Family Event: The Flip

My first posted video! And Miles's first ever video! And Eliza's first ever flip over!

(If only I didn't have to listen to myself. How does David manage hearing all that incessant prattle? I vow to reduce my noise in all future videos if not in life in general. Wait. Am I prattling now? Doh.)

Kids' Photos

A few of these were taken by Miles & Eliza's friends as they passed the camera around. But most are taken by M&E. The camera is marketed as a kid's camera, but most of the resulting photos are poor in quality at no fault of the photographer (grainy, blurry, etc). If anyone knows of an inexpensive camera that's easy to use, durable, has a good screen for seeing the photo taken and can make a good picture, let me know! 

Winter to Spring in Jordan Photos

Link to slide show.

Violin Lessons

Miles started violin lessons this month. While he still has difficulty sitting still. He apparently "gets it," says his very sweet, cute Cuban teacher.

On the Drive Home from Nursery School

Me (in upbeat mom voice): Eliza, what do you do today?

Eliza: I threw something at someone.

Me (exaggerated inhalation of shock): No! You shouldn't do that! What did you throw?

Eliza: A parrot.

Me: Who did you throw it at?

Eliza: Ms. Iman

Me: Did you apologize?

Eliza: Yes

Me: Were you nice to people?

Eliza: Yes, I was nice to everybody.

Miles: I went outside....I fought Jude. I have more muscles than she does. I have more muscles than Makenzie. I have the most muscles!

Me: You have the same number of muscles. But if you eat all your vegetables, you can have bigger muscles, and that will make you stronger. But you shouldn't fight. What happened?

Miles: I poked her in the eye.

Me: That's horrible! 

Miles: I went outside. The teacher made me. She didn't take me to the baby room (it's a punishment to be sent down to the nursery if you're "acting like a baby") or to the office. She just took me outside the room.

Me: What did she say?

Miles (in firm tone): You stay right there!

Me: Then what happened.

Miles: I cried. (in a more mumbled tone: Then I shot a sticky web over the room...over the sticky garbage...ffshyew! ffshyew!!) Then I went back inside and was nice to everyone.

My Nearly-5-year-old's Thoughts

1. What is something mom always says to you? go to the potty when you have to  

2. What makes mom happy? when i go caca in the toilet  

3. What makes mom sad? when Eliza goes caca on the floor  

4. How does your mom make you laugh? when she tickles me  

5. What was your mom like as a child? crazy  

6. How old is your mom? 10 and 12 years old  

7. How tall is your mom? 67  

8. What is her favorite thing to do? play with me  

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? play by herself  

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? magic tricks  

11. What is your mom really good at? putting bows in Eliza's hair  

12. What is your mom not very good at? playing super hero shoot ships  

13. What does your mom do for a job? take care of me  

14.What is your mom's favorite food? I don't know  

15.What makes you proud of your mom? when she turns on the tv  

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Ben 10s mom  

17. What do you and your mom do together? we play super hero flying away ships  

18. How are you and your mom the same? we are both people  

19. How are you and your mom different? we're not the same size  

20. How do you know your mom loves you? because I was born

Hate to focus on the negative...

That Miles has made it to almost 5 years without seeing half the bumps and bruises of Eliza makes me feel that it's not totally my fault that she nearly broke her nose this past weekend. (I left my robe on the floor and turned out the lights when she was in mid-stride to my bed at 3 a.m. She subsequently tripped on the robe and landed on the end of her nose on the edge of our wooden bed frame.)

Courageous at time. Clumsy at others. Plodding on ahead, alone and in the darkness--that's my Eliza. We are supposed to keep a record of how the bruises change over the course of the next few days.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3