You've found the spot for updates on the lives of the Lareau girls and their parents.
We'll keep you posted with info and pics so that you can experience all the joy.
Meredith's school went on a field trip to the Botanic Gardens yesterday - specifically, to My Big Backyard. They learned all about bees, ate some honey, picnicked in the most perfect picnic spot imaginable, and then ran around for an hour like happy banshees.
Also, as you may have seen in the slide show, Madi is quite the stander-upper these days.
This is one of her favorite games. She can barely reach, but she tries to hit the keys. But the best part - and the part that really requires video - is that while she's randomly plinking away, she's also dancing. It's intermittent, to match the "music," but it's definitely dancing. HILarious.
I got up early to work, but hmmmm....it turns out I'd rather not. Here's some pictures I liked from California.
Traditionally, when we're in the desert, we rise before dawn and leave the house for walks, so as not to disturb the west coasters. That didn't happen this year. Meredith sleeps later, Madeline's sleep is unpredictable, and there were very few walks. I missed them. But I did squeeze one in, all by my lonesome. It was early, and it was beautiful.
And there was this, which I thought I should share because I'm betting most of you have never seen a cactus decorated for Easter.
The Easter picture was a challenge and we didn't get the pefect pic. But at least we took it, and at least Madeline didn't fall out of the chair. There's that.
Madeline is one. I remember driving to the hospital last year - actually in labor, rather than in dreadful anticipation of being induced - and enjoying the drive because it was a stunningly beautiful spring day - dogwoods, azaleas, tulips, and green, green grass. We drove by an Easter egg hunt, all the children in their Southern spring finery. It was a good day to have a baby.
Madeline is a joy. She beams. She radiates. People often ask "is she always that happy?" And she is (except when she's not, but that's rare, and usually earache induced). She's learned about 5 signs that she uses all the time. I was grateful when she started using the sign for 'more' rather than shrieking like a banshee every time she wanted a bite. Last week Great Grandma Poo taught her how to blow a kiss. Like her older sister, she seems to eschew toys in favor of things like cd cases and measuring cups. One exception is seen above - a deck of Spiderman cards that she plays with rather obsessively.
Madeline loved listening to us sing "Happy Birthday" to her - but she really loved watching Meredith and Walt dance as they sang.
You only wish you could have such a performance on your birthday.
It was a great day. We even managed to make homemade cupcakes, chock full of orange zest and cream cheese. I hope Madeline enjoyed them as much as I did.
It was another beautiful holiday in California...a bit more mellow than usual. We only left the house to lay in supplies (essentials like 47 avocados) and go to what was deemed a "Country Fair," but looked nothing like any fair I've ever seen. There was enough time in the pool to devise a couple different obstacle courses, and you'll see evidence of my athletic prowess in the movie.
So after days of relaxing by the pool and taking naps, and generally getting all soft and mellow, we were visited by a 7.2 earthquake. Good heavens. Give me a tornado any day. Plenty of warning with those. Cloudy skies, bit of wind, and super obnoxious sirens. Earthquakes give you none of this. This one went on quite a while and even the Californians around us were calling it a doozy.
Not long after that we all got ready to drive to the airport. As we ate our beignets (well done, Beth) we couldn't help noticing that it was a palm tree bending kind of windy day. Not surprisingly, this led to some turbulence on take off. The kind of turbulence that makes every passenger scream like a little girl--and is followed by the attendant picking up lots of barf bags. Awesome. We felt sick for about 72 hours afterward.
So now you know what we survived to bring you the following movie, produced entirely by genius-brother-in-law Dan (though everyone contributed pictures). I think it's fabulous that youtube chose the picture that's showing to represent the movie, considering it's one of my least favorite photos of myself ever. What am I doing with my arms? Weird-o.
This movie is LONG and probably only interesting to family members. Except for the first 20 seconds or so, which will amuse most folks, I think.
Just a little bunny humor to celebrate my blogging tardiness, since I've been sitting on about 200 pictures in my camera for several days now. Let's start with Midtown Easter hijinks.
The clan with the Bunny. And a fabulous Bunny he was.
The rising Kindergarten class of Peabody Elementary prepares for the hunt.
Walt, Mer, and all of the children, treated the egg gathering expedition as the athletic endeavor it is when there are dozens of kids and an open field involved.
One lovely mom brought cupcakes for all.
Papa. Performing one of his favorite tricks.I think Keddi will be thrilled that I've posted this.
Meredith and Charlotte spent about 20 minutes peacefully trading the toys they'd found in their eggs. There are some political parties that could learn a thing or two about negotiating from these two.
Keddi was here this week (thank heaven) as Chris was in South Carolina learning how to put bad guys in jail more effectively. It was fabulous, and a highlight was when she took all the girls to the Botanic Garden -- and My Big Backyard. I knew it would be cool, but it is amazing.
Spike and the Shoe Eater enjoy the lawn.
Queen Lyndi and Princess Meredith wave from the tree house.
Madeline is a joy. She beams. She radiates. People often ask "is she always that happy?" And she is (except when she's not, but that's rare, and usually earache induced). She's learned about 5 signs that she uses all the time. I was grateful when she started using the sign for 'more' rather than shrieking like a banshee every time she wanted a bite. Last week Great Grandma Poo taught her how to blow a kiss. Like her older sister, she seems to eschew toys in favor of things like cd cases and measuring cups. One exception is seen above - a deck of Spiderman cards that she plays with rather obsessively. 
Madeline loved listening to us sing "Happy Birthday" to her - but she really loved watching Meredith and Walt dance as they sang.
You only wish you could have such a performance on your birthday.
It was a great day. We even managed to make homemade cupcakes, chock full of orange zest and cream cheese. I hope Madeline enjoyed them as much as I did.
The clan with the Bunny. And a fabulous Bunny he was.
The rising Kindergarten class of Peabody Elementary prepares for the hunt.
Walt, Mer, and all of the children, treated the egg gathering expedition as the athletic endeavor it is when there are dozens of kids and an open field involved.
One lovely mom brought cupcakes for all.
Papa. Performing one of his favorite tricks. I think Keddi will be thrilled that I've posted this.
Meredith and Charlotte spent about 20 minutes peacefully trading the toys they'd found in their eggs. There are some political parties that could learn a thing or two about negotiating from these two.
Spike and the Shoe Eater enjoy the lawn.
Queen Lyndi and Princess Meredith wave from the tree house.
Cool.
Cousins.
Thank you, Keddi.
