A new friend

Today we went to the Hall of Science with a little girl from the neighborhood, Juliana, and her mom, Ana. Juliana is exactly 6 months younger (well 6 months and 5 days) than Alice and they got along swimmingly. Both Alice and Juliana have a history of sometimes kinda sorta not getting along with every kid that comes along, so we moms were both so relieved that they seemed to really like each other. When we got home, Alice drew a picture of Juliana complete with curls, and Ana's mom wrote me an email saying, "I'm happy because I didn't have to say such things as 'no, no, it's okay, she can stand there' or 'I can't make her go home, Juliana!'"

The Queen of Comedy

Alice is learning that replacing an expected thing with an unexpected thing leads to big laughs. Yesterday in the tub, she called the tub a "pond" before noting "that's how you make a joke." Replacing bodies of water (the toilet, a puddle) with "pond" is good fun. At the dinner table this weekend she called Mimi a "speedy squirrel" (a reference to the park ranger in Elmo Loves The Earth), and then proceeded to crack herself up.

Best Friends

Alice visited Dorian at his apartment today and they played together so nicely. The kids gave each other tickles and shared toys and bunny-shaped crackers (with a little guidance). Alice used Dorian's potty, too. They played Twister together, and they sort of actually played the game correctly! Dorian kerplopped. They started a band - Alice played triangle and Dorian played recorder. Their songs so far consist of one note with varying rhythms. Dorian is off to the west coast for a couple of weeks, and we can't wait to see him (and his parents) when he returns.

Botticelli's Birth of Venus

This picture of AC reminds me of a certain painting that I just can't place. Her lips and her expression sort of look like Venus' though, don't you think?

All eyes and curls.

Here's a sweet picture taken by Auntie Em who visited this past week. Alice went outside in two bathing suits to splash in the puddles. The humidity really curled her hair! She often likes to wear several bathing suits - up to seven at a time. It does pose some problems to successful potty training but otherwise is fun. I've been asked if I let her dress herself - do people actually think I would dress my child in seven bathing suits at a time?

Maryland trip, July 2009

Saba gave Alice the idea of reinforcing her bead towers with something through the middle. Alice took Saba's idea of using a straw and ran with it. Here, she is using a pen to make her red tower straight and strong.Color sorting is fun, too!
Great-Grandma Fay looks on as Alice waters the plants on the patio. Thanks for bringing the watering can along, Saba!
Saba and Great-Grandma Fay.
"Saba showed you his upside-down tomato plants!"
"Want Daddy to ride on the turtle."
Evan Jr. at the piano.

Thank you Nana, for all the great pictures! Nana was behind the lens for many of these photos.

Maine!

Chilling out with dad and the remote. Alice wasn't feeling well."Time for full and empty."

Alice and Simon demonstrate "parallel play."
"Nana brought you a present!" Curious George story collection.
Uncle Misha, Aunt Wendy and Baby Simon (not a baby anymore) enjoying a walk on the causeway.
Nana's hat and Alice - perfect fit!
Nana and Alice enjoying the sun, some books, and a snow shovel.
Cousin Simon came to visit!
Aunt Wendy enjoying the kayak.
Unfortunately our camera drowned (Sarah's fault) so we don't have pictures from the rest of our vacation - thanks to Nana for sharing some of hers!

Swing tour of Massachusetts

Davis Farmland with Mimi

The baby goats were so sweet.
Alice loved the mice in this box, too.

Thomas and Joseph (pronounced "Jophes") pigs.
2.5 feet with hoodie.

Drawing

You may have already seen these posted on Facebook, but I couldn't resist posting them here as well. Alice's current favorite things to draw are spiders, children on swings (mom and dad draw the swing sets), hearts and "just right elmo faces."

The Vezinas

Some pictures from our June trip to Massachusetts:

Kissing cousins. Alice kissed Jaelynn countless times during our visit to Memere's house, exclaiming, "That's nice!" after each kiss. Jaelynn laughed and repeated "That's nice!" She got a real kick out her cousin Alice.Alice likes to tell Pepere, "I've been thinking about your belly." Pepere is sitting in (the original) Coco's chair with the automatic "eject" button to help him lift himself out of the chair when he's ready to stand up. Fun for adults as well as kids.
Pepere and Alice took a walk in the woods at beautiful Coggshall Park in Fitchburg. Alice was glowing...
We saw lots of ducks at the park, geese, fish, and a snake!