Overheard #6 (Marni)

Last night I had to pry Marni away from her drawing in order to put her to bed. Of course, crying ensued.

Once she quieted down in the rocking chair, I started to read her a Clifford book. After I couple of pages I heard her mumble something. Then she repeated it... "It's not fair". Not believing what I was hearing, I asked her to repeat herself. "It's not fair" she said.

"What's not fair?" I asked.

"I want to draw" she replied.

We've never heard the "it's not fair" concept before. Not even from Stella. Not even from Lisa! So this was a bit mind-blowing.

Marni repeated the "it's not fair" line a few more times that night and again this morning when Lisa asked her about it. It just goes to show you how these kids are sponges and they pick up things not only from in the home, but from school too.

Wild Weekend

This past weekend was action packed...

Saturday we headed up to Hartsdale to Joel and Adrienne Belmont's 2nd Annual (as far as we know) Pool Party. The pool was warm and the dogs were a-jumpin'! Stella took to the water like a fish. Marni, not so much. Nana and Papa Hoffman; Carol and Norman; Jill, Brian, Tyler and Delia; Carol Solomon; and Jill and Bea Schaffer were all in attendance.

The highlight of the day for me and Stella was when the youngest dog, Cody, jumped into the pool, swam over to Stella, and pushed her under the water. I rushed over and pulled her back up to the surface. She was sputtering and soaked, but luckily not traumatized (although I was a little traumatized). Later, Stella recounted the incident and said that I resuced her and pulled her to shore, just like Ariel and Prince Eric (cute).

The food was plentiful, delicious and never-ending. The evening came to a close with a chocolate fountain which did quite a job on the kids' faces. Then... into pajamas and into the car. We transferred the sleeping girls into their beds at 10.

Thanks Joel and Adrienne for another wonderful visit.

Then... Sunday we went to the Asanovics along with Baby Stefanoff and Cherches. First stop, a carnival in Westport. Stella was all over the carousel and ferris wheel. Marni, not so much. The Asanovic boys were all over the scary rides. Then, a delicious lunch of pizza, hot dogs, french fries, sno cones and funnel cakes.

Back at the Asanovics the kids played in the pool and in the backyard. The adults drank and talked. Dinner was chicken on the grill prepared by Chef Tomo. After some ice cream desert the girls were back in the car and then transferred, alseep, into their bed (and still in their clothes). Another fun summer day. Thanks Lisa and Tomo.

I Want To!

Marni's favorite phrase right now seems to be "But I want to".

This usually occurs when she wants to do something that we don't want her to do. For example, if she wants to go upstairs and we say no, the next thing you will hear from her (over and over) is "I want to".

I want to!
I want to!
I want to!
I want to!

Over and over again until she bursts into tears.

Together At Last

On July 8th, Marni joined Stella for summer camp at Raindrops. Look out everyone, the Shepard sisters are together at last!

Stella was very excited to have her sister with her. Marni was just kinda going with the flow.

Day 1 went smoothly. Stella went out with the big kids and Marni stay with the younger bunch. Marni took her nap on the floor with everyone else. Stella, as part of the big-kid group, had no nap at all.

According to Yvette, "Marni is no Stella". She has a mind of her own and is not afraid to tell you what she wants to do. Ms. Marni told Yvette exactly where she wanted to go when it was playground time and what she wanted to do. According at Yvette, "Now when I come to work, I really need to work... thanks to Marni".

When Stella got home, she was exhausted. No nap for the big kids. Part way through dinner, she excused herself, went to her bedroom and put herself to sleep.

And so ended day 1 of the Shepard sisters at summer camp.

Marni Graduates

Marni's last day at Kiddi City was June 27th. It's finally time for her to join big sister Stella at Raindrops. The decision to move Marni was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make. She loved going there every day. She loved Magdalena and Aksana and all of the other kids (especially Milo and Gilbert). When I dropped her off for the last time, I was so upset I couldn't even tell Magdalena and Aksana how appreciative I was for all of their love and guidance. What a wuss!

