Animal Cookies

These cookie cutters are awesome, with a plunger that imprints a design and presses the dough out of the cutter. The recipe we used was lack-luster, just a basic sugar and butter cookie. It did hold the shape of the cookie cutters well, baking into cute miniature lions, elephants, and zebras. We didn't have as much luck with the giraffe - those long necks and legs were too fragile.

Zoe had a great time with the project. Vincent would have loved to be in the middle of it, I'm sure, but he was napping in the pack on my back. He helped with the taste testing.

Out Foxed

Goofing

Intense

The sun was incredibly intense yesterday. We went to the park to enjoy it, but it was hot and blindingly bright. The kids had fun anyway. Grandma Pat is here to have fun with us! 

Vincent is still not over his mystery illness of much fever, but he seems better. Hopefully? Zoe was hot last night and got a dose of ibuprofen, but she's perky this morning. She's planning a trip to the beach right now.

Fever

The themes and colors of Valentine's Day crafts are a delight to our 3 7/8 year old girlie. She has made two batches of cards, dozens of cut out hearts, and many drawings. Below, crumpled tissue paper and glue create a three dimensional heart. The end result is fabulously fluffy and cheerful.

Meanwhile...

Vincent has been running a fever for two days and generally behaving like a sick kid. No snot nose, no cough, no apparent stomach issues. I took him to the doctor this afternoon, and his exam was all normal except for a slightly elevated temperature (brought down - again - by the ibuprofen he'd had an hour before the appointment). Doc says it's likely a virus, nothing to worry about at this time, just keep on with the medicine, cool water, and light clothes. So I changed Vincent's shirt from long sleeves to short sleeves and he went and got a blanket. 

Also today, the dryer shut off before the end of the cycle. Three times. I think we may have a problem there. Maybe it's just a virus?? Sigh.

Yoga

Hamburger With Ketchup

Vincent takes tumbles all day long. Most of them he shakes off immediately. Some of them require hugs and result in bruises. Rarely is there blood. But today, while out on a walk with Daddy and Sister, he fell and turned his lower lip into hamburger. Plenty of blood, judging from the state of his jacket and from what David tells me. However, Vincent recovered quickly and didn't hesitate over his lunch. 

While David was wondering it he would need to take Vince in for stitches, I was attending a workshop on fruit varieties for the local climate. There was lots of good, specific information. Happily, the varieties we have planted so far are known producers (I am grateful for the good advice I got at the nursery), and now I know what I should look for when I am ready to put grapes on the arbor and more berries in the yard. Nice to have someone else invest the money, time, space, and energy on figuring out what will work and what will definitely not.

Brotherly Love

Too often, Zoe spurns Vincent's affections. He says "Hi sister!" when she comes into a room; she ignores him. He leans in for a hug; she shrugs him off. But every now and then, Zoe is in the mood for a snuggle. She likes to "read" to Vincent, and if they can agree upon which page to look at, rainbows appear overhead and unicorns prance around them in circles. Okay, no unicorns. Just happy kids, which are even better. 

This cracks me up. Zoe: "Blah blah blah blah." Vince: "Pfffffffft."But before and after finger-wagging, she rested her hand on Vincent's arm and gave him sweet pats. Her other arm is around his back.

Somebody

It's not Kyle and Leigh's delectable, homemade, wood-fired pizza, but it's good. And somebody else makes it! And brings it to our house! What a great concept. Zoe has only one issue with the setup: "Somebody keeps putting stuff I don't like on dis pizza." Darn that somebody and all their vegetable toppings.

A Nap!

The nap is not at a convenient or conventional time, but it's a nap! Vincent has decided that naps are unnecessary. While Vince can still function without a nap, he does better with one. Of course he does! He is just twenty months old. He will often fall asleep in the car, and also in the pack on my back. But it's not practical to go for a drive every afternoon, and the kid is too heavy to pack around for long. So most days we have a short rest time, which means I have a rest while he bounces around in his crib like a rubber ball. Zoe stays quietly in her room. 

We had a busy weekend, and I took the kids to playgroup this morning, so it's no wonder Vincent is tired. We lounged on the sofa reading books and singing songs, and he just kept getting sleepier. He nodded off around 4pm. Zoe got the camera and took a picture. The shutter click startled Vince a bit, and he came awake just enough to say "Boo," his version of peek-a-boo. Then he snuggled down more comfortably on my lap and went back to sleep. I was able to sneak away, and Zoe has been very cooperative about staying quiet (mostly) and not pestering her brother (much).