Kezia's Birthday

It's been a few weeks since Kezzie's birthday, but here are my photos from her little party at Pa and Grandma's house! Anna made the same chocolate cupcakes I made for the girls' birthday, and they were a hit with everyone--especially the birthday girl. We had such fun watching Kezia enjoy the celebrations.

She was attracted to that candle right away--and even lunged and pinched it out with her fingers (no tears!).

Kezzie knows good stuff when she sees it. She may be a finicky eater normally, but she dug right into that strawberry and the chocolate cupcake--and devoured it all.

Uncle D got Kez and our girls bunny ears. They were pretty cute . . .

 The chocolate aftermath

Our three desperately wanted to "help" Kezzie with her presents (more like commandeer them and take over the whole present-opening process). I think Kezzie got to open most of her presents, but Josiah definitely got to one of them first. Of course, her new toys were coveted by all.

Elias chilling with James

Flagstaff Hike

We were in Flagstaff last weekend for Kezzie's birthday (pictures on that coming up shortly). Here are a few photos from our Saturday hike, though.

Pa led the way up some trails on Mt. Elden. He and Josiah initially planned to climb up the gash to the top (ha!) . . . but Josiah was complaining that hiking was "hard work" and he was tired by the time we got to the spring.

Abby decided squinting her eyes was enough of an attempt at a smile

All three kids were troopers despite delayed lunch and naps, and they loved crossing, recrossing, and dabbling in the trickle of the spring.

 

It's fun to see them gain confidence and walk on their own most of the way! (We did end up carrying the tired girls at the end.)

Kezzie wanted to join the cousins down on the ground! 

 Abby

 Lydia

Lydia holding Kezzie's hand

Warning: Contains Poop

Are toddlers ready to potty train when they start stripping off their diapers and smearing poop everywhere? Then Abby is beyond ready. But I'm not sure how to catch her before the poop ends up all over . . .

This past Tuesday we had two poop episodes with Abby and one with Lydia. Thankfully Lydia's was in her high chair during book time--the poop just oozed out her diaper and into her seat. Josiah reported that she had poop on her finger, but she helpfully held it up for me to wipe and did not smear it all over her book (like she did last week).

Unfortunately Abby was not so cooperative. After I read the girls their pre-naptime book on the couch in the living room, I got up for a minute. I returned to find Abby naked from the waist down, with a poopy diaper left on the couch, and the main contents of it plopped on the couch cushion next to Lydia. Lydia did not have the sense to stay away from the poop, so her shorts went in the wash with Abby's clothes. I had to hunt carefully to find all the spots affected on the couch cushions and the nearby blanket and rug . . . and of course, Abby took some wiping up, too.

Abby

Well, apparently that episode wasn't epic enough for Abby. I heard some rustling about an hour into naptime that I assumed was Josiah, reading his books in our room during his rest time. I kept prepping dinner, but eventually went back to check--and discovered Abby and a mess of truly disheartening proportions.

Her diaper was abandoned in her bed, with only a little pee in it. The bedsheets were clean. But her bed was about the only area clean in the entire room.

She herself stood near the door, caked with poo from belly to toes, with plenty on her hands and some on her shirt. She had discarded her very poopy pants on some foam mats, which had several smears of it, too. I must give her credit for at least trying to clean up--she had thrown several poopy wipes into the trash can, along with globs of poo, and I found poo ground into the rug underneath the trash can. The changing table top and sides, parts of the nearby wall, Josiah's bed rail (which she used to climb up to the changing table), her dresser, a floor pillow, and a few blankets were additional casualties of the Poop Fling of 2015. 

Abby went straight into the bath while I tried to clean the biggest globs. Lydia awoke amidst the fuss, so I transported her across the room to a poop-free zone. After Abby's hose-down, she joined the other two in watching a Richard Scarry show on YouTube so I could tackle the stinky bedroom. The clean-up took a full 45 minutes.

Of course, while I was wiping and scrubbing, Josiah kept hollering, "I want a snack! Please may I have a snack?!" from the computer room. "'Nack! 'nack!" the girls chimed in. Yes, yes, just as soon as I finish cleaning every inch of your room of poop . . .

Baby Abby

Have I mentioned that Abby is obsessed with all things baby?

She has long loved baby dolls and labeled all small people toys (like Duplo guys) "babies." A few months ago (before Christmas), a Buy Buy Baby flyer came in the mail with lots of pictures of toddlers playing with expensive plastic toys. Josiah got a-hold of it and looked through it, eying all the toys he'd like to get. "I like to have this, Mama!" he said, pointing at a plastic tool bench. Then he turned to his sisters. "I like to have this one. What you like, Abby?" he asked. Abby glanced over the paper and said, "Baby!"

