Beisbol

Lily's school bought a block of tickets for today's Nats-Giants game as a fundraiser. We didn't know which of Lily's friends (if any) were going to be there. Imagine our surprise when a cheetah showed up. 

This is pretty representative of how much attention they paid to the game. 

 

 In their infinite wisdom, the Nats decided to give away umbrellas as their promotional item today.

And in her infinite wisdom, Amalia decided that she MUST open it up and carry it around. That, or she's leading a tour group.

Unsupervised

This is what I came home to after taking Lily to her violin and hip-hop lessons this morning. Perhaps I have underestimated Amalia's eye for flair.  

And here's one of Amalia because I can't get away with having the camera out and not having her say, "Take one of me!"

The quick-change artist. (This is not what Lily wore to her morning lessons; she practically strips out of her clothes the second she gets home.)

Test flights

Our couch has recently been transformed into a launching pad/high jump pit. We've decided to wait to get a new one until the girls are older. 

Today, Lily made a pair of bird wings to see if that would give her any more lift. (Huh, I wonder if that would have helped me get any vert in volleyball.)

Amalia the mockingbird. 

Living it up

Grandma Carol was in town this week to take care of Lily during spring break. They got to spend lots of quality time together (read: shopping for clothes, baking sweets, and playing around the house). 

My mother also got a dose or two of Amalia. 

 Meanwhile, Grandma Kathy thought it would be a good idea to send Amalia all of Andy's old Legos.

What goes around comes around, I suppose. 

 And then today we went to a friend's birthday party featuring real live ponies. 

They gave me one of their business cards. Not sure how the pony thing would work in our DC house. Guess they could clip-clop up and down Wisconsin Ave.

Oh, and did I neglect to mention the indoor jump house? This kid was only turning 3. The parents have set the bar pretty high for next year. I tend to go with the opposite approach--my girls are grateful if they get cake.

Mrs. Magoo

 

Who else but Amalia?

Sleeping beauties

A busy morning makes for a lazy afternoon. Amalia is about 2 hours into her nap on the sofa. Note that she shifted away from her drool spot on the pillow.

Lily made herself a makeshift cot on our trampoline. Guess the girls are quite comfortable sleeping through our tornado watch, soon-to-be warning.

The princess pickle

Having just read Cinderella Ate my Daughter, it may seem antithetical for my daughters to be prancing around in princess dresses. But considering this was just one of about 10 outfits they've had on today--not to mention everything else they've busied themselves with--I don't see a need to get too wrapped around the axle about it.

Besides, this isn't a terribly dainty princess in need of being saved. 

And this one is stronger and more multifaceted than she may appear. 

Case in point. Next up, cowgirls.

Birds of a feather

Amalia's daycare center is making a quilt in celebration of the Week of the Young Child. We let Lily create the Pierce Family square. When she was done, Andy asked how they'll know which side is the front--at which point she immediately provided the added instruction above.

We're not sure why the Pierce Family is represented by a colorful bird, but maybe our 14-year-old cockatiel, Jake, has something to do with it. Amalia has always been interested in him; until recently, though, Jake has shown no interest in reciprocating. (For those paying attention, you can hear Lily singing Queen in the background.)