Jetlagged

We are WAY off schedule. The girls are still tired and jet lagged. They didn't go down until about 9pm....which is amazing considering how crabby they both were about 6:30pm and we were done with baths and working on stories by 7pm. Norah got into big time trouble...getting out of bed, trying to open the door to her room (which she still can't do if it's shut well). She's just not as sly (or as quick) as Lolo. Lolo hops into bed so quick and will just pretend to be sleeping when I open the door to bust them.

More from San Diego

Just so you know...the trip house has been renamed...it is now "Lolo and Norah's Trip House"

Surfing toddler

And because Norah can never be left out of the action...

Surfer girl

We got back home late, late, late. Technically, it was very early this morning. The girls (and dad) are still down. I'm trying to get in some peaceful blogging time.

This video of Lolo goes in the category of "I can't believe she can do this." Jim and I took surfing lessons this week. Jim is shredding the waves, riding the walls. I'm getting shredded, churned, and basically crushed.

Lolo is simply amazing. I can't believe she is 4. She clearly takes after her dad in many regards. She doesn't know when to quit. She just wants to keep going and going. Can't keep this mermaid out of the water.

San Diego update

We're having a great time in San Diego. The girls have been to the beach. Lolo can't get enough of the surf. Poor Norah gets cold even in her wetsuit.

The other day, Lolo got a big wheel and Norah has a big girl bike to ride around PoPo's trip house. The girls had a sleepover with their third cousins, Darren and Kayla, (my cousin Peter's kids...I'm told this makes them third cousins) on tuesday night...and they played super hard all day wednesday.

Norah is NOT good at sharing. She's very possessive of her new bike. She basically spent the day on her bike to ensure no one else would ride it. First thing this morning, she woke up, went down stairs and before she even had breakfast, she said "I go outside. I want ride my bike." We've never seen her love something so much before. She was outside by herself after a quick breakfast (we're watching out the big window...kind of like being at the zoo and spying on the monkeys)....she runs to the door and calls out "Lolo! Lolo, come open the door. You can do it." She wanted Lolo to ride bikes with her.

We're heading out to the beach this morning. More updates later.

Minnehaha Falls

We took the girls out to Minnehaha Park today. Lunch at the park. Watched the Swedish festival activities and absolutely couldn't pass up Swedish pancakes. And of course, no day at the park would be complete for us without a stop at the playground.

Just who is "Liva Grace"?

Norah's messing around after dinner tonight. She decides that she is "Liva Grace" and the true "Liva Grace" is supposed to be "Baby Grover". Lolo is such a trooper and goes along with the whole thing (once she figures out it's all in fun and decides that she doesn't want to be "Norie Kate").
So while "Liva Grace" is running around crazy and jazzed up post-dinner. Baby Grover sings a song about everyone "shake their booty...oh yeah...oh yeah...." Poor sleep deprived Jim doesn't know what to make of it. He wonders what we've been listening on the radio.
All three are in bed. The kitchen is clean. I've got the evening to myself.

Errands

We were out running errands today. I told the girls we could go to Michael's to get some new wings. Their wings were getting very bent and ratty. Then we had to go to Sam's. We run all our errands. Come home. In the garage Norah starts to cry..."you say we go to Sam's house." Long explanation. Uncle Sam lives in Tennessee with Aunt Meg. Sam's club is where we go to pick up stuff for home. Seems like I had this conversation with Lolo when she was about the same age.

San Diego

We're heading to San Diego on monday June 23 and coming back on saturday.

Potty training setback

An update on the potty training front.
Norah has decided she wants to wear diapers again. Bummer. We had a very busy day yesterday. Norah woke up in a wet bed due to a huge diaper leak. A lousy way to start the day.
After their morning swim class was over, I asked the girls if they needed to go potty. Nope. So we go to a restaurant for lunch. In the middle of lunch, Norah announces "I have poopy." So we rush to the bathroom. Oops too late. But this time, it's a double oops because Mom didn't check the diaper bag and we're out of pull ups and diapers. So we make a run to the store. Just as I get a pull up on Norah (in the middle of the diaper aisle) she announces "I have poopy." So we rush to the bathroom (which is on the opposite side of the store). Oops too late again. And unfortunately for us, she ends up stepping in it. Ick.
She does have a few successes later in the afternoon and evening, but she's clearly disappointed. So today, I try to get her in pull ups. Nope. Norah decides no pullups for her. It's back to diapers. She does periodically like to sit on the potty (when it's convenient for her)....for instance, tonight, I'm getting the girls ready for bed. Norah announces "I not even sleepy. It still light outside." Then the delay tactics start...."I have poopy." Yep. Two trips to the bathroom within 10 minutes. We sit down to read a bedtime story and Norah has a stinky diaper. Lovely.

