No Trespassing

Most days the girls and I designate a "Henry Free Zone." We pick different rooms in the house that can be closed off to keep out a little man we like to call "Trouble." Sometimes, the zone ends up being our bedroom closet. Sometimes it's Henry's own room. But where ever it is, it's a place the girls can play and Henry can not. The "Henry Free Zone" means Polly Pockets spread all over the floor, including all the obnoxious little pieces that go with them that every little girls has to keep. Bowls of crackers to snack on can be set down on the floor without clumsy hands trying to sneak one. Pet Shops can be placed in the made-up museum game without stumbling feet barging through. It's a tear free zone, because Henry isn't there to make his sisters cry for knocking over what they worked so hard to keep standing.

The other day, I too, joined the girls in the "Henry Free Zone." The zone that day was my bedroom. I was sewing and I needed to keep my fabric in order. So I set it up on the floor in my room and did my sewing in the kitchen. Every time I opened my bedroom door to get new sewing pieces, Henry would drop what he was doing and race as fast as his feet would carry him towards my door, only to be met with a quick slam. When he heard one of the girls emerge from playing to get other things, he would try to sneak (but not very quietly, because he squealed every time he heard our squeaky door open) into the room before the other one yelled for the door to hurry and be closed.

At one quick point, all three of us were in my bedroom with Henry patting on the door yelling something very loud in gibberish. I'm sure what he was saying wasn't very nice. The girls and I were laughing so hard. Before I left the room again, I had to take this picture, because the moment made me smile.

Just one of those moments in a very typical day that I don't want to forget.

We really do love you Henry. You're just a mess most the time!

Ride The Duck

a family picture-don't have too many of these

Lake Union and gas works park

our hilarious captain

a perspective of just how close we were to the water

Sleepless in Seattle home

space needle from Lake Union

Almost exactly two years ago I made a list of things we wanted to do in Seattle before we left. I'm happy to see we've done about half. Unfortunately, with the help of some friends, we've added about twice as many things to do before we all leave this summer and next. We still have so much left to do, but we're determined to take every opportunity to do and see all we want before we go.

This past long weekend, my parents came for one last visit before we leave. At the top of my list of things to do while they were here was to go on the Duck Tour of Seattle. I have always wanted to go on one, and my parents (who are world travelers) had never been on one before (they are in all major cities with land and water, ie. Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, London, etc). We gave my parents a "Seattle experience" Christmas present a few years ago, so we decided the Duck Tour would be the perfect thing to do with them.

Basically, you take a World War II amphibious vehicle around the Seattle waterfront, Pikes Place Market, Pioneer Square, and other places on land, then the vehicle goes to a boat launch to Lake Union and drives right into the water, and you float around Lake Union for part of the tour.

The ride was hysterical. The tour guide/captain was a riot. We couldn't stop laughing. He was absolutely crazy. We started out by doing donuts in the parking lot before the tour began and never stopped laughing for the next 2 1/2 hours. He honked at poor, random pedestrians and played loud, obnoxious music (think Brick House and Play That Funky Music) throughout the entire ride. That was Henry's favorite part. He sat still (which he doesn't seem to know how to do AT ALL anymore) on Joe's lap and laughed and danced to the music. The girls blew their little duck whistles and were entertained waving at the people on the sidewalk. My parents and Joe and I just kept looking at each other the whole time laughing. It was honestly the most fun! Worth every single penny.

On the tour we saw the hotel where the Beattles stayed and fished out their window, where Elvis Presley got his car washed (my mom's favorite of all time), where they shoot the outside shots of the Grey's Anatomy hospital (that's not a hospital at all, just a bunch of buildings), a famous recording studio, the Deadliest Catch barge, where they've filmed The Amazing Race finish line, and of course, the Sleepless in Seattle floating home.

It was a little scary to drive right into the water in a car. Half the vehicle was submerged in water. And, at first, the girls wanted to get off. You could put your hand out the window and touch the water. But it was so cool to be floating out there. While we were on the lake, a by plane flew right over us and landed on the lake just down from us. The information we got while on the water was really interesting too.

