spontaneous (decided that morning) and loads of fun!  Definitely need more of them... Felt like courtship days.  We went to an early movie-- saw "Now You See Me."  Other than a few brief scenes, it was clean and highly entertaining.  I liked the fact that all of the far-fetched magic/heist was explainable (even if a bit far fetched.)

After the movie (which was at Movie Tavern--we opted to wait for dinner), we went out to eat dinner at an old favorite: Cheeburger, Cheeburger.  Yum!  We filled our tummies while dining al fresco in the interesting Vintage Park shopping center.

Then we strolled to CoCo's Crepes and each had a dessert crepe.  It was lots of fun to sit at the bar and watch them furiously fixing the crepes on a busy Friday evening.

What a fun evening!
The movie was an extreme rarity.  That set a record for two movies in 6 months (we saw Les Mis at Christmas).  We normally are lucky to average one a year.

But we were not content setting just one record.  We decided to take in a 3rd movie yesterday.  We took David and Elizabeth to see Monsters University.  This was Biz's first movie in the theaters.  We intended to go to Alamo Drafthouse since kids under 6 get in free to the first matinee on Tues.  Unfortunately, the people right in front of us in line bought the last tickets.  We thanked the Lord though that he provided another eat-in theater nearby that was showing the movie only 25 minutes later.  We quickly headed over and found it far emptier.  Lunch was good (at least Michael and I enjoyed it...D and E were too enthralled by the movie to eat much until the movie was over--David then snarfed down his entire bowl of macaroni.  The movie was fine...not as good as the first one.  E did great the whole time since she could sit on our laps and hold her blanket.  (quick thinking on my part)

PS:  We came home to this on two children... Apparently, our sweet babysitter has been putting on diapers backwards her whole career (she is still in high school).  We have found this to be true as a rule as long as we have been using her.  She laughed about it after it came up this most recent time.  I will say though that with the littlest our current diaper escape artist, it might not be such a bad idea.  ;)  and PSS:  Bizbeth's nightgown just happened to be on backward this time too.

a future fashion designer? or model?

Bizbeth came downstairs after nap sporting this stylish ensemble.  She had dressed herself, and then she posed quite comfortably and naturally.

Want to know what she was actually wearing?

a skirt (with built in shorts underneath)

Lizard Lou's Adventures: coming soon to a theatre near you

Finding Nemo came to mind when this lizard decided to take a ride from our house to the church 2 miles away. I gave him a chance to jump off but he refused. Feel badly for his Mom.

Tada! ~ a 27 month old

Biz continues to amaze me with her maturity in so many areas.

Some of the phrases sound funny coming from such baby lips.  "Tada!" a new favorite phrase is often said when she accomplishes something on her own--like putting on her shoes (generally on the wrong feet).  Or when she finds something that is missing...

Speaking of that, she is so reliable.  I know I can count on Elizabeth to help me get Abigail her bottle or find something or put something away.  She is just a great helper!

She still dislikes having her picture taken much of the time except when she has put on a hat or something like that and then she will say, "Take my picture.  I beautiful."

She is also telling me to "change my diaper, mommy."  She has also been found on top of her tall changing table in the midst of changing her own diaper.  Yuk!  Think she is ready to be potty trained?  Me too...but unfortunately, I think we missed the easy window--when she was willing to potty train.  She now is very resistant to wearing underwear and sometimes going to the bathroom on the potty.  She prefers to wear a diaper.  I am still trying though.  Running around in the birthday suit the past several days has helped as she is forced to stop and go to the bathroom.  (unlike her brother at the same stage, she notices when she starts going pee and she does not want to do it on the floor for the most part)  Still not sure how this will go since she is a bit resistant still.

Elizabeth can count to five quite comfortably...even without me teaching her.  She will also now sit still for an entire book reading (most of the time).  Not so true for the tv, however.  She is not really that attached most of the time. 

We have been to the pool several times now this summer.  Elizabeth is proving to be a regular fish!  After the first two times of going with Mommy and Daddy and her floaties, she is now willing to venture into the pool with her floaties on her own without clinging on to one of us.  This means, I can/have gone to the pool by myself with all three.  Definitely my independent risk-taker.

She is also so naturally stylish!  I clipped her hair up one day to get it out of her eyes, and was amazed by my very grown-up looking beauty!  Her own sense of style is something else too.  Think it worthy of its own post soon.

What an affectionate little girl!

I spy...a 58 month old

a few things of note...

• "I Spy" has become a favorite game.

• David can now count to five... (Hah!  about time.) Despite this, he shows great signs of being ready in some ways for school.  I think we may get a head-start this summer as soon as a few last books arrive.  We will be homeschooling for K. 

• David LOVES to be read to--all types and lengths of books.  He also will sit and read the pictures himself for quite a while during naptime.

• That is not to say that he ever takes a nap.  I should have said "quiet time."

• Or is ever really very quiet. (except for the 30 minutes of reading--see above).  

• He and E have fought a lot of this past month over playing with the same toy.  Not sure why this has suddenly come about.  I can tell there is trouble when he sets his lips into a little smirk.  In fact, I call him out on it often.  That is his impish grin when he is trying to stir things up.

• Despite this, he would  defend his sisters to the death.  He is their big protector and encourager.

• He is extremely strong and capable physically.  Despite being a cautious child by nature, he climbed up the doorjambs in our kitchen...all the while, urged on by his father...who assured me it was safe since he had cushioned any fall with the measly couch throw pillow.  David did indeed slip one time and has ever since been scared off from the impressive feat.  

• I am amazed by my really smart son who picks up on so much!!!  I mean, he even noticed today that we had not put back up one of multiple pictures on our bathroom wall after remodel.  All the others were in their places...  He also surprised me one day during mealtime talking about a mouse.  I suddenly realized what he meant.  He had made Mickey Mouse with his plate and cups.  His thinking is often very abstract but so quick.  He picks up on jokes like someone twice his age.  He may have trouble counting but there is absolutely nothing wrong with this highly intelligent chappy!

Moo goo gai "can"

It all began when David was screaming during a teeth brushing session. Michael said the funniest word that came to mind "moo goo gai pan."  This distracted David and kept him laughing through the rest of the time. He keeps forgetting the Chinese dish name so it invariably becomes " moo goo gai can."  

Today I said that Abigail could not talk. David disagreed with me. When I asked If he could understand her, he said, "yes!"  When I asked what she said, he told me...

"She said she wants moo goo gai can every morning for breakfast. I told her should could not have it for breakfast."

This is the same little boy who has nicknamed said-sister "Little Toe."

a most unusual occurence.

Saturday afternoon, Michael and I decided we ought to check on the children if we wanted them to sleep at night.  It was 5:30 by then. 

Here is what we found in all three rooms.  It was like Merriweather had sprinkled her fairy dust on the upstairs castle and put all the tenants to sleep.