she's got a flair

focus

me, to caroline who was not paying attention: caroline, you need to focus

caroline: focus sounds like pocahontas

me: my point exactly

zooseum

we were planning a low-key july 4th. no travel plans and Q hates fireworks. the philly zoo and the please touch museum are really close to each other. and we have memberships to both. so we decided to do the oft-discussed but never-attempted zooseum challenge. the best part was it only cost us $3 total (daddy was thirsty and out of pre-packed beverages.)

we weren't sure what to expect since it was a random middle of the week holiday.  we got to the zoo right when it opened in the morning and it was a ghost town.  it stayed that way just about the whole time we were there.  it started to fill up after lunch time, but by then we were off to the museum, which was also empty.

daddy was very excited to see the new "cheetos"

pascal!

glamorous

we love climbing on these statues

the rhino and zebra are becoming friends.  sometimes the zebra comes over for a snack.

i just like the giraffe in the top corner... like hey! i wanna be in the picture too!

and these two were funny standing back-to-back

Q really liked the birds' bright red eyes

another statue to climb

impossible to photograph.  someday, right?

her turn

whenever Q discusses the please touch museum he calls it "the zeum with the kid who does this" and then demonstrates

getting there

and pickle had to try too

i didn't take many photos at the museum.  daddy and Q went off in one direction and pickle and i did not leave the grocery store / kitchen zone.  at all.

this kitchen puts our playroom to shame

making dinner for her friends

bright future in sales

that mother

i have always believed that i would have no problem not being that mother.  the over-controlling helicopter parent type.  but daycare almost made me do it...

a few weeks ago, they sent home progress reports with each of the kids.  i expected nothing but the best from pickle and winced thinking about reading Q's.

but then i read caroline's...

the kids are rated on numerous categories - 43 for pickle's age.  the scale is "A" for always, "S" for sometimes, and "N" for not exhibiting.  i knew she wasn't going to get straight A's because they have categories for potty-training.  and botany.  (totally not kidding.)

she got "S"s on these categories:

• communicates in 3-4 word sentences
• repeats simple songs and finger plays
• names familiar objects in pictures
• masters appropriate gross motor skills (hopping, jumping, running)

have they actually met caroline????

the girl only communicates in full sentences.  she usually uses better grammar and vocabulary than her brother, and many people i work with.  she knows every song and dance they do at school - and does them regularly without prompting.  she knows the chorus to sweet caroline.  the actual words.  not just the bum bum bums.  most red sox fans don't even know the actual words.  she does elaborate dances with twirls and leaps.

but only an "S"?  really???

i resisted the urge to question the grading.  but dang...

shark week is magical

normally, our tv is only "allowed" to be on animated kids' shows, mainly disney junior.  if we try to put it on a regular show, like jeopardy or american pickers, the children whine that they don't want to watch "people" (i.e. non-animated actual humans.)*

but this morning in the car on the way to school, Q asked:

"mommy, can we watch the sharks tonight?  i like to watch the sharks with the people."

the boy was born during shark week...

* i was going to add "that are not the fresh beat band." but really, are they acual humans?

the cool

on sunday after Q's party, we went to new jersey to visit some of jeremy's relatives.  they have a pool (or a "cool" as Q still calls it.)  the kids were big fans.  Q was especially impressed that he was tall enough to stand in the shallow end.  i think we need a cool.

i've seen fire and i've seen rain...

yesterday we held quentin's 3rd and final 5th birthday party.  just about the entire world showed up, resulting in us having 14 people staying in our house on friday night.  good times.  this final 5th birthday party celebration was angry birds themed.

got this idea on pinterest

i love how Q lined up his plush angry birds like they do in the game

this was still during party set-up. then things got crazy.  the wind started blowing, making citronella candles and paper table coverings a bad combo.  while i ran inside to look for tablecloth clips, disaster took hold.  a table cloth and several balloons / balloon weights perished in the great angry bird fire of '12.  i didn't actually get to see it.  i'm sure that would have really helped my stress levels.  not long after the accidental pig roast, a big thunderstorm came rolling through.  which is totally awesome when your main party activity includes a zillion cardboard boxes and playground balls with pig faces poorly glue-sticked on to them.  sigh.  but we persevered, and eventually the sun came back out.

decor

the saggy, waterlogged level of angry birds

the portion of the birthday banner that survived

gotta love when toys you already have can serve as decorations

my favorite balloon

guarding the "eggs"

the citronella candle that started the blaze

quite a haul

even our awesomely tacky welcome bear got in on the party

caroline's healthy lunch choice of watermelon and jelly beans

the youngest guest

we tried to build a slingshot for the live-action game of angry birds

but it was not successful

but it didn't matter

we just threw the birds/balls at the pigs instead

baby cousin logan is totally involved

maybe the small one will work?  nope.

baby cousin logan wants to know what all the fuss is about

we played several "levels"

pickle finally gets in on the action

but surprisingly, ginny (the wrecking ball) never gets involved

and then the beautiful part... the recycling truck will be here on wednesday to take it all away :)

cake!

i think he liked it!

blowing out the candles and knocking over the pig tower.  5000 points!

not surprisingly, he got a lot of angry birds.  i foresee some really intense levels getting constructed in my living room

really excited about our piggy pillow

he was very excited about presents this year.  even books and clothes got positive reactions.  (as opposed to last year, when anything that wasn't a monster truck was immediately dissed.)

millennium falcon!

he really liked this grave digger card

awesome legos, uncle matt!

jake and the "everland" pirates

purple grave digger.  i rule at parenting.

more birds!

and bugs!

Q's pinata did not have easy-pull strings like caroline's had.  first, he tried punching it...

then we got out the bat

lilly gave it a good shot

and so did gin

and pickle too

after a 2nd round, no real damage had been done, so daddy took over

scavengers!

hey!  what did i miss?