Permanent first molars

Lolo's first set of permanent molars are coming in. Such a big girl.

Lolo's comfy new spot

Oops. I probably should have had Lolo wipe any evidence of chocolate off her face first.

Up The World So High

Here's my curly mouseling's version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star....except Norah likes to title the song "Up the world so high".

This past week's swim school

I've been having some trouble with the video uploads lately. Sometimes, they just don't want to go up. Here's a double video from this past week...both kids in the pool at once. It's a little jumpy. I was trying to watch both of them at one time. Norah's got a backpack on and is using her "running feet" to motor around the pool. Lolo gets a great push off the wall...and I'm so impressed by her beautiful backstroke arms. It's taken a lot of time to get that coordination going.

Norah's turn

Can't have just Lolo posts now, can I? Here's my little monkey...in case you're wondering she's got a Bugs Bunny book stuffed up her shirt for safekeeping.

Tagalong

Jim and Lolo are out and about the neighborhood right now...riding around on her new tagalong. She's excited not to have training wheels anymore!

Look! No Training Wheels!

OK. That's a deceptive title. Really, this is Lolo on her new tagalong that Jim just attached to his bike today. The two of them just zip along the neighborhood. At one point, they were going slightly uphill and Lolo provided the power to motor them forward. I was thoroughly impressed.

New Ski Setup

Lolo and I picked up her new ski set up yesterday. She has been clomping around the living room on our rugs. Pink skis, red boots, and a purple helmet this year. Could we be any more girly?

Immersion school

The girls started Chinese Immersion class this morning. It's every friday for an hour and a half. I figure it's a teaser class to get the girls used to going to full immersion school in the fall (I'm still hopeful that Lolo will get in). Anyway, this class is pretty neat. 4 kids (2 are ours) and they're all what I like to call "half and half".
Lolo seemed to warm up and enjoy the class. There's a little girl named Chloe who will be her buddy. There's a little boy a little younger than Norah (who will probably end up her buddy) named Edward.
Norah was shocked quiet. She didn't want to speak any chinese in class. Lolo did quite well....especially with phrases she already knows ;-)
Norah made up for being quiet for an hour and a half by running her mouth double time as soon as we got in the car and back home. She's down for a nap now.

School Tours

The whole starting kindergarten thing here is rather crazy. We've got school choice here....which basically means, we can elect to have Lolo attend any school in the city. Here's where it gets tricky....I've got to tour and evaluate each one. So, we've narrowed down our list to six.
I visited our first choice today....a chinese immersion school. Frankly, unless the others blow our socks off, this will be our first choice (provided she can get in when we apply...they have a wait list and kids get in via a "lottery"). I'm not sure how families with both parents working full time manage to do this. The tours are typically in the morning between 9-10am. Plus, the busing situation is pretty complicated. I forsee a lot of chauffeuring in my future.
So, one school tour down...five more to go.

Another Dance Video

Here's Norah again...dancing with her "pretend cookie"

I just want to give this dancer a big hug, squeeze, and kiss. Of course, she's apt to tell me "take it back, Mom!"

Found it

Here's our dancer. I have to brag and say that I've been most impressed by how Norah is able to follow directions in both her dance class and swim class. If only she would listen so well at home....

Our Norah has lost the priviledge of a story, two out of the last three nights. Last night, she looks at me very seriously and says "Mama, I cooperating." She got her story last night. Of course, that's after she announces at dinner that she doesn't want to eat and "I not getting a treat tonight." What to do with this girl!?!

Card Reader Missing Again

Darn that disappearing card reader. I took video at Norah's dance class this morning and I can't find my card reader!

On a Walk around Town

Last night Jim and I decided to take the girls out for dinner and then go on a short walk right after. I'm always impressed by how far Lolo can walk.

Chubby

Here's Lolo and Chubby. Couldn't get a good picture of Norah and Chubby. They're not exactly tight (yet - we're working on it).

Delinquent postings

I've been completely out of sorts lately.

Delinquent postings to follow....here's Norah trying on her ski boots (and Lolo who can't stand to be left out of any picture). Everything still fits Norah. We had to get Lolo all new gear this year. We pick up her stuff on Friday.

No pictures

No pictures. I keep forgetting to bring my camera with me.
We didn't make it to the rally today. Hit the ski shop for a swap sale (Lolo has outgrown everything), the scuba shop for my rental gear for this weekend's dive, lunch outside, and then the toy store for another birthday party that Lolo will be attending on sunday. As Lolo said to me this afternoon "Mama, we've had a busy day."
Then it was on to take care of Chubby. Yes, Caroline, I'm developing a soft spot for this cat. But let me qualify it....Chubby really acts more like a dog in a cat's body. And, she's starting to take to Norah (as long as she stands really still or is in my lap).
Then dinner on the porch. And, just when I had promised to set up a tent for the girls outside after dinner...it started to rain. So, we ended up setting things up in the living room. Such is life.
The girls are FINALLY down. It's been a busy day.

