Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tia Chavie

One of our favorite people came to visit: Aunt Chavie! It was an awesome trip-- for both of us. We spent lots of time playing games and reading and spinning me. Apparently I am too short to swing Chavie by her arms. So, instead I just ran circles around her -- it worked: She got really dizzy.
And we got to eat lots of yummy things. Mmmmm. We should have more company. At least if there are donuts involved.

Tia Chavie
You have red hair
Just like me

You came on a trip
To see us
So a few lines I must quip

Your birthday
With chocolate peanut butter cake
And toys with which to play

Spanish we did speak
Mostly no eso, no eso, no eso
And que paso? when my eyes would leak

We rode the trolley
And walked the Quarter
Capitalizing on your toddler folly

The donuts, the grill, and Milk Bar, too
Such good food
And two playgrounds with you

You took me to school
And got a teary goodbye (who’s Mom?)
It went better when we bought a pool

You fixed our light
Which Mom and Dad could not do
After trying with all their might

Go see Tia Chavie!
Instead you came to us
To my wonderful auntie

Now all I have to say
Is More Chavie! More Chavie!
Please come back – today

Here's a few more pictures of our visit -- Mom helped me edit a few to protect my innocence. What can I say -- sprinklers and hoses make me want to strip. Good times. Chavie opted to stay dressed.


Monday, March 26, 2012

Big News

Are you sitting down?

Well, you need to. Go ahead. Sit.

I ate egg. 
That's right you heard it here first: EGG.
On attempt 314, I finally decided to eat some. Granted it was mostly to get to the salsa, and I'm not exa0ctly feeling why they get called "The incredible edible egg," but Mom is chalking it up on the success column. Along with that bite of Dad's ham and swiss sandwich a few weeks ago and the beans and barley over the weekend, we might need to change my middle name to Adventure.
I'm not having any trouble making Hazzard work, though maybe I'll try not to kill myself today since Tenzing covered that front pretty well yesterday.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Tickle Me, Marcus

I love tickles. The Tickle Monster is one of my favorites. It occasionally possesses Mom or Dad and is a riotously good time on my end. Although Mr. Tickles isn't allowed to play before naps or bedtime, we visit regularly, and I ask about him frequently.

Recently, I've discovered humor. Only, I don't call it humor or funny. During peals of laughter (possibly over my older friend Abby, being licked by a puppy, or during Curious George), I manage to compose myself enough to say, "It tickles." At which point Mom chuckles and says, "It tickles your brain, eh?"
I think she may be right.
Reappropriation tickles -- try it. Your brain will thank you.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

A Joyous Reunion

With Willoughby. We started a new session of READ and it was a joyous reunion. Finally after months of my imploring to "Go see Will-bee today" (or on Toozday/Friday/etc"), my dreams came true. Like Romeo and Juliet*. Peanut Butter and Jelly**. Thunder and Lightning***.

Ok, well, maybe I got a little bashful, but we all had so much fun singing and dancing. And reading, of course.
Plus, we got to play dress up before acting out The Wheels on the Bus. I picked my costume from the pile myself. Do you like it?
Mom said I looked beautiful. She wouldn't lie to me about these things.

Admittedly, I liked that pink sparkly shirt and tutu I picked out at JCPenney better, but this skirt was pretty nice. And the hat was tres chic.
Now, where has Willoughby gone?

* Death is, generally speaking, not a desirable outcome.
** I'm not a big jelly fan.
*** Apparently Dad named his arms.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Mr. Mailman

We celebrated Purim* at school today, so I got to wear a costume.


I was a mailman. The UPS guy was at school, too.
Ms. FedEx might have been in a different class...
USPS badge
Clear evidence of mail tampering
I love me some Springtime Halloween.

Festive holiday in the early Spring celebrating the story of Esther and Mordecai with costume parties and plays. See Jewish Holidays: Purim.

A Week of Firsts

My first ear infection.
I didn't say all of the firsts were good. This first was decidedly unfun. Friday evening I started telling Mom and Dad that my ear hurt. Since I didn't start running a fever until Saturday -- about 15 minutes after the doctor's office closed -- I didn't see anyone until Monday (2/27). It was an exciting start to the week of firsts.
I was largely unbothered by it, and that pink medicine is really quite tasty.
This first gets 1 (of 5) stars on the Firsts Index.

