Nap

A few months ago Claudia's afternoon nap just disappeared.   It was a sad, sad loss for us all.   But the other day, after a long morning of playing outside, Claudia called to me from the living room "I am having a rough day!  I need to lie down.   Get me some cake, please."   

I myself ate the last piece of cake and poured her a big glass of water.  That's what she really need after all.  And if she isn't napping, then I need the cake.  I came out of the kitchen and found this.



Cashed out!  Sometimes the nap reappears for visits.  I'm always glad to see nap!  I love nap.

Interview With Claudia: Age 3

My friend Rebecca Stinson did a cool thing a few weeks back.  She interviewed her daughter, Sophie, with a set of questions.  The idea is to interview your child with these same questions every year and see how much your child changes.  I thought it was so cool, so I interviewed CC.   Here's her answers and a video below.  I thought it would be fun to do a video every year.  I suspect that half the fun will be listening to how much her voice changes. 

1. What is your favorite color? red
2. What is your favorite toy?   Repunzel stuff
3. What is your favorite fruit? plum  (yes, she eats 4 - 12 a day)
4. What is your favorite tv show? Little Bear
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? sandwiches (which she takes apart & eats)
6. What is your favorite outfit?   Repunzel (dress)
7. What is your favorite game? chase (with Daddy)
8. What is your favorite snack? sandwiches (which, again, she takes apart to eat)
9. What is your favorite animal? lion
10. What is your favorite song? Lenka, Trouble is a Friend
11. What is your favorite book?  Alice in Wonderland (I don't think she's ever read this??)
12. Who is your best friend?  Mira (friend from school)
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?   "play hide and... no... save baby pine cones."
15. What is your favorite drink? milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Oatmeal & Birdie Blanket
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  eggs
19. What do you want to be when you grow up?  a princess

Monday Miscellany: Summer Edition

Here's just a bunch of random pictures from this summer.  Sweet Paddy gets smothered with affection from all the ladies in his life.  He doesn't seem to mind too much.  He also likes to hang out with Daddy and Uncle Otis.  He's just one of the boys! 

Claudia has been enjoying splashing in her paddling pool.  It's actually been pretty hot here!

Weeeeeee!!  Look at that face when she hits the water!

A couple of weekends ago, we drove out to Lake Ballaton.  Ballatonlelle is prety nice and they had lots of ice cream shops.  That makes everyone happy.  Claudia has claimed rights to all my hats. 

We also went exploring in one of the caves nearby our house.  It's been really hot here, getting into the upper 90s, and there is no proper air conditioning in our house, or anywhere else, ... so... we went to the caves.  It's nice and cold in there.  Lion King enjoyed himself!!

Paddy went to his first birthday party.  Baby Sarah turned one!!  Sweet Patrick is the only boy, surrounded by lots of ladies.  I'm pretty sure Ilse is whispering something sweet in his ear.   Before anyone could say "where are you clothes?!!" all the toddlers were down to their knickers, splashing in the bird bath. 

And my favorite pieces of art this summer... Claudia drew a portrait of Daddy (the one in red, who is "flying"), Mommy (the one on white paper on the right), and Baby Paddy (the little one on pink paper).   I like that in Claudia's portraits we always look so spirited and carefree!  Weee!!

I just noticed that the days are getting shorter.  Just a little bit more summer to soak up!

Dog Days of Summer

I can't remember, is it the beginning or the end of summer that they call "the dog days"?  Maybe its the middle?  Whenever it is, thats where we are.  

No cental air?  No problem!
The fountains at Szabadsag Ter are a hot spot for the over heated children of Budapest.

Bop and Carsten played chased... running, chasing, laughing...

... until Claudia lost her flip flop down one of the drains!   In true girly girl fashion, she was shattered over the loss of the shoe.  Carsten, the true gentlemen, did his best to find the shoe, but it was a lost cause.   Look at that sad face.  =( 

And here's Paddy & Ilse.  Poor things just had to sit and watch! 



And a popsicle is always a good way to wrap up a long summer day.

... whether you're three or thirty three.  I'm not thirty three.  I'm close, but not quite.

Paddy & Daddy

They were dressed alike the other day, so I grabbed the camera & seized the moment.

My guys.

Love them!

Happy Half Birthday, Paddy!

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY, PADDY BOY!

Are you really six months old already?  I can hardly believe it.  I love you, Patrick.  You are the happiest and sweetest little baby boy.   You wake up early with a smile on your face and you keep that smile on all day long. 

This past month you have been trying new things like eating solid foods and sitting up on your own!  You will eat just about anything (even green peas!), but your favorites are sweet potato and plum.  For your first feeding we took you out on a blanket in the front yard, in your diaper only, and gave you sweet potato.  You loved it! 

This is how you look when anyone smiles at you.  Angel!

We celebrated your half birthday with a cupcake and your family singing "Happy half birthday to you!"  You smashed your little hand into the icing, but Claudia and I did the honors of eating your cake.  Just you wait till you turn one!

We love you so much, sweet Patrick.  You are always happy, always smiling.  You love to be held and you love to give high fives.  Your favorite place to be is outside and we take you out often.  You are getting closer to sleeping through the night.  Just one night waking between 3 and 4.  You still love to chew your fingers and feet.  You have two teeth (the bottom two) and are working on a few more.  You are getting the hang of sitting up and you look so proud of yourself when you are upright.  I love you little man!

I just thought this one was funny.  You're going to have your father's personality, I suspect.

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY, PADDY!!

In Case of Emergency

Did I tell you Claudia got a job? 

On a whim, she applied at our neighborhood fire house and lo and behold, she's hired!  

The Hungarian government doesn't get too caught up in all those pesky child labor laws.

She'll be putting in for chief before long.  Look at my girl hooking up that hose!

       When that alarm bell rings, these kids really bring it!

They grow up too fast!

Compare and Contrast

I find myself comparing Paddy and Bop, noting how very different they are.  It's fun to look at Bop's old pics and Paddy's pic and see how very much alike they are!   Looks wise, at least!

They look similar, but personality wise, Paddy takes after Daddy (calm) & Bop is like me (busy).

They both made the same face when I took a pic of their first teeth.

Russell is presently looking over my shoulder and asked if I "recreated" the original (CC) pics.  Nope, I didn't!