Stairs

Sylvia is climbing stairs! Sure, she would have fallen down off them if we weren't there to prop her up, but still - I watched her climb 8 stairs in a row. Her motivation was that Andy was at the top. She'll do anything to be with her brother!

A tale of tails

So I may have mentioned that Andy has a thing about tails. Actually, he has a thing about animals -- pretending to be lions or bears, particularly -- and animals have tails. So, Andy always has a tail, by which I mean one of his socks stuck in the back of his pants, often down his pants. I'll find stray socks that have fallen out of the bottom of his pants all over the house and yard. When we pick him up at school, we'll often find a spare sock in his cubby because he snuck one into the back of his pants before we went off to school that morning (he knows he's not supposed to bring a tail to school). At first I thought this was a phase and was just riding it out, harmless as it is. But after months of socks, I realized that his devotion to animals and their tails is not going to be short lived, and figured the boy deserves some more realistic tails. We took a trip to the local fabric store and Andy picked out his favorite animal prints. Then I got my needle and thread. Each tail has a button at the top, and we're getting some elastic so he can just pull them around his waist. Here are my masterpieces:

"lion," "wild dog," and "bear."

When I brought these out the next afternoon with great flourish, Andy was indeed impressed, but sadly about 5 minutes later went running upstairs for a trusty sock. I came home today to find the lion tail on the patio, half chewed by Herbie, who understandably mistook it for a dog toy. SIGH. I'll be washing and re-sewing it though, in the hopes these tails catch on around here!

Baby biker!

Just for fun...

Folklife Festival

On Saturday, we met Mom and Peter at Folklife for a festival-fun day running in the fountain, eating all varieties of ethnic foods, listening to music (including the Raging Grannies - http://www.seattleraginggrannies.com/) and, unlike a few poor folks at the festival, not getting shot at!

Peter and Andy run through the fountain.

Dancing (Mom with Andy; Peter with Sylvia)

Tito and Andy share some yummy food.

Sly sacks out in the stroller.

I'll leave you with just a sample of the hour-long Raging Grannies sing-a-long:

GLORY, GLORY HALLIBURTON
(tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic)
Chorus:
Glory, glory Halliburton!
All our people now are hurtin’.
Massive deficits are certain--

But we know how to make war pay!

Three hundred billion is a lot of money, true,

And we will get our share of it and more before we’re through.

The army will protect us while we do the things we do.

We know how to make war pay.

Chorus

A cost of war is relative and so it all depends

On who are your connections and who..oo are your friends

A contract here and there can do a lot to make amends.

We know how to make war pay.

IMPEACHMENT IN THE WIND
(tune: Blowin' in the Wind)

How many kids will die in Iraq
Before the troops come home?
How many bombs will you drop everywhere
Before the world brings you down?
How many rich people rake it in
Before we all revolt?
How many kids have to go without food
Before we respond to their needs?
How many times can you screw things up
Before you are impeached?
The answer my friend is impeaching him,
The answer is getting rid of Bush.

RAPTURE
(tune: I've Been Working on the Railroad)

We've been waiting for the Rapture

To lift us up to heaven. (3 bangs)

Today's the day they promised lift-off

At twenty past eleven. (3 bangs)

First, we'll see the Angel Gabriel,

And then the chariots come. (3 bangs)

But only for us true believers-- Not you other scum. (3 bangs)

Chorus:

We will be the first.

The rest of you are cursed--

The flames of hell are waiting there for you.

There'll be a mighty fire. (1 bang)

And you'll be on the pyre. (1 bang)

When God fires up the barbecue. (3 bangs)

We've read the Book of Revelation--

Every gory bit. (3 bangs)

Lots of thunderclaps and smiting,

In the good old holy writ. (3 bangs)

We confess we once were sinners,

But we've joined the righteous squad. (3 bangs)

We sent our money to the preacher-- Now we're right with God. (3 bangs)

Sly standing

Some cute photos of Sly standing up (as usual).

Drawing

Jen & Jerome's

Jen and Jerome, our brave friends, had all the Os and Ws over for dinner several Sundays ago. Dinner was delicious and we all had a great time. Thanks J&J!

Sunshine

We spent a lazy Sunday afternoon on a blanket in the yard. Other people may take advantage of sunny weather by getting out and about. Apparently we just REALLY love to make good use of our yard.

Morning in the Garden

Peter stayed over after jamming with Shawn on Saturday night, and we got to spend a sunny, hint-of-a-warm-day-to-come morning outside!

Warm weather is here!

Time for a bar-b-que! We spent Saturday having hamburgers on the patio with Mom, Tom, Peter, Chris and Gretchen. Chris and Gretchen just moved here from Michigan and are getting married there this summer (the reason for our planned August visit to the big M). It was so nice to be back out on the patio, using our outdoor space!

Peter's in Town!

Peter arrived for a 2-week visit on Saturday. What a treat!! He and Nonna came by for an afternoon visit, including playing in the sprinkler with a THRILLED Andy. Andy adores Peter, and monopolizes his attention whenever he's around. It's such a joy to watch!

While Andy and Peter played in the sprinkler, Mom and Sylvia watched from the shade.

Strawberries on the porch (is it suddenly summer? Yay!).

Sly in the P&P

Ever since Sylvia started crawling, really the only thing she wants to do is stand up. She ignores the toys in the pack & play and instead stands up and rocks forward and back. She loves it!

See, I'm not crazy to worry so much, it CAN happen

Harried family forgets tot in Vancouver airport
Air Canada staff took care of boy while father flew back from Winnipeg

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - An immigrant family left a 23-month-old boy in the Vancouver airport and learned he was missing only when contacted during the next leg of the trip.

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24615484/

AAARRRGHHH!!!

Mother's Day

Andy's school arranged to have the kids' profiles made and sent them home with special cards made by each kid. It was such a special treat. Mother's Day lunch at Chinooks...

Then a walk at Discovery Park.

Picking flowers.

The many faces of Sylvia...

The playground includes a swing on a long track. Fun!

Dinner at Nonna and Grandpa's house.