My first donut.
Wowza. Yeah, Mom and Dad have been seriously depriving me. No donuts for 2 years. From now on, no drive down Clearview will be safe from my shouts of, "Donut Store!!!!"

On Tuesday (2/28), Mom took me for a some HotDonutsNow at Krispy Kreme. We were going to donut donate some books to the library, and it's on the way, so... I wanted to help Mom carbo-load for Sunday.

We split a donut* and then watched the conveyor belt. It was AWESOME. Mom took some heat (for depriving me) from the donut regulars who were on their second dozen...
And then we donated books and saw the guts of the library. It was fabulous.
I'd give this first 5 stars on the Firsts Index.

My first Leap Day.
Oh February. You redheaded step-child** of the calendar year. Every 4 years you stick it to the other months. Except not very well -- you still come up a little short. Ah well, it's a special day, nonetheless. Mom always thought it would be fun if Uncle JP's bday had been on a Leap Day. He dodged that bullet. Whew.
Leap Day you only get 2 stars -- bring some cookies next time and we'll discuss.

Mom's first half-marathon.
13.1 miles: Because she's only half crazy
Race Expo
Action pose at the Race Expo
Special shout out to Mimi and PopPop for getting the race registration for Mom for her b-day present -- it's hard to run the race without it! Mom had a blast running her first big race -- with a PR of 2:05 (<10-minute miles = great). The weather shaped up and was gorgeous, and Mom was feeling her oats. Dad and I went to watch Mom as she rounded the turn near Audubon Park, but then I spied the playground and realized that would be way more fun. Sorry Mom. No matter: Mom got a kick out of all the spectators, especially the people drinking beer at 8 AM. And the guy handing out donut bites to runners. (And beer. And the mimosa and champagne stop.) Only in New Orleans. Or so she suspects.
See it's PROOF that Mom ran the Half. Or that she yanked  it off the photo proofs page. You'll never know.
(Mom is trying to convince Dad to do the Denver half in late September -- so she could really see if NOLA is the booziest running town. We'll see. She'd be trading heat and humidity in training for altitude and hills... Regardless, Mom can't wait to do another half.)
More carbo-loading. It helps pass the time...
Waiting for Mom. 
Finish Line Festival
Finish Line
The most memorable signs Mom saw, aside from the super cute "Go Mom/Dad/Grandpa" signs that I better be holding up next time, were:
1. Run like you stole it.
2. Worst Mardi Gras parade ever
3. Kick some ASSphalt
4. You put the FU in fun
5. It's ok to poop in your pants***

Mom, we're noticing a theme with your poses.
Checking out my handy work. I'll let Mom keep it.
Maybe. Every outfit needs some bling. Some heavy bling.
And then later in the day -- you know after Mom showered and re-caffeinated, we got my NEXT first.
Half marathons get 4 stars on the Firsts Index because they involve bling. And because I occasionally have help typing.

My first b-day party for a classmate.
Maryclaire turned 2. There was cake. And there were cupcakes.**** And a tiny Mini-Cooper, which I horded. And a mini trampoline big enough for like 5 kids, comfortably. I could go on...
Enough said. It was a fantastic day.
5 stars. Like you expected less.

* Which we got for free. Mom isn't sure if we got it for free because we only asked for one, because I'm so cute, or because we asked for "One hot donut, please" and the lady behind the counter had to go scrounge one up -- we timed it  perfectly, entering immediately after 2 people left with about 10 dozen...


** Look, I don't make up these phrases. Someone else does. Why on Earth would being a red-headed stepchild be bad? Silly idea. Like "too much cake". Honestly, as if there could ever be such a thing.


*** To which Mom and nearby runners all kind of grumbled "gross" and one woman nearly had a hissy fit over. Mom tends to agree with her that it is never ok to poop in your pants. I mean unless you're like 1. Or maybe 2. It has been the source of much amusement amongst anyone who ran the race -- it's The Great Uniter of signs.


**** Mom may have eaten too much cake+cupcake combined. I still don't think it's possible, but she was pretty hungry.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Orange and Grey Love Fest

It doesn't get much cuter than this, folks. Of course, Zsa Zsa was being a real party pooper and refused to wear some orange...
That's ok, Mom said she'll have the groomer shave a big SU on her back next time. 
ZZ is so lucky.