"Popcorn"

Joseph recently got a large trampoline for the kids and, so far, it has been one of the best purchases!  The kids have a blast!  They jump and they run and they play with toys there.
While trampolines and bouncy houses can be dangerous, we feel that all sports are dangerous.  Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport, so we are just supporting our future Olympians!
Trampolining can also be a great exercise and a wonderful therapeutic activity that provides sensory input.  G receives occupational therapy once a week at the local public school and they use trampoline during some of the sessions.
G and Annika love playing "popcorn".  They do "popcorn" at their gymnastics and always have a ton of fun.
The kids must sit still on the trampoline and not move.  The adult jumps one or two times and the kids fly up!  It's a BLAST off!

These photos were taken with slow shutter speed, so they are blurry-ish.  I didn't know how to change shutter speed at that time, since the camera was brand new.

Doll girl

Annika's language is pretty amazing.  She speaks as well as G does.  Her speech therapist said she is very advanced in her receptive and expressive language.  I don't remember G talking like this when he was 3.5 years old.  She is definitely all girl who loves to talk.

When she grows up, she wants to be a performer at "Disney On Ice" or a princess.

Her favorite color is yellow.

Annika looking in the mirror:  I'm sad it doesn't look good.  

Me: What doesn't look good?  

Annika: I!

Me: Why not?
Annika: I need a tutu.

Annika: I tried your quiche and I don't like it.

Me: But, that makes me feel sad.  I made it just for you!  I put Dutch cheese and eggs and ham and broccoli in it!

Annika: Ham?  Maybe you should put some coconut in it instead.

Me: Annika, you are my cupcake!  I want to eat you up.

Annika: But, cupcakes are not healthy!

Me: Okay, then you are my carrot.

Annika: Yeah, a carrot.  But, I don't want to go inside your tummy, because it would make me turn into a little baby and I would have to come out of you again!

Conversation

Lots of my friends just had babies or are pregnant, so the kids are very interested in babies.

G: Mama, how does a little tiny baby gets inside your belly?
Me: Ummmm.... It just grows in my belly!
G: But, how does it get IN there?
Me: Ahem... So, daddy gives me a seed and I put it inside my belly and, instead of a flower, a baby grows!  Isn't it amazing???
G: But... how does a seed gets INSIDE your belly?
Annika (who was listening to the whole conversation): Do you SWALLOW the seed???
Me: So..... Ahem... Who wants CANDY????
G and A: MEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

The big girl - 5 questions

• What scares you the most?  Sharks
• What do you want the most?  More princess toys
• What do you hate? I hate boy toys!
• What do you love the most?  Princesses and fairies and rainbows.
• What do you expect from life? Play with Princess toys.

Annika, 3.5 years old

The big boy - 5 questions

• What scares you the most?  Monsters
• What do you want the most?  More Mario toys
• What do you hate? Poopies because they are so yucky
• What do you love the most? Mommy, daddy and Annika.
• What do you expect from life? I just want daddy to come home from work right now.

G, 5.5 years old

The bag

One of my Mother's Day gifts was a camera bag, a chestnut Silhouette (https://www.facebook.com/silhouettebags)

I love it!  It's big enough for a camera body and several lenses.  It is nicely padded and has many pockets.

Two days ago I came home and took the camera out of the bag.  10 minutes later I went to grab it, only to realize that it was missing.  
I found it when I stepped out on the patio and looked down.  

Apparently, I am not the only one who loves the bag. 

Mother's Day

My 6th Mother's Day was pretty wonderful.  Among other things, I got a new camera.  Joseph picked it all by himself, too, so it sure was a surprise.  I must say, I love the smell of a new camera!

In the first week of June I am going to a 4-hour Introduction to Digital Cameras workshop, where I will, hopefully, learn to use this camera.   I would love to finally stop using Auto and Program modes and do something with other buttons. Sometimes it's just too much for me to remember it all.

This workshop is very well rated, so I hope I'm not too old to learn something new.