Escalators

Lucy got scared on an escalator recently, and tried to get off again right as she was getting on, resulting in a bit of a tangle and some tears as one leg kept going and another didn't. I was already halfway up, unfortunately, and couldn't comfort her -- I had to go all the way up and then back down to help her finally make the trip. She was very sad, but the rest of us found it mostly funny.

You forget until you have little kids how much practice escalators take -- but once they figure them out, they're a source of endless delight. Who hasn't had a kid beg to go up and down, up and down? (In fact, don't I recall a much younger Ian doing just that with Aunt Mish in the airport?) So, here's to the ups and downs of life -- and to playing catch-up after not posting on the blog in quite a while. Birthdays, holidays, cranky toddler days, they're all part of this amazing ride we're on. We're still alive, and (mostly) loving it.

A few favorite kid phrases we've heard lately:

"Come back here, you little peepsquirt!" (Lucy)

In response to Ian jokingly threatening to punch her lights out, "No! I don't have lights!" (Nora)

And some pictures, in roughly reverse chronological order:

Family Home Evening -- typical expressions, right?

Ian's party, which included the coolest obstacle course ever, but I have only videos of that part, no pictures

Mother's Day (sorry, Lucy took all the pictures that day, mostly self-portraits)

Boomer's (a Chuckie Cheese-like place), which the kids earned with piano practice and various other chores they've been working on since January

Ian in Cub Scout uniform, having earned his Bear badge

Ian's (actual) birthday

S. rock climbing

S.'s birthday

There! All caught up. Have fun on the escalators.