Red

Daddy likes playing with his camera phone and matching my outfits to the outside. I guess he thinks it will help me learn my colors. And maybe I'll let him think it works. I did learn 'orange' yesterday.

Mosaic coloring

Time-out

Want to know why I hit and push Nina? So that after I'm finished in time-out I can give her a nice big hug (and say I'm sorry).

In-house field trip

I see like a bug does. I'm a bug! Icky icky. Oh wait. I get to buzz around and fly and look at flowers? Cool.

Garbage day

The highlight of every Monday morning.

Spouses

I've already picked out a couple options for my future husband. This is Greyson.

n: But first we have to go to school and get jobs. Then we can get married. And then we can have kids.

The watermelon was REALLY good

M: What was your favorite part of the park?
n: Eating.
M: What?
n: The watermelon.
M: What else did you like at the park?
n: I already told you. The watermelon.
M: Yes, but what else?
n: Eating it.
M: Yes, but what else did you like at the park?
n: Throwing it out.

Daddy award

I wish they gave our Daddy awards at the picnic. My Daddy would have won. What other Daddy teaches you how to use a "garbage truck" at the park and doesn't correct you on the name of the tool?

Teacher award

MyStephanna is so cool. She gets awards and goes down slides and eats chocolate and wants to take me home with her. I almost let her.

Painting

I've asked Mamma and Daddy if we can paint our whole house pink and purple. They said no. I asked if I could paint my room pink and purple. They said I could paint some of my furniture pink and purple. Yay! I've asked everyday if we can paint today. Finally. I went to Home Depot to pick out my paints. Princess Purple and Happily Ever After (pink). Perfect! I can't wait to paint paint paint!

Colors

Every color is blue. Just because I call it a gray or red car does not mean I label those colors. Expectations are so much higher for second children. Sure. Nina never colored on the sofa or floor or walls. THAT'S BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T GET AS MANY MARKERS AS WE HAVE NOW!

Pink milk

I've heard about pink milk in my Charlie and Lola books. But I thought it was just make-believe. But no! It's real! I could only be happier if it was pink AND purple milk. Because those are my favorite colors.

Badgers

As we were born in the Badger state, Mamma brought us back UW Badger t-shirts. And now we have a badger puppet to go along with Nina's puppet shows. She was using her foot as Ariel. It's good she finally has more props.

Spanish

I can't count by 10s yet in English. But I can in Spanish! I can't wait for Ewan to learn Spanish so we can have our own private language.

Snakes

After pulling all the toilet paper off the roll and stretching it to the staircase:

e: Look Daddy. I make snake!

Happy fathers day

And stepfathers day and grandfathers day and father figure day.

We're celebrating Daddy by sending Mamma away. Quality Daddy time for 24 hours for two days!

Artist

I spend all my time coloring and drawing:

A penguin.

A man with a helmet on a skateboard on the street. Yes, Uncle Yo you will get this picture in the mail.

Mamma and a chair and a box.

Self-portrait with teeth, tongue, bellybutton, wearing a dress.

"Me for I was a worm."

Similarities

How are Nina and I alike? We both look good in her sunglasses and like eating parmesan cheese balls.

Mr T

I'm still learning how to control my hands. If I hug you from behind really tight around your neck, I'm not trying to strangle you. If I roughly push animal toys in your face, I'm only trying to help them give you kisses. I get a back rap sometimes.

Itchy privates

M: You keep scratching yourself. Are you itchy?
n: No. I'm just seeing if I'm wet.

Books

Our library gives us toys for reading. One toy for every 5 books. The library hopes we'll read 20 books over the summer. It's been 13 days, and we've already picked up all our toys. We read 20 books for breakfast!

Where's the beach?

(sung to I'm a Barbie Girl)
I'm a surfer girl. In a Midwest world.

Departures

n: Are Mormor and Morfar going to their house? I like them.

Rhymes

M: What rhymes with Mormor?
n: Schmormor, thormor, cormor, popcorn!

I LOVE GRANDPARENTS TOO!

Because you get to go to the park with them and swing for hours and hours and hours. The only reason grandparents should ever leave is so that they can come back again.

I LOVE GRANDPARENTS

Mormor and Morfar are here. That means lots and lots of attention, visits to the museum, milkshakes before breakfast, books whenever we want them, walks, candy and more tickles than we can stand. Whoever invented grandparents is a genius!

My Stephanna

She's mine. And I think she's the best teacher. But so does my daycare. She won the award for the best teacher at my school this year. Why? Because I made her great!

I'm not excited

n: Is Mormor and Morfar coming to our house after school?
M: Yes. Good memory.
n: (jumping up and down, running all around, falling on the floor) Oooohhhh!!!!
M: Are you excited?
n: No. I'm just falling down.

Drawing

n: I'm drawing mountains.
M: Oooh, are they the mountains of Alaska or the mountains of Norway.
n: The mountains of Malaska.

n: And here's Mamma and Nina going for a walk. We're going over a bridge to get to the other side of the mountains.

Drinking games

Swedes and Spaniards

Mamma's cousin Margit came to visit with her man Chema.
n: I want to see that lady and Chema.
Chema I can pronounce because I take Spanish at school, but not Swedish. I eat Swedish. Meatballs. Mmmmm.

All I really need

(discussion based on the Disney movie Princess and the Frog)
M: All you really need is love.
n: And kisses.
M: Yes, and hugs are good too.
n: And fartses.
M: Okay?
n: And raspberry kisses!

Shower (no photo. ever)

Last May I had tubes put in my ears. I like them because it means I don't get any ear infections. I don't like them because I have to wear cotton balls covered in Vaseline when ever I take a bath. Every bath. For. The. Last. Year. Every. Bath. The tubes generally fall out in 6 months. I'm an over achiever. They're still in there.

As I'm sick of Vaseline and cotton balls, I'm now promoting myself to the shower. Mamma must be really dirty because she now takes two showers a day.

Smarty pants

D: (talking to Mamma) Before lunch I was talking to the kids about going to the Z-O-O.
e: See baby monkies!

Twinkle twinkle... Mary had a little... star

After Mamma and Daddy have put me down to bed, I like singing them lullabies. (crank the volume to hear it)

103'F outside makes you sweat in funny places

n: I think my bum has to go pee.

Money

I'm trying to learn how to count money. Why? Because my bank gives me lollipops to hold onto my money.

Communication

(when Nina is not sharing trains nicely)
e: I don't like that Nina!

I can get used to this

The ice cream truck drives around the neighborhood playing its sweet sweet music. And them Mamma and Daddy get us ice cream from the freezer. MMMMmmmmm......

Storytime at our house with Cookie Monster

D: (doing Cookie Monster voice) Me wonder if you know how good a boy Ewan is. Me have empirical evidence. Me prove it to you. Me have pie chart. Me am empiricist. See here. Pie chart. Yeah, yeah. Like chocolate pie. Or apple pie. Oh that make Cookie so hungry. Chomp chomp chomp. Oh no! Cookie eat evidence. Cookie tenure track ruined.

Fathers Day comes early

n: Daddy, you're awesome.

a/c

Party! We have a/c in the playroom!