Marni started at Kiddi City at 4 months old. We would drop her off in her car seat and hope she didn't get trampled by the other kids. Now, it's Marni doing the trampling! She was one of the senior students. The mayor of Kiddi City!

But most children at Kiddi City are young. Marni has probably reached the end of the road there. Raindrops is geared more towards older children. She will have plenty of room to grow. And, at least for the month of July, she will have her big sister to show her the ropes (although she is already very familiar with Raindrops).

How time flies!

Stella Graduates

On June 20th Stella officially "graduated" from Raindrops Daycare (Her actual last day of school was the 26th).

The ceremony was very sweet. Dancing and singing and speeches, and handing out of "diplomas". Stella, as usual, preferred to sit out most of the activities on Lisa's lap.

Our big girl has come a long way in the past two years. Still occasionally shy, but no longer mute. Carlos, Yvette, Jacy, Maria, Javier, Devine, and Stephanie have done a great job of taking care of Stellie.

Family Affair

Stella and Marni got to meet a whole new bunch of Shepards this past week as Cousin Noah celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. The girls attended the services on Saturday and watched on as Noah did a fantastic job reciting from the Torah and making us laugh. Later that day the girls went to Muscoot Farm and visited with goats and sheep and cows.

The next day we were back up in Westchester at a brunch at Andy and Linda's house. There they got a great chance to meet Stanley and Reba and Neal, Kate and Anna.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional weekend for opening the cottage in Maine.

This year we drove up to Natick on Saturday morning. We met Nana and Papa at Snip-Its where Stella got a haircut and Marni got her FIRST haircut! Stella was a trooper. Marni was a little nervous at first, but was fine by the end. Neither Marni nor Daddy cried at this first haircut. Next was lunch at Joan and Eds followed by hours of playing and then a delicious cookout courtesy of Chef Papa.

The next morning we piled into Nana and Papa's two cars (because our minivan was a bit sick) and headed to OOB. It was a gorgeous, warm day. The cottage was made ready for the new season and the girls headed to the beach for a messy dig in the sand. Then, off to Kens with the Brenner family. Stella was so pooped from the activities of the day that she actually put herself to bed in her pink bedroom. We headed home later that afternoon and ended up at The Olive Garden for dinner.

Monday was another beautiful day. The girls played at a playground in Natick and then we headed home after a pizza lunch.

Birthday Girl

Yesterday was Stella's actual birthday and, after at least a year of whining about it, I was hell-bent on getting a scooter for her!

I had ordered a purple and pink Disney Princess scooter online from ToysRUs, but when I opened the box (the night before her party) the box inside was a mess. The fine folks at ToysRUs had shipped us a previously opened, damaged scooter.

Time for Plan B...

Yesterday after work I headed for the giant ToysRUs in Times Square. I braved the crowds, found the same scooter, and rushed home.

Stella was overjoyed and insisted I put it together right then and there. So I did. She put on her helmet and took it for a spin in the hallway. She's a little slow right now but I'm sure she'll be zipping along and scaring us to death soon enough.

I just liked seeing the smile on her face when she saw the scooter.

Stella's Birthday Bash

Stella had quite a birthday bash last Sunday. The party had an Ariel/Under The Sea/Little Mermaid theme and was pulled off perfectly by Lisa (all I did was buy some ice and bagels).

By the time guests arrived at 11, the apartment had been turned into an undersea wonderland. The kids' activities included creating mermaids out of toilet paper tubes, coloring-in pictures of Flounder, and creating fish out of paper plates. Then there was a fishing game where each kid "caught" a fish with a magnetic fishing pole and got a prize. The final activity was a Pearl Parade out in the parking lot. There was plenty to eat for kids and adults alike.

The main meal for the kids was octopus hot dogs and/or fish sticks. Finally... Lisa's delicious birthday cake was brought out and everyone sang happy birthday to Stella. This was followed by a crazy frenzy to open presents (If you gave a present, thanks. We just don't know who gave what.)