Abby's love of babies extends to almost anything small. One day she found a tiny rock outside. "Baby rock!" she happily exclaimed. She hung onto it most of the morning (thumb in mouth, baby rock gripped in right hand) and even kept it in the pocket of her bib during lunchtime. She cried bitterly when I told her Baby Rock couldn't go to bed with her for her nap. But she asked about it immediately upon waking!

She loves to use "baby cups" and "baby 'poons" when drinking and eating. Her favorite headwear this winter was her "baby hat" knit by Great-grandma Judy. I regularly find her rummaging in the top drawer of the girls' dresser (in order to do this, she stands on the changing table) looking for "baby socks." And when she washes her hands, she insists on turning the spigot just the tiniest bit so that she has a "baby" stream of water (just above a drip).

Calling something a "baby" item is a sure-fire way to get Abby to like it. Sometimes in moments of absent-mindedness, we'll try to persuade Abby to do something "like a big girl." For instance, I've said, "Don't you want to pee on the potty like a big girl?" Of course, this backfires on me. Abby doesn't want to be a big girl! Her immediate response is, "No. Baby!"

When Josiah and Lydia "claim" certain characters in storybooks or pretend at various professions, Abby invariably chooses to be "baby." Josiah often says, "I'm Sergeant Murphy!" Lydia repeats his assertion in a garbled manner: "Me Ser-rant Murry!" Sometimes she'd go on to extend the favor to Abby, too, assuming she'd like to be included: "Abby! Ser-rant Murry!" Abby always objected: "No! Baby!"

So now Lydia preempts Abby. Josiah says he wants to be a firefighter. Lydia says, "Me, far-farrer! Abby, baby!"

In the last week or so, Abby has even insisted her name is Baby--not Abby. "Are you my sweetheart Abby girl?" I asked rhetorically as I kissed her the other day. "No! Baby!" she said, a bit offended. She got mad at Lydia yesterday at lunch for calling her "Abby." "No! BABY!" she said, getting more and more frustrated.

Twin Cooperation

As much as they squabble, the girls do love to play together and often cooperate well. Here's a peek into some recent happy times . . .

They do a pretty good job taking turns pushing and riding! Here Abby is on the bike. 

Both girls love books, and they're enjoying them more as their attention spans increase. Sometimes I poke my head around the corner to find both seated together, paging through a book and pointing out things to each other.

 Abby on the left, Lydia on the right

 

Abby and Lydia like to "ride" each other (especially when one pretends to be a "doggie") . . . but here Lydia just seized an opportunity to plop on top of her sister--who was a good sport about it nonetheless.

Party Weekend, Cont.

I'm running behind with my posting again! So here's a picture wrap-up of the girls' birthday party weekend, when family from Flagstaff came downstate.

Jeremy grilled a couple chickens for us (he's perfected his technique in the last few months), and I made sourdough bread. Everyone pitched in to chop and roast sweet potatoes and veggies, blend up some hummus, etc. 

Jeremy the master-griller 

 Kids' plates in progress

 Sisters and aunties

Birthday girls eating their birthday meal 

 Their camera smiles

I made the cake the night before and then made the ganache and put it together in the morning. This cupcake recipe worked well earlier in the week for their actual birthday, so I made two round cakes out of it for the weekend celebration. They weren't as moist as the cupcakes, but they were good! (I stuck with 1/2 c. honey, 1/2 c. coconut sugar for the sweetener.) I made this chocolate ganache--one recipe worked for a thin layer in between the two rounds and enough for a pretty-looking top.

 "Blowing" (more like spitting) out the candles

 Josiah was eager to get his hands on the cake (and strawberries)

 Jeremy let them lick the candles, but they chomped on them instead

I didn't get a picture of the chocolate aftermath, but apparently Lydia put on quite the show with her manners (or lack thereof). At one point she picked a booger with her forefinger and swiped it right into her cake and then into her mouth, horrifying Pa (who had to take a break in the side-yard to calm his nausea at this culinary combination).

 Presents!

 Big brother "helps" (commandeers?)

 Playing with the wooden food from Aunt Em and Uncle James

 Lydia

 Josiah was SO pleased with Aunt Em's present just for him--Shaun the Sheep!

 Kezzie and Anna

 What a look!

Everyone left Sunday afternoon, with clouds blowing in with rain for us and snow for Flagstaff. The girls were napping, but Josiah came out to say goodbye and spend some final quality time with Kezzie.

 Reading a book to his cousin

 Elias was sad to leave

 Josiah wanted to drive Uncle Justin's car

We all enjoyed the weekend of relatives--thanks to those of you who came!