visitantes

My friend Andrea came from New Haven with her two girls this weekend to meet Oscar and keep us company while Aaron was gone. Sam and Abe fought over Elena, and Rocío was very interested in Oscar. I didn't get a picture of her climbing into his bouncy seat, both with and without him in it. Sam was inspired by Elena carrying Rocío around and tried to pick up Abe without much luck. By next year, they'll both be carrying Oscar around, though (yikes!).

all those boys

Aaron was away for a few days at a conference, and boy, were those boys happy to see him back. I was happy too. I know Oscar looks a little scared in this one, but he really doesn't seem to mind being scrunched in with his brothers most of the time.

candyland

It wouldn't be a visit from Uncle Daniel without a rousing round of Candyland. Unluckily for my kids, Uncle Daniel is a skilled Candyland player. He won the game and then got to wear the "winner's crown." Come on, kids, you just have to do better. We will do Candyland drills before your next visit, Uncle Daniel. You mark my words. We will wear that crown.

uncle weekend

Uncle Daniel took the bus up for the weekend, and we were all sad to see him go at the end of the visit (even though we don't see him go because he leaves in the middle of the night). He usually has a culinary goal for his visits, and this time it was...SUGAR COOKIES. So he enlisted Sam's help and they drew designs and then baked their creations. Delicious.

an astute observation

Abe: Mom, tushy is the good word of butt.

Now that's manners for you.

the artist at work

Sam has not traditionally spent a lot of time engaged in artistic endeavors (except for building things, which he's always been into). Lately, though, he's been drawing a lot and creating lots of things out of paper. Here you see him working on a portrait of Indiana Jones sinking in quicksand. Watch out, Indy!

repetition

I want you to think about how many times you've read this book out loud. I would bet a lot of money that I have read this book out loud many many more times than you have. Abe is a serial monogamist when it comes to books, and this is his current love. I guess it could be worse (I know it could be worse, given the influx of Scooby Doo library books in our house), but I'm getting a little tired.

happy

Yesterday was nice and today was even nicer. We're all happy about the weather. Oscar will be five weeks old tomorrow.

mapling

Our friend Eric makes maple syrup, so yesterday we went to hang out around his huge maple fire. The weather was beautiful, and we roasted sweet potatoes and toasted marshmallows in the coals. Late winter is nice when it's like this.

my middle child

I feel your pain.

smiley!

Look at our little prodigy, smiling before his one month birthday. He's been giving us smiles a lot in the last few days, especially to Aaron and Sam and me. Not so many for Abe, but then, Abe hasn't been smiling a lot at him.

tricks are for kids

Thanks to Rebecca's help, Sam was able to realize his long-held dream of *making a basket full of something fall on someone's head*. And who better to practice on than himself. He has become quite obsessed with practical jokes, tricks, and traps. Consider yourself warned.

elephants

Roxanne sent The Cutest Baby Outfit Ever, and I keep putting it on Oscar because he's going to bust out of it any day now. He's now in the teenaged newborn phase, all zitty and chappy. It doesn't help that it's still below freezing here.

daddy love

and so it begins

indoor soccer!