No chips left!

We went to the market this afternoon, and were near the chip aisle. Diana said, I think we'll get some chips, to which Venice replied very matter-of-factly, "Ya, with Granny and Jiichan here, we don't have many chips left." We cracked up.

Addendum: Granny and Jiichan said that the chips are gone because the kids ate them, not Granny and Jiichan! It was within their grandparental rights to give them to the kids while we were out of town.

Potty Accident, or trying to be like the boys?

So, yesterday, Venice had an 'accident' in the court out front while playing with the neighborhood kids. Accidents of this nature are a very rare occasion so we were concerned as to why it happened. Turns out, or so we think, that the two neighbor boys had to pee and decided to relieve themselves into another neighbor's garden out front. Venice, who had been playing with these boys all afternoon, decided to try it too. But, not having the same anatomy or understanding of how to pee standing up, pee just went down her legs and thus her 'accident'.

Park Dilemma

So, I had a dilemma at the park today. I was tired and wanted the kids to play without my assistance. So, I sat on a nearby bench. When Xander asked for help, I didn't move. Instead of finding something else to try, he went for it, all by himself. He went from swinging platform to swinging platform by himself, a first. AND then he jumped to the circular swinging bar overhead. Its height is twice his own height and he enjoyed letting go and landing on his feet (sort of). My dilemma? Get off the bench and help him. Or remain on the bench and hope he didn't break any limbs. Or get off the bench, just long enough to take a picture with the phone camera. I swear, contrary to one of the photos where he is dropping from the circular swinging bar, the only complaints he had were about the bark that got stuck in his shoes.

Venice learns to write.

Venice is learning to spell and write. This actually happened a few months ago, but I just got my act together to scan these pieces of paper into my computer. Venice also has a love for treasure hunts, something I used to love and would do with my dad. Now Venice likes to do it with anyone who will oblige. One day, she decided to make me a treasure hunt. These pieces of paper are the clues she made for me. "Table", "Rocking Chair", "TV" and "Kitchen". Very clever!

Venice likes to trick us

One of Venice's favorite pasttimes is tricking us. She likes to go get dressed, then put her pajamas on top of her clothes. We then say, "We asked you to get dressed, why aren't you dressed?" To which she replies, "Look! I did!" and she reveals that under her jammies are her clothes and we aptly reply, "Wow! You tricked me! I thought you weren't dressed!"

She also likes to hide from us. She will be under a table, behind an ottoman, or under her covers. So when we come into the room we say, "I wonder where Venice is? I'm so sad, I think she's gone. I'll miss her. Where could she be?" At this point, she'll pop out into the open and say, "Here I am! Did you really think I was gone?" And we say, "Oh yes! We did! I'm so glad you're here."

Both!

Xander and I were looking out the window today, talking about what we could see. I said, I could see the sky with clouds in it and asked Xander what could he see? He looked and said excitedly, "Trees!" I said I could see grass and the street. I then asked him if he could see a truck or a car? He looked out the window, thought for a moment and then emphatically looked at me and said, "Both!" Indeed he did.