Avery had a playdate with one of her good friends (who she recently started calling her boyfriend) today. I had to laugh when I heard him ask her (again), “Can I marry you?” Avery’s response: “Okay. You’ve already asked me twice already.”
-M
“You know what I love more than anything in the world – even you, Mommy?” Avery asked me on the way home from school yesterday. I was curious to hear her answer, which was… Mrs. Hawley (her teacher). As I told a mom-friend later, I didn’t mind hearing this at all. I just love that she loves school so much.
-M
While Zoe’s fascination with Harry Potter continues (she’s now re-reading the seven books, and she watched the last movie a few days ago), Avery has been really into classic musicals lately. Q showed her “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Mary Poppins” recently, and we started “Sound of Music” on Sunday. We’re watching it in small chunks, and some of her early questions and comments have made me laugh. She’s very concerned about how strict the dad is and has asked multiple times, “Is he going to be mad?”, “Is she going to get in trouble?” and “Do you like the dad? I don’t.” And she’s also questioned some of Maria’s behavior – like during the iconic scene when she’s frolicking through the hills. “I wouldn’t be running around and singing like that,” Avery commented to Q. “I’d be looking around.”
-M
Over the weekend, Avery was teaching a pretend gymnastics class and showing her sister how to tumble. About then:
Z (about the mat that was set up on the floor): “This is too low – I’m going to hurt my precious head.”
A: “We all have precious heads.”
Z: “Well, mine is more precious.”
-M
I chaperoned Avery’s class’ trip to the Marine Mammal Center recently – here are two pics from the day.
-M
A photo of Chelsea Clinton led to a recent conversation about Hillary Clinton with the girls. They both knew that there hasn’t been a female president, and I explained to them that this is something that needs to change – and just might, soon. I also gave them my girl-power talk – i.e. that girls can do anything that boys can! Zoe agreed. “God gave us a very special task of having babies,” she said. “If He didn’t trust us, He wouldn’t have done that!”
-M
Over the weekend we took the girls to Napa, where were visited a winery, shopped, and explored a very cool playground. “This was the best day ever,” Avery said at one point – the ultimate sign of a good time!
-M
A few recent stories that made me laugh.
-When I mentioned Avery’s classmates to her one night, she wrinkled up her nose. Having misheard me she said, “Mommy – they’re not maids. It’s not like they clean houses and stuff.”
-Speaking of cleaning houses, I asked Avery when she got home from school one day whether she’d rather help with the laundry or with emptying the dishwasher. “Neither,” she said. “Are there any other choices?” (For the record, she eventually went with the dishwasher.)
-I didn’t know the background of one of Avery’s favorite shows – about a girl who suddenly becomes part of a royal family. “How did Sofia become a princess, again?” I asked Avery while we were snuggled together watching it recently. “It’s just a show, Mommy,” she answered with an exasperated tone.
-I was reading a book to her the other afternoon when she asked me, “Was this from the olden days – when you were a little kid?”
-Zoe had a playdate over the weekend and at one point, I suggested to Avery that she come upstairs and give the two friends some alone time. “Oh, I’m just going to follow them around,” she told me. Spoken like a true little sister!
-M
Another highlight from the Giants game the other night: Zoe got a ball! It was a Rockies player that gave it to her – but still exciting…
-M
While doing research on Harry Potter the other day, Zoe discovered what a Wiki is. “They have them for a whole bunch of things,” she excitedly told me. She paused and then added, “I’m sure there’s one on how to have less stress, Mommy.” Uh, thanks…
-M
In honor of opening week for the Giants, Q took Zoe to the game tonight. He just e-mailed me this photo; something tells me they’re having fun!
-M
A big accomplishment for Zoe: She finished the seven books (all 3,400+ words) in the Harry Potter series. She started the first one at the end of winter break, and her interest in the books has slowly and steadily increased over the last few months. She entered spring break with a few hundred pages of book six left; I suggested she make it her goal to finish the seventh book within the week, and she read her last page yesterday morning.
I had been a little worried about what she would do once she was done (since she loves the books so much), but no need: Over the weekend, she found several other series-related books by J.K. Rowling, discovered Pottermore, and started reading the first book to her sister. (Avery is a big Hermione fan.)
-M
More photos from our trip to the amusement park, where we met up with friends. And look who’s big enough to ride the real roller coasters now??
-M
A spring tradition: An early-season trip to Great America.
-M
It’s spring break for the girls, and they’ve been passing the time by hanging around the house and having playdates with friends. Zoe, also, got a treat when she came to the office with me on Wednesday. We stayed for the whole day (I didn’t think Avery was quite ready for the long hours yet), and she immediately set up a little work area next to me. She spent most of her time reading (Harry Potter, natch), and she didn’t even seem to mind when I left her for a few meetings. (Though at one point she did ask, “Are your meetings done for the day?” When I told her yes, she said, “Oh, good – because I miss you when you’re gone.”)
-M
