Mommy's Little Sweatshop

It's not all fun and games around here.

November 2012

Sadly, we lost about half of our November pictures and half of December in the great technological catastrophe of 2012. In our house that amounts to a few hundred photos (or "precious memories," as we call them when we're feeling dramatic) lost. But you didn't come here for a moping session (or did you? I could go on...) We do still have some photos to share. And share, we will:

Happy Birthday, Ava!!!

Every year I video tape Ava waking up on her birthday. No one would call Ava a morning person, but this is the first time I've actually been kicked while taping--bless her little cotton socks.

4 years! It's hard to fathom, really. I can't say we feel like better parents after so much practice--I did get kicked this morning, after all--but we certainly have a better appreciation for life's little moments. That first silence after the kids fall asleep, holding hands, giggles, sibling love, our own parents, the patience of teachers, good health, tiny noses, tiny shoes, babies humming, living room dance parties...you get the point. We'll leave it there before we go all mushy on you.

Happy 4th birthday, Miss Ava Kate. You are one of a kind.

Oh Man...We're So Hooked on Phonics Over Here

Being a parent can transform one of the worst books ever into pure poetry. Ava reads for the first time:

Boy, she's come a long way.

Straight Talk with Ava

Faithful readers, we haven't forgotten about you. Last month one computer broke, and then our other computer broke, and last week our camera broke. We do have lots to share and we hope to get you all up to date soon.

In the meantime, we hope to satiate your Rabold appetite with a few quotes from Miss Ava Kate...

• In response to my repeated requests to get out of the car and stop playing with the console: "I'm just a kid. Sometimes I'm going to play with toys you don't want me to play with."

• H: "Ava, why did you push Isabel away when she tried to kiss you?"
  A: "I didn't want a kiss."
  H: "You can say, 'No, thank you.'"
  A: "I thought it was communicated."

• While getting ready to sing us a song before bedtime: "Everyone, silence your phones and zip your lips."

• A: "Momma, do you toot?"
  H: "I'd prefer not to talk about this during dinner time."
  A: "After dinner, do you prefer?"

• B: "Ava, do you want to practice back floats?"
  A: "I'm not too into that."

• "My body can't handle the sugar."

• H: "Ava, please don't ride your bike in the house."
  A: Giggles. "I already rode it around the house once before you even noticed."
  H: "But, Ava, you know we don't ride bikes in the house."
  A: Chuckles, then sighs. "Ohhhhhhhhh, baby cakes."