What's in a name

Last night and this morning, we commented on how much C&C love one another - they were looking to one another (rather than Mummy or Daddy) for comfort when they fell down, randomly giggling and playing together, etc.

So this morning, we realized they might still need a little refinement before they're released into the world on their own. They each took turns reciting the lines for "A" and "B" for ten minutes in the car this morning:

A: "Boo boo head."

B: "I no LIKE it!"

A: "Boo boo head."

B: "I no LIKE it! MOMMY!"

[another family member: "Say sorry."]

A: "Sorry."

[reverse roles]

Sigh.

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."