My girls

I thought Allie's hair looked pretty cool in the water

Picture for Grandpa on Father's Day

Nicole did another "art class" with Allie and showed her what to draw, step by step.  I'm having her do home summer school, and Nicole is going to start teaching Allie on Thursdays.  There's Imagine and Playtime; Art class; and Library, where Nicole reads to Allie.

A year come and gone

May 11, 2019

May 17, 2020

A year come and gone, and Nicole is still wearing the same dress.  And we are still swinging in the hammock.  Similar pictures taken in the same month totally a coincidence!

Stories for the week

Goatee

Last Friday, my brother and his wife asked us to babysit their kids, and said we could leave our kids overnight in exchange, so we left Nicole and Allie over there for a sleepover.  The next morning, I gave Daddy a haircut, but not before he trimmed his goatee.  Unfortunately, he had the #1 attachment on his razor instead of the #4, which he ran right down his chin.  So he was forced to shave his entire goatee off.  With his haircut and no facial hair, he had an entirely new look.

Later that day, we went to pick Nicole and Allie up.  Allie was sitting in her car seat, and Daddy was leaning over and talking to her.  Allie stuttered, "I...uh...i...ih...is you Daddy???"  Later, at home, she exclaimed, "I like new Daddy!"

Fish sticks

A few nights ago, we had tacos and fish sticks for dinner.  First, we served the girls tacos.  Nicole finished her taco and was allowed to have a fish stick.  Allie asked for one, but we told her she needed to finish her taco first.  She said, "I finished it."  We said, "No, it's still on your plate."

Later, she asked again.  "Can I have a fish stick because I moved...the taco around."  At least she gets an 'A' for honesty this time around.

The fly

Yesterday, Nicole and Allison found a fly in the playroom and sounded the alarm.  I went to get the flyswatter, and while I was out of the room, Allison said, "Mommy will blast you, little fly."


Projects

About three times a week, Nicole works furiously on a surprise for me or Daddy.  She usually involves Allison.  Here is one of her surprise projects this week.  Allie drew the pictures on the right (except the frog).  They also gave each of us a bag of roasted almonds.

Evening stroll

We took an evening stroll after the rain a few days ago.  The raindrops looks like tiny jewels on the leaves, so I had to grab my camera...

The past month or so

The cutest little bank robbers you ever saw.

Scenes from Allison's pretend play:

Art and projects:

Allison drew this picture, and I pointed out it looks
like a pig.  Allison's favorite animals are pigs and
hippos, so she couldn't contain her excitement and
she started jumping up and down in 2-year-old
fashion and exclaiming with joy, "A pig!!"

Nicole worked extremely hard on her science
experiment, which was optional extra work if she
wanted to earn a special award at her school.  She
developed the concept herself, but she got lots
of help from me with the writing.

By Nicole - Mother's Day card for Grandma

Painted by Allison, for Grandma

One of Nicole's extra projects for school

Another extra project for school.  She had
to interview a veteran or member
of the military.  She chose her Auntie.

My neighbor had a baby, and instead of meals, she
asked for entertainment for her other three kids.  I prefer
resourcefulness to buying pre-made things, plus I know
how cramped these condos can get, so I didn't want
my neighbor to feel pressured to keep the games,
so I made them out of trash!
Nicole and Allie were pretty envious.

Coin toss out of apple packing from Costco

I walked through spelling her name.  Trying
 to communicate how to write the letter, "A,"
and watch Allie botch following
instructions so badly is HILARIOUS.
You should try it sometime.

Nicole took it upon herself today to tutor
Allison at art.  She went step by step, and
had Allie erase her mistakes.

Allie / Nicole