“When I grow up. . . .”

Rosemary is still in speech therapy through the local school system.  She will probably be done after this semester.  We’ve been so impressed with her improvement lately.  I was especially proud of Rosemary this past weekend when she was talking to other people at the birthday party.  For the longest time she wouldn’t talk to anyone at all unless she knew them really well (which was about 5 people), but now she will communicate more with people that she doesn’t know as well.

Rosemary is very interested in what she is going to do when she grows up.  She tells me all the time about things she is going to do when she grows up.  For instance, the other day she said, “When I grow up, I’m going to be reeeeeeeeeally big and my head is going to hit the ceiling and it’s going to be soooooooo funny!”

Then tonight, she told me, “Mommy, when I grow up, I’m going to wear reeeeeeeeeeeeally big panties like you!”

Awesome.  But at least she’s talking, right?!!

Birthday Party!

This past weekend we went to a birthday party at the McWane Center.  I wish you could have heard how excited the kids were when they found out they were going to a birthday party.  I was downstairs fixing breakfast when I heard Gary tell them about the party, and the screaming and excitement was contagious.  We all had a great time. . . .

Rosemary got to dress up as a dinosaur. . . .

Henry got to pretend to be a T-Rex and not use his arms as he got up off the floor. . . .

. . . and so did Gary!

Sweet Penelope was SO excited to see that Amanda’s cake pops were being served at the party.  Girlfriend LOVES some cake pops. . . .

The kids got to “pet” the sharks.  They know that you use only TWO fingers to pet the sharks. . . .

We had a hard time getting the sharks to come very near the kids this time.  I have no idea why. . . .

There was a lot of fun for everyone at the party, and I loved seeing the kids play together with each other and with their friends.

Penelope Loves that Turtle

There is a tortoise and hare at Aldridge Gardens that the kids have always loved.  Penelope is no different, though if I had to say, I’d say that she may love it even more than the big kids. . . .

Color . . . Black & White . . . Color . . .

I almost never used black & white photos before.  Most everything was in color.  Then I recently started really loving black & white.  I do a lot of black & white now. . . .  But every now and then I find that I love color again.  Like these of Rosemary:

I wish I knew why I like color on some photos and not others.  Maybe I just need to accept that each photo is different. . . .  I can’t help but wonder what my photos will look like next year!

Taking Care of Babe

Henry has this funny habit of shortening names.  I’m almost always “Mom,” Gary is “Dad,” Piper is “Pipe” or “Pipes,” and Penelope is “Babe” (short for Baby).  For some reason, Rosemary’s name never gets shortened, and I haven’t figured that one out yet.  Regardless, I find it all quite amusing.

Henry and Penelope continue to have a very strong bond, and I love watching them together.  We recently got a small umbrella stroller, and Henry typically insists on pushing Penelope in it for us.  I love how he takes such great care of his little sister. . . .

Piper and the “Ducks”

We went out to Aldridge Gardens this past weekend to let the kids walk around and burn off some energy.  As always, Piper was obsessed with the ducks (and some of those ducks are actually not “ducks” but instead geese) and spent most of her time there following them around. . . .