I'm already looking forward to her first science fair. Or not. I remember spending long weekends torturing my mother as she helped me put mine together. Maybe those sorts of things should be "Daddy's job".
Monday, July 4, 2011
Thank goodness it's not paper mache
Charlotte saw a character on a show make a paper mache volcano, so when she was playing with play-dough she decided to fashion one of her own. The creation in the foreground (with the rolling pin stuck in to help the lava flow "explode") is the result.
Corn crazies
It was interesting watching the kids last week while playing in the baby pool full of dried corn. It started out so nicely with digging and dumping. Then Peter got the bright idea to dive in and out of the pool. Then Stephanie taught the kids that the magic word to say to get in and out of the pool was "popcorn". Eventually, it led to this:
Roll Tide!
It's up to Corey to explain why this video of Matt teaching Charlotte University of Alabama cheers is posted on the blog.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Hanging with the Pennsylvania/D.C. crew
The night before we drove home from Michigan, we met up with Corey's Aunt Martha, Uncle Doug, cousin Katie, cousin Erin, and Erin's boyfriend, Matt, at Granny and Grandpa's house for dinner. After marathon naps, Charlotte and Peter were in terrific moods and ready to entertain.
Within just a few minutes of our arrival, Peter and Matt became great friends. They met last summer at the Jolli Lodge, but Petey was just a little bubba back then. Despite Peter throwing his food at dinner right onto Matt's plate, Matt seemed to have a good time with the little guy.
Erin and Katie helped Charlotte look for clues all over the house.
Granny knows the way to Peter's heart -- let him play with water!
Later, I found Peter playing cars with his Great Uncle Doug. Thank goodness Uncle Doug was good at fixing all the stuff Peter broke (other than the ceramic bird on the back porch -- sorry about that, Granny!).
Peter gave Uncle Doug a big smooch (unsolicited!), then decided he needed to lounge on the floor too. Peter was in heaven with all these great relatives to entertain him.
Oops -- I didn't get any photos of Aunt Martha. I guess that means we need to get together again soon!
Within just a few minutes of our arrival, Peter and Matt became great friends. They met last summer at the Jolli Lodge, but Petey was just a little bubba back then. Despite Peter throwing his food at dinner right onto Matt's plate, Matt seemed to have a good time with the little guy.
Erin and Katie helped Charlotte look for clues all over the house.
Granny knows the way to Peter's heart -- let him play with water!
Later, I found Peter playing cars with his Great Uncle Doug. Thank goodness Uncle Doug was good at fixing all the stuff Peter broke (other than the ceramic bird on the back porch -- sorry about that, Granny!).
Peter gave Uncle Doug a big smooch (unsolicited!), then decided he needed to lounge on the floor too. Peter was in heaven with all these great relatives to entertain him.
Oops -- I didn't get any photos of Aunt Martha. I guess that means we need to get together again soon!
GrandDad and his little buddy
It's only fair that since Charlotte is the spitting image of me as a kid, Petey should look like someone on the Stringer side. Looks like Petey is well on his way to becoming a mini-GrandDad!
Old friends, new friends
Corey's high school/college buddy, Nancy, and I have met once or twice, but we have gotten to know each other a little better over the past couple of years on Facebook. We finally were able to get our kids together Friday morning at a cool park. Despite my kids being a little tired and cranky (it was an active week!), they had a great time with Nancy's super cute daughters (ages 5 and 3). Corey is bummed he couldn't be there to see our little ones make friends, but he's thrilled we all got together.
There was actually a see-saw at the park we went to! I haven't seen one in years. This four-seater model was especially fun.
These two are only about a month apart in age. I bet they would be good buddies if we lived closer together! We promised to try to see them again when we come back up to Michigan for Christmas.
There was actually a see-saw at the park we went to! I haven't seen one in years. This four-seater model was especially fun.
These two are only about a month apart in age. I bet they would be good buddies if we lived closer together! We promised to try to see them again when we come back up to Michigan for Christmas.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Last Day of Camp NanaB
We ended Camp NanaB with a morning at the pool and an evening adventure to get ice cream downtown. The pool photos are carefully cropped to cut out any adult not willing to have a photo of herself posted on the blog. Charlotte, however, has no qualms (nor did I ask her for permission). No, I do not have any idea whatsoever why she was dancing around the edge of the baby pool singing some strange song that involved shushing babies.
Quinn hung out on the baby pool steps for most of the time. He gave his mama fits as he toyed with the idea of jumping into the big pool. Poor Steph waited and waited, arms outstretched, in the pool for him to jump, only to have him change his mind over and over again. I'm not sure if he ever did jump.
Until the very end, Petey wasn't so sure about walking around in the 1 foot, 7 inches deep water. Once he figured out that he didn't need the blue float, he had a ball.
Maisie loves splashing in the water! Those thighs kill me.
The last supper around NanaB's kitchen peninsula was bittersweet until the kids realized we had one more item on the agenda involving a certain frozen treat.
The adventure to Dairy Queen was a big hit. Charlotte ate probably as much ice cream as Quinn and Peter combined. That girl loves her ice cream.
