Officially Over

The party is officially over. The only holiday in sight is Groundhog Day and we have no visitors in queue. Well, we had quite a run, I suppose. After a two month reprieve from reality, our return to Philly was softened by a long weekend with Josh, compliments of Martin Luther King, and a visit from Shannon and Brynn a few days later.

We only had Shannon and Brynn for three days, but we certainly made the most of those three days. We saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Constitution Center, Betsy Ross’s House, Elfreth’s Alley, and ate ice cream to our heart’s content at the Franklin Fountain. The next day we went to Longwood Gardens in the morning for the orchid festival, saw Wicked at the Kimmel Center in the afternoon, and did cheesesteaks for dinner. Today we went to church and then made a quick trip to Valley Forge before our dash to the airport. We also managed to work in a smovie, a few games, and a trip to Trader Joe’s. I think we are all ready for a good nap, but we had to live it up while we had the chance.

Jane has adopted Shannon as her favorite person. When I would try to take her to the potty she would shake me off and say, “No way! Shannon!” If I tried to feed her or dress her or read to her or hold her it was always, “No way! Shannon!”

Broccoli also climbed onto Jane’s favorites list this week. After a long day of touring the historic sites in Old City we went to the Franklin Fountain, an old fashioned ice cream parlor, to boost our blood sugar. We each ordered an enormous ice cream treat. Brynn chose one with fudge and brownies that was almost as big as her head. Needless to say, she couldn’t eat the whole thing. Fortunately for her, my girls were close at hand and more than willing to help out where needed. Somehow Jane thought we were offering her broccoli when we asked if she wanted a brownie. After each bite she would adamantly ask for “brocci mo brocci.” It was so cute, we just kept feeding her broccoli.

Jane’s new favorite word is happily. You can find her in her car seat, on the potty, or playing with toys singing, “happily, happily, happily.” Today in the car she started saying, “Happily Brynn. Happily Shannon. Happily Mommy. Happily Dad. Happily Kate. Happily Jane Jane.” Don’t be surprised, however, when the next second she breaks into her low, guttural, slightly evil cackle--the latest evolution of her baby growl. All I can say is, you have to hear it in person to believe it comes from that little innocent looking child.

Kate won her Daddy’s heart this week. They were sitting at the kitchen table one night having a snack and talking when Kate looked up at Josh and said, “Dada, I love you even more than myself.” Coming from a three-year-old, that’s a pretty bold statement.

Kate is as imaginative as ever and is so excited that her sister is old enough to play with her now. Their favorite games are “Sherriff, Nutsy, and Trigger,” dollies, and tea party. About once a day Kate will disappear into her imagination. I will find her somewhere in the house talking to herself, deeply engrossed in some sort of pretend play. The other day I found her in front of a doll house filled with Star Wars figures. Have you ever seen storm troopers and ewoks sitting down to breakfast together? I guess it makes just as much sense as a cute little blonde girl marrying Friar Tuck. I am so grateful my girl has an imagination.

The Josh quote of the week came after we finished Family Home Evening, the first FHE Josh has been around for since we moved here, and tucked the girls in bed. As we closed the door to their room Josh looked over at me and said, “Sometimes I would call you while you were in Utah and you sounded so tired. Now I remember why!”

I’ll let you know if I emerge from the mountain of laundry that is about to take over our upper floor. I guess there have to be consequences to enjoying yourself as much as we did last week. At least the fond memories are piled equally as high. We’ll just turn up the soundtrack to Wicked and sing our way through the week.

Love to you all!