Charlotte loves the world

Charlotte loves riding in the car with her window down, this is a new thing. While doing this last month I copied down her heart-felt monologue while trying to drive and not laugh:

"I just really love all these things like the streets and Trader Joes and gas stations and roller skates and all the people."

A funny Luke conversation

Luke: I wish there were no bloodest things in the whole entire world.

Allie: Bloodest things?

Luke: Ya know..like when you fall down and get blood.

Dear Easter Bunny

Dear Easter Bunny,

I want a lots of Easter eggs, even a chocolate bunny egg.

I want a lot of Easter eggs.

-Charlotte
July 2008

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa Claus,

I want a transformer that transforms.

Dear Santa Claus,

I want a big speed racer car like my friend Jack at my old school. It was so cool. It was cool, it can turn into a different car that shoots out stuff.

I want the Bumble Bee transformer that transforms into a car.

Giggly goo (like the Berenstein Bears)

Dinosaur molding kit (again, like the Berenstein Bears)

Robot that stands on its head (just read the Berenstein Bears visit Santa Claus book already).

-Lucas LeBaron
July 17 2008 (getting a head start)

This letter was Luke's origination and I wrote down exactly what he said except for my notes in parenthesis. He kept saying "Dear Santa" before each thing and I finally told him he didn't have to do that. So cute.

Gingerbread house

Making the yearly gingerbread house. Thanks to my dad, all I did was snap some photos.

Decorating with beads

As I walked into the living room today I saw Charlotte throwing small beads on the floor. She notices the horrified look on my face and quickly announces,

"Mom, I'm decorating the house with beads!!!"
and smears a huge smile on her face.

Classic.

Luke's a Jew

This year Lucas decreed he wanted to celebrate Hanukkah. (I am so proud I can spell that!) And since I love just about every religion I happily agreed to do this. So a few weeks ago we went to Target and bought our first menorah and candles. He was so proud he carried it around everywhere, and used it as his "show and tell" at school.

My mom runs in today and says "Allie today's the first day of Hanukkah don't forget!" So Luke and I run and we lit our candle, took some pictures, sung a Hanukkah song, and argued over the fact that he isn't going to get 8 huge presents.

And as I sit down to right this and glance at my calendar to make sure I spelled Hanukkah correctly...yah...the first day of Hanukkah is tomorrow. Our first day as Jews and we already failed. Oi vey!

RARE FOOTAGE! Charlotte singing!!!

Charlotte decided to sing for me for the first time ever I think. Here's Twinkle Twinkle with tons of cute Charlotte-isms.

Birds and the Bees

So Luke has been asking about where babies come from for a while now. The first time he was almost 4 and I said "Get back to me when you turn 5" and then when he turned 5 he remembered and asked again. Little bugger! So I ran through the whole thing, leaving out some details but detailed enough for him to not ask follow-up questions.

Then the night of my brother's wedding, we are on our way home, it's late, we're all tired and he asked again. John was there for it this time and he gave me a sideways smirk thinking something along the lines of "Sooo glad that wasn't asked of me!"

So, I ran through the whole shpeel again, only turning red in the face once. After I was done lecturing I asked "Luke? Why are you asking me again? Do you just like to hear me explain it?" I was half kidding, half not, because Lucas and Charlotte both have minds like steal traps, but regardless that didn't prepare me for his response. Lucas snickers "Uh yah" and gives a sheepish grin.

Ahhhhh boys.