Riley and Avery

So we made a last minute decision last Sunday to go to My Little Pony Live. Oh my goodness, the girls were so excited. Avery was just totally dazzled. Riley kept giving me excited little hugs during the performance. Avery sang along and totally participated in the performance, and clapped after each song. It was so cute. Of course, they walked away with a bunch of goodies. Yeah, they're spoiled. It's these kind of things that make a parent realize that they'll probably end up at Disney World at least once in their life. Whether they really want to or not.

I realized something about myself lately. I talk to myself. A lot. Out loud. That's all I'll say about it here. I'll talk to myself more about it later...

I also realized that cannibalism doesn't really bother me all that much. I mean , if the person is already dead. I guess I'm crazy. In anthropology class my professor said that sometimes an anthropologist has to do certain things in order to be accepted into the culture he's studying, and said that one of her professors admitted to cannibalism of an enemy after warfare. Didn't bother me that much. I'd rather eat human than antelope entrails. So if we're ever stuck in the deserts of Africa and all there is to eat is antelope entrails, watch your back.

I bought Riley and Avery their new Easter bikes yesterday. That was fun. I thought that I'd better do it now with the tax refund money rather than waiting until next month. Since Walmart is challenging the unemployment decision, who knows if we'll have money next month. I got those old-fashioned baskets for the front of their bikes and that will be their easter basket. I'm going to put some bike accessories in it, like a bell or horn, handle bar streamers, stickers, etc. Riley needs a new bike really badly and Avery needed one with a push handle. I got Riley the only bike you can find in stores that is not a Dora or Disney or Barbie bike. Avery is getting a tricycle with a push and steer handle for parents. It's red, blue, and yellow, I think. So I'll have to girl it up a little. I wanted to try to get her a 10" bike, but I didn't think she'd go for it. I have found that tricycles with the pedals right on the front wheel (as opposed to a chain) are really hard to pedal. Hence the push bar. If Avery just weren't so tiny. I'm pretty sure that Riley will take me to task about not having a helmet and knee pads, but I'm going to try to get away with not buying them. It's not like they're biking on the road.

So I drop Riley off at school this morning, and realize that their Valentine's Day party is today. I had no idea. We had no cards or anything. I usually stay for her parties and bring something baked. I ran out of that school before Riley realized my error. Who knew the party would be the week before Valentine's Day? Well, parents who read the newsletter and mark their calendars would know, but that's just not me. So I sit here feeling guilty and horrible. I'll probably take her out today to buy valentines cards and chocolates and we'll spend the weekend making them and put them in the kids' cubbies on Monday.

Riley loves writing her name now, and actually writes in a line instead of a jumble of letters like she used to. She can tie her shoes now too. That was all on her. She just so wanted to learn to tie her shoes really really badly, so she tried and tried until she got it. Which means that she has to tie everyone's shoes. Nothing wrong with that except that I can tie my shoe in 2 1/2 seconds flat and Riley takes a bit longer.

Riley got two goldfish last week. We have one left. I found Avery dumping food and dechlorinator in the tank, so it's been cleaned more than any other fish tank in history. One morning we woke up and Riley says "Why isn't that fish swimming?" "Well, hon, that fish is dead." "Why did it die?" "I don't know, RyRy." "Maybe it just reached the end of its life, right?" Yes dear, goldfish have a five day life span. She was okay with it. So the tank got another cleaning. And it's cloudy again already. Whose idea was it to get fish? Oh yeah, that was me...In order to dispose of the dead fish, I had to clean out the dishwasher so that I could clean out the sink (one of Rudi's lovely habits is piling things in the sink, even non-dish things, like napkins, ice cream boxes, whatever) so that I could give the tank a proper scrub. So needless to say, it took a little while. Riley kept asking me if I got rid of the dead fish yet, and I would say not quite yet, dear, but I'm working on it. She said "Mom, it's probably best if you don't tell me when you do it." Then it's probably best if you stop asking me.

I know I've told most people this, but just for posterity, Riley has started saying "I command you." As in, "Get me some water. I COMMAND YOU!" Funny at first, now quite offensive.

I'm gonna post this baby now so I don't forget!