New skills

The training wheels came off Charlotte's bike today.  Unfortunately, Louise is ill, so we asked Charlotte to tell Louise about the new skill she'd learned today.

"Not saying 'butthead'!" Charlotte declared proudly.

Charlotte earlier in the day had said whilst we were driving to some shops that "Claire is hurting my tummy". We asked why, and she replied "because she is talking."

In other news, Louise bought a second fish today, because Goldie her first fish seemed lonely. The new fish is going under the temporary name of "torpedo" and is a grey/white tetra.

Mono a Manna

At bedtime last night, Charlotte made a request of Daddy.  "That will take money," he replied.  "We should get some," she said practically.  Where will we get it?  "From a restaurant.  We can go there and get money and special toys.  Or you could give me some. [adorable smile]"  But her acquisitive spirit is still not fully developed.  On the way to daycare, she and Claire agreed that the "brown monies" (pennies) were best.

Louise is still not feeling well.  The rapid strep test this morning was negative, but her throat was quite red, and the paediatrician believes she may have mono.  But she still wants to throw a surprise party for Daddy tomorrow at a mysterious venue near the airport.

Charlotte Atherton, DDS

Last week, Charlotte declared that she wants to be a dentist when she grows up.  What does a dentist do?  "Say no juice and no candy, and brush your teeth."  This morning at breakfast, Dr. Charlotte announced: "If your teeth fall out, you don't brush your teeth.  It's bad."  We usually reverse that statement, but her logic is still sound.

Mummy went out with the Coach House ladies again last night.  Claire thought that was a Bad Choice, and she expressed her opinion with tears.  Louise tried to help her calm down: "When I was three, I didn't want Mummy to leave, and I was upset.  But I didn't cry!"

Louise enjoyed Kindergarten Registration, and she's getting excited about Big School.  When it was time for the kids to go one way and the grown-ups to go the other, she grabbed neighbour Alex's hand and marched off to her new adventure.  She enjoyed riding on the bus, where she chose to sit quietly next to a teacher.  A few days later, she got frustrated when trying to zip up her coat.  "Mummy, you do it!"  We reminded her of the Cameron Park slogan, "GRIT."  The T stands for TEN-acity - Cameron Park kids must try to do things themselves ten times before asking for help.  Wanting to do things the Kindergarten way, Louise tried the zipper again.  "It only took me three times!" she exclaimed.  She also loves the Miss Bindergarten books about Kindergarten, and she's trying to "read" books using the first letter of words as mnemonic clues.

Happy Birthday, Charlotte and Claire (part 3)

This morning at breakfast:

Claire: "I'm a tiger.  I hunt Saltines."
Charlotte: "I'm a leopard.  I eat food." / "The lion sleeps tonight."

Charlotte then put a paper bag on her head and started singing "We are the Champions."

Perhaps there's a good reason why children's television programmes seem to be written by people who regularly use controlled substances.

*****

Everyone enjoyed the birthday party at Gold Park (though Charlotte + cake = meltdown).  C&C want to do it again next week, and L wants to celebrate her sixth birthday there.

Several

This morning, Charlotte announced: "Today, I have several fruit snacks."  Mummy was astonished that Charlotte knew the word "several" but remained adamant that the rule is no more than one packet per day.  (Now, if the grammar had been all there...)

We have a busy weekend ahead - next door neighbours Ellen and Thomas are having their first birthday party; t-ball practice; our party; Louise's classmate's party.  Fun stuff.

Happy birthday, Charlotte and Claire! (part 1)

Three years ago, you were so eager to see the Tar Heels win the NCAA basketball championship that you tried to push your ways into the world, feet first and seven weeks early.  You were tiny and helpless, and you needed to stay in the hospital for nine days (we feared Claire would have to stay longer).  Worst of all, there was no big screen TV in the Special Care unit, so you didn't get to see the final anyway.

Now look at you!  You race around on scooters and balance bikes.  You drink out of cups without lids, you are both potty trained, and you are very loving to one another, your Big Sister, Mummy, and Daddy.  This morning in the car, you serenaded one another.  Charlotte reported to those of us in the front of the minivan: "Claire singing, 'two little boys have a little master.' " (Alt version: "Baa Baa Black Sheep").   Charlotte then sang the ABC song: "A, B, C...M, O, O, P..."  Finally, you did a duet - an extended version of "Happy birthday."

Charlotte: you speak beautifully.  You have a dirty, delightful laugh.  Causality eludes you ("I made a mess because I made a mess"), but you are curious and often ready to share.

Claire: you recently started saying, "I love you, Mommy" randomly and without prompting.  You love books, as you've always done.  You have a mischievous grin and continually surprise us.

Happy birthday!

 This year, we're walking for the March of Dimes, a charity that working to address the problem of premature birth.  Please feel free to support us!

Norma Jean at the zoo

Nana and Grandad flew all the way from Tenerife to help Daddy whilst Mummy was in Singapore last week.  Mummy who?  Between a trip to the zoo, dinner with Ms. Judy, and a busy week of work and daycare, who really noticed she was gone?