We walked the kids through the small car show in a nearby parking lot. Peter was in heaven and tore around from car to car announcing "CAR-CAR! CAR-CAR!"
Now camp is over. Steph and her crew grabbed NanaB and GrandDad and headed up to Glen Arbor for a week of vacation. The kids and I are sticking around to meet up with a high school friend of Corey's and her daughters, and then we are going to have dinner with Granny and Grandpa in addition to all of the Pennsylvania Taylor bunch. More on that later!
Quinn hung out on the baby pool steps for most of the time. He gave his mama fits as he toyed with the idea of jumping into the big pool. Poor Steph waited and waited, arms outstretched, in the pool for him to jump, only to have him change his mind over and over again. I'm not sure if he ever did jump.
Until the very end, Petey wasn't so sure about walking around in the 1 foot, 7 inches deep water. Once he figured out that he didn't need the blue float, he had a ball.
Maisie loves splashing in the water! Those thighs kill me.
The last supper around NanaB's kitchen peninsula was bittersweet until the kids realized we had one more item on the agenda involving a certain frozen treat.
The adventure to Dairy Queen was a big hit. Charlotte ate probably as much ice cream as Quinn and Peter combined. That girl loves her ice cream.
We walked the kids through the small car show in a nearby parking lot. Peter was in heaven and tore around from car to car announcing "CAR-CAR! CAR-CAR!"
Now camp is over. Steph and her crew grabbed NanaB and GrandDad and headed up to Glen Arbor for a week of vacation. The kids and I are sticking around to meet up with a high school friend of Corey's and her daughters, and then we are going to have dinner with Granny and Grandpa in addition to all of the Pennsylvania Taylor bunch. More on that later!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The stand-up comedian toddler
Peter's language has really exploded in the last couple of weeks, but the real kicker is that he now tells jokes. He has heard his goofy sister tell so many knock-knock jokes (usually ones that don't make much sense) that he has fixated on and imitated their format using his limited vocabulary. I caught it on video, but here's a transcript in case you can't understand his garbled speech:
Peter: KNOCK KNOCK!
Me: Who's there?
Peter: Car!
Me: Car who?
Peter: VROOOOOOOM!
No, this wasn't a fluke. He has now told us this joke about 457 times. If you don't ask who's there, he keeps repeating "knock knock" louder and louder, until the shrieking just about sends you over the edge. I'm going to need to search for some new jokes to teach him, because it's pretty hard to pretend to be delighted and amused by this one anymore. Either that or he needs a new audience, because his NanaB, Aunt Stephanie, and I have all heard our fill.
Peter: KNOCK KNOCK!
Me: Who's there?
Peter: Car!
Me: Car who?
Peter: VROOOOOOOM!
No, this wasn't a fluke. He has now told us this joke about 457 times. If you don't ask who's there, he keeps repeating "knock knock" louder and louder, until the shrieking just about sends you over the edge. I'm going to need to search for some new jokes to teach him, because it's pretty hard to pretend to be delighted and amused by this one anymore. Either that or he needs a new audience, because his NanaB, Aunt Stephanie, and I have all heard our fill.
Day 4 adventure
GrandDad took the campers (minus Maisie, who was in having a bath) on another adventure. Kayla the Adventure Dog even tagged along.
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to the lightpost we go . . .
. . . and back up again. When I saw Quinn had been dressed in his Lightning McQueen shirt after nap, I ran down and changed Petey into his matching shirt. Those boys are both crazy for cars. I was all proud for thinking up the nickname "Lightning McQuinn" for my nephew, but Quinn was not impressed.
The adventure was complete when they found the treasure -- "parrot" feathers!
They capped off the evening with a performance on the "stage" by the children's garden. Charlotte and her Pips have a few choreography issues to work through.
It's amazing how much dancing they can do without any sort of music whatsoever.
This is a common dance move of Charlotte's. I have no idea where she got it from, but I can't wait to show this photo at her wedding rehearsal dinner.
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to the lightpost we go . . .
. . . and back up again. When I saw Quinn had been dressed in his Lightning McQueen shirt after nap, I ran down and changed Petey into his matching shirt. Those boys are both crazy for cars. I was all proud for thinking up the nickname "Lightning McQuinn" for my nephew, but Quinn was not impressed.
The adventure was complete when they found the treasure -- "parrot" feathers!
They capped off the evening with a performance on the "stage" by the children's garden. Charlotte and her Pips have a few choreography issues to work through.
It's amazing how much dancing they can do without any sort of music whatsoever.
This is a common dance move of Charlotte's. I have no idea where she got it from, but I can't wait to show this photo at her wedding rehearsal dinner.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
More Day 3 fun
Sidewalk chalk!
Drinks in the sun!
. . . and ended with the kids (mostly Peter) diving in and out of the pool.
After GrandDad got home, we went on another adventure complete with a map leading to treasure (sparkly rocks).
Drinks in the sun!
Dried corn in a baby pool was super fun. It started like this...
. . . and ended with the kids (mostly Peter) diving in and out of the pool.
After GrandDad got home, we went on another adventure complete with a map leading to treasure (sparkly rocks).
Found it!!
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