Norah's mind at work

We're trying our best to keep Norah in her seat during meals. Very difficult now that she's not buckled into her high chair. We've told her if she leaves her seat, then I'm taking her plate away and she's done with dinner. Last night, she left her seat. I said "I'm taking your plate away." She replies "I'm just going to give Daddy a hug." Smile from dad. Anyway, after a couple more rounds of hugs for Daddy. Norah lost her plate, despite cries about being "so hunwry."

In other news...

So in addition to our fun dentist visit....we've had visits to the playground, swim lessons, and our blow up play pool is up in the back yard. Yes, it's a little cold and the girls get blue after about 30 minutes. But we're still having a blast. I'll try remember to get pictures of the pool girls sometime.

Weekly update

We've had an incredibly busy week. Norah started tumbling class on monday. So very cute to see our little monkey walk across a balance beam, do somersaults, attempt cartwheels, etc. Then the girls had a dentist appointment. Norah came through with flying colors. Unfortunately, Lolo has a couple of cavities. We've got room for improvement in the areas of flossing and brushing. Ugh. I'm taking Lolo back to the dentist when we're back from San Diego.

Early evening blogging

Can you tell I started blogging earlier than usual tonight? The girls were beyond exhausted from the sleepover. Norah went down for a nap this morning about 11am and didn't get up until about 2:30pm...by which time, Lolo was really cranky. Lovely.
We had an early dinner, quick bath, and down they went. Poor Jim. It's been a nightmarish week for him and the weekend wasn't any better. On the bright side, tomorrow is monday and he's (theoretically) got the night off.

Princess Day Photos

Here are yesterday's princess day photos. The girls got dressed up in their "finest" (notice Lolo's crown). They took turns playing music and dancing (ie spinning and posing) until they got dizzy and fell over.

An Incredibly Successful Day

Norah had an incredible day today. Once she decided that she wanted to wear pull ups, she was accident free all day!! We even took a trip to Target to pick out her new Dora the Explorer pull ups. Frankly, I'm a little stunned by how well she did today (and by the fact that she just announced her intention to use the potty). I'm excited to see how things go tomorrow.

Big News!

Norah has decided she's a big girl and is going to tell me when she needs to use the potty. We're switching over to pull ups!

Tulum Iguanas

One day we all headed out to see the Tulum ruins. Actually, the girls were far more interested in splashing around in the waves. And, after playing hard, we stopped to have some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As soon as I unzipped the snack bag, guess who came out to visit? Of course, our girls (and dad) had to share our snack.

Hermit Crabs

Lolo and Norah found more than 30 hermit crabs around our little house on the beach. The girls created a nice little habitat for the crabs in their sand bucket. It obviously made an impression. This morning, Lolo was talking to me about pets....and if we couldn't have a dog, could she please get some hermit crabs?

Muscles

Jim and Sam were hamming it up for the camera...showing off their muscles on the beach....and of course, our girls have to get into the act too. Just look at the muscles on my girls! Like father, like daughters...LOL!

All alone...

Nancy has taken the girls out for their very first princess sleep over. The girls were very excited about getting dressed up. Lolo wore her flower girl dress and Norah wore Lolo's baptismal dress. Jim's on call. I'm all alone (strange feeling) and planning on catching up the blog today....but I've got to get a haircut first.
Anyway, to tide you over until the next post...here's Lolo and Meg chilling in the hammocks in Mexico.

Heading home

We're packed up and heading home tomorrow. Lolo has had enough of the mosquitos. She got eaten up swimming in the cenote. Will try to post photos when we return. I'm heading out to Portland for work on monday (back on thursday), so I don't know if I'll get the chance.

The Mexican Shakedown

Well it was bound to happen to us. We had read about bad apples in the mexican police targeting rental cars, pulling them over, and demanding payment. The house manager here warned us that it was getting bad. And yes, after 3 trips down here, we got the shakedown. Got pulled over. The policia demanded 1600 pesos (about $160); then he went down the 1000 pesos. Jim eventually paid him 500 pesos. It was really our fault. We forgot to tell Meg (who was sitting up front next to Jim) that when we're getting pulled over, you're supposed to take all the cash out of Jim's wallet EXCEPT for about 200 pesos....so when when you're getting the shakedown, you pull open your wallet and say "hey, here's everything I've got in my wallet." Live and learn.

Classic Norah on the Beach Shot

Here's a classic Norah on the beach shot. The people renting the house next to us were getting wedding photos taken on the beach this morning. We were pondering having our children running "nakey" in the background!

Greetings from Soliman Bay

We finally got internet access today! Norah's down for a "quiet time" and Lolo's out on the hammock with Meg.

We're having a great time. The first few days were cloudy and rainy (due to the tropical storm that moved through the area). We all still went out on the beach...we were going to all get wet anyway. The girls have been busy building sand castles, playing in the waves, kayaking, swinging in the hammock, and having a great time with Meg & Sam.

Yesterday and today have been the classic blue sky mexican beach days. Norah went out on the kayak this morning. She sat between my legs and held tight to the paddle to "help".