Summer

Conversations

Fin: "There's no clouds today."

Parker: "Dats cause the sun came out and sunburned vem away"

Fin: "Yeah, the sun burns them away."

Parker: "The clouds should wear some sun scream"

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Looking at a picture of hot air balloons that have lined up in a shape like a question mark, Parker laughs and says, "Hahahahah! The balloons are making a mystery!"

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In the spa, Fin has worked up the courage to "jump" into the middle (in reality its more like a dramatic step, but any little sign of progress in the quest towards actual swimming is awesome)

"Watch this Nanny, you're going to be SO impressed"

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Calm Down from The Family Wright on Vimeo.

Best Friends

When I was talking with my friend about what kind of cat we were looking for I told her that we didn't care if it was a "kitten" but we did want a young cat, because we were hoping that he would be THE cat our kids grow up with. Josh and I both had cats in our childhoods that we loved dearly (Josh even has a tattoo commemorating his Quasimodo). We wanted a cat who wouldn't be scared of the noise and chaos that comes with young kids, who wouldn't freak out if they got in his face or tried to pick him up. And Carrots has been everything we hoped for. Its rare to find a cat so utterly enamored with kids. He's sleeping on Fin's chest just like the picture above as I type this, exhausted from playing with Fin and his feather toy. This morning I went to "rescue" him from Parker, as she had spent the whole morning picking him up and transporting him from room to room. I swear she didn't put him down for a good ten minutes straight. I went to grab him and set him free, but was surprised when I picked him up to find him purring. He was perfectly happy being toted around like a baby. The other day I ran into their room, panicked because they were screaming for me at the top of their lungs. I sighed to find out they only wanted me to see Carrots had learned how to climb up the ladder of the bunk bed to join them up top. Fin is constantly barking at me to "GET THE CAMERA AND COME SEE WHAT CARROTS IS DOING!!" He's just mischievous enough to keep the kids, and us, thoroughly entertained without driving me totally nuts by destroying things. I think we'll keep him ;)

This Week We Were...

Violinists

Paleontologists

Contortionists

Mechanics

Pteranodon Party!!

The kids have always been very specific about what type of party they want. Especially now that they are older. This year Parker decided early on that she would like, "a pteranodon party, wid pteranodon masks, pteranodon wings, pteranodon nest and pteranodon eggs." While trying to explain this "theme" to most people, the first question was always, "What's a pteranodon??" and then I'd have to explain its the more scientifically correct way of calling the dinosaur we normally think of as a pterodactyl, that Parker loves to pretend she's one, sitting on a nest, hatching her eggs. My Nana came up with the brilliant idea to use a kiddy pool for the nest, we already had the egg pillows from Easter. My sister Jessi was talking one day about a pattern she saw for a hooded towel, and I came up with the idea to add a "beak" and some eyeballs and voila! Pteranodon costumes (as a substitute for the requested mask). Daddy made some coloring books from a free online coloring site, we dipped some marsmallows, made a cake and called it a day. Parker was in heaven with all her friends dressed up like baby pteranodons and I was happy to see the other kids really enjoyed their costumes too. :)

Conversations

Parker asked me about the cement truck next to us in the car. I said that they pour the cement out of the chute and thats how they make sidewalks. Fin chimes in, "Actually Mom, they have to build a wood frame first, then they pour in the cement, let it dry and then take the wood off. That's how they make a sidewalk."

Happy Birthday Parker!

You're four today! You've asked me everyday for the past few weeks if you were four yet and today is finally that day. When I got to tell you yes this morning you threw your hands in the air and exclaimed "YES!!!! See Mama, wook how big my feet are! Its cause I'm four now." For your birthday today you'd like to go to the mall and go shopping and then make a cake with a turtle and a pteranodon on top. You've asked for a Belle costume and a remote control skunk.

Life with you is not boring. You are passionate and that applies to everything in your life. You don't just get upset, you are DEVASTATED. You aren't just happy, you are ECSTATIC. And you can go from one of those emotions to the other, and back, in a matter of seconds. You challenge my patience almost everyday. You also do or say something everyday that makes me laugh out loud or amazes me. You are creative and smart and just plain crazy. I never in a million years thought that as a mom I would have to say things like, "I know you're a mountain lion, but please don't hiss at the waitress anymore, ok?" You are still very much the actress, role playing as dinosaurs, animals, bugs. You completely devote yourself to your role, and your body language and mannerisms are amazingly accurate. My favorite characters are your hissing, crouching raptor, and the bug eyed, tongue flicking "chamil-i-kan."

You went to school for the first time this year and loved every minute of it. You made a ton of friends, boy and girl. I heard from several parents that their kids only talk about you when it comes to school. You were "best fwiends" with Nicolas, sometimes Juliette. You loved the rituals of school, the standing in line and folding your hands and singing the songs. You already knew your letters, shapes and colors, so all you truly gained from this year of school was a little more social maturity, how to share, take turns.

Listening to me and your big brother talk about the sounds letters make, you've picked up on it and are starting to try to sound out words on your own. You have a handful of words you know by sight. You begged for a workbook which we bought for you, and you are very serious about doing your "work." You've taken it upon yourself to learn how to write letters. You are still very much an artist, coming up with new techniques and ideas all the time. You love to paint on your easel, and draw with your crayons. Your new thing lately has been assemblage art, cutting and gluing all sorts of crazy things together to make something new. You made a Puss in Boots the other day. You used a cutout of a cats head, then glued down a harmonica for his body, and were about to glue down our can opener when your dad discovered you. The can opener has black handles, so when it was all put together it really did look like he was wearing boots.

You and your brother are still two little peas in a pod. You crack each other up, laughing long into the night when you should be sleeping. You look out for each other and have inside jokes. You make him laugh with your made up songs. He makes you laugh with fart jokes.

You get more beautiful everyday. Walking around with you is sometimes like walking around with a mini celebrity. We get stopped all the time, told you are too cute! so pretty! Walking with you through a restaurant I can see people nudge each other and point at you, coo how cute you are. And you notice it too. You hold your head a little higher, smile sweetly and say thank you.

I can't believe my little rolypoly newborn is four years old, you've brought so much joy to us and I can't even begin to explain how much we love you, Squirrels. Happy Happy Birthday!!