Roundtrip to Paris, Please

Ryan and Lucie's imaginative play has taken off lately (literally). They've transformed our empty living room and a few dining room chairs into a six-seater airplane, with Ryan as pilot, Lucie as air traffic control, and Bunny as co-pilot. Uncle AJ and Aida were lucky enough to grab the last two seats on the plane (perfect for my stand-by flying brother) when over for a visit this weekend.

We were cleaning out a closet this week and happened upon our rolling luggage. The next thing I knew, R & L had stuffed it with all their loved ones and declared it was time to take off. Where to? Paris, of course. We've been reading a ton of Madelineand Fancy Nancy books, so I guess the City of Lights was fresh in their minds. (And they know I love it when they talk about Paris which makes me a willing and eager passenger!)

The trip has a very specific itinerary. We go straight to Paris with a short stop at a dinosaur museum. Ryan and Bunny make a great team, using a ring from an old stacking toy as a steering wheel. Due to their expert piloting and Lucie's navigation, we make it to Paris in less than 3 minutes. The boarding, gassing up of the plane (a Swiffer mop for a gas pump), and ticket collection takes longer than the flight itself.

I dream of taking my little ones to Paris someday, and love to see them practicing the journey already. If only it were this easy to get there.

Gold Medals in "Why?"

The first time we watched the Olympics with Ryan and Lucie, there was more feeding, burping, and rolling going on than actual watching. So much has changed in two and a half years.

We've all been enjoying a bit of the summer games together, with cute and funny results. Chris and I can't answer R & L's questions fast enough. Here's a bit of what we've heard lately:

Rowing:
"Daddy, where's the number four boat?" (Ryan)
"Whaz his name, Daddy?" (Ryan)
"Where's the number three boat?" (Ryan)
"I don see the number four boat, Daddy. Where is he?" (repeat this question over and over again, and that was Ryan's appreciation of rowing. Apparently he really liked the number four boat.)

Medal Ceremony:
"How did those flags go up, Daddy? (Ryan)
"Where are the flags going?" (Ryan)

Swimming:
"He went underwater. Where's he going?" (Lucie)
"Where are their heads?" (Ryan)
"Why did you say 'Oh Geez', Daddy?" (Lucie)
"How does he get out, Daddy?" (Lucie)
"Where's the ladder?" (Lucie)

And, finally, "Can we watch 'Clifford'?"

Skinny Dipping

Playing in your own inflatable pool is one of the many pleasures of being a toddler in the summer. Ryan and Lucie could (and sometimes do) spend hours pouring, dunking, dipping, drinking, mixing, splashing and pouring again. They love the water.

The first time I set up our pool, I had R & L decked out in all their swim gear — swim diapers, bathing suits, rash guards and hats. They were good to go.

Then, like so many of my best intentions to protect my kids, all was thrown out the window. Slowly, they began shedding their clothes, a rash guard flung off here, a bathing suit tossed over there. The next thing I knew they were naked, claiming swimsuits made them "too cold". How that's possible in lukewarm tap water and 90 degree temperatures is beyond me. But I don't argue with the logic of 2 year old twins.

Now all swimming is to be done in the "noodie-roodie". I have to admit, it does make clean-up and potty training a whole lot easier. I just feel sorry for Ryan and Lucie's buddies Erick and Evan who came over to play this week. Thankfully, Ryan maintained his modesty while entering and exiting the pool.

Cartoons in the Ceiling

A trip to the dentist's office is usually not a photo-worthy event. In fact, just the opposite. Unless, it's your kids' first trip ever, and you're a blogger.

Ryan and Lucie had a very positive trip to the dentist (despite what this look on Ryan's face tells you). Mostly, it was because the dentist was friendly, knowledgeable, great with kids, and gave them both a stellar report. But I think the TV mounted to the ceiling above the chair helped a bit too.

If you ask Lucie about the dentist, the first thing she'll tell you is all about the headphones she got to wear to listen to the "cartoons in the ceiling!" Unfortunately, Ryan didn't discover this during his exam. No problem, he was pretty excited about helping to count his teeth with the dentist, and the toy he got to pick from the treasure chest at the end of the visit.

When we got home, Ryan declared, "That was fun! Let's go to the dentist again!" I wish all of my dentist appointments went that well.

Apparently we're not the first people to document their child's first dentist visit. The dentist said he has seen his hands in many family photos, including a Christmas card! I guess I'm not the only wacky parent, though a Christmas card does seems a bit much...

Megan, Meggie, Megs, Meggers, Mommy

She may answer to many names, but she's loved by all. And on this day we say Happy Birthday Megan!

In our house, everyone can agree on two things: ice cream cake is the best way to celebrate a birthday and that Mommy is number one!