Pretend Play

The girls imagine everything, all the time. It's probably because we are very strict with media time so that they have lots of time for pretend play.

Like playing train at the park.

Here they are, all taking turns being Anna.

And here they've dressed up all their dolls. Where's Charlotte?

If you don't listen to any of the videos, listen to this one at least. It's adorable, and I think she should try out for Broadway.

She's pretty cute too, and a ham to boot.

I'm not sure what Nathalie is playing, but yes, that is an armchair cover she is using for her hair.

 

 

Captive!

Now she has to face the camera...

What a cutie patootie!

Oh man, those dark eyes.

Let down your HAIR!

Ever since "Frozen", the girls have been interested in me doing their hair. This is a first for us and though I know how to do basic hair stuff, I've had to expand my horizons. Thank goodness for YouTube. First, we tried the Crown Braid. Not hard-- it's a French Braid that's done on the outside, and you just do it around the head instead of down.

Emily likes the "after" look.

Then we did a normal French braid, starting at the side this time and coming down. Next time I need to angle it a little better....she didn't like this one as much because her hair was flopping around. She likes it when her hair and tight and doesn't move.

Nathalie got in on the action too. But her hair is so short and fine that I can't do fancy things. By the way, does anyone know supplements to help her hair grow faster? It has grown a few inches in 2 years-- we haven't cut it since the summer of 2012. It just grows really slowly.

Charlotte has longer, thicker hair than Nathalie in spite of her Audrey Hepburn 'do from August, but she won't let me braid it. So we do little pigtails instead. I love this cheesy smile. Ridiculous!

She walks!

Lydia started walking right around the time she turned 10 months. Over the course of 3 days she went from taking a few steps here and there to walking around like a pro!

These videos are from the first few days.

"Oh, you know. I'm basically an expert."

This is right about on par for our family. Emily walked at 9.5 months, Nathalie at 11 months, Charlotte at 9 months and Lydia now at 10.

Way to go, doodles!

ARTZEUM

They have an art museum here, with a small section for kids called the ARTZEUM. Admission is $7.50 a person (!!!!) but they had a "free admission" week in February and we decided to go and see what it is all about. Emily explored making a person on the magnet wall.

Lydia just liked putting things in buckets.

Charlotte liked the mailbox.

And Nathalie kept taking Emily's tools.

Then they had this super fun little house. The vines are cut garden hose. The kids can move them all around.

We had fun with magnetic plastic shapes.

And a really fun machine that turns your voice into strange noises. I love this picture because you can just see Charlotte's head over the top.

Talking into the telephone to hear it come out the speaker really funny.

Emily building the gateway to China. I thought it'd be bigger than that.

Definitely fun for a free outing!

Just passing along my vices....

Thin Mints, anyone?
 Oh wait.... they're gone. You snooze, you lose!

Let's play chicken!

This was a seriously hilarious night. Matt is the silly parent and he discovered that he could put gloves over the girls' heads and then inflate them with straws.

Making them into chickens.

I was laughing so hard, I cried.

Baaawwwwwkkkkkk!