the garage

We're big teasers in this house. All of us.

One of Dan's classic lines after Ned or I ask for something is, "Get out of Dodge." For example, I might say, "Hey, Dan, can you clean the cat's litterbox?" and Dan would respond, "Get out of Dodge." (And then proceed to clean the litterbox.)

So the other night, Dan says to Nedy, "Hey Sweet Pea, it's time to get your jammies on." To which Ned replies, "Get out da garage, Baba."

So there, Baba. Get out of the garage, would ya? :)

No drive car sleeping!

Nedy is a talker. Every day something new comes out of her mouth. And lately she’s been stringing words like crazy and making sentences. Really funny sentences.

For instance. So we’re at my sister Lisa’s Saturday evening. Ned had been busy playing in the sand all day, so before heading home we decided to give her a quick “sudsy sudsy”, as she calls it. We were in the bathroom drying her off when Dan asked her if she was planning on falling asleep on the drive home, to which she responded, “Oh yes! Baby tired.” Dan said, “Me, too. I’m gonna sleep on the way home, too.”

Ned looked at him with the most serious expression and said, “No, Baba. Baba drive ca-aaaaar! No drive car sleeping! Crash car into other car. Policeman stop you. Oh, Babaaaaa.”

And--shameless bragging alert--she can say the alphabet! Well, she gets to 'G' and usually ends it at that point with the "next time won't sing wit' me" part. But if prompted through 'G' to 'H', she can make it all the way to 'Z'. It's really, really cute. And I'm trying really, really hard to get it on video, but the kid knows how badly I want to catch it, meaning she clams up at the sight of the camera. (I plan to win. I'm not sure how, but I do plan to win. Maybe she can be bribed with chocolate...the girl does enjoy her chocolate...)

Smilin' eyes

I love how Ned's eyes smile.

I mean, who needs her thumb out of her mouth for a family photo? Just look at those smilin' eyes! :)

Lion's Den Gorge

Today marked our first Lion's Den Gorge visit of the season! This preserve is a gorgeous chunk of land in Grafton right on Lake Michigan. Nice trails, beach access and a particularly lovely selection of rocks for throwing or collecting.

Yay for messy!

Nedy has long struggled with being okay being a little messy. And, we want her to be okay being messy. Kids should get messy.

I think we're making progress. She came to Baba the other day with her hands up in the air excitedly announcing, "See?! See?!? Baby color on hands! GREEN!"

You go, messy little green-handed girl!

Easter

Easter at Grandma and Grandpa's!

Another fantastic egg hunt! (Grandpa believes in the 'hunt' part of egg hunt...)
And Grandpa, the egg stuffer, believes in spoiling his Grandkids. Yes, that's a $50 bill inside one of Ned's 20 eggs... Seriously.
Uncle Mike (Nedy calls him Uncle Shenanigans) on gravy duty.
Some of our beautiful nieces love having their picture taken...
And some of our beautiful nieces...don't. (But your nails are stunning, Nicolle.) :)
Grandma and Grandpa's dog, Sophie. (Funny story about Sophie, we were out walking in the neighborhood and stopped one of our many stops for Nedy to ask if she could pet a dog when the dog's person asked her, "Do you have a dog?" And Nedy said, to my surprise, "Yes." The lady responded, "What's your dog's name?" "Sophie.")
Nedy helping Uncle Shenanigans reattach the slide to Grandma and Grandpa's swing set.
She's super serious about all things mechanical. She can actually use wrenches, sockets and screwdrivers pretty adeptly for a two year old. I think Uncle Mike was just a little impressed. :)
Ned adores her cousins. Just look at her smile at Syd.
Spring has sprung--the swing set is back in operation!
Grandma helps Nedy walk the wall to check on the budding plants.
Good times. Good times.

kitty p*rn

"Mao Mao, what dat?"

"Weird! Mao Mao...body."
Ummmm...yes, she was talking about that. Dear God.

Maybe she'll be a vet...or a urologist... :)


And, really, don't you think Mao Mao deserves a medal for his patience?