Jay, Rose, Layne, and Paul

We gave Jay this glorious book for his birthday last week:

I love GOOD rhythmic poetry, and this one is historic and patriotic to boot. We’ve read it every day since Jay’s birthday, and Jeff and I have explained some of the colonial details to Jay (he’s rather intrigued by the fact that it wasn’t a war of good vs. evil, just a fight for liberty). Yesterday I was delighted to hear Jay and Rose running around the house, waving their Lego peewers while saying, “chase the redcoats down the lane!” and “we’re minute men!” This is such a thrilling, stirring poem. “The fate of a nation was riding that night.” Ahh, it gives me chills. If you want a little refresher, here it is: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15640

Here are a few more irresistible scenes from our week:

Reading party.

Biting party. Layne loves loves LOVES watching her big cousins play. It is SO CUTE and fun to watch her watch them.

Jay and Rose wear Layne’s cheeks out. Steph has one more week of classes, so we get Layne for only one more week. Sniff. Thank goodness they live just around the corner!

Rose sat like this in that box for at least 10 whole minutes the other day, snuggling with her bunny. Another time she was walking around moaning and holding her bunny in a funny way. I asked her what was wrong, and she said “bubby tying. bubby sad” (bunny’s crying, bunny’s sad). I saw that she had the bunny’s grubby little paws up on its face, in a clear position of sorrow. Bunny was crying into her paws. It was hilarious.

Jay and I built this magnificent palace together while the Rose Monster (aka Hurricane Rose aka the Block City Destroyer) took a nap. I love blocks. That’s all I ever want to give my kids for gifts: blocks and books.

Practically sisters. Except Rose calls her Wayne.

After I took these pictures, Rose said “Wayne heavy.”