"Happy Thanksgiving!"

 It's fun to teach you to say things like this. And nice to spend some time with family, although it does remind me that you've got a bunch of family in Chicago that would love to see you....One of these days...

Got in some quality time with the parking garage while uncle Dave looks on and tries to goad you into looking at the camera. "oh THAT thing again..please!"

Grandma was pointing out something to Zoe. Perhaps the neighbor's dog. Or a squirrel. Or a bird. Must have been a living creature, because those ARE worth a pause in action to spy.

Your Uncle Dan, cousin Mina and aunt Jen (who even brought you belated birthday presents!)

Uncle Zach. Yeah, nice hat, eh?

The newlyweds! Laura and Andy are soon to be homeowners.

 At the dinner table - lucky you got the head of the table

A grin for Pipaw Jon.

 Which he repaid with a sour gummi worm.

The face was less expressive than I would have expected.

Zoe likes her naps, even when there's so much excitement going on around her. The thumb goes in the mouth, the blankie is sought.

 Roman, dear one, isn't as keen on sleeping. On Thanksgiving he stayed up and meandered the table while we played a game. And as I have been sitting at the computer tonight, I hear Roman playing with his beloved interactive Cars book in his crib (Thanks Aunt Shannon!). BEEP! There it went again, almost 90 minutes after he was put down for nigh-nigh. Oops. Bedtime. He corrected me tonight when I asked him if he was ready for nigh nigh. He looked at me and said "No. Bedtime". Okay. I guess we'll have to revert to real language, I'm just not sure I'm ready to let go of your pet names yet little guy.

Fun, fun fun

Your mom has been on a buying spree. Probably not good, but I can't help myself. And your Dad has restrained himself pretty well, but I couldn't blame him for picking these up when he saw them on clearance.

Yee haw! Woody and Jessie post-bath-towel/robe-thingee.

Complete with cowboy hat (sort of).

Cause for dancing? Yes.

Looking at these pictures reminds me too of how much more you guys are talking and identifying things. You're getting so smart :)

George!

When I saw that discount tickets were going to be available for the Curious George Live show at the Target Center a few weeks ago I knew we'd be buying tickets.  I LOVED the George books when I was a kid. There was something very comforting about the illustrations. Some of them were permanently burned in my memory (bunnies in the backyard, George delivering papers on a bike, fishing with an improvised fishing pole...).  For a time I collected George stuff too.

Then came you two, and an excuse to watch the PBS cartoon. Woo hoo. It's actually good they didn't ruin "my" George, but just made him that much more lovable.

So off we went...not the best place to take pictures, but I had to try!

I think Zoe was checking out the Timberwolves logo that the people in front of us pointed out.  And these were pointed out to us by you two throughout the building after this. Wolf!

Every time I see anything live (excuse me, LIVE!) I am struck by how foreign it is to me. It's not tv. It's not film. It's live performance.  Exaggerated reality. Actually I kind of feel how you must feel when you see something new - there's so much going on I don't know where to focus my attention. It's something of a sensory overload. Hmm. Some people would say this about a well researched historical biography or a well reasoned political treatise. Apparently singing, dancing and  CHEF PISGHETTI  does it for me. (Giorgio!)

When I can get out of the initial WOW reaction, attention is focused on the child getting in and out of his seat or accidentally kicking the Grandparent type person in front of us. Or getting your Dad to retrieve the dropped sippy cup in the next row. Or feeding you pretzels one at a time to keep you docile. Or going to guest services to retrieve your blanket from the parked stroller in the final acts (because you need that blankie for goodness sake, it's nap time). Something like that.

And I wondering if I'm pushing it again. You aren't quite at optimal age for this. But I can't help myself! So guess what kiddos?  I'll continue to do more than we need to do. It just is.

Dinner at IKEA

Waiting patiently for the meatballs.

 Sharing your yogurt with your brother.  Awwww!

