Explora!

It's not easy toting around my DSLR camera, but it's always worth it when I have a chance to capture photos of Clara and Robert. So this morning, as we headed to Explora, the children's science museum, I tucked my Nikon in, along with a diaper bag, my purse, and a bag of snacks.

Explora is a lot of fun for kids of all ages, with two floors of hands-on things to do. In fact, there's just about nothing that kids can hurt, and nothing that can hurt them, so they are free to try everything. It's like a smorgasbord of sights, sounds and feely things for kids, and they are in constant motion. Because of this, I had my hands full keeping both Clara and Robert within my reach at the same time, and that camera bouncing around and banging into things didn't help. But it was worth it, right?

NO!

Because when I went to take my first photo, I discovered I had no memory card in the camera. So all I had to take pictures with was my iPhone, and my camera was nothing but an anchor around my neck all morning. So, the photos here may not be so good, but at least they'll let Chris and Kelsey see that their little sweethearts are still doing fine, here in Albuquerque.















By the time we left, it was 12:30, and both children were hungry and tired (especially Robert) and, understandably, a little grouchy (especially Clara). None the less, I was thinking to myself how smart I was to let them run off all that energy, so that they'd both come home and take really good naps. But it backfired. Neither one settled down for a nap, or even a quiet time, this afternoon. Too much stimulation? Too tired to get to sleep? I don't know, but I think I'll go back to my previous modus operandi - staying home mornings, having lunch and naps, and then, in the afternoons, going on our outings.

A highlight of Clara's day was an email addressed to her from her Mama. She also got one yesterday. Both emails had pictures attached, yesterday's of Mama and Daddy in front of the Louvre, and today's of them in front of the Eifle Tower. I've been printing them out for her, and taping them to her bedroom door.

Visitors

Uncle Tim came by tonight with his parakeets, Lady and Prince. He thought the children might like to see them, and he was right. Here are a couple pictures of Robert, getting acquainted.

This Was a REAL Daring Baker Project

Some of you may have noticed that I didn't post a Daring Baker Blog on the 27th, as I should have. I was just too busy getting the house ready for selling and preparing for the grandkids. But today was a daring baker day of a different sort. Clara and I baked her favorite cookies, snickerdoodles! She did lots of the work herself:

SIFTING

STIRRING

CRACKING EGGS

ROLLING THE COOKIES IN CINNAMON SUGAR

WATCHING THEM BAKE

YUM. THEY ARE BEST DIPPED IN MILK!!!

A Quieter Day

After such a busy day yesterday, we decided to be stay-at-homers, for the most part, today.

Clara wanted her picture taken in front of our pink blossoming peach tree - which is shaped more like a bush - so we dashed outside to do that this morning. I say "dashed" because once we opened the door we realized it was COLD out there! We snapped the picture and then came right back inside.


The children seem to be doing fine here at Grandma and Grandpa's, but Clara's secret feelings slipped out this morning when she and I were playing with the little dollhouse people that I have (and which have turned out to be her favorite playthings). I have quite a collection of them, and she has named each one. Left to Right in the photo below are: Nanny (wow! doesn't look a day over 15), Big Robert, Chris (Daddy), Little Robert (at his feet), Clara, Kelsey (Mama), Max/Zoe, Grandpa and Grandma (who, Clara keeps pointing out, has gray hair!). This morning the Chris- and Kelsey-dolls went on a trip, and the Clara-doll was moaning, "I miss my mommy. And I really miss my daddy." Real-Grandma just wanted to scoop Real-Clara up and hug on her awhile.


Both Robert and Clara took naps this afternoon. Afterward, I took them to Toys R Us, as I had promised Clara we would go get some new crayons and markers. While we were there I told her she could pick something else out, as well. She quickly spied a tote bag, with a pattern drawn on it, and markers to color it. She was SURE that was exactly what she wanted, so I said that was okay. Robert seemed pretty happy with a soft rubbery dinosaur (he's a dinosaur boy, for sure!). He hung onto it all the way through the store, and was unhappy when the clerk needed to see it as we were checking out.



Back home, I was really impressed with Clara's coloring skills, as she decorated her tote bag. There were also some stick-on "jewels" to make it even more stylish.


Here's a picture of her with her completed bag. She can't wait for her Mommy to see it.

So . . . the kids are doing fine! And Grandma is too, but is grateful when bedtime arrives each evening. Grandpa even beat Clara to bed tonight, after helping me with the children during dinner-preparation and clean-up. Yep, everyone is right about God's wisdom in giving little ones to young couples. But each day has been a treat, and I'm NOT complaining, because I wouldn't trade these days for anything.