President and VP

We've been talking politics at home. McCain & Palin are making a stop in Minnesota about 40 minutes from our house and I had been planning on taking the girls to go see them.
So we've been talking about the President and Vice President, what they do, and how these two people might be the next president and vice president....how we're going to go see them at the airport in Blaine tomorrow and listen to them talk. Norah, who has been quiet up to this point, says "I don't want to go hear people talk." Then Lolo asks "so when we go to the airport, are they coming to our house and staying for dinner?"
Anyhoo...I'm rethinking our plans for tomorrow. 2 and 4 might still be a little young for a political rally.

Hide & Seek

This afternoon the girls and I are playing hide and seek before dinner. Lolo is counting and I "hide" behind one of the trees by the sidewalk....close enough to where I can still keep an eye on both kids (Norah's blowing bubbles by the front door). Lolo finishes counting and I'm "stealthily" moving to the opposite side of the tree so she can't see me but I can still see her. Suddenly, she squeals and shouts for all of our neighbors to hear, "Mama! I can see your booty!" Apparently, I need a bigger tree/smaller booty.

Dance class

Norah's dance class is definitely on. Our ballerina is dancing.

Chubby

We've been taking care of our neighbor's cat, Chubby, while they are away. Lolo loves Chubby and the feeling appears to be mutual. She's quite pleased that when we open the door, Chubby seems to be waiting for her. Usually, Lolo and I go over to feed and visit with Chubs. Chubby will come over to Lolo, rub against her, and purr contently.
Norah's been over a couple of times. She loves Chubby too; however, the feeling is not mutual. Chubby sees Norah and takes off in the opposite direction. I'm not sure what it is about Norah and animals. She loves animals so much, but they don't want to reciprocate. Chubby doesn't purr around Norah.

Loose tooth

In other news, our girls are obsessed with having a "loose tooth". Lolo has claimed that she's had a loose tooth for at least a year now. Norah just started. While we were sitting down for stories tonight, Norah was proudly telling me about how she has a loose tooth. Lolo pulls my head aside and whispers "She really doesn't. But I do."
FYI - clearly, neither girl has a loose tooth.

Norah's dance class update

Sadly, the community center is talking about canceling Norah's dance class if they can't get more kids to sign up. That would be a major disappointment for our dancing princess.

Norah's dance class

We're getting into our fall schedule this week. Swim school on mondays. Lolo has preschool on tuesday, wednesday, thursday mornings. And Norah started dance class today...is she the cutest ballerina ever?

Birthday hair

Lolo went to a birthday party yesterday where the girls all got their hair "done up" and sparkly. At times, the birthday circuit seems never ending. We're in the process of planning Lolo's party. This year, it's set for October 18. You're welcome to join us. Princess attire not required (yet).

Crazy

This morning Norah's got her baby stroller...taking her baby for a walk around the house. Lolo gets it in her brain to block Norah and not let her pass. Norah tries all the regular moves and even the magic word "abre" (see Dora the Explorer episode). No go. Anyway, after a while, Norah gets incredibly frustrated with Lolo and cries out in complete exasperation "Lolo! You makin' me crazy!" Followed by a howl as only our Norah can do.
Upon further inquiry, Lolo said Norah learned that phrase from Nancy. Kids are such sponges.

And so it starts...

I forgot to mention in this in Jim's birthday posting. Prior to the arrival of our guests, Lolo inspected my outfit (shorts and t shirt) and asked, "Mom, are you going to wear that to Daddy's party?" I replied "uh, yeah, I was planning on it." Lolo said "No, you need to change." We went upstairs so she could help me pick out something more appropriate from my closet. Ouch.
Recently, I also got my hair cut rather short...it was a pretty dramatic change. When I came back, Lolo was eyeing me critically. I said "Mom, looks different right?" She said matter-of-factly "No, you just look funny."
So, my short hair has a tendency to stick up this-way-and-that when I first roll out of bed. Lolo saw me yesterday and cracked up "Mama you look like a porcupine!" And, I go fix my hair, thinking I look somewhat improved at that time of morning, Lolo still quips "Now, you look like a walrus!" All I can think of with that comment is how her cousin Kayla talks about leaving a walrus/werewolf in the potty after a big BM.
Talk about shots to self esteem this week.....
I suspect it only goes downhill....

Birthday hat

Did you notice the snazzy football birthday hat the girls picked out for Jim?

Happy Birthday Dad!

The girls got up early (as usual) and we prepared a big birthday breakfast for Jim. After breakfast, the girls and I made his birthday cake. At times I think I must be slightly insane to let a two year old and four year old loose with whipped cream and a multitude of sprinkles....the clean up was more extensive than the actual cake prep (and the prep took a while). No pictures of cake decorating this year. My hands were full. I'm not sure why it was more chaotic than usual, but it was.

After the cake decorating and clean up, it was time to get Jim's dinner started (we had bbq ribs tonight). Then it was time to pack up a picnic lunch for the girls and we headed out to the pool for the last day of summer swimming at the neighborhood pool.

Then back for a nap and the rest of Jim's birthday dinner prep. Then, finally dinner and the grand finale....a spectacular fireball of a cake! More candles every year. Next year, we're going straight for a bonfire.

I don't know if you've noticed a theme about Jim's birthdays....Jim's got a lot of really young friends ;-) The kids seem to outnumber the adults at his party every year.