ABCs on Guitar

Every once in a while, the girls just need to rock out.  In this video, they play the alphabet song with Grampa.

Why the Face Pics during Eating?

 Mary Jane, Betsy Jo, and Jack have all inquired as to why Daddy takes the majority of his pictures when they are eating at the table.  They have complained that they rarely look good in these photos and they usually have food on the face (or in some cases with Betsy in her hair!).  There has been no comment so far from Daddy.  He just keeps taking pictures.

Time for an Afternoon Picnic

Lunch Time!

 This afternoon the Erb children decided to have a picnic in the background underneath the new swing/play set.  It's easier for them to sit about and make a mess as they know either the birds or the bunnies will get their stray vegetables.  While Baby Jack didn't have anything to eat (he still only eats once a day... peas... yum!), he participated by crawling underneath the large apparatus.

At the end of the feeding frenzy, the girls decided to flop for a mini-rest.  Jack's head, still up and about, wanted none of it.  Neither did the girls... they got up 30 seconds later to play on the slide.

My name is Jack, how may I help you?

Kids Not at Play

Relaxing in the Leaves

My hard workers also need to relax as well.  A little play and a little relaxation works well.  They didn't make leaf angels in this video but it is exceptionally cute.

Excellent Help

There's nothing like having good help and here's a good example of it.  Mary Jane and Betsy Jo helped their daddy rake leaves earlier in the week.  True, their purpose was self-serving: they wanted to jump up and down into the pile of leaves.  But they and Daddy all busted out their leaf utensils and worked hard for a few minutes before giving into the temptation of flopping into a pile of leaves or jumping up and down in them like they were muddy puddles.

Dog walker and mothers in strollers all just had to smile.  There's nothing like the pure unmitigated joy in watching two girls frolic in a pile of leaves.  And this being Los Angeles in March... who knows when those leaves will return for another stomping.

Eye See You!

I also like the crepuscular rays of the sun over parts of her face.  It makes Betsy quite radiant.

Another Sunday

Nothing like a perfect Sunday for weather.  Yes, that whole change of time thing can be bothersome... luckily for the children, they didn't know the difference.

In this picture, the girls learn that what goes up must come down.  They love the toy crocodile.

 Here little Jack is relaxing on the smooth carpet at the Well Baby Center.  Almost no one showed up for class today -- must have been the change of time blues -- but all three of our children were there.  Jack was actually quite transfixed by the music.  Betsy Jo and Mary Jane know the songs well enough to... well, ignore them at times.  But for Jack it was one big noise fest for him.

 Betsy Jo and Jack are hanging out on the couch together in the early afternoon.  Betsy had just previously said that she didn't need a nap.  Well, I think I could state that she needs one... but Jack didn't mind her being there.  He absolutely loves it when she comes over and calls him "Goo-Goo."

Here is a better family pic of the three.  Everyone look at the camera and smile!  Happy Sunday for all... especially that they know Mommy will be back tomorrow.

Fun with Leaves

There's nothing quite like jumping about in the fallen leaves.  Yes, this is California so this isn't October but rather early March as the only reason the old leaves are falling off the trees is due to the new leaves are coming in.  Mary Jane thinks about going snow angel but instead makes a bed of leaves.

Some day Baby Jack will look forward to