The Princess and the Lion

It has been awhile since I have done a straight toddler update, so I thought I would do just that. These kids are sweet, hilarious, adorable, and extremely two (read: whiny!) They have us exhausted and so full of joy and frustration and adoration all at once.

Recently we asked them what they would like to be when they grew up.

B quickly responded, "A Princess!"

T also responded, "No! Nufing! (nothing!)" so we would leave him alone and let him go down his slide in peace.

We were happy to see such lofty goals. When asked again, T said, "Ummm... a big one lion!" Very cute!

B is quite enchanted by princesses right now. Here, you see her as a princess...

in the bathroom...

and going to her first movie.

She talks like an adult, but has such a joyfulness in everything everyday. Nothing can light up a room like her giggles or her dancing! She is incredibly dramatic, observant, and she asks great questions. She is extremely maternal and takes great care of her baby dolls, calico critters, and especially her brother. She is also being sure to teach him good manners. When he excitedly ran up to her to to tell her something, she looked up from her coloring and said, "T can you please say excuse me?" She will never pass up ice cream with sprinkles or snuggling and reading a good book with mommy. She says that daddy is her prince!

T is a bundle of energy and trying to corral him in places like the library is like trying to corral an energetic, curious, and happily loud tornado. In the common area of his great-grandmother's retirement home, I cringe to see him stealthily run past the almost finished 1000 piece puzzle sitting unsuspectingly on the table. People adore him everywhere he goes! His smiling eyes are charming and he is talking so much. In fact, he will often tell B or I to "Stop talking, B/mama!" He is always on the lookout to defend his sister from anyone who may try to take one of her things or get in her way, and he is happy to assist her in breaking into bags of candy behind the couch.

Here he is gardening with Dad...

They seem so old these days (and who wouldn't...three is sneaking up on them.) But, then they do something sweet like get very scared of "monsters" and we get to play hero. This is something we are trying to savor...