Reliving Childhood

It's carnival time in the Valley!

Last year I saw this going on and knew I had to bring Piper this year.

She may look skeptical, but she was anything but!

Well worth the hour drive to Monte Vista.

First carousel ride.

Ask her now what she did at the carnival and she 'll tell you, "ride a horse"

Truth be told, it wasn't her favorite though.

Oh she liked it for sure

And the bee ride too

Spinning 'round with Mimi

This cracks me up - looked how stuffed into that thing he is.

No...

She was ALL about the ferris wheel

Big time

I wish I could have caught it on camera.

She was driving with her tongue out, laughing.

Dad had fun too as you can see.

Funnel cake and another Ferris wheel ride. 

Moxie handled the stimulation very well.

Well, until the car ride home.

Holy Cow. She screamed for an hour straight. Passed out cold was we entered the Baca. 

Josh laughed and joked the whole time, while I was climbing the car doors I was so uncomfortable.

All in all a success I would say.

Fun with family, nice dinner out and we all survived unscathed.

Proud Parents

I'm in awe.

Piper is just... Well, she's growing up. Exploring more. Braver and secure.

Yesterday at school another little girl pushed Piper. It hurt her feelings more than anything. Miss Vicky suggested to the little girl,  who is young and didn't know how to make amends, that she pat Piper on the back.

Piper promptly said, "do not pat me, I am not an animal"

Boundaries. Our 3 year old has clear and comfortable boundaries. 

She wasn't mean about it, she was just very clear that she did not want to be treated like an animal.

And how on the heck did she put that all together so quick? 

Piper has become adventurous and silly. Playing in cold water, squealing and covering herself in mud more so than before.

And so kind...

Saoirse could see her Mom through a glass door and she was crying for her. 

Piper saw this and came right over, put her arm around her pointed to Aoife and said, " see Saoirse? There's your Momma, she's coming back. She's right there, see her?"

Worth A Try...

For some time now Josh has wanted to take Piper out for a trial camping trip.

With her sleeping antics however...

Well - we knew it needed to be local car camping for the first go.

The rain let up so Josh whisked Piper away for the night.

Well... He tried.

She Loved it - being outside, having Daddy to herself...

 

But when it came time to sleep?

Ha!

No. Way.

Daddy this and Daddy that she just couldn't stop talking. So much for Josh's big plans to have a lovely evening of reading and relaxing.

Then it was the sleeping bag. Finally Josh called it and brought her home.

Passed out cold on the ride home and when Josh placed her in bed, curls full of burnt marshmallow, she let out a huge yummy sigh.

Piper spent the week helping me with teething Moxie.

Kinda nice having an extra hand to hold the ice.

Really Piper has been amazing.

I took her to the dance studio for some craft time and she was beyond good.

She's coming into her own ( when she's actually slept and not over tired)

Moxie and I headed to the annual Ladies Tea.

She was the token baby this year.

Last year Saoirse was this size!

And while we has tea, Josh and Piper explored...

Moxie Meets Her Lovie

Welcome Bunny!

Well that didn't take long...

She had been chewing on her fingers, now she's found she can suck them.

Bye bye pacifier!  

Teeth, Sleep and Separation Anxiey

Ya... Teeth.

While she's not wicked cranky, she's not herself at all.

Nights have been intense. And early mornings. We had the two of them tag teaming us with a 5am wake up after hours of comfort nursing.

Whoa.

Just... Ya- how does anyone have more than one kid? More than two? 

Mind boggling to me.

I'm somewhere between slapstick tired and completely useless. Good thing I blogged. If you look back around the same age Piper was doing the exact same thing.

Grandma Les sent a box

And there was a tutu for Moxie!

Wings and a butterfly net for Piper

Who desided that her sister was worth catching.

I had never liked the idea of bikinis for kids until I had to shop for bathing suits every few weeks. 

I get it now. 

But maybe not string bikinis, that just seems wrong.

Speaking of which-

I'm not into pacifiers, but I'm finding they have their use at times.

This last weekend Piper was with Mimi and Papa

She helped around the farm

And even got to go to the alligator farm!

Moxie ( and I) missed her fierce. Moxie was noticibly different while she was away.

I'm not nearly as entertaining as Piper.

And she let me know this.

And ya... Did I mention Piper growing out of everything?

Including her kiddy pool?!?

Socks, shoes, undies, pants, nightgowns... Everything but all those dresses ( they started out big). I'm in awe. Outfitting an entire wardrobe that needs to be large anyway because she plays hard and distroys two outfits a day?!? Good thing they can be used again for her sister!!

Speaking of hand me downs..  Toys and Sophie return to the mix.

And we had a birth... I'm proud to announce a moth was successfully born yesterday.

Few!