Emma's Thought of the Day

"We're all exhausted of taking care of so many babies and Aedan. Yeah, we don't get any sleep at night from all the babies."

Birthday Festivities

Aedan is unrelentingly introverted. He was excited and delighted all day up until the point when everyone started arriving for his birthday. From thence forward he was downcast, mororse, unhappy. He didn't want to play potatoe on a spoon. Rather than running with his potatoe to the finish line, he walked angrily back and forth with his potatoe, while everyone else had a good time. He wouldn't do any races at all in fact. Cake time was equally unhappy. He scowled when presented with it, tried half heartedly to blow out the candles and then ate ice cream as though a funeral were going on all around him. Presents went over better, of course, but you'll notice in the pictures he was extremely solomn. And finally, he refused to play pin the tail on the donkey. When everyone finally went home he cheered up immensely and chased balloons all over the house and played with all his toys. The rest of us had a very good time.

I would just like to draw your attention to the cake, below, which was made, as it were, out of nothing. Its Nigella's fool proof birthday cake that can be made into any shape. Its very dense and pretty moist and worked really well. Its in How to be a Domestic Goddess, if anyone is curious.

Presents and Games

Pictures of Aedan's Birthday

Inadequate Easter Pictures

More Conversation

In the Afternoon

Emma: Mommy, what are you going to be when you grow up?
Anne: I'm sorry? What did you say?
Emma: Oh, you're all done growing so you have to think of something.

Supper Time

Anne: Aedan, who would you like to invite to your birthday party.
Aedan: I want cake and a Christmas Tree and open presents and ice cream.
Matt: A Christmas Tree?
Aedan: Yeah, a Christmas Tree and presents.
Anne: Well, I guess we could make one out of construction paper.
Matt: So, Emma, what are you thankful for?
Emma: Candles. Paint.
Matt: Aedan, what are you thankful for?
Aedan: chicken, potatoes.
Anne: Do you even like potatoes, Aedan?
Aedan: Heh Heh, no. I don't like potatoes.
Anne: I thought so.

Beds and Sports

OK - so I'm going to blog finally. I caught all of the subtle hints and I'm ready to dive in. Here are some pictures. One is of Jackson sitting on the sidelines at his soccer game. His team name is "The Players." He is still convinced that there is no need for him to aggressively take the ball away from the other team. He thinks that if he asks them nicely enough or has a convincing enough argument, they will hand the ball over to him. He spends the majority of his playing time on the field trying to orally steal the ball from the other team's players or cheering on his own teammates while paying no attention to what he is supposed to be doing ("run faster!" "that's OK - you'll get it next time!"). He does, however, stay with the rest of the pack of 4 year olds running up and down the field. This is an enormous improvement over last season.

There is also a picture of Caden in the toddler bed that he is still not sleeping in. I gave up. He loves his crib! He sleeps so well in it! I'm going to put the cute police car toddler bed in the attic for the time being. What's the rush?

The other picture is of Caden at the zoo playing in the "river." A stark contrast to the snowmen that his New York cousins are getting to build!