An abridged version of conversation today, after dinner:
Patrick: It's bathtime.
Mariel: Please, can I play dress up instead?
(she just got new dress up clothes from Lexi, and she is very excited)
Patrick: Well... 5 minutes. You can play for 5 minutes and then it is time for bath.
Mariel (thinking hard): No, Dad. I want FOUR minutes.
Patrick (straightfaced): All right, 4 minutes.

She has the idea of negotiation, just not quite the math skills. This won't work for long. Of course, at the age of 3 the amount of time agreed upon does not matter at all, as she still has no real sense of whether 4 or 40 minutes have passed.

First Stand!

(She had some help to get up there, but she held on all by herself for quite a while)

At Grandma Maryann's request:

Some photos from today. We had a good weekend- lots of yard work, play time outside, good food (hooray for strawberry rhubarb pie!), and a trip out for lunch and ice cream today. I am working on appreciating the joys of every day, and telling myself that taking care of two girls, two dogs, a home and a husband (even, occasionally, myself) is plenty of an accomplishment. It is a change of pace for me to think that this is "what I do" as opposed to my research. Its a good change, but still a challenge.

Anyway...
Here is Mariel, getting ready for the weekly treat of the Lawrence Welk show (judging by the collars, hairstyles, and men in hot pink three piece suits, we are guessing it was a 1970s edition).

Noella, playing on her play mat (which really is just a launching off place these days, as she usually rolls or ooches herself off of it in a few seconds).

And Hudson, who for some reason decided to pose as I was taking pictures.

I am not supposed to do this... but I will. For the Grandmas.

Here is one of the pictures from Noella's first formal photo shoot in the end of March. To atone for my copyright sins, I will recommend all in St Louis to Birchtree Studios, run by our friend (and photographer) Mia Ulmer.

Happy (late) Mother's Day
Here is a photo (thank you, Emily) from our Mother's Day lunch. Emily, Freddie and Aidan came over, and Mariel and Freddie decided to go for a little ride in the front room. As Patrick noted, they sort of look like an elderly couple touring a European city on a moped. Perhaps in about 60 years?