Flirting at the park

Over the weekend, the whole family went over to our local park for a small summer party. Anne and the kids were in from Arizona, so the entire Doherty clan came by. We played catch, ladder ball, ate pizza and played on the park equipment.

I was pushing Ev on the swings (which is a full blown commitment since she will stay in those darn swings for 45 minutes straight). Meanwhile, Erin was off doing her own thing. She has taken a liking to laying on the big kid swings on her belly and running back and forth.

After a while I walk over to the other side of the part to check on Erin and she is gabbing away with this other boy and his dad who were also at the swings. I was very shocked because Erin is not one to talk to strangers. But she really liked this other little boy.

A few minutes later, Erin and this boy were laughing and chasing each other like crazy. She was running around squealing with delight. Then the boy started hiding from Erin. She would run all over the park yelling "Jackson!!!, Jackson! Where are you? Daddy, where's Jackson?" I'd point to a tree or something else he was behind and she would run to get him.

I later found out from the dad that Jackson was 4 1/2 (really, Erin, you are almost half his age!). I also found out that the his name was not Jackson, but Collin. I have no idea where Erin got Jackson from, but strangely enough, he had taken to calling Erin Sophie. So in about 15 minutes these two already have pet names for each other.

No matter where Jackson/Collin would go, Sophie/Erin was like his little shadow. But she was far from being a pest. When I took Erin to the washroom, Jackson/Collin was apparently very concerned that she may have gone home. I guess he liked all the attention he was getting.

Now comes the "holy cow" part. I walking around the park equipment with Sophie/Erin as she and Jackson/Collin are playing, talking, and laughing and all of a sudden they are standing face to face (much too close) and Jackson starts to make his move. He actually went in for a kiss!!

I'm happy to report that Sophie/Erin had the good sense to put up her hand and push him away. That-a-girl, Erin! Chase the boys, make them interested and push them away. Keep up the good work, especially about 10-17 years from now.

Talking about an upcoming pediatrician visit

The other night Nancy was telling Erin about her upcomming check-up.

Erin: "Why do I have to go to the doctor? Am I sick?"

Nancy: "No. Sometimes you go to the doctor when you are not sick, just to check that everything is ok."

Erin: "I don't want to go to the doctor."

Nancy: "You know, if you are a good girl the doctor might give you a lollipop."

Erin: "If I'm a really REALLY good girl can the doctor take the baby out of your belly?"

I find it especially heart warming to think that Erin considers getting a new baby brother or sister a higher reward than the promise of a lollipop. For a 3 year old, I think this is awfully cute.

Another Update from Camper Evie

We were pulling up to the school, but there was a car in front of me getting its act together to pull out. I could not pull to the front for a second.

Ev:"Mom, stop the car."

I stop the car.

Ev: "Mom, let me out."

She then looked up for her teachers hand, took it and walked away. I guess she likes camp. But, she could have said goodbye! I guess I can't ask for everything!

Update from Camper Evie...

Evie is doing much better with our drop-off at camp. She has not cried in a few days - just rubs her eyes for a few seconds and walks away holding her teachers hand. She really does have a lot of fun there. This week they have had a beach theme and made lots of art projects centering around fish, octopus and other cool beachy things. She is making friends - which is so cute to hear her talk about. She talks about Annie and Will - she has a boyfriend!

With Ev at camp for 2.5 hours every morning Erin and I are getting to do lots of fun things together. We went to the kids museum one day - ran in the sprinkler another day and she has spent time with her cousins. It is a lot of fun to hang with her all alone. But, that made me think of how I need to make quality 1-1 time with Ev. So, Friday morning we left for camp early and went to Dunkin Donuts where she had a chocolate donut with sprinkles for breakfast - she was thrilled! We'll have to continue to make time for 1-1 adventures.

It is too bad the weekend is here and we loose our continuity. I hope Monday goes well again!

Nighttime chatter

Last night here is what I hear at 3am.

Erin: Rainbow Dash, you need to go back to sleep. It is night-night time - not time to wake up. Here are your blankets. Now, go to sleep.

Dave: She sounds so mean.

pause 15 seconds...

Dave: She sounds like you.

