what I heard this morning while cleaning up the breakfast dishes

L1: W1, read me this book.

W1: But, I can't read!

L1: W1, read me this book!

W1: Just a minute!

L1: W1, read me this book!

W1: Okay, sit on the couch.





A few beautiful minutes of civility between bouts of wrestling and sword fighting.

New

New digs.

New striped wall.
New (dirty brown) rug.
New chair cushions.
Newly walking girl. Or newly stepping. She's still working up her courage.

Today

I stood in my kitchen looking out into the living room, watching W1, L1 and H1 play harmoniously on the rug with a large mountain of Legos.

The fact that there was only one bag of Finding Nemo fruit snacks reduced two of us to tears. Were the fire engine fruit snacks a sufficient substitute? No.

I have Hitchcock on the brain. Ever seen Dial M for Murder? If not, see it. I watched it the other night, sitting on the couch next to several baskets of laundry that I intended to fold. They didn't get folded.

We had waffles this morning with vanilla syrup. Because we were all out of maple. Not as delicious as you would think.

The high for the next 10 days isn't supposed to be more than 70 degrees. I discovered today that W1 only has three pairs of pants that fit. And I really don't want to go shopping. Or do laundry every 3 days. Leggings?

We steam cleaned the rugs last night. I vow to never again buy a cream colored rug. You are my witness. I'm thinking a dirty brown color...


And, the most wonderful of all: We finally have reliable internet!

what's the plan, stan?

After weeks (months? years?) of discussion, this is what it came down to:



K1: So, should we plan on staying in Rochester for another year?

R1: Yep.



And there you have it. After R1 graduates, we will be staying in Rochester for awhile so he can start a business based on the research he has been doing. We'll be here for at least a year, perhaps more depending on how things go.

We feel lucky to be staying in such a beautiful place with so many wonderful friends. And we are looking forward to enjoying more of the things Rochester has to offer that we never had time for before.

And those of you in the area, keep an eye out for a house for rent in the Brighton school district for us. Thanks!

we have a big problem

H1 is on the verge, on the cusp, this close to crawling. She scoots, she lunges, she rolls, she's a commando.

Yesterday, we had a serious sit down discussion about her need for independence. How I would like her to stay cute and immobile for awhile longer. How her exploration of every nook and cranny of this place doesn't work with my plans.

She shrugged off all my arguments. (Here I sense foreshadowing. Just add 15 years and change the topic to driving. Or dating.). She stared at me with big blue eyes.

What could I do? I gave in.



W1 and L1 of course think it is fantastic. They enter a room looking for her: "Where's H1? Where did she go? Here she is! H1, what are you doing all the way over here?"




What you say? All this post needs are some adorable pictures? You come find that darn cable amidst the towers of boxes. **found it!**

Things I may have yelled to the monkeys in the backseat

Yesterday during our umpteenth trip from house (moving out) to townhouse (moving in - temporarily).



"L1, are we outside? No? No screaming until we get outside!"

"Don't spit on H1."

"W1, put your seatbelt back on!"

"I know you can "sing" Puff the Magic Dragon, but it is my turn. Be quiet and listen."



With quite a bit of back and forth, we have the majority of stuff out of our house. It is still ours until the 15th, so if you are feeling a little bit of pyromania, now would be the ideal time to... No, just kidding. Really.

H1 at 6 months

Almost sitting on her own.

Now if I could just photoshop out that arm. And make her look at the camera.