Ballet and Stuff

We have been pretty busy as of late. Can it be any other way with two small children? We've been getting ready for the new baby who will make his debut in mid or late July, playing outside and taking short trips up to Annapolis a lot lately. Oh, and Mark built a swingset in the backyard for them (and sometimes when they are playing on it, they randomly say "Thanks, Daddy for making the swingset." Awwwww.) I finally finished Ashlyn's baby book...good thing now that she's almost four and am working on Matthew's. I'd love to get that done before number 3 arrives.

Matthew is such a ham...he always says, "Cheese!"

The new swingset..and just generally goofing off (below).

We've also been playing a lot with Helen and Marlee next door and going to ballet class! Ashlyn finished her 10-week ballet class this past Thursday. I don't think much "ballet" was learned, but she did have a great time. She got to dress up and dance around once a week for a few weeks...and so did her brother. Well, except for the dressing up part. He did ask to wear a tutu one day, but the teacher wisely said, "I don't think your daddy would like that, Matthew." She learned what first position is and--more importantly--to be comfortable in this kind of setting without me glued to her hip.

The first class back in May was pretty dramatic. She fell down on the way in and skinned her knee, ripping her tights. And then she was so hungry or upset about her boo-boo or something, that she did not want to join the class. She kept on saying, "I want to dance." So I'd say, "Go ahead!" Then she'd take a few steps towards the group and FALL DOWN dramatically and cry, "Noooo!" I'd say we made drastic improvement by the end of it all...check out the video from later on. She is the one in the blue leotard (of course). I smashed three short videos together, so pardon the lack of transitions. I actually know how to add them, but was just not thinking. Oh well, next time!

In other news, Matthew continues to learn new words every day and can carry on a regular conversation (at least with me, he can). You have to listen pretty closely, but the boy can sure talk--in sentences too! Our first "conversation" was way back in late April...we were in the basement playing and he heard a bird. "I hear bird," he says. "Where is it? Do you want to look outside to see it?" I ask. "Yeah." He was convinced he saw it (I didn't). "I see bird!" he says, "Bird right there!" He can count also to ten and his new favorite video is the Leapfrog Letter Factory. He asks for it by saying, "A says Ah!!" or "Toe-tapping T." Fun times. He's a very sweet kiddo and this is a fun age--new things every day.

Ashlyn is getting good at writing her name and is always saying something amusing. It's like playing telephone. You have to be VERY careful what you say. Although it doesn't seem to matter...it will get filtered no matter what. For example, I said earlier today that I would like to take the kids to the pool before the new baby comes next month and later on the phone, that became, "Mommy wants to stay in the pool until the new baby comes." Not a bad idea, actually...

About a week or so ago, we were rushing out the door to go to the grocery store. Matthew had been drinking chocolate milk, so he took his cup with him in the car. I quickly got Ashlyn a cup of water--what was I thinking? Drama ensued about five minutes later. What does Matthew have in his cup, mom? Uhhhh....oh no! She can really be dramatic. Mark and I were shamelessly laughing while she carried on about how she wanted chocolate milk, too. Poor kid. It's a good thing Matthew is so good at sharing. He willingly shared his chocolate milk with his distraught sister. Next time, I will be more careful about such things!

Ashlyn is also in love with the ice cream truck. She discovered it last month and now--almost daily--asks if it will come by tonight. She has been doing chores (making her bed, picking up her toys, helping me sweep, dust, water plants and "do windex") and getting a little bit of money for it, so the first time she got ice cream from the ice cream truck, it was her own piggy bank that was raided.