Special thanks to our helpers Nana and Papa Shepard and Nana and Papa Hoffman, and Bubbles and Laurie-Doo.

This was quite a party!

Bounty of Teeth

Well Marni's teeth finally have started to show up. Just as she hit two, she popped out two lower molars, a tooth next to her lone bottom front tooth (aka The Hardest Working Tooth in America), and two upper canine teeth. Watch out corn-on-the-cob... she's comin' for ya!

Birthday Girl

Marni finally attended her own birthday party (a mini-party due to Passover)! Last year's first birthday party was a bust due to Marni's nearly month-long fever.

This year she was in good health and great spirits. She even blew out her own candle.

Passover 2008

The Brooklyn Shepards and the Natick Shepards and the Salem Kennedy/Shepards all trekked to Farmington to attend the Kaplan Family Seder. The last time we attended was 2005. Pre-Marni.

The day was spent at the hotel swimming pool. Stella in water-wings and Marni in a tube. Later, Marni and mommy took a nap and Stella, Nana and I all went shopping and found a Dairy Queen.

At the Seder, Stella was super good and sat all night in a chair next to Nana Bev. Marni was good, but a handful. The chicken was good too.

Popcorn Man

This is "Popcorn Man".

An original Stella production. The materials are dry-erase marker on white board. She named it herself.

Beddy Buddy

It'll be a little more than a year since Stella graduated to her "big girl bed". Since then it has been pretty common for her to get up in the middle of the night and "request" that she come upstairs to sleep with us. This occurs usually between 1 and 3 a.m. I will hear the door open and will go down to retrieve her.

This became a regular routine during August of 2007 when she could just walk out of her room at the cottage and into our room. I would then get scared to death when I opened my eyes to find her staring at me.

When we returned to Brooklyn after Labor Day, the routine continued and I decided not to fight it. I realized that eventually she would stop doing this and I would miss having my beddy buddy.

Well... over the past few weeks Stella has begun to sleep all night in her big girl bed. It's getting more and more unusual for her to wake up and come upstairs. I miss her, but now I can cuddle with Lisa all night without a little one between us. And besides, Stella is a major snorer!

Biker Chicks

Lisa and I have each bought a new set of wheels. Bicycle wheels. These new mean-machines are tricked out with the hottest Park Slope bike accessory... kid seats!

Lisa picked up her bike yesterday and inaugurated it by riding home with Stella. Later, she gave Marni a spin around the block. Both girls loves it although Stella's first comment was that she was a little scared. Marni's first comment was one word... "faster!".

A typical night

Most of my posts deal with a special event or happening or thought. Well, what about just a regular ordinary day? What's that like?

Most week nights I get home between 6 and 6:30. The girls are usually done eating by then and are playing. When I come in they both shriek "Daddy!", run over to me, and give me a hug. Then, back to playing.

Eventually, I am down on the floor with them, roughhousing. This involves picking them up, throwing them around, chasing them, or being jumped on by them.

The video above shows a typical few minutes of activity leading up to bath time.

Overheard #5 (Stella)

Marni has a promising future as a proctologist.

When in the tub with Stella, Marni will often get a little devilish. If she is sitting down and Stella is standing next to her, Marni will sometimes attempt to stick her finger up Stella's tushie. This will, in turn, tend to make Stella jump a mile!

Stella finally tired of this and, upon becoming the victim of another Marni tushie-attack, screamed out at her "Marni! Stick your finger up your own tushie!"

Overheard #4 (Stella)

Stella's latest obsession is her height.

"Look how tall I am" she says as she stands up in front of you. "I'm getting bigger, bigger, bigger!"

"When I get this much..." (holds up 5 fingers) "...I can eat gum!"

Overheard #3 (Marni)

The words are turning into sentences now. Her favorite thing to say lately is "What's that?" as she points to absolutely everything. Also popular... "Sit down", and "I did it!".