DESTRUCTION

It's gotten to the point where Ida can often entertain herself for periods of time; often she's just hanging out in her closet, pooping, or moving all the pharmaceuticals from the closet into our bed. Last night we were having an adult conversation in the kitchen and left her alone for a while. I decided to check on her, but it was too late.

Some Photos that Amy says are like her favorites of Ida

Isn't that nice? Amy is nice, and so is Briana.



Lately, Ida thinks she's cool.



When she reads "G is for Goat" she has to kiss every goat in the book, so it takes a long time. Beware!

FIRE

While Dad was knocking on the gates of American Literature today, Ida and Ida Mama lit up a big fire and went Rut Vining. Instead of wieners, though, they had some meatballs and marshmallows...



How about that DKV, ya pyro? Some say Ida preferred the marshmallows to the fire.



These two ladies (and baby) were showing off their bellies the other day, but the camera wouldn't recharge fast enough to catch the skin.



As Ella said, "Well, you know, some moments aren't meant to be photographed, and sometimes people don't like to be photographed."

Ida Cries and Laughs at Tumbleweeds!

Sometimes at daycare they just like to make Ida cry and take pictures of it!



Aw!



Just kidding, Tumbleweeders!



And thanks for the photos!



And the worms, Briana! Thanks!

Ida vs. Stripes

Pretty slow, round here. Lots of work. Not like anyone is making anyone else drink Dr. Bonner's Soap or anything. But Ida has strong feelings about choosing her clothing these days.



(She's pro-stripes.)



and likes to sit on her Mama's ever-diminishing lap:



Here's her friend:

Full Fit + Further Wisdoms of Elsie

It was really hard trying to fit these three car seats into the Honda Fit. But I did it, and got these three girls to school. It's nice; Ida and Elsie like to hold Baby Theo's hands while they ride along. Elsie has been downright revelatory lately; this is another in a series of conversations (where I'm driving and the girls are sitting behind me):

[This conversation has been redacted because someone on-line labeled it "inappropriate"; that's Elsie, for ya.]

(In a conversation yesterday Ida asserted that she was a tiger; Elsie stated that she was a boy, then changed her mind and decided to be a tiger. Ida said, "No, no, no, no." Eventually they compromised: Ida was a big tiger, Elsie was a little tiger.)

All Action at Tumbleweeds

Actually it's just "Tumbleweed," but Elsie has ruint us all. It's a nice place (evidently even Baby Theo goes there, now?) and I stole these pictures from them:





(Nice to know that Elsie makes this "Bradford hide your upper lip" kind of face when at school.)

the famous slumber party.

The aforementioned sickness laid out Mama so hard she missed her first day of work EVER. Meanwhile, Dad was also ridiculously ill and flew away to Utah to talk about himself. Who leapt in to helP? Uncle Arthur, Aunt Maggie, and those friendly cousins Elsie and Theo:



It was the first slumber party ever! Much lobbied for by the Vining-Bradfords, who took full advantage of this moment...

iPhoto from Arthur's iPhone