PJ gives in

Little Miss Stubborn is finally overcome by her nap. Her parents rejoice.

By Zeus!

"Her dad is half Ancient Greek? Josie, that doesn't make any sense."

-- Annie, to Josie this morning, after Josie said one of her classmate's dad is "half Ancient Greek."

I love this picture

Maybe my favorite picture of the girls, ever. Taken this morning.

Knock Knock Philosophy

Josie: Knock knock.
Me: Who's there?
J: Windows.
Me: Windows who?
J: Why do people like to look out windows?
Me: Hmmmm.
Annie: Yeah, Josie likes non-fiction jokes.

Lounging at Lowe's

Hanging out in the Outdoors department.

Brushing teeth, hat on backward

Perfect.

Performance Central

It's been one performance after another lately at our house. Annie's had piano recitals, Josie had her first dance recital, Annie had a school play, PJ wows us with her spoon usage. Fun, crazy times.

And in between Sam and I watch and marvel as the girls grow into whoever they're going to become. PJ is only a year and a half, so of course we don't have a whole lot to go on. But here's what we do know:

• Every move PJ makes -- every nook and cranny she explores, every little thing she grabs and won't let go -- has a reason behind it. We joke that her Native American name would be Moves With a Purpose. There's not a wasted step in her day.


• She's finally discovered the magic that is older sisters and has decided she is one of them. PJ insists on a fork when she eats pasta (but, obviously, has the motor skills of someone her age), demands her tooth brush when Annie and Josie are brushing, and is following them around more and more each day.

• PJ hates being dirty. A drop of apple sauce on her cheek or a little cheese sauce on her hand is unacceptable.

• She loves her crib.


• She sleeps great at night but isn't much of a napper. You know what? For a good night's rest, we'll take it.

• She digs gymnastics. She just started going once a week for a half-hour with her in-home provider, Ashley. Here's PJ copying big-sister Josie's log roll.



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You can't tell from this picture, but Annie is thisclose to losing her first tooth. The dang thing just won't come out!

Oh, well. All in due time, we suppose.

In the meantime, while she waits for her first visit from the Tooth Fairy, Annie keeps busy with school, gymnastics, swimming and piano lessons. She's getting good at swimming and can make it about halfway across the pool using a traditional stroke and the backstroke, although she sometimes goes crooked on the backstroke and crashes into other students. Imagine a sports car weaving through traffic on the Edens. That's Annie's backstroke.

She recently played a molar in the first- and second-grade play about taking care of teeth. Here's a clip. Fast forward to the 1:45 mark to hear the song, "Johnny Remember the Rules." Annie is in the back row, middle.



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Josie, last night on the way to dinner as we drove past a strip mall:

"Famous Footwear? Why would any shoe be famous for having a foot in it?"

Josie makes every day more fun than any day deserves to be.

She had her first dance recital last weekend. Check it out:


• These days Josie is busy with preschool, gymnastics, swimming and dance. We're proud of her willingness to take swim lessons. It scares her a little, but lately she's been doing better. After a lesson a couple of weeks ago she climbed out of the pool, made her way over to me, and beamed, "I only screamed one time today!"

• Back to dance. Here's the footage:



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I love this random shot of the girls conferencing.


It's like that famous shot of John F. and Bobby Kennedy.


In my mind, anyway.