Call Day #77, 10/29/11

Claire stuck close to Daddy this morning before he headed to work. I liked this moment as she watched him putting on his shoes.

Saturday is soccer day. Eleanor wanted to wear her sweatshirt from Grandma--it has Nemo AND a soccer ball!

With others at practice.

Our favorite friend Lila enjoys seeing Claire.

Of course, Lila and Eleanor had to take a few minutes to go run around, find sticks, and play in the dirt.

Sweet Claire.

She didn't want to be away from me at all this morning. Maybe she's getting sick or something? That always increases the cuddling factor of our kids.

The kids finally started kicking at the goal at the end of practice today, with one being goalie. Eleanor's ball is the one heading right between the goalie's feet.

Yep, it went in.

Scoring against another goalkeeper.

Kicking with the inside of her foot, maybe?

Big kick!

Feet.

Telling Eleanor I enjoyed her goal-kicking.

Attacked by Claire.

Claire gets in on the snack time after practice. Grandma helps.

The return of Eleanor's mattress to her bedroom for nap time today.

SO, SO happy to be back in her space! From the moment I told her I was going to try to have things ready for her to get back in her room today, she was a happier girl. She went from crying over something trivial and having a meltdown to smiling and running to go tell Grandma. I know her sleeping in the closet upstairs has been very different from her normal sleep times, but I was never sure how bothered she was by the upheaval.

Finally, settled enough to go grocery shopping again. When I asked Claire to smile, she made this face and said "Cheese!" Didn't know she knew that! Very cute.

Call Day #76, 10/25/11

This morning we said goodbye to our dear friend Heidi who had come to visit us before her return to her work in Africa. It was a sweet time together and the girls loved her (of course!).

Shortly afterwards, we discovered/confirmed the presence of bed bugs in Eleanor's bed. It was a hard moment. We did what we could with Erik's help before taking him to work for his call shift. Then, we headed to shop for some supplies to deal with fighting them. Since there was not even bread for sandwiches in the house, we had lunch at Target before shopping. In retrospect, that was a welcome moment to breathe and recharge, sitting in the bright sun, in the midst of a hard day.

Kids enjoying the special cart at Target. They think it's a treat and I get to shop with happy, contained kids. Win-win.

Eleanor's temporary sleeping quarters in our walk-in closet--just big enough to squeeze a twin mattress into.

Call Day #75, 10/21/11

Pedaling her tricycle to playgroup at church.

Front view with Fancy Nancy glasses.

I had vacuumed today and since that is (sometimes, though rarely) followed by mopping, Eleanor wanted to "clean the floor." Truly, it was all about the spray bottle but she was so excited to do it, wanting to do it again after nap, and right before bed too. I need to get her her own spray bottle!

Cleaning up after nap. There is always a very *interesting* mess after nap. Today, she cut up straws in little pieces into her library book box.

Other assorted post-nap mess.

An evening trip to Costco. At a different location with no high chairs--Claire managed to eat on the bench quite well. She didn't fall off at least.

Thinking of Daddy when we saw the blue orchids. And, yes, I checked the label and they will henceforth bloom white since they're just dyed and, no, we didn't buy one. Sorry, dear. :)

Eleanor's shopping ensemble for the evening. Even though it was wonderfully sunny today.

Cute sisters.

Picking up bows dumped on the floor. They make lots of mess and we are working on teaching *them* to clean it up, rather than always Mommy. Hoping they learn to just make less mess since they sure do whine when you ask them to clean it up.

Call Day #74, 10/6/2011

Pulled out the size 2T clothes this morning. Claire picked the coat to try on. Getting ready for winter?

Amazingly, the Potty Pass still lives. The picture on the left is apparently Claire, complete with "tiny earrings."

Cool Claire, in the van doing errands.

Silly earmuffs at Christmas Tree Shop.

A happy shopper...

becomes a not so happy shopper. What happened? Well, after being told that she could not have every toy she asked for, she threw a fit in the store. I carried her crying under one arm and paid for my purchases like that. Papa came to my rescue and Eleanor had time out in the food area.

Post-naptime bath. Don't put babies to bed without pants. Lesson learned.

Origami since we're learning about Japan this week.

With her origami dog.

Claire likes to unfold them and draw.

Eleanor lines up all her shoes like they do upon entering the house in Japan.

Dinner at a low table. Wearing "kimonos."

Eleanor uses her chopsticks.

Claire's head barely looks over the table but she tries the chopsticks anyway.

Bathrobe kimonos.

You can even wear two at a time! Claire enjoyed the "konas."

My baby bird. A way of expressing she wanted more dessert.