The flight down

Sunday, December 7

Early early in the morning C39 and I got up, packed the rest of our stuff, packed the car, and woke the girls and bundled them into the car. Off to Louisiana for our slightly early Louisiana Christmas.

It snowed Saturday night, and it was snowing early Sunday morning when we arrived at the airport, so the girls were so excited. Finally it was WINTER to them!

We got on the plane, the girls were mostly wide awake. I was less wide awake. Ok, I was reeeeealllly tired:



Mostly the girls kept busy during the flight eating, working, playing.



Louisiana was lovely and not as cold as Maryland. We didn't have a plan for doing anything there, no parties, no visits (except with C39's grandmother, G'ma, who is a must-see), no plans. just time for the girls to be with their grandparents (and us, too).


We stopped to visit G'ma on the way home from the airport, then hung out at home all day. Eating, drinking, playing. At night we drove visited the Holiday Lights at Zemurray Park, driving around the lake twice, and took a ride on the mini train through the lights, chilly chilly chilly, and then home to put the girls to bed.

Again

Q2 knows what's going on, but sometimes forgets not to let on:

Scene: at dinner, at restaurant.

E38: [smelling something] Was that the waitress?
E38: Q2, let's go to the potty.
Q2: No, I don't have to go potty.
E38: Yeah, I think you do.
Q2: No, I not fart.

Oops, foiled again.

The differences between C39 and me

Besides the obvious. To be fair, I didn't freak out. But the look on my face apparently said it all.

Scenario: Kids making joyful noises in the basement playroom. C39 & I are in the kitchen.

C39: Come here. Come here! You've got to see this. Isn't this cool? She's getting so brave.
E38: What? [Looks down the stairs, sees C4 jumping down last 5 steps to the basement] We've got to move those hazards! [Refering to a large marble pastry stone and large pizza stone].

Has this happened before?

Q2 is high touch in getting her to sleep. We sit in her room, out of sight, until she falls asleep. Anywhere from 2 seconds to 20 minutes.

So when we left her with my parents in Cape Cod this fall, I suggested one of them lie down with her to help her fall asleep.

So, my dad did did that. He and Q2 lay down on the double bed and promptly fell asleep. At least my dad did. And Q2 climbed right over him and walked out into the hall to find my mom.

Last night, Q2 woke up at some ungodly hour, and C39 went into her room at her request, and sat in her chair to encourage her fall back asleep.

C39 promptly fell asleep. And sometime later Q2 climbed right out of bed and came in search of me. Sweet.

Anticipation

Yesterday, when I asked C4 who was the line leader in school, she whipped around and told me (T4). I could see her kind of .... shining. She knew what the next question would be. And the one after that. Who was the snack helper? (Z3). And who fed the fish?? C4! She was so pround to tell me that; not because she was the fish feeder (although that is fun) but because she knew what was coming!

She stumbled on "Wrapping"

But I can't fault that. Here is C4 reading "Olive the Other Reindeer" to Quinlan. Not the whole thing! Just the first page. But after I stopped the camera she said "I can read it! I really can!"

So I think she finally feels she "gets" it!

clumsy

Normal behavior for our 4-year-old: Standing still and falling ... Or walking and falling ... Or sitting on a chair and falling off. I'm assuming most of it is genetic, but really.