I can't recommend this enough. Our group enthusiastically gives it 14 thumbs up! One "to-do" down, about 37 to go.

Hurricane Henry Strikes Again

Hurricane Henry has caused catastrophic damage to all parts of the Chiara home. He has devastated areas including socks drawers, folded piles of laundry, tupperware cupboards, crayon boxes, ribbon drawers, dishwashers, baby wipe boxes, toilet paper rolls, bathroom trash bins, fabric cupboards and all other areas of organization. Hurricane evacuees (Gabriella and Gwen) have volunteered (been forced) to help with the clean up efforts in the wake of Hurricane Henry before finding refuge. But the fear is-the worse is yet to come.

Why Get A Cat?

Frequently the girls ask for a kitty to keep. And I say, "Why do we need a kitty? We have Gwen."

I know it's common for little kids to pretend play and act like animals. I've heard the stories of little ones licking people's feet to give them kisses and crawling around on the floor being what-ever animal is their current favorite. I'm sure it's all a very normal, very natural stage of adolescence.

But Gwen takes it to a whole new level. This girl is obsessed with being a kitty.

She pretends to be a kitty 75% of our day.

She "meows" when I speak to her.

She crawls on everything, then jumps off the couch to land on her four legs (that never goes very well).

She insists on eating fishy crackers from a bowl without her hands, because "kitties love to catch fish."

She always, always, has a hurt paw that needs bandaging. Sometimes she includes a hurt leg as well. I'm always wrapping an ace bandage on her.

She licks her paws to keep clean (as demonstrated in above picture).

She sits like a kitty with either her paws between her legs, or like she's a kitty that's begging for something (Again, see pictures above. Not sure where she got the begging kitty thing from, but it makes me laugh).

She puts a blanket on the back of the couch and lays across it just like a kitty would lounge.

She loves her purple printed leotard for gymnastics, because it is the perfect thing to be a kitty in.

She asked for a mouse for Christmas because "kitties love mouses" (I'm still working on that one).

Gwen is more serious about being a kitty than I've ever seen. I don't know why she has this obsession with it. A few weeks ago I had a conversation with her in the car after we dropped the kids at preschool. I'll paraphrase, but basically, this is how it went.

Gwen: I wish I could be a kitty forever.

Me: If you were a kitty, then I wouldn't be your momma.

Gwen: You can be a momma to Gabs and I'd be the kitty.

Me: Ohhhh (understanding what she meant). You would be like our family kitty.

Gwen: Yeah. And I'd have a talk collar (anyone seen Up?) So I could tell you I love you.

Me: What about when we go to church (we were driving by it), wouldn't you be so lonely home alone?

Gwen: Nope. I would lick my milk so that would keep me busy.

Realizing church was not the obvious choice for a three year old to give up her dream of being a kitty forever, I knew I had to up the ante a little.

Me: What about when we go to Disneyland? Kitties can't go to Disneyland.

Gwen: Mom, some kitties can sit on their bums and go on the Matterhorn (this ride scared her to death in September, but she always said it was her favorite ride.)

With Disneyland not even phasing her, I thought I'd get her for sure with this next one.

Me: Well, where would you sleep? It's cold and wet outside.

Gwen: Um mom, kitties actually sleep on their owners bed.

Mystery solved. She wants to be a kitty so she can sleep in our bed.

Sorry sweet girl, it's never gonna happen.

There's Nothing To Do

Today Gabriella had her first day of Kindergarten. Yes, I know it's February. But she got accepted into an early Kindergarten Pilot program and it started today. Now, for five days a week, until the end of the year, Gabs will be attending 1/2 day kindergarten. She will LOVE it.

But, to say that one little three year old girl is going to be really bored without her big sister is a huge understatement.

And, I haven't yet broke it to Gwen that next year, Gabs will be going to Kindergarten from 8:40 am to 3:35 pm. All day Kindergarten in Kansas. Nearly seven hours of education. Is that really necessary for a five year old? Don't they deserve to play for one more year before the next 17 years of full time school sets in? I'm really not loving the idea.

Any experienced opinions on the matter?