Yesterday at 8am sharp our condo started to vibrate, literally. We figured out pretty quickly that the empty apartment upstairs was having its floors sanded and varnished. Over breakfast we played a game with Clara in which we'd take turns making up explanations for the noise over our heads. Clara's ideas were quite creative; a tuba, a roaring tiger, etc. Marc was also tossing out ideas most of which brought out loud giggles and Noooo-s from both Clara and Leo. That was until he suggested the sound was coming from a lawnmower. Clara just smiled and nodded, Marc asked her Do you know what a lawnmower is? She didn't have a clue!!

I took the kids grocery shopping yesterday - it was wild! Leo trotted around babbling, touching, singing, and generally dawdling. Clara did much the same but she was more attentive to my requests; she stayed relatively close, did not walk in the opposite direction as me and helped me reign in her brother when it became necessary.

When we got home I unloaded the groceries and discovered something had been added to our order unbeknownst to me. I guess I knew this would happen at some point in time, it is the stuff commercials are made of right? It seems Leo NEEDED a third tub of cream cheese (I had picked up two), I remember that he was getting all crazy when we were in the refrigerator aisle but I thought I'd caught all the things he's tried tossing in our bag. I guess Clara and Leo's help at the cash is what let tub #3 get through under my radar - they were throwing things on the conveyor belt at the speed of light and I was just focused on trying to soften the landing for the more delicate items in our order.

Anyway, its no big deal, we'll use the extra cream cheese. I just thought it funny that he didn't try to get something he really loves by me like pears, or fruit bars, or ice cream. Perhaps had the opportunity arisen we'd be enjoying some Neapolitan this week!

Cabane a Sucre 2007

Wagon ride

Clara and Chloe on the train

Alissa, Clara, and Chloe waiting for their lunch

"I ate too much"

Napping on Papa

"All done!"

This is what my son does for fun! Yes, every "ow" is on purpose :)

One of my current favorite smells is the smell of the kids room after they've been asleep in there for a few hours.... it smells like them! When I'm heading to my bed I always open Clara and Leo's bedroom door and tiptoe over to the bunk bed. The air is so warm and sweet and somehow very soothing in their little blue room. I pull up their covers, sometimes I put Leo back into what I consider a "normal" sleeping position, I take a deep breath and whisper "I love you." Then I head to my own bed and fall asleep knowing they are all cozy and warm and sweet.

Patricia just blogged this photo over at The Little Blue Door, it is to help us decide if Malcolm looks more like his Mommy or his Daddy. The only thing that this particular photo made clear to me is that Leo looks just like I did at 3 years old! Honestly, when I clicked on the picture I just yelled out to Marc "oh my God, its Leo!"

A couple of random pictures from this past week:

The day Leo discovered he could reach Papa's pot of pennies with a step stool. He's holding his own penny bank in his right hand and doing some back transfers while singing "money, money, money." The pot has now been moved to higher ground!

I just don't take enough sleeping babe pictures anymore - he looked so peaceful that afternoon, I just couldn't help myself!

A nice, wholesome Sunday evening spent playing with poker chips! Everyone was happy :)

Well, I did it again... I locked myself out of the house! I locked myself out once before back in May of '05 and I'm happy to report being locked out with a 2 and 4 year old is much easier than being locked out with a baby and toddler! This time we were able to hop on the metro and go to Papa's office and get his keys. Yes, it was an exhausting add-on to the busy morning we'd already had but at least we got back home before dinner this time! Our morning consisted of two well-checks at the doctors office, many vaccinations, and a well deserved trip to the toy store. It was the first time I've taken them to the toy store to buy a gift for no particular reason - it was fun and Clara and Leo were thrilled with the Mermaid (guess who chose that?) and dinosaur mama and baby they picked out.