Bath time break through!

If you've ever been within a 5 mile radius of Virginia during bath time you know it is typically a scream-filled, 5 minutes of torture for her and whoever's turn it is to give her a bath. She hates it.

We've tried every toy, every trick we can thing of including bubble bath and she just for the most part doesn't like it. Until now...thanks to a weak moment at Target.

What, you ask, is the secret?

PRINCESS themed bubble bath!

Virginia asked for it and I said fine, thinking to myself that I was wasting yet more money on something she will just hate later because it involved the tub. I am happy to say I was wrong. She loves it!

Swims in it.

Let's me wash her long, lovely "mermaid" hair

(what we call it in the bath so she'll let me touch it).

Even SMILES when the bath is over (rather than sobbing loudly and screaming for Mama).


And so do T & E. When V's happy, we are ALL happy!

So much to report ...so little time

Well the posts have slowed down recently for good reason. Mama got herself a new job so I've been "transitioning" from NC Theatre to (drum roll please....) the NC Symphony. Tough decision but a fairly easy transition considering they perform in the same building downtown and have some of the same donors and Board members. I DO have to think hard before answering the phone and I still haven't actually learned my phone number, but other than that the first week was g-r-e-a-t. Love it, love it, love it.

To top off a great week at work, our GREAT friends from NOVA came to visit- the Coynes. You may have heard of them once or thirty times.

We had a fabulous weekend highlighted with Almond champagne and good beer, sometimes grumpy toddlers and They Might Be Giants. James and Virginia are like 2 peas in a pod these days, she still follows him everywhere and he still tolerates her attempts at playing with him. This was their best trip yet- there was outdoor fun, indoor fun and even in-closet fun.

Great minds think alike. I purchased matching yellow sweaters for Virginia and baby Molly...and Steph bought all the kids matching skeleton pajamas. We WILL force these kids to love each other.

We had a great time seeing They Might Be Giants at the NC Museum of Art. Too bad no one told me it was only an hour concert. I packed a picnic and we waiting for all the kids to get their beauty rest which put us there about 4:15...just in time to hear Particle Man and catch about 30 minutes of actual performance time once we sat down and got settled.

Molly continues to earn a reputation for both easiest and cutest baby in the world.

Virginia takes in her first concert outside the womb (Dinosaur Jr at 8 weeks didn't count. She didn't have ears yet.)

The newest super group...They Might Be Bruces

I think the kids were happy the concert was over quickly...it meant we got to go have fun on the grass hills behind the amphitheater. James and Virginia were no good at rolling down the hill and we quickly stole an idea from another family to use a blanket like a sled. Steph's super strong arm muscles came in handy:

I think next time we'll save the $80 something bucks and bring a boombox and a blanket to a park and pretend it is a concert.

Summer's Last Gasp

I have this week off between jobs and got to enjoy a little weekday fun with Miss V whose day apparently revolves around trying to talk people into giving her chocolate, candy or popsicles. After a good nap on Tuesday I finally caved and "we" made some popsicles. (I did the work while she watched and told me it might need more sugar. Or chocolate chips.)

Being 2, she couldn't wait for them to get completely frozen and insisted I get one out for her, and being the tough mom that I am, I obliged her immediately. She quickly learned why a semi-frozen treat isn't all that great.

I "rescued" her by eating the melting middle part of the popsicle quickly and then she enjoyed getting every single last bite out of the remaining 1/4.

I can't imagine a better way to say goodbye to summer!

The beginning...

...and end.