Quotes from Charlotte

In the car this morning, we were listening to Morning Edition from NPR. One of the people said that, 220 years ago today, Ben Franklin wrote, “The only things that don’t change are death and taxes.”

Evelyn: “What are taxes?”

Me: “Taxes are money we pay to the government.”

Evelyn: “What is the money for?”

Me: “Oh, things like roads and paying teachers at your school, and so that we can have a military to protect us if another country attacks us.”

Charlotte: “Yeah, and those soldiers can come to my room if there’s something scary and bad, and can protect me and make it safe again.”

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Charlotte and I played Elefun this morning. As we were cleaning up, she was hopping around joyfully and chirped, “I like playing this game with you. It makes me feel happy and special!”

Squirt

Charlotte is still so little. She’s getting taller, but she’s so little-boned and skinny. Here are two pics from last night at bedtime.

A quote from Evelyn

“I have a new friend whose name is Don’tchu Dare.”

A photo op with Charlotte

 

Silly Char

“I’m almost three. My birthday is at the end of July… I mean at Christmas time. I like to go to the park and play with my friends. My friends are Ella and William and Sylvia and Elliott. I like to eat candy and hot dogs and lunch. I do not get along with animals. My favorite movie is Milo and Otis and Bug’s Life. I love myself.”

 

This is Halloween

A fairie and a Cinderella

Charlotte checks her bag.

What house should we hit next?

Wishes

Me: “I want a nanny.”

James: “I want a new house!”

Evelyn: “I want a maid. Because I don’t want to have to do everything myself.”

Retreating

We went down to Camp Pecometh for our church’s annual retreat. The weather was bizzare–blustery, warm, and humid–but we had fun anyway.

Matt and Ang came with us, which was truly a treat. I’m quite sure the kids will ask for their aunt and uncle regularly once they have returned to Asia.

 

Preparing for the scavenger hunt.

Ellie S., one of our friends (and source of many hand-me-down clothes!)

Charlotte loved riding on Uncle Matt's shoulders.

Morgan, Charlotte, and Elizabeth goof off.

They're rockstars!

I thought Angela hated monkeys...?

 

 

Eating together

Our little dancer

Evelyn is taking once-a-week dance classes at the YMCA. She goes for 45 minutes and it’s half tap, half ballet.

She’s really enjoying it. This past Monday was the parent observation class, which was a lot of fun. They did two silly spooky dances. I think Evelyn is more dramatic than graceful (check out her “monster” face), but she’s definitely benefiting from the class.

Do ballerinas stick out their tongues? They do if they're 5.

Doing the Frankenstein walk.

"Rule-ah hoops," as my kids call them.

Cinderella

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