our picnic

Liz had a great idea: It's early March and the sun is heating up and the clouds are clearing out for a while to let the blue streak through so let's live a little and have a nice little picnic in our backyard. Great! So we packed up some cheese and crackers, peanut butter sandwiches, grapes, some water, and a blanket and hiked out to the far corner of our yard for a nice family picnic. Well... it was nice for a second or two. Then we had some Bad Behaviour which involved food throwing and some hitting and a time out. Things calmed down toward the end and, all in all, I think I'll let myself remember that afternoon as these picture show it - a nice, fun family picnic in the backyard.

the fingers

Charlie's mom used to be extremely fond of these very fingers! Ahh... the nature/nurture conundrum solved (at least for thumb/finger sucking).

schuyler daycare

This is the first of no doubt many instances where Charlie gets unwillingly roped into playing a role for Schuyler in her games. This game appears to be "Day Care" where Alexandra (the doll) and Charlie are Schuyler's charges. You'll note that, although they both get a blanket, Charlie's hanging toys (shown in the middle photo) get quickly stripped (he's not allowed TOO much fun). This kind of sums up their relationship at the moment: She loves playing with him and cooing over him and imitating the way we babble to him but she likes to put him in his place and let him know who (currently) rules the roost. Don't worry, Charlie, when you are six foot four and she is a mere six three, she won't mess with you anymore. In the meantime, good luck kid and keep that tolerant, easy-going attitude - it'll serve you well with a big sister like this.

snack size and bite size

dancing on the ceiling

Charlie gets his groove on in this Lionel Richie classic

feeding time

We all want to be loved. We all want to feel included. We all want to feel special. Accordingly, Schuyler wants to feed her baby when Mama is feeding hers; wear a diaper because her brother has to wear one; eat the food we are eating; and basically do what we do... except when it comes to, say, flossing.

These are difficult times for all of us but rewarding.... not rewarding in the same way that, say, chocolate cake is rewarding.... more like rewarding like a hard workout and a big salad. You didn't enjoy some parts of the experience but the overall reward is huge and earned. We love you guys.

seating

Charlie test drives the Big Seat... with moderate success.

Schuyler test drives the Bigger Seat.

Here we see a rare moment of calm and tranquil companionship in the car. Normally, there is a very strong effort to keep Charlie from getting more than a minute's sleep.

fresh...from the freezer

The Dairy is open once again and Mama Cow is back on the machine when she doesn't have her cub attached. We have, once again, bought another (small) freezer to store the burgeoning supply. Charlie, I hope when you are fourteen and testing boundaries and arguing with your Mum, we can bring up all the hours she has spent ensuring you have the very best nutrients nature can provide. If appropriate, I shall also bring up the hours I have spent washing and sterilising the equipment after use.

sharks

Lucy has been teaching Trystan and Schuyler about the sea. To this end, they have made an underwater scene at T's house complete with full sized cut outs of themselves wearing masks pretending to be underwater. This theme carried through to the culinary classes where cupcakes became shark cakes. Yum. Although by the end of the meal it looked like Schuyler had feasted on a village of Smurfs.

magic & charlie

What colour are these eyes going to turn, Charlie!?