your continued unwillingness to share is oddly comforting

A little flashback video here. From January of '08.

Why?

Because we had an incredibly similar day today. Pajamas all morning. Doll babies in strollers. A little mirror time, though today's involved less tongue and more lip.
And, a colossal argument over sharing.
(Today it was a squeaky octopus instead of a Nannie Blanket.)
Somethings don't change.

Rowdy Girls, Rain and Raccoons

oThe Rowdy Girls went camping yesterday. Another milestone event. We managed to pack a lot into, what turned out to be, a brief 10 hour excursion.

While we loaded up the truck, the girls watched Elmo's Great Outdoors. Looks like they're ready to rough it, right?
Our family drove out to the Canyon of the Eagles, a place J and I have been before, and only an hour away. A good place for a trial adventure.

The lake was disappointing. Low levels and no whales.

And, we wouldn't let Em and Roo do more than wade in.
No swimming. Because we're mean. And the water was gross.

After crittering around at the beach, we found our campsite and got to work.
Em and Roo were a lot of help. They held the tent down like champs. And helped gather kindling for our fire.


Elmo, however, was a bit of a lazy slob.

The girls were also so proud to be in charge of Maggie dog's leash. Well, at least, that's what Maggie let them think.

They loved all the butterflies and fireflies.
And exclaimed each time, "Oooo! Iz soooo pretty. Iz bootiful."
Em was all about the camping food. She was a sticky sweet mess of S'mores by the end of the night.


As for the actual end of the night... well, that's another tale. We bunked down together in the tent. The girls in their PeaPod tents and J and myself lying next to them on our sleeping bags. We listened to some music and watched the stars begin to appear and the moon beam down. The girls were talking and laughing and singing. J and I were in stitches, laughing at everything they said.

Then, the noises began. Outside the tent. Raccoons. Everywhere! J and I joked that they were staging a coup because they thought we had 2 of their own locked up in the tent. We were picturing an army of masked bandits hoisting our tent up and carrying us away. J climbed out of the tent and dispersed the raccoon reunion just as...

...the clouds began to roll in with lightening moving closer. And the girls were amping up instead of winding down.

So, finally, around 11pm, we called it.

J shooed all the raccoons away. Again. We did a quick pack up, and headed for home.
The girls were asleep in their carseats before we pulled away from the campsite.

Indedibibble Em

J introduced the blanket-as-cape idea to Em tonight.
He tied her Nannie blanket around her shoulders and told her she was an Incredible.
Then, he helped her fly all over the room until it was time to land in her bed.
She loved it!

Upon landing, Em picked up the second blanket in her bed and asked for a "A white Indedibibble, peeeeeeze?!"

Of course, if one cape is good, then two will be even better.

Boggy Bottom Girls

Today, after the morning's appointments, we kidnapped Daddy for lunch. And took him to the farm.

The Boggy Creek organic urban market Farm. A mere 7 miles from his downtown office.

Em and Roo had loads of fun meeting the chickens and speaking their language.


It was a beautiful day for a walking tour of the farm. The sun was shiny, the air was clear after morning rain showers, the spring flowers were beautiful and the toddlers were happy.
Em wanted to go to there. That way. So, we did.
And, eventually we ended up back in the farm's market stand and had lots of fun picking out yummy stuff for dinner.
Well, Mom and Dad thought it was yummy.
Work remains to be done in the vegetable eating department.

Texans in Tanzania returns

Go catch up with Mammaw and Pappaw over at Texans in Tanzania. She's got a bunch of new posts up on the blog about their move from Babati to Dodoma!

the first step is admitting...

...that you might
...possibly
... have an itty bitty

...teeny tiny
... shoe and BabyLegs acquisition problem issue.

*ahem*

Swell

It was a nice morning. Snuggly time in the green chair with Nannie blankets and milk. A little PBS kids tv. A drive to the library with a good parking spot right in front. Story time, a look at the mascot (a pretty ball python), and some computer time. Then, down the block to get a cookie and window shop. Finally, back to the library to "ding" the bell.