I think a persons true colors shine in their sleep. And, for some reason Dave does not like me in his sleep.

My Girls Are Growing Up!

Today is Erin & Evie's 3rd birthday. It really is amazing at just how quickly time flies by. Feels like yesterday they were little babies - but forever ago that we did not have them in our lives. We are so lucky and blessed to have both of our healthy, funny, lovely kids. Really, there is nothing more we could ask for.

In light of their birthday I thought I'd post a few photos to walk down memory lane.

Evie Goes To Camp!

Today was Evie's first day at summer camp. First day in a new place with nobody she knows - not even Erin. I think that had to be pretty overwhelming for her. She has been very excited to go to camp - we talk about it a lot! She tried so hard to be strong and brave. But, once we dropped Erin at my moms so I could take Ev she got pretty quiet. Once we got there she was stuck to me like glue. While I was there she was being so strong and working so hard to hold back the tears. Once I got ready to leave she was just so sad - and that was so hard for me to see. I can only imagine how alone she felt - even though she was with new friends and nice teachers.

She was thrilled to get a nice green tee-shirt - she put it on the minute we got home. And, she had fun doing art projects and hearing stories. She's looking forward to going tomorrow and is going "to try not to cry." She told me she cried "a lot" today and she said she was crying for me to come back - which of course breaks my heart. But, I know in time she'll jump out of the car and not want to leave camp because it will be so much fun for her!

I just hope we get there quickly!

The Farmer's Market is Back

Last week our local farmer's market opened up for the summer season. Nancy had something to do so I took the little chicks to see all the action at the market. We were all ready to gobble up some freshly popped Lion's Club popcorn and if we were really lucky maybe even take in a song or two from a folk trio of Olde Town School of Folk Music students.

Well the weather was quite chilly. There were no fiddle, guitar, or banjo players in sight and to top it off the Lion's popcorn maker was broken. They said it would be another week before repairs could make it ready after the long winter season in storage.

So we tried to make the best of it by walking around a bit and looking at the fruits, flowers, jellies, jams, baked goods, homemade soaps and salsa concoctions available.

I recalled last year that the girls had some strange hard-core affinity for scones from the farmer's market so we went out looking for one to have a snack. Ev ran ahead to a booth that caught her eye. Before I could catch up to her, she had reached up and grabbed a cookie and took a big bite out of it.

I immediately reached for my wallet to pay for the cookie that Ev basically stole and I noticed that the price was only $0.75 which seemed way to reasonably priced for such a thing at a farmer's market. It was at this time that Ev spit out her mouthful of stolen goodness and reached up to put the cookie back on the table. It was only when I told her that she couldn't just put the cookie back did I notice one small detail of the booth we were at. Ev had copped and eaten a dog cookie. The entire booth was stocked full of home made dog treats that looked like regular baked goods!

There were dog treats that looked like crescents, cookies, there were even muffins complete with muffin paper. What kind of a dog needs their treats to look like muffins???

Anyway, Ev was not a fan of the dog biscuit (which I guess speaks to her taste in baked goods). And I told her that she should not reach up on tables grabbing and eating anything she can get her hands on. And that is really a lesson for all of us. Be careful of what you eat at a farmer's market when the Lion's popcorn machine is down. Your scone or biscotti might actually be a dog treat.

More Morning Chatter...

Evie - "Sissy, stop bothering me."

Erin - "I can bother you. I am your sister."

Where they learned that I can't imagine! But, I thought it was hilarious!!

Hello? It's Erin. I'm awake!

So we have this really nifty baby monitor that captures video as well as audio. We like to connect the monitor to our TV and watch the girls play and talk and eventually fall asleep. Our intention was to keep the monitor secret well into their teen-age years and keep a close eye on them (we fully expect Ev to pull out the rope ladder from under her bead and climb out the window).

Well our plans have been spoiled. Erin has fully grasped the concept of the monitor and has started using it to her advantage. On Sunday morning we were awoken to the following,

"Mommy, Daddy, Hello? Can you hear me? It's Erin. I'm awake."

No shouting, no whining, just a civil conversational tone. She knows that we are listening and now she expects us to come running. Yet another parental planning backfire!