soul biscuit

Gwendolyn has grown very interested in baking recently, and often wants to prepare the dishes we've worked on together.  Her favorite is probably cream biscuits, an old fashioned and delicious recipe which has become a common Saturday morning treat -- particularly when served with various flavors of creamed honey.

Casper's binoculars

Casper: There go the Patrions, your favorite team.

C: Like Susan Cooper said, never trust a book by its movie.

C: Cute? I love cute monsters. Seriously.  Put a cute monster in a movie and I’ll watch it for hours. [in response to Secret of Kells]

C: I love ghostbusting. Seriously. I’ve seen it. It’s not scary at all.

M: What, you saw it at day camp, too?
C: No . . . I saw it at . . . Netflix!

C: Oh, you’re on the google page. Type in “lightling”! It will give you lots of cool pictures.

sign language

doing f'ips!

Margaret: Are you grow another beard? Can you grow another soft beard?

M: I’m going to stay asleep until my tonsils are out.

M: [after reading Busytown story of bunny at the hospital] That  baby has a magic cylinder [bottle], laughing.

M: Mama, do you want to come into my base-a-bator house?  [I believe that meant “elevator”]

vita contemplativa

Two of my favorite picture in recent memory: Simon contemplating and Simon exulting.

a boy's best friend

swaddle

glamour

Jennifer: How was nursery today?
Margaret: I felt a little sad over Daddy. I didn’t want him to leave. I wanted to cry about Daddy, so I cried about him. I was so excited to see Gwennie when she came!

M: Don’t call me Lazy Bum! I’m Margaret!

M: I’m good at babysitting.  I’m good at Baby Simon sitting!

M: He’s so cute out of your tummy.

pillow talk

Greta has gotten more interested in nursing as she’s seen Simon having his dinner.  Here are a few of her requests and observations:

M: I want to drink milk from your nurses.
J: Simon drinks from Mama’s nurses now.
M: But he can drink from his bink!
J: Nothing comes out of that.
M: Just regular water!

M: Has your body made more milk? . . . can I have some?

best bros

Casper, after his birthday checkup at the doctor’s office: Aw, my Pluto shot isn’t stinging any more. [Polio]

grins and chins

birthday girl

Poor Gwennie didn't get much of a birthday this year.  Even though it is her twelfth -- and the opportunity for a major friends party -- she decided (in a characteristic moment of generosity and selflessness) to postpone the festivities, seeing how difficult the past (and current) month had (has) been.  I'm sure we'll get a chance to report on a real bash in the next few months.  If not that, perhaps a good half-birthday party will do.

G: Daddy, don't be passive-annoyed.

doctor people

Margaret: OK, Tito. I’ll go have breakfast, and you can build more of your tower.
Casper: Yeah, so you can knock it down, and I can punch you in the face!
Jennifer: Casper!
C: Sorry, Mama –
M: It’s OK, Mama – he not a bully.

M: [to Casper] How did you do with you doctor people? Did she hurt you when you put in the shot?

M: Can you come help me wash my hands? There are Jabberwockies in the bathroom!

Todd: Who else is white with black spots?
M: Margaret?

M: Hey, Daddy, Mama wants you to bring a picture of Gwennie in karate for she birthday.

J: [After reading Busytown doctor story] I need to take out this! [points to mouth guard]
M: Are they your tonsils?

M: Mama, what’s that yucky smell coming from your panties?

G: Toodle-oo!
M: Turtle-neck! [that's another intentional joke from our three year old]

reclining

Frankensteinheaded

Casper was especially excited when we checked out an old Ed Emberley cartooning book from the library.  Not only was he drawn to the step-by-step process of the (charming) designs, but he liked the fact that it was filled with monsters and grotesque creatures of all kinds.  Once we returned home, he promptly set up a studio at the dining room table and drew a (pretty terrifying) Frankenstein's monster.

cute-able

Margaret: [hearing Simon snorting] He honked!

M: [bringing a new diaper to Mama, lifting it to her nose, and inhaling deeply] It’s fresh, Mama!

M: Oh, baby Simon – he’s so cute-able!

candystripes

Linus: I’m going to the restroom.
Margaret: I think Bud said he going to the restaurant! [here, she is making an intentional joke]

Reading an animal book:
Casper: And what’s this?
M: A roast beef!

M: I’m not going to do what you said ‘cause I’m not a baby any more!

Todd: Those toys are there so I can fix them.
M: You have to fix them so we can play with them at Christmastime!

T: Greta, come eat your sandwich for lunch.
M: I can’t – I’m really, really busy.
T: [tries offering several things with the same result] How about this cracker with special cream cheese on it?
M: [runs to the table]

M: [bringing something into the bathroom] Here it is! Comin’ right up!

M: [Starting to insist on being called “Mah-gett”]

M: [singing] I looked out the window and sat down on the seat, I looked at the acorn tree and saw some popcorn, I went out the door and on the patio . . . .

bucket redux

Linus, having seen Gwendolyn doing her ALS ice bucket challenge, decided to do his own version of the program.  He had a great time calling out his friends, but was a little less patient with the water -- as you can see, he jumped up after the first splash, and had to get the rest of the bucket while standing.  At the end, though, he was just happy to be part of the phenomenon.

last shot

departures

Though it seems like they only just arrived (maybe because I was laid up for most of the visit), Grandma and Grandpa leave tonight to get back to San Antonio, where they'll fly back to Utah and return to Idaho tomorrow.  We had a really wonderful, if quick, visit with them.  And they got their hands on that brand new baby -- so there's that, too.

products of labor