T-ball begins

Signe had her first t-ball practice this week. Nothing exciting to report, except that she had a good time. In the close up picture, you can see her hairdo. I braided it just as she asked me, with one on each side and one in back. (Don't mind the dinner on her shirt.)




















It's been a gorgeous week with July temperatures. I forgot how nice 80 degrees is without humidity. We've spent lots of time outside. Anni wants to go out first thing in the morning - usually around 7am. Our neighborhood kitty is back, much to the delight of the girls. Our flowers are starting to bloom too. Fortunately this week was spring break so we were able to take fully advantage. Next week we're supposed to be back to regular spring temp in the 60s. Brrrrr!

Spring has finally arrived.

Actually it arrived about a week and a half ago, when the last of the snow melted in our yard. We've had nothing but nice weather since. That means lots of time outside, our flowers are blooming, visiting the parks and BASEBALL! Signe is very excited about t-ball starting this week. We had to get her a mitt and Dad needed one too. Playing catch and batting are some her favorite pastimes.



















I'm not sure that Anni's feet touched the ground as she ran to the playground. She was thrilled to say the very least. And she is FAST. It's so much easier to play at the park now. Last year I had to stay right next to her because she could climb anything that she wanted and had no idea that she shouldn't. Now she can go & do most of the things at the playground, with me close by. And she can keep up with Signe, which makes her most happy.

PS - Do you know how hard it is to get an in-focus picture on a swing with a short depth of field? Trust me, pretty hard. This is the only shot that's in-focus, out of at least a dozen.

Recent pictures

This is a very typical outfit for Signe, if she dresses herself. Don't you see how it goes together? Flowers are on both the shirt & the pants. She just wanted to wear the new jacket from Auntie Michelle.

More & more she wants us to pick out her clothes. But they have to be pretty or handsome. Did you know that green isn't a pretty color? Nope, it's handsome. Niether is black or brown. Though if something is green and has bling on it then it is pretty. Clear as mud, right?

Her clothes have to be pretty or handsome based on the character she is that day. If she is Mumble the boy penguin, she needs to be handsome. Oh, and she'll tell Kent, "Daddy, you aren't pretty. You're handsome."

Luckily, Pokemon are its. They aren't boys or girls. They are always referred to as its. Because she has been Pokemon for quite some time, we just ask if she wants to be pretty or handsome when we pick out her clothes.

And I thought I lucked out have a girl who wasn't a fashion diva. It might be a little easier. Lol


While you can't see it in the picture, the reason Anni is sitting on the bathroom counter is to brush her teeth. It is one of her favorite things to do. I am always picking up toothbrushes - ALWAYS! She has at least 8 of them - maybe more.








This is a typical picture of Anni - drawing/writing. If she can get her hands on a writing tool, she will use it. So don't leave anything important down, especially with a pencil nearby. Anni will certainly leave her mark. She is also having a hard time controlling the impulse to draw on things other than paper. Thank goodness for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. So far he has cleaned off all the drawing, even off the wallpaper.

It doesn't seem to matter that as soon as she draws on something that she shouldn't I take the offending tool away. She just can't control herself.









Lastly, here is Signe after kindergarten registration. She had a great time seeing the elementary school, and her classroom and meeting the teachers. When told they told her how smart she was, she replied, "Daddy, made me that way." Which totally made all of them laugh. I guess we have to remember that she is going to repeat the things we say to her.

She is reading AMAZINGLY well. I am continually astonished by the books and signs she can read. She is very good at sounding out words as long as it's the primary phonetic sound. Her memory is helping her reading a ton. It only takes her one time to be told what a word is. From then on, she usually can remember a word it.

More what we've been up to...

Often I have to wake Anni from her nap, either to pick Signe up at school or just so that she'll sleep at night. This does NOT make her happy. I am always gentle and kind. I even try to make her laugh, BUT most of the time she is nearly belligerent, refusing to wake up.

Anni loves sunglasses. She has her own, but prefers mine.

Sadly Anni has outgrown her beloved pink boots. They were getting harder and harder to put on. Then one day she said ouch as we tried to put them on. After that day, she never asked to wear them.

When Signe has ice cream for dessert we have to do the ice cream parade. (Anni thinks she would like ice cream too, but soy ice cream isn't nearly as good as regular ice cream and she rarely finishes it.) After the ice cream has been put in the bowls, it is time for the parade to begin. Using their spoons for a baton, Signe and Anni lead the parade to the little table in the living room, while Mom and/or Dad follow behind with the bowls of ice cream. We have a little song we sing, but it changes nearly every night.

Anni's favorite color seems to be green too - which makes for a bit of bickering.

This is one of my favorite developments: Signe has started calling Anni, Ans. (think Hans without the H) Makes since to me because we call Signe, Sigs.

Overheard this morning...

Signe: She ate all of it!
Mom: All of what?
S: My cheese
Mom: Pretend cheese?
S: Yes!
Mom: Can't we pretend she ate some of it & left you some?
S: No! She ate all of it.
Anni just sits there pretending to chew on Signe's cheese.