Simon in the outdoors

Have I mentioned how much Simon loves to be outdoors?  Whenever our sliding glass door is open, he crawls as fast as he can to get out on the porch.  Once on the porch, if the porch door is opened, he immediately tries to escape out it.  I wish he could walk this summer because that would make things so much easier.  But in the meantime, we put him down when we can, and he just gets really dirty and gets debris caught in his drool, but that's a price he's willing the pay to be a wilderness boy.

TNT Pop-Its

After her lesson, and after Simon was rescued, Alice went on the back steps and popped through two packages of these.  But then it was time to clean up the little bits of paper and she didn't clean them up so Zac said she couldn't have the Pop-Its ever again.

Hairdo

This morning was picture day at school, so Zac was trying to make Simon's hair a little less like a dandelion poof after a gust of wind, so he sprayed his hair with a little water and brushed it to try and get it to lay flat.  Alice observed all of this attentively over her bowl of cheerios.

After school today, we were busy getting supper on the table, Simon was standing at the fishtank, and Alice was left to her own devices.  We were more distracted than usual because Ami and Amelia were at our house.  After a few minutes, Alice came up into the kitchen and said, "Mommy, I'm spraying Simon!"  It was then that I noticed she had gotten a hold of the brush and spray bottle.  I leaned over the edge and looked at Simon, who had made nary a peep.  His hair was all wet and dripping.  While I was laughing, Alice went back down and continued to try to style it.

Unfortunately, this event was not photographed.  But it was greatly enjoyed.

Glitter glue...glitter hands

Because everything must be touched...

Eno River

Today was another beautiful day, so we went to the Eno River to do a little hiking and wading.  Alice was very excited in the morning, and gathered up all her fishing supplies.

Once at the river, we walked down the path a while until we found a good shallow spot with some rocks where Alice could play.  She was gung-ho until Zac plucked a big crawdad out of the river and showed it to her as it wriggled around.  She was a little scared after that, but still waded around.  She kept telling Zac to catch a fish and insisted on walking around with her net.

Simon also had a really good time splashing in the water and going on a nature crawl up the path.  Alice was already walking by this time two years ago, but we figure we've still got a few months before Simon walks.  So in the meantime, he's just wearing pants and getting really dirty as he crawls around everywhere.  He doesn't know any better though, and seems so happy whenever he's out exploring nature.

Fears

Today we went to the Durham Museum of Life and Science with my friend from work, Becky, and her husband John, and their nearly 4-year old daughter, Sophia.  It was a gorgeous day: mid-70s, not humid, sunny.  We went to the museum mainly to see the outdoor exhibits, specifically the dinosaur trail since Alice is really into dinosaurs.  We told her about the trip on Monday, and every day this week she would ask, "Is it Saturday?  Can we go to the dinosaur swamp now?"

Once at the museum, we went to see the dinosaurs first, so Alice wouldn't be whining for them the whole time.  The first part was probably the best: climbing on a dinosaur.  After that, it was just looking at several life-sized dinosaurs.  Alice really has trouble enjoying the moment though, because she would look at each dinosaur for just a few seconds before asking, "Is there another one?" and scurrying down the path in search of a another dinosaur.  

Sophia, Alice and Simon enjoy sitting on the Parasaurolophus.  Luckily it didn't get up and shake its head.

Alice: "Look, another one!"

 So we got through the dinosaur path pretty quickly.  At the end of the path though is a place where kids can dig for real fossils.  I'm going to quote the website for this: "The pit is filled with dirt that has been trucked in from an area in Eastern North Carolina that is rich with fossils – specifically, a mine that used to be on the ocean floor."  So it's really pretty awesome.  Alice really liked digging.

After that, we went to see the insectarium and butterfly house.  

Alice loved looking at bugs and spiders and poison frogs, but the butterfly house was terrifying for her.  She is scared of butterflies, probably because one time we showed her a butterfly on the porch that the cat had brought in.  Just as she leaned her head in for a good look, the butterfly flew into her face and she screamed in terror. Ever since, she regards butterflies as face-attacking menaces. While at the butterfly house today, a butterfly landed on Zac and she was even terrified on his behalf (Zac was quite calm).  Alice kept asking if we could go see bumblebees instead (because they're not scary like butterflies).

After the butterfly house of horrors, we went to a misting area.  Alice was also afraid of the mist, but Simon was not and he happily crawled around on the moguls.  Alice eventually went in them too, but reluctantly.

Gorillas in the mist

If Alice keeps shoving food in her mouth at this rate, she just might grow into this chair.

Next we went to the sailboat area where the kids are supposed to learn about the wind.  Simon had a blast splashing in one of the mini sailing ponds.  Alice's favorite part was probably eating berries off of a mulberry tree.  She had the red juice dripping down her chin, making her look like a zombie or vampire.

Our final stop was the barnyard area.  Zac had Alice up on his shoulders to see the cow.  As soon as the cow came out of the barn and started mooing, Alice wanted down immediately.  We first thought she wanted to get closer, but no, she wanted to go into her survival position and laid flat on the ground.  She said the cow wanted to eat her.  We kept telling her that she eats cows and cows just eat grass, but to no avail.

Cow to Alice: "I can still see you."

So, for those of you keeping score at home, Alice is afraid of butterflies, mist, and cows.

