With friends like these, who needs Mom?
January 4th, 2009
Wheee! Bug and Annalie sure did have fun today. When Brenda and Bug arrived this afternoon, they went straight outside and formed their own biker chick gang, riding up and down and around and around the patio.
Usually Bug insists on her mom coming outside with her. Today Brenda and I sat inside chatting and drinking coffee while the kids zoomed around on the big wheel and the tricycle.
After a while, Annalie and Bug got tired of life on the road. They came inside and put on ballet outfits, then went upstairs to play, barely even noticing that we were there as they passed by.
One reason Brenda and Bug came down this weekend was so we could exchange Christmas gifts. The other reason is so Brenda could do laundry in my garage instead of having to go to the laundromat. (Oh, didn’t I mention that we offer full laundry service to our houseguests? Because we totally do.)
Late presents are so awesome. They are almost better than on-time presents, in my opinion. Annalie certainly loved her Tom & Jerry DVD! Thanks, Miss Brenda and Bug!
After the gifts were opened and the paper was cleared away, Brenda and I announced that we were going back downstairs. Annalie and Bug were so busy playing they just sorta waved at us as we left.
Brenda and I couldn’t help but marvel at how well Annalie and Bug were getting along. Though they always have fun together, they’re both strong-willed only children who like to lead. When they’re together there are always a few arguments that require mediation.
But today they played happily from the moment Bug got out of the car till they went to bed. Brenda and I mostly stayed in the kitchen since I was playing hostess, preparing and cooking dinner (croque monsieurs, which I made and ate for the first time ever). Also the kitchen is where the coffee is. Occasionally Bug would wander into the kitchen asking for a snack. Or one of us would go check to see why they were being so quiet, and we’d find them watching the Tom & Jerry DVD or “fishing” off the couch with a cat toy or preparing a pretend feast with Annalie’s toy microwave.
Even bathtime was totally fun! Often by the end of the day the kids have had enough togetherness and don’t want to take a bath together. But tonight they hopped into the tub and giggled and splashed for a loooong time while the adults ate dinner (just a few feet away from the open bathroom door, through which we had a clear view of the tub). It was really nice.
Photo taken 05Nov 2007 - Annalie age 3y5m, Baby Bug age 22m
Can you believe that photo was only taken a little over a year ago? Annalie and Bug have changed so much since then. Even in the six months that we have lived in California, they’ve both grown up a lot. Now, Annalie is closer to five years old than she is to four, and Bug will be three years old in just two weeks! It’s amazing what a difference a year can make. I hope in another year, they’re even better friends.
p.s. Brenda wrote a completely different post about the croque monsieurs, and has more photos on her flickr that she took with my camera and new lens in the photoset croque monsieurs at the Actuallys’.
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January 4th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Looks like you guys had a fabulous time. I remember the first time J left me alone and went a played. I almost cried. It is really something special when your kids have a great friend and they play without your help.
Glad you guys had a great visit. Those Croques Monsieur look divine.
January 4th, 2009 at 7:45 am
This post and all of these pictures make me smile :)
January 4th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
You are blessed.
January 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I totally need a friend like you - whose laundry room is open. I HATE using public laundry facilities! I do have one in my building, but it’s SO freakin’ expensive.
Your girls have grown up a lot! They’re getting more and more beautiful.
January 4th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I read you guys’ blogs daily and rarely comment on Brenda’s tho I won a giveaway of yours.
These are the cutest pictures I have EVER seen - seriously - know ya’ll four thru your blogs and seeing the girls grow is amazing!
Peace,
~Mad(elyn) in Alabama
January 4th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I have to laugh! I used “you guys” and “ya’ll” all in the same comment - can you tell I am a longtime Air Force brat?
~Mad
January 4th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Ah! to play on big wheels and tricycles again! But coffee is good too…
January 4th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I imagine this is exactly what real biker gangs do… ride around terrorizing the general public and then heading home to have snack and change into ballerina outfits.
January 4th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I’m ridiculously hungry now! Next time you come to Portland, I’ll bring you to Carafe, where they have FANTASTIC croque monsieurs (also croque madames!)
January 4th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Mike, your comment made me laugh out loud. You win best comment award!
Rhi, I would LOVE to go Carafe next time I’m in Portland!
January 4th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
How cool! We have this kind of relationship with our cousins next door. All four boys play together like brothers. It’s really neat to see them grow up together.
The adults have been known to eat dinner while the kiddies splash in the tub too. We keep an ever watchful eye out and our ears tuned, of course.
I’m so glad that you and Brenda can experience this together.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Thank you!
You just confirmed that I’m doing the right thing for Bug’s birthday gift.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:15 am
Annalie and Bug’s relationship reminds me a lot of watching my girls become close sisters. At first they spent a while trying to figure out each other’s place, and then suddenly they found great pleasure in each other’s company.
The year old picture amazes me. I still can’t get over how fast our kids grow. Growth in body, heart and soul. It’s a joy to watch.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:36 am
[...] I wrote that post the other day about how great Annalie and Bug play together now that they are older, I really wanted some cute photos of them together to illustrate my point. [...]