Precious Sleep

We recently took the side off Gabriella's crib so that she has a "big girl bed". Whoever thought convertible cribs would make good toddler beds has never heard a child roll out of one multiple times during a night.

She was so excited the first night, and she made it the entire time in bed.

The next night, before we even went to bed, she was on the floor.

I guess we'll work on it.

Things I Learned at the Zoo

Yesterday, I took the kids to the zoo with my friend Amanda and her family. Here are a few things I learned.

1. Put band-aids in my purse. If Graham falls and skins his knee, he will fuss about it for the next hour until the bloody spot is hidden from sight. 
2. Do not let Chase spend time with overweight women in halter tops. He follows them around shouting, "That guy not wearing any clothes!"
3. Listen when Gabriella complains that her bellybutton hurts. Do not feed her lunch. She will vomit all over my shirt and force a smelly, early retreat from the zoo.

It was an experience I will never forget. The people eating lunch while Gabriella was vomiting will probably never forget it, either.

Chasing Chase

This video shows so many things about Chase: his habit of running everywhere, his love of screaming at the top of his lungs, and how he plays hide-n-seek the wrong way. It shows his penchant for running around in his underwear and his tendency to run into things. In this case, it's a bush. And then he yells, "Wow, that was close."

Obviously.

Gabriella comes in crying.

Gabriella: I can't reach my snack!
Me: Well, what do you say?
Gabriella: I need to be taller.

Lazy Man's Wagon Ride

Our kids enjoyed an evening with their friend Adeline.

She's No Emily Post.

Gabriella asked me to have a picnic with her today. I sat down and looked over her table.

Me: May I have a cupcake?
Gabriella: No, you not hungry.
Me: What's in this cup?
Gabriella: That coffee.
Me: Oh, can I have a drink?
Gabriella: No, you no like coffee.

Hmmm. I guess we need to go over some picnic etiquette.

Where'd they go?

I was inside with Gabriella one day when I realized I hadn't seen or heard any of the boys (or Will) for awhile. They were supposedly working in the garden, but they weren't out there. I went out to put something in the van and happened to spot them.

Evidently, they were watching a pair of mallards from the church driveway. And yes, Chase is lying down.