elephantine shelter

I got a call late this afternoon to hurry from work -- Jen had something to show me.  When I arrived home, I found that Margaret had managed to sneak under Tantor and had fallen asleep . . . sitting up.  I spent the next forty-five minutes circling around, removing slats from Tantor's side, and taking pictures -- all of which Greta managed to sleep through.  I don't believe in exaggeration, but this is probably the most delightful thing that's ever happened in the history of this family record, and the history of the world.

Margaret: [as she's falling asleep] This little egg not going to crack!

world cup

The good news: our sweet family had traveled from Boise to Texas for a family reunion.  We were a little afraid that the children wouldn't get a chance to see their cousins, or that I'd be able to see my sister and her husband, during this long-awaited return to the Dallas area.  Fortunately, we managed to find a time to connect, and we drove up today to spend a few hours playing, talking, watching the World Cup finals, and otherwise enjoying their company.

wild beasts

Margaret: Let's play wild beast!
Todd: How do you play wild beast?
M: You put your feet on the stairs and your hands on the floor. And you jump over the scary part!

M: We don't have a tampa bean. It broke.  You did it, Daddy.
T: We did it together.
M: I a baby, so I fall down the hole. Can I go outside and see the tampa bean what is broken? Pease pease pease -- can I go see it? Then I come right back inside!

M: Can you cut that water lemon? And cut it in half, and cut it in half.  Then I eat it. I can't do it, 'cause a baby don't know how!

\

M: Bears love me. They would never scratch me.  They like to hug me!

M: I love baby Cinq. He's my brother and my baby.

M: [bringing a carton of cream to Mama]: Do you have any milk? We need to stop at Sam's to get some milk for your nurses, and some milk for my nurses!

backyard royalty

quizzical

fashion plate

Over the past few weeks, Linus has periodically decided that he wants to change his "look" by brushing his hair wet, adding gel, or whatnot.  It's interesting that he's become aware of his physical appearance and is connecting it with his self-identity. I don't think that he's going to stick with any of these styles, but I expect that he'll continue to experiment.

booties

I returned home from work to find that the children had fashioned plastic produce bags into slippers, perfect for sliding over the kitchen floor.  That's some ingenuity, there.

behind bars

Margaret: I want some more of that 'picy soup.
Todd: You mean this? It's called queso.
M: I know, I know. It's 'picy!

M: Daddy, we have to fix my little box! You use tape, glue, a hammer, tools in your office, and a [singing the rest] ma-a-jic wand!

M: How you keep you chappies in you fings [springs]? Oh, so they don't get lost in the road, you keep them in our house?

M: Yeah, I'm a superhero [getting into a fighting stance, mid-splits] -- and this my super kitty!

M: They're not chocolate! They're little puffballs to eat. [That'd be sweettarts.]

kitten explanations

M: Nope, nopey nope. I can't find she [Plume]. There sometime lots of kittens in my bedroom! When Everest come to my house, I will tickle him and pat his bottom.

M: You see what a kitty does with his tongue? You missed it, Daddy. He do it again. He do it like this!

M: I just wait.  I just watch him.  I just wait for a kitty to do it again.

M: They just meow about they want to go outside.

small town celebratin'

Last night, we went with a couple of our favorite families in town to a small-town Texas fireworks display.  This has become a favorite activity of ours since we were first invited by our mechanic, who is a member of the volunteer fire department here (the organization that puts on the show).

The word, is appears, has gotten out, since this was the best-attended event we've ever been to -- we had to park in a field some ways from the firing ground.  But it allowed us plenty of space to play sauna tag (named due to the heat and humidity of the night), collect rocks, have a picnic, and then to watch the display.

The Fourth (abstracted)

holiday play

dressed up at the park

Margaret, holding chap stick and waving it around, singing her favorite song (lately) from Peg+Cat, "magic cylinder, ah!"

I was looking for Greta, then walked into the living room to find her sitting on the couch singing the Hokey Pokey to herself.  "I'm good at that!"

M: Cylinders make you stand up and sing! Oh, oh . . . I not sing that song on purpose.

M: [to the tune of "Add One"] Baby Cinq is in your buddy button. . . .

snoozin' duo