Jealousy

Grace loves to ride her bike.

Henry loves to ride Grace's bike, too.

Grace plays and waits patiently during Henry's turns.

Henry... not so much.

Welcome to the new phase of throwing-yourself-on-the-floor-when-you-don't-get-your-way tantrums. Oh, the joys of parenthood.

Michigan state toy police

Scott and I think the Michigan State Police cars look like toys with the one big red light on top. Are police cars like that for real in any other state? Besides as toys?

Playing with Monster

We have a puppet at our house that we love. His name is Monster.

Puppets still bring the best out of Grace. She is more sociable, polite and generous with Monster than with anyone else. She fully knows he's a puppet, and even tells him during the course of their conversations that he's not real.

Yesterday she was explaining to him all about her joints, bones and muscles, and then telling him that he's only made of fabric. Other conversation topics included variations on Jingle Bells (her current favorite song), numbers and names of fingers (Monster only has 8), foods that she can eat and foods that he can eat (toy food), and favorite activities.

She wanted to do everything with Monster yesterday and show him how she does things. She even wanted to paint with him!

Henry is loving Monster, too, and wants Monster to follow him around and cheer when he does things well. One of these days I may end up putting hair on Monster and finally sewing his ears on, but he's loved as he is so I don't feel any pressure.

Sorry for the blurry photos. It's not easy taking photos with one hand while the other one is animating a puppet.

Valentine's Day in pictures

Mailboxes of notes and goodies

Romantic breakfast with just me and Henry

Grace the cupcake

This is what the other kids were doing at library story time for crafts.

This is what my kids were doing. By choice.

Adorable snack at library! My kids came back to their table for this little guy.