All in all, the day was beautiful and fun and Alice and Sophia got along great.

2 girls in a caboose

Backwards

When I picked Alice up from school today, she had her shorts on backwards. When I pointed this out to her, she explained, "I liked the flowers. I wanted them on the front."

Fishing expedition

Alice has been interested in fishing for a while.  Sometimes when we're at a park she'll see people fishing and Dinosaur Train and Caillou have had episodes about fishing.  She keeps talking about going down to the dinosaur swamp to go fishing.  Today, because she actually ate supper fast enough, we had enough time to go to the neighborhood pond and pretend to fish.  She wanted to bring all of her "fishing supplies" (a green trick-or-treat bag, a black plastic stick from a yard sign, the 'snatchers' and her net) but I told her she could only bring one thing.  She resisted, but then willingly parted with the bag and plastic stick.  However, it was like Sophie's Choice to ask her to pick either her beloved snatchers or the net, so in the end she was permitted to bring both.

Here she is, raring to go:

On the way, we stopped outside this house that is just across from the pond.  They have a little setup so the neighborhood kids can feed the chickens.  The instructions on the fence read like a found poem:

Little children, feed the chickens

Wheat, cracked corn

Ring the bell

Feed the chickens

These hens lay eggs

When we arrived at the pond, it became clear that Alice really believed we were going to catch fish.  She kept telling me to use the snatchers and get a fish.  There was a log floating in the water near the shore in one spot that strongly resembled an alligator and she warned me to stay back so it didn't get us.  We saw some cute baby turtles catching the last rays of the day on a log, and Alice said, "Tomorrow, I'm going to wear my bathing suit and go get that cute little turtle!"  The turtle must have heard, because it immediately plopped into the water and swam away.  Soon, Alice picked up a big stick and started using it for a fishing pole, but all she caught was a leaf.  She insisted I fish too.  I find actual fishing terribly boring and nearly as pointless as sitting there holding a stick in the water, so it wasn't a very big stretch of my imagination to play along.

When it was time to go, there were refusals and tears.  She didn't want to leave, because, "Mommy!  We didn't catch a fish yet!"

Simon also had a good time watching the geese, sitting on Zac's shoulders and pulling leaves off the branches.

At home

Scenes from life at home with the kids:

Alice put on her rain boots and apron to give her dinosaurs a bath in the sink.

Simon crawling around with plastic celery

Alice and Sera coloring

Alice, sated at last, after gorging on chips and guacamole.

Fire chief Alice rides to the rescue

Story time

This is the most the bumbo seat has ever been used.

Simon shows his four top teeth.

Alice transports a (fake) giant frog with the tongs (which she calls "snatchers")

He stands up, but hasn't figured out how to get back down on his own yet.

Alice came in as I was posting this, and she saw this picture and said, "My teeth are falling out!"

Simon at the Park

Now that Simon can finally crawl around, we're letting him loose all sorts of places.  MacDonald Woods Park has a nice little place for babies like him to play, with two tiny steps, a ramp, and some things to spin.  He kept crawling off, but it held his attention for a few minutes.

Look!  Both kids playing at the park!  I can't wait for more of this.

Back in the saddle!

As you may recall, about a month ago Alice's little bike was vandalized while we were at the park, making it unridable.  Zac couldn't fix it, but tried to salvage the situation by taking off the pedals and making it a balance bike.  Alice was not happy with the situation, and cried for her pedals.  Since then, I'd been checking Craigslist off and on for a good little bike for her.  We wanted a gender-neutral one that Simon could inherit, but alas, bikes are really oriented towards boys or girls (probably a marketing trick to make sure families have to buy more than one bike). I found a Thomas the Tank Engine one earlier, but when Zac e-mailed the seller, there was no response.  Luckily, a couple days ago I found a red one with a Cars theme for a mere $20.  Alice has only seen a couple of short Cars videos on YouTube, but those managed to have a great impact on her and she has been obsessed with Mater and Lightning McQueen ever since.  After a few e-mails with the seller, she and Zac picked up the bike from a nearby neighborhood one evening after work.  When they got home and I asked Alice about it, she ecstatically declared, "And it has pedals!"

We took it for a spin on Saturday.  Zac had to do some tinkering to get the seat at the perfect height, and it took her a few moments to figure out how to get it going from a stop, but, as they say, it was like riding a bike and she was soon cruising happily down the greenway.

Standing up

Today, for the first time, Simon is able to pull himself up to a standing position by himself. Up to now he just kneeled (or we would stand him somewhere).

Up and Down

Simon has learned to go down the steps without landing on his face, most of the time.

10 months old!

This pic is not very good, but since I always forget to take pictures of him on his month-birthday, it's better than nothing! 

Staying warm

It's been in the 90s here all week, and we haven't turned the air conditioning on in the house yet, so it's above 80 inside.  Alice is having some trouble adapting to the change of seasons, though.  She refuses to convert to summer pajamas, and still insists on wearing her warm winter pajamas with a snowman on them.  In the car, she still wears her car blanky and hat.  At home today, she got her blanket from her bed and was walking around the house with it wrapped around her.  I sarcastically suggested she might need some warm slippers too.  She took my idea seriously and went to her shoe box and got out her Abby Tabby slippers and put them on.