Early morning

This morning, Al had to get up at 4:30 a.m. and leave the house by 5:30 for a meeting in Western Mass. It also happened that the power went out sometime in the night, so both of the kids noticed that their digital clocks were blinking right about 5:45. They came in to bed with me about 6 and Maddox asked if we could start the day off with a tickle fight. So we did. Chava fluctuates between being the mommy protector and asking us to tickle her, but today she called a time out and very sweetly pleaded, "Mommy, can I be your sidekick?"

Sister cousins

They really do look alike, don't they?

Visit from Annie

We had the BEST time with Annie. My kids fell completely, totally, and forever in love with her... especially Chava, who loves anyone with a hint of girly girl in them. Chava and Annie made the crown adorning Chava's head which has gotten a lot of wear - it's the perfect way to help cheer up all the grumpy people in the world. A four year old in a jeweled crown could probably solve a lot of today's problems.

...and this is why I have to smooch her all the time

Early morning wisdom

This morning, Al had to leave the house at about 6 to get to a meeting in Northampton. The kids weren't even awake when he left, and they seemed pretty impressed that I was going to handle things all on my own. I made them French toast for breakfast, helped Chava get dressed (which is really a process that has to be experienced to be believed), made Maddox's lunch to order, peeled a dozen eggs with Maddox for tonight's Seder... and assorted other things. As we were getting ready to go, I reminded Maddox to put shoes in his backpack, since he was wearing rain boots to school. He sighed and said, "Wow, it's hard to be the mom!"

On the way to Chava's school, she asked me when "Daddy's new job would be over," since she likes going to school with him better. I told her it was a two year contract but I'm not sure that really made her feel much better.

Ready for her closeup

Chava decked herself out in a crazy but very cute outfit for Saturday's warm weather and was more than happy to oblige my desire to capture it.

Sipping Cider Through a Straw..

Well, not quite cider, but Maddox and Chava did share a yogurt milkshake before swimming lessons.

Maddox's Filling

Somehow Al managed to start his job at just the right time, leaving me to take Maddox to the dentist for his first filling. Of course, this wasn't the regular dentist - this was the pediatric specialist, because even our regular dentist was not going in Maddox's mouth with a drill. She's known him for three years, after all.


But Maddox, ever full of surprises, shocked us all and did great. Good thing, too, because the new x-rays revealed another small cavity on the same tooth, other side (what IS this? we brush EVERY night) and he's going back April 23rd.

Ikea

On the the third day of drenching rain, we woke up and headed to Ikea. First stop, breakfast, consisting of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and deep fried French toast sticks. Al suggested we get a piece of cake for breakfast dessert, and who am I to argue?


The funny thing was that each of us had about two bites of the cake and declared ourselves done... but not Chavie. Girlfriend scarfed the entire thing down.