jules smiles and talks

when she wasn't feeling so good

this was her cozy setup

kai at fairytale follies

A few bad pictures of a really sweet event at Kai's school. Kai was Jack Sparrow and he was so proud. The kids sang several songs, every single child was smiling and proud. Girls - and some boys - were really wiggling their hips - even Kai.

just pictures

Kai reading pokemon graphic novels...again. Jules staring at daddy. Our bed every morning.

kai-ism

"I'm only 12 years away from being a grownup and I feel like I'm practically a grownup." (When he was lobbying me to use adult scissors bc his hands are too big for kids scissors. And they are.)

sweet Kai

Kai doesn't have school today, but Nina does.
Last night, Kai said, "I wish all of the schools didn't have school today. Hey Nina, do you want to go to school tomorrow?"
Nina, while working on something else, distractedly said, "Yeah."
Kai said, "Hey Nina, do you want to stay home with me tomorrow instead?"
Nina, "Yeah."

To be honest, I was hoping for a day with just Kai. But I was thrilled to know he doesn't really want a morning without his sister.

smiles

who does he look like?

thank you, william!

dear WILLIAM, THANK YOU FOR THE LEGO NINJAGO SET!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS FINISHED!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RATTALA IS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE,KAI

kai's brain

So tonight I asked Nate a question I had heard on a quiz show:
What is the only prime number that is a factor of 16?
I had seen the answer, so I was giving Nate some hints but Nate didn't know the answer yet.
Then Kai said, "I know! It's 2!"
Which is the correct answer.
Then he went on to tell us how 8 and 8 is 16 and 8 times 2 is 16 and 2 times 8 is 16 so of course the answer is 2.
Of course.

Then we were telling stories at bedtime.
Mine was about a lonely marshmallow whose defense mechanism was brightness: he was so bright nobody would eat him. That story made Kai sad.
So then Kai told a story. As follows (and loosely retold...after all, it is bedtime, I've struggled a bit with the younger ones today and I'm pooped, I hear Julian screaming in Nate's ear in the background, so I can't retell it exactly. But...):
There was a fisherman who went fishing for lobsters. But there was a swarm of toadfish in the ocean...he caught some lobsters but he also caught part of the swarm of toadfish. As he was bringing them in one of the toadfish spines got stuck in his wrist! He coiled in pain!..." And I can't remember the rest of it because I was so impressed with the "coiled in pain" bit.
Then Nina couldn't wait for her turn.
"Once there was a fisherman who went fishin' on the sidewalk. He went fishin' and the fish was a bloody fish. So he threw it back in the water. The end."
Oh lawd we all laughed so hard.

dancing queen

Rocking out to Dan Zanes in the kitchen.
"Nina, do you know who loves to dance more than anybody I know?"
"Who?"
"Meecie."
"Then I should dance with her!"

rope swing back in action

Kai is back at it on the rope swing. Jay came over on saturday despite the rapidly approaching thunder and lightning to hang a new rope. Kai has been swinging every waking minute. Nana and Dup were here for several days, because of which I was able to introduce Julian to Meecie and Fud; take Kai to the library on his bike, just the two of us; feed and rock Julian in peace; lie quietly with Nina without a baby strapped to my breast. They did our laundry, washed our dishes, and loved and entertained our children tirelessly.
And yes. Still. Kai is our jungle boy. Can't keep clothes on him.

sweet little ting

Sweet little Jules fell asleep during tummy time today.