ten o'clock crazy

On Wednesday, this house-which usually gets crazy at three o'clock- got a head start on crazy when my mother delivered my nephews to me for a couple of hours in the morning while she attended to critical business. Mama was getting her hair did. The Baby was overjoyed to be back in the company of her cousins. And, my wish to spend more time with my nephews-who had, until two weeks ago, lived thousands of miles away-was fulfilled.

When toddlers congregate, they seem to multiply, quite rapidly. They are omnipresent. They grow 8 tentacles- and stretch said appendages to reach all four corners of a room. At one point- all three kids broke out into a hybrid tribal/ zombie dance- to music only the three of them could hear. Visiting toddlers are the best child safety experts- they are quick to point out the little spots in your home which leave a toddler vulnerable to danger and leave your home exposed to a toddler attack. They ask for things you have no possible way of producing for them- like 'teeny tiny little giraffes and hippos'- which I later found out might have meant 'crickets and grasshoppers' in Princess Commando's terrarium. Toddlers, also, give your IKEA Tullsta armchair the most action it has ever seen in its 8 years of existence.

But, then they sucker punch you with some divine sweetness. 

These two dragged the blanket up to the armchair, scooted underneath it, made a little nest and just smiled at each other for 15 minutes straight.

Happy Friday!

I was trying a half tone treatment on the toddler illustration. Not sure if I like it for this type of illustration. But, I was pointed in the direction of the online tutorial months ago and I've been meaning to try it. This is the first tutorial I've managed to sit through from beginning to end without scrapping the project-and which yielded the result that I expected. If you are interested, you can find the tutorial here.

parting words

My sister and the boys left yesterday. There is a giant empty space that only their bodies can fill. Our family felt complete-balanced even in the chaos of cousins clamoring for each other's attention. I know that my sister and brother- in- law want to move back here. It will happen. Hopefully sooner rather than later. As we shed our parting tears yesterday, the sky opened up and it began to pour. Henry nudged me, "It looks like you wished for the wrong thing, Mom."
"How is that?"
"You wished for rain the other day, when you should have wished for Aunt Bug to stay forever."
You can rest assured, that the only wishes that will spring forth from my heart (besides good will to all mankind) are wishes to bring my sister and the boys back to Buffalo forever.

Some images from their visit:

They were sharing a snack, hence the fingers in the mouth in all of the illustrations and in this picture.

The 7 Cousins

cousins

My sister is visiting from Las Vegas with my nephews, Gus (3) and Lu (14 months). Ahh, it is such happiness to have my family all together.  We have been fantasizing about what it would be like to have the 7 cousins together, especially the toddlers. We shared a vision of them falling into play- kindred spirits- dancing side by side to the Yo Gabba Gabba theme song. The theme song played, they took turns dancing-just not together. They are toddlers. They do not play together. They play beside one another- only crossing into the other's space or consciousness if the other has food in hand. 

 Last night we all gathered at my home. Gus and Lu found the toys without too much trouble and it was as if The Baby was seeing these objects for the first time (hello, they have been in the corner of the living room in plain view. We have been trying to get you to play with them for months). There were little bodies running to and fro- bumping into furniture and each other. "She knocked me down like a bowling pin!" Gus declared when The Baby collided with him. Oh how I long for my sister to move back home (The ball is rolling, she is applying for teaching positions here). I long for the title Aunt Amy to truly mean something to Gus and Lu. I need someone to spoil (especially since The Mr. and I are devoted to working diligently to un-spoil our overindulged children). I don't want Gus to only remember me for my ripped leather couch (that our late dog, Oscar shredded with his claws in fits of anxious pacing) which pinched his leg. "Aunt Amy, I hate this couch!"  He exclaimed. Me too, Gus. 

When their energy could no longer be confined within the walls of my home, we set them loose in the yard. In our quick set ghetto pool, Gus and Lu demonstrated their newly acquired swim survival/ self rescue skills ( I could not find an exact link to the program they use, but you can Google Swim Survival Academy). 

The toddlers briefly waded in the inflatable whale pool. The Baby was sly. She helped Lu into the pool. She enticed him by crouching down low in the water, swirling her hands in a hypnotizing manner until he started to drift under her spell. And then she popped up and splashed him in the face. 

Fool him twice and he's outta there. But, not before she christened the back of his head with water.

We have a little more than one week left with them here. I know that it will go by quickly. And that is okay as long as my sister receives some glimmer of a job offer and we can welcome them back home for good. 

The Army Crawler and The Drunken Sailor



Vivi and Lu did not know what to make of one another in their first encounter in five months. That is the equivalent of five grown-up years to an infant. They went through the typical stages: blank staring, indifference, acceptance, etc. And, then, they went on the lam. Lu was like a lightening bolt, army crawling across the hardwood floor. And, Vivi, in a show of camaraderie, crawled beside him on her hands and knees, despite having mastered the gait of a drunken sailor earlier in the week. Only one of them made it to the gate which separated the dining room and kitchen and hindered the passage to ultimate freedom. Vivi had the advantage as the terrain was familiar. Lu was sidetracked by the lure of unprotected outlets and electrical cords. Vivi delighted in her cousin's fetish for dangerous play things. They vowed that during Lu's next visit to Buffalo they would bribe the dog to chew through the wooden safety gate and carry them on her back down the short flight of stairs, and through the single wooden door, out to the backyard.