Not sharing your yogurt with your brother...

 I mean, he had his very own container that he wolfed down. Which is odd, since Roman is usually pretty slow about spooning out every last bit.

Looking for more.

  Uh, Zoe...

 Zoe?

 ZOE?

 aH...there we are.

 A meatball too?

And another?

 What more could a brother ask for?

Oh, yeah. There's that too.

Unbelievable.

Two happy kids. :)

Mouse (shhh!)

We hit a neighboring town's library a few weeks ago. It was a perfect diversion from home. This place had a nice little seating area with some over size books, some magnetic puzzles and tons of books to look at.  We had a good time.

A few weeks later we went to our local library. It also has a nice kids section, but you got your laser beams focused on the big glass walled room that had baby story time going on. How come THOSE kids get the toys (drums and rattles and things that make noise). You wanted in. Somehow we got around that (it was after all for the under 2 set and by reservation only). Our library has computers at kid size desks with link to kid friendly sites (PBS kids etc). We sat there for awhile, but have 2 kids who want to control 2 computers isn't really the best. Click, click, click. NO, Zo!!! Yeah. Funny, the books were the least thing you were interested in!

We're starting to have battles at home too. Zoe is intrigued by the mouse and wants to work it herself. I found an old one and brought it to her, but that was no good. She knew it needed to be connected to a computer. Oh boy. I see a fake computer in the near future!

Go ahead, test it out kids.

Tonight we went to IKEA. When she saw this bunk bed, Zoe decided it was time to go nigh-nigh.

 Roman agreed - he got the top bunk.

Where's MY Tinker Bell dress?

How do you start Thanksgiving?

By watching a parade on tv of course!

 This includes the standard Roman-watching-tv-gape.

And a little tutu-wearing thumb-sucking Zoe. With her newly attired Build a Bear (thank you Groupon). I like to call her TinkerBear, but I'm not sure if that's going to stick.

Mama mia!

I was doing dishes this morning, not paying much attention to you guys. I heard you getting into the oven mitts and such (and isn't that always such fun? Yes, yes it is).  Then I heard Zoe saying something about pizza. She kept saying it, which is the cue that she's looking for some validation.  I turn around and what do I see? A oven mitted toddler with a round hot pad (that's what I call them, what are they really called?) on top of her hand. Pizza, Mommy. Pizza.  I laughed and said "such a smart girl". Roman took a look and made himself a pizza as well. I'd have to say Zoe is more in tune with "playing house", while Roman likes to zoom zoom the cars. Little miss helper, that's who you are :)

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

The cameras are charged, the little bellies are full of breakfast (the big bellies are full of coffee...anticipating the big meal today), Zoe's in her tutu...what are we missing? 
You're out watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with your dad. And Zoe is posing her bear for pictures. Really. She put it on the couch (it has a new outfit - pictures to follow) and dragged Dad into the kitchen chanting "camera". Okay, Zo. We'll take a picture of it.
You two have changed SO much. Much more....directional. Much more....idea prone. That's the spin. The spin at the end of the day when you pull of your pajamas and demand "Jessie!", well that's when your mom isn't so spin friendly. But today is another day.

Some miscellaneous pictures!

 Rosie the Riveter and Jill.

Visiting Unca Andy and Aunt Laura on Halloween

Roman is a person who likes order. Nature versus nuture? At this point, nature!
Note the placement of cars below. BTW he LOVES this garage that grandma found. It's the same version me and my brothers had when we were little. I loved it too - but I think I loved the houseboat with the diving board best. I  loved playing with that in the bath :)

More piano playing. Again, a family thread....passed over me!

A favorite activity for the last several weeks is studying the toy ads.

You guys have meticulously scoured every inch.

 It makes for cheap reading!

 And, I think, probably would satisfy all our Christmas needs. You're getting a big box of catalogs for Christmas, kiddos.

Something to read while you sit at the coffee table and eat your cereal.