one for the kiddos

My most recent nanny gig just ended, and while I'm embracing the extra free time with my whole heart, I'm also missing these kiddos (and maybe the weekly paycheck...?).

Whilst holding a huge Molly Moon's ice cream cone, Henry lovingly told me, "You're going to be a great mom." I'm sure that statement was 90% brought on by the ice cream, and much less brought on by my parenting skills. Which are stellar, by the way.

Because Eva was in school longer, I spent the majority of my time with Henry. We clocked a lot of hours at the library, where he would "read" to me. Sometimes we would play construction (top right). Other times (aka most times) he would pose as a Sounders player and tell me that since I live in Seattle now, I should be a "Sounders cheerleader." 

Eva: "Honestly, who decided what's a weed and what's a flower?" My little philosopher at heart.

And that picture of Henry with the Diva Espresso cup sums up my methods of employment. If only I had thought to have him reading an Alaska Airlines magazine...missed opportunity, I guess.

I will most miss the dance parties. Henry was really into Ratatat, and sometimes Michael Jackson. That kid can car dance like a champ, meaning he did a great 'shoulder scrunch.'

baby penguins

I guess "nanny bloggers" aren't quite as trendy as "mommy bloggers" right now, but I'm not ready to commit to having my own children yet, so this will have to suffice...

Kiddos are on Spring break right now, which means eight hours of being entertained by yours truly. We made it to the zoo yesterday.

Baby penguins are thhhhee cuuhhhhtest creatures God has made. Fact.

Seconds before, I swear this gorilla baby was totally in the down-dog yoga position, with his hands on the top of that log in front of him...butt in the air. Incredible.

Ma faaaaavvorite

This is Miss Eva—Henry's older sister. I rarely blog about her, but it's nothing personal. She's a lovely girl—I just spend less time with her because she's in school longer. I swear. 

Great Eva moment: Yesterday I heard them physically fighting over some branch they had found in the backyard, and then I realize EVA IS HOLDING A KNIFE. I momentarily lost it and demanded that everyone freeze and the knife be set down. 

Lo and behold, this is the comment I receive: "Maddie, it's not a daannnnngerous knife. It's a whittling knife. Haven't you ever whittled before?"

No, actually, I haven't. And I didn't really think that you—at age 8—would own such a knife either. Forgive my stupidity.