Yesterday while we were out a man asked the kids what their names were. Audrey responded appropriately and after thoughtfully watching his sister Colin smiled and said proudly, "My name Colin!" I think this was the first time anyone has asked him what his name was. A few hours later at the store the kids were looking at small fish in tanks. I noticed Colin was saying something so I stepped closer and heard, "My name Colin," he then turned his head toward another fish and repeated, "My name Colin." He probably introduced himself to six or seven different fish.

During the same run of errands I looked in my rear view mirror at one point and noticed tears streaming down Audrey's cheeks. A bit shocked, since I could recall nothing that would have brought on this emotion, I asked her what was wrong. Audrey sniffled and wiped a few tears before saying, "Everyone keeps thinking I am a little girl."

Greg is working some long hours as tax season hits high gear. The weather is getting warmer (40F?), the snow and ice are gone, and there is now an extra hour of sun - or at least not darkness. So in the last couple weeks the kids and I broke the confines of our winter quarters and have been exploring. The water in the ponds and streams near our house is high and fast. This makes it doubly fun for hunting and throwing rocks. The kids are great at spotting red-wing blackbirds, Canadian geese and ducks - all of which are plentiful. I learned that some post-melt gear is essential - like rubber boots. And my washing machine is feeling the brunt of our muddy excursions.

Today we went on our longest bike trip ever - to the toy store. I don't know how far it was but my legs are still warmly numb and tingly. Things grew very quiet on the ride home.

I am cleaning the TV room this morning and complaining aloud about how the couch is eternally sprinkled in crumbs. Audrey expertly tells me, "to clean the crumbs off the couch you have to jump on it an then to clean the floor you have to vacuum it."

Colin finds me at the computer yesterday evening and requests a "show on da pewter." I lift him into my lap and he helps me pick out a Thomas netflix. Its rare that I am granted an opportunity to hold my busy boy anymore so I relax in my chair to watch the show with him. The intro music begins and Colin slides off my legs and tugs at my pants saying, "soot, soot Mom." It only takes a second or two for me to translate, "scoot, scoot Mom."
"Scoot" is the word Colin hears when Mom is busy in the kitchen and doesn't want him or Audrey around :(

Audrey and Colin accompanied me to the DMV to register our car and get Illinois plates (that's right, we've been here nine months :) On the way out of the DMV I'm telling Audrey that Dad will put these plates with numbers on our car. After a minute or two Audrey asks, "Mom, why does our car need the brass plates?"

I was taught one more lesson in the differences between girls and boys tonight.

Audrey and Colin were in the bathtub. When I finished shampooing their hair I gave Audrey two small plastic dolls with accompanying plastic accessories and another handful of toys to Colin.

While cleaning up in the next room I can hear Colin repeatedly making a fake screaming sound, "Ahhhhhhh" (high pitch to low pitch) followed by his own hysterical laughter. After a few minutes of this I am curious so I sneak in and watch as Colin lifts one plastic doll to a ledge in the bathtub and lets her free fall headfirst into the water, simultaneously adding her screaming side effects. Following the tragedy he throws back his head back and laughs...

Audrey meanwhile is just trying to squeeze her little doll into a tiny pink dress.

What is a family blog if it is not for bragging about your family? Greg made blueberry muffins before he left for work this morning. All I had to do was pull them out of the oven. I'm feeling a little guilty that he didn't get to enjoy one but it was a yummy treat for the kids and I. Thank you, Greg.

In the middle of errands the kids and I splurged on McDonald's for lunch today. Five minutes into her happiest meal of the week Audrey says, "Mom, I don't like the fries at our house but I do like the fries from McDonald's."


I know exactly what she's talking about so after a chuckle I explain just why these salty golden bits of heaven taste better than our oven baked substitutes at home. Hot Oil.

Audrey is very aware of one type of oil. I make an effort to give her and Colin a teaspoonful of cod liver oil each morning. What? I'm not awful, it's lemon flavored.

Audrey considers the frying process for a few minutes and says something along the lines of how McDonald's oil must be better than our oil too...