At the zoo, Louise had her Marilyn moment:

It's February, so it's time for viruses.  Mummy brought a nice one home from Singapore to share with the family.  This evening, Mummy was sitting down whilst the rest of the family "ran to the target" (ran up and down the upstairs hallway).  Charlotte: "Mummy, run!"  M: "I'm not feeling well - I'm having trouble breathing.  I'll just watch."  Charlotte: "I'll help you.  I'll hold your hand, and you'll run fast!"  More worryingly, Louise has the worst case of pink eye we've ever seen, but she's a trouper about it.

Don't it make my blue eyes brown...

Charlotte has somehow picked up the phrase, "my eyes are brown," and she uses it to mean "I'm telling the truth" - i.e., "I won't swing Daddy's hammer around! My eyes are brown!" It seems that Pops' efforts to influence the children through telepathy are being thwarted... (For those who don't know Pops: he's fond of saying, "Your eyes are turning brown" when he thinks that someone is full of something other than Truth).

And don't call me Shirley

We all had a wonderful time at the General Aviation terminal at RDU yesterday, celebrating neighbor Alex's birthday. There were real planes & helicopters, paper airplanes, and ample space for running round in circles - what else does one need for a birthday party?!

As the usually delightful Louise commented later that day: "I'm always good, most of the time." She does have moments of rage, but she also can show great tenderness. Charlotte was getting a little frustrated at lunch today, so Louise intervened: "I'll get it for you, Charlotte. I don't want you to cry!"

Mommy asked Charlotte if she remembered traveling on a plane to England last Christmas. She didn't, but that didn't stop her from replying "Yes! I hit my head on England! I broke it. But Mr. John (our neighbour, and a child psychiatrist) and mommy fixed it. I got a boo-boo!" So perhaps she has some lingering memory of having the flu whilst on an eight-hour flight and in a two-hour immigration queue. Or, as Louise said, "she's just making up a story."

This morning, a tired (and soggy) Claire woke up with the words, "I bet my wed, Mommy."

Patience

Perhaps because she hears it so often, one of Charlotte's favorite phrases is "wait a minute." (She usually says it as we're trying to get her to bed). Claire likes that too, but she prefers phrases like "me do it", "MY Spencer Broder," or "What doin'?" She also has begun to insist that her middle name is not Alice, but Christine. Mummy finds this interesting, since she used to joke that Claire was the reincarnation of Nana Chris.

We all had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration at our next door neighbors' home - delicious food, great company, and no cooking, cleaning, or drama. Louise & Alex behaved beautifully and jumped at the offer to have a sleep-over a few days later. It didn't work out - the two Alpha Firstborns were overtired and had a rather heated dispute about toothpaste ownership - but they may try again in a few months. The next sleepover at Chez Atherton is more likely to be in Claire or Charlotte's room. One morning this week, Charlotte woke and, rather than going into our room, went to visit Claire.

Professional photos

The CD is in the mail to us, but in the meantime, enjoy the link










Mummy recently went out for dinner with some ladies from the neighborhood. She told the girls it was a "mummy meeting" to "make her a better mummy." Not to be outdone, Daddy went out later that weekend to the pub with a "daddy friend." Louise concluded the next day, "Daddy - you don't need any more daddy meetings. But mummy needs to go on more mummy meetings."


The girls' current ambitions: Louise wants to be a tree when she grows up. Charlotte says, "Me get bigger; go work in hoppital." Claire: "[raises eyebrow, sucks finger]"

Flower children

We've had a busy weekend, though our camera has not been overly taxed. We all went to see Elizabeth Mitchell on Saturday morning in Carrboro. Mummy & Claire loved the concert. Louise was attentive and clapping heartily for most of the songs, but afterwards said she didn't like it. Saturday afternoon, Louise went to a birthday party at Bull City Craft. We've also been spending lots of time with the neighbours. Louise's head had a rather dramatic encounter with a steel-reinforced corner before bed Saturday night. The gash on her forehead is still bleeding a bit, but she didn't seem to have suffered a concussion.

On Sunday afternoon, Daddy, Louise, and Claire went to Barnes & Noble, whilst Charlotte & Mummy stayed home and visited the playground at the end of the street. On the way home, Charlotte said, "I want to play with Asha." Asha isn't home, Mummy replied. Where do you think she's gone? "England," Charlotte immediately responded. Why? "To get ice cream."

Middle earth

When we were two blocks away from Mummy's drop-off point this morning, Charlotte declared: "Mummy go hobbital. Bye-bye." A block later, she pointed out helpfully "green light, Daddy. Go!"

So far this week, Charlotte & Claire have been in separate classrooms. The change seems to suit both of them, and Charlotte is apparently quite happy to leave Mummy and go to day care...

Two year old brains

Charlotte at the dinner table this evening: "My Mommy...my Mommy...my Mommy. Claire's Daddy! Louise's Mommy! All same!"

Mommy (confused): "I'm Claire's Daddy?"

Charlotte: "Yep!"

Louise interceded on her sister's behalf. "Mommy, she's only two. She's confused. Two year olds can't think right yet."