Pipsqueak Time

Now that the big girls are spending more time in school (and I have to admit that I'm surprisingly good with that - and so are they, it seems), the Pipsqueak and I have had some quieter, more leisurely time to spend together.



She is discovering books





they're good for climbing, too ...



brushing teeth herself ...



In last week's heat (relatively speaking, for westcoast standards), we found some nice cool shade in Nitobe Botanical Garden




she especially liked the pebbled paths



We found these in our own backyard - big sisters collected them on our Australian adventure ...



All in all, the days are quieter, but surprisingly it is a welcome change from our usual cacophony of noise.   These days remind me of my first year with M, before E was born.  So calm, peaceful, and focused on discovering the world.  The fabulous difference are the early mornings and afternoons spent with two excited and energetic big sisters whom the Pipsqueak welcomes back with open arms and great enthusiasm.

In other news, look who came home from school with one less tooth ...


(thanks to Ms. B for the lovely little box)

And what did she ask for in her letter to the tooth fairy?  A necklace, you think, ... or perhaps a fairy wand or a stuffed animal?  Nope.  My sweet little girl had a very specific request:  a remote-controlled Tarantula.  Yup.  I tried to talk her into just asking for cold hard cash, thinking this would make my afternoon a lot easier, but she was adamant that the tooth fairy would know exactly how to get this thing.  Sure enough, the local Toys R Us carried the darling little (8 inch) arachnid, and our three little girls are having lots of fun with the hairy moving creature.  Pictures to come ...