spring?

there are crocuses blooming...in my neighbor's flower beds, in a few yards near addy's school, in random flower beds in uptown westerville. amelia & i took a long, long walk after dropping addy off at school early (testing/evaluations for preschool...totally freaked addy out, poor kiddo). so anyway, we have anxious adeline because she's going to school early to be evaluated ("what if i don't get into kindergarten, where do i go?!" my response: "it's not about getting into kindergarten, it's just about them knowing how smart you are!" addy: stricken, worried face. no response). then i motion for them to hurry & turn the corner to open the door to the school (did i mention that i have laryngitis again? so yelling is just not an option this week--& when i forget & try to yell, it's actually pretty funny. a total angry mood kill.) anyway, i'm propping open the door & addy runs up & points to the parking lot with an even more stricken, worried face (it seems that when one person, me, can't talk often people around lower their voice to match mine or don't talk at all: also pretty funny).

adeline was pointing at her sister, who had tripped in a pot hole.

she had a totally bloody face with gravel stuck up her nose & in her mouth. she couldn't walk straight...just held her arms out like ralphie's brother (in the christmas story! oh what was his name?), only she didn't have loads of winter gear on. & then she also was doing the cry that doesn't make any noise...that's when i knew it was big time. as i ran over to pick her up, addy shouts over: "but mommy, we will be late! i need to go to kindergarten!"

so i walk into this evaluation with a sobbing 3 year old in my arms, purse, bag of snacks & coloring books/markers for amelia (because the only way adeline agreed to have this evaluation was if i came along & stayed. *sigh*) &we trudge our way through the elementary lunch crowd in the hallway only to find the certain room we were to meet in empty.

gah!

so up the stairs we march, to the office, where the receptionist looks at me like i'm totally out of place. i look back: don't mess with me right now, find me mrs. b & a bandaid. please...

eventually, mrs. b is found, amelia is cleaned off in the bathroom & adeline is realizing she was nervous over nothing, that she actually loves mrs. b! so then i leave, carrying amelia & all the other things to the car, where it is decided her & i MUST make a trip to the chocolatier. because chocolate makes everything so, so much better. we share a hot cocoa, pick out some treats for the family, eat our own treats...the owner sympathizes with amelia's wounds, making her smile finally.

so then we set off on a walk--her in the stroller because she still can't walk on her swollen ankle & go into the municipal building (totally boring), attempted a bookstore that was instead closed, & landed into a store called deja vu...where i found this jacket:

okay, how do some people take those pictures of themselves--you know, the ones that are about 4 o5 in a row, a close up of them with weird expressions. anyway, i suck at taking self portraits, so instead i opted for a much better view of the new jacket. i mean, i kinda look a bit crazed in that picture, eh?

the jacket was supposed to be only $20. throw in a few scarves & a pair of leg warmers & somehow i got to $52! plus, she didn't give me an itemized receipt & then i see the sign for no returns. whatever. i was in a hurry to find a bathroom for amelia & i, no time to squabble over the total. amelia tooted in the store so much that leaving it stinky was good enough for me at that point.

***

a few weeks ago, the girls had their first sleepover with someone other than grandparents. the other girl is addy's best friend ever & also she is somehow amelia's best friend ever. *smile* gotta love little sisters!

they all had a marvelous time watching tangled & goofing off & refusing to let themselves drift off to sleep.

***

& now for some 3 year old quotes:

amelia, adeline, grandma sue, & myself in the car, going to the grocery store. it was quiet in the back seat for a change & then amelia breaks the ice: 

amelia: ADDY, LOOK AT THIS BIG BOOGER! (holding her finger out to show addy the enormous booger).

addy: wow, amelia, that's huge! gross!

amelia: (cackling with laughter) this booger is big! (more laughing)

from the front seat: wow, that is a big one amelia! (more laughing...).

*

right now amelia is going through a phase of pretend reading. she will pick out my books, sit herself down very adult-like & talk to herself as she turns each page, telling the oddest stories ever. last week she picked out sigmund freud's civilization & it's discontents. (i don't remember how to cite that, so i'm just going to do it all, lol. i just don't care right now!). so amelia goes through the entire book, 127 pages (& yes, she does look at each single page), puts the books down with some emphasis, sighs loudly & proclaims with utter drama: that was the best book ever. i love that book. do you like that book, mommy?

it was as if i had been transported into the future & right next to me would be an adult-ish amelia, full of ideas & theories & opinions on folks like freud & c.s. lewis (who is also one of her favorite authors, apparently). 

*

then the girls begged to get their hair cut again. so we get there, addy gets the usual super adorable wedge cut. then it was amelia's turn...i consult with the stylist that i just wanted a trim for her, maybe an inch & the look of a typical bob cut, but i do remark that she may want it shorter... as i sit down i see amelia bring her hands to her chin & say "RIGHT HERE!" & sure enough, the stylist cuts her hair to the chin. it's as if the dictator in amelia has emerged again. ah, the 3 year old situation...

***

& now to go eat some cookies with the little dictator. adeline is with her friend for a play date, the nannied boy is sleeping, & amelia is very, very lonesome. so before hell breaks loose & she lives up to her level of capable destruction...