A Day at the Zoo!

Wim and I don't really get very many opportunities for us to both spend a day with the little girls, but this past weekend we had it all-- including two fussy little toddlers!

Saturday we took the girls to visit Grandma and Great Grandma. The biggest happening of the day was Clara Rose falling face flat onto the cement and giving her quite the forehead for the rest of the weekend's photo shots.

The girl's playing on a swing with Me-maw/Nai Nai keeping a close eye.

On Sunday we took the girl's to the zoo and it was quite the day-- for starters the girls decided to tag team being little pills throughout the day. We all managed to have a good time at the zoo despite the antics-- but it was a bit more stressful than we had expected.

As Wim commented to me later in the evening-- the safest bet is to have NO expectations when dealing with a 3 1/2 and 28 month old.

The girl's were intrigued by the animals.

Clara Rose ventured out of the stroller and wanted a lift to get a better view of the Zabras.

A little while later we found ourselves with a good vantage point of the elephants. The Zoo in RI isn't very big to begin with. Also, we lucked out that it wasn't very busy when we visited. I guess a weekend between Mother's Day and Memorial Weekend is a good time to go!

Clara Rose seemed to be more excited about seeing all the animals than Josie.

Ooooo, look at this big guy!

The girls were really finicky about getting in and out of the stroller. We may decide to leave it at home for our next zoo visit.

The seals were putting on quite the show--

almost dancing in the water.

Josie was pretty excited in the barnyard portion of the zoo where she was able to pet some sheep.

After the barnyard, we ventured back to the elephant area where the elephants were getting a bath and a visit from the docotor.

Josie thought it was pretty funny that the elephant was getting his ears washed, just like Mommy washes her ears.

A sloth

Some kind of small monkey. Very cute.

Near the end of our zoo visit the girls became more active and asked to have their picture taken in front of the anteater poster.

The girls made a big show of climbing on these frogs and mushrooms.

It was past lunchtime and getting into naptime, so we left the zoo in search of a nice spot to eat our lunch. I pointed to some park benches and told Wim to park and we could eat there.

Wim noted that the spot was surrounded by Canadian Geese to which I replied, "I know."

Things started off well enough-- although the girls were a bit nervous about the Geese. Mommy's revenge for driving me batty at the zoo.

This goose in particular was looking for a handout.

"Mommy!!!!! That burd is scaring us!"

"He is gonna eat our food!"

It didn't take long and the girls were cuddled closely to "yayyie" as Clara Rose calls daddy. They decided they weren't getting much sympathy from Mommy and moved on to a safer realm.

It didn't take long after packing everyone back into the van for the girls to zonk out.

Nothing like a good nap after averting a goose attack.

Fun Times on the Cape

Last weekend the girls and I visited some of my friends on Cape Cod. It was an overnight jammie party and the girls had a really great time. Josie especially liked hanging out with Max, who is 8-years and Clara Rose loved playing with Ela who is 4-years (nearly 5).

Josie kept referring to Cape Cod as the "Cake" and was very excited when we arrived.

The grils all made quick friends while Max tried to figure out how this party was going to work-out for him.

After some fun time running around the yard and playing on Max's swing set, the kids all settled down for a yummy steak dinner.  Look at all these chompers go!

After dinner, we managed to get all the kids settled into a King Size bed for a movie. Yes, we managed to get them settled there and they stayed settled for about 15-minutes. That has to be some kind of record, don't you think?

Actually, Ela decided she didn't like the movie and got up to come find us. Clara Rose was having fun with Ela and followed. Josie was quite put-out by all this-- SHE wanted to hang out with Max but didn't want to be the ONLY girl hanging out with him. Hmmmm. I think somebody has a little crush.

After a not so great night's sleep- (I shared a bed with the girls-- Clara Rose rolled off in the middle of the night, I made a her a spot on the floor-- then Josie kept waking me up because my eyes were closed)-

Max dressed in his Darth Vader costume shared several pieces of chocolate with the girls left over from his Easter basket-- for breakfast. We were up and running then!

Next we were off to the beach where we found all kinds of interesting critters and had a great time playing in the sand and splashing a bit in the water.

The girls had a great time (all the kids and the Mommy's too). After so much fun partying on the "Cake" the girls zonked out on the ride home about 3-minutes after I pulled out of the driveway.

We are looking forward to more fun times in the Summer sun in the weeks to come.

Prayers for a Family

Little Chrissy-- her button is to the right, has moved on to Heaven.

Please pray for her parents, siblings, family and friends that she leaves behind.

Happy Mother's Day Times Two

Today is my Second Mother's Day and this year I have two sweet little girls and a wonderful husband to share it with! I knew I was in for something good when yesterday afternoon, Wim told me I had to stay in the living room because he and the girls were working on something in the dining-room. After a little while, I heard the bath running and Wim told me he was going to give them a bath.

Everyone really outdid themselves!

The girls served me breakfast in bed and joined me for the feast.

I was really surprised. Wim usually has a few "comments" for me when I snack in our bed.

After breakfast, it was time for cards and gifts.

The morning would not be complete without a squabble over who has rights to sit on Mommy's lap.

Now it is time to wash our bedding and wash some fingerpaint of the dining room wall.

The Usual Spring Happenings

No, these aren't the same pictures from my last post or the one before that. Quite simply, we really don't have a lot of variation in our world of Josie Dong and Clara Rose Rao Rao. We really don't need a lot of variation with these two running the show, because even going to the same places weekly provides plenty of opportunity for laughs and fun. 

Another Spring Saturday morning-- another fun time at our favorite playground, ImPossible Dreams. The girls really have a short window of time to enjoy their fun and games here. The park is only open from April to Columbus Day-- 10:00 to 3:00 Wednesday-Saturday. This gives us Saturday mornings April to about mid-June before the beach season starts and a few weeks in September.

Last Weekend:

Clara Rose is getting the hang of being in swing-- she really likes this one because it is more of a seat that holds her in.

Josie is typically full of smiles and big belly laughs on the swing.

Josie and Clara Rose playing on a specail swing with their friend Angeline.

Back at home, after lunch and a quick nap, the girls enjoyed some time in our back yard picking flowers (dandelions).

Gabrielle really got some nice pictures of the girls!

Clara Rose offering some wishes to her big Jie Jie.

"Wook Mommy- I do karteel!"

Yes, this is Josie's version!

ALWAYS keeping up with her sis. . .

"how'bout me?"

Clara Rose's version of a hand stand.

All three girls swinging together

Cooling off in the kiddie-pool.

This weekend:

A rainy-wet Saturday filled with spurts of Thunder. Wim and I had thought we would take the girls swimming at the YMCA, but they close the pool if there is thunder and lightening and we didn't feel like packing everyone up etc., and taking the risk of not being able to swim. It wasn't so much the packing-up part as it would be the "whinning" part from Josie if she didn't get to swim.

Instead, I pulled out a bunch of toys they haven't played with for awhile and they had a blast!

Josie singing Rock-a-bye- Baby to her piggy. Something she does play with all the time.

Clara Rose playing the farm and calling all the animals by name-- in English!

Not to be forgotten, Xavier, who is typically right here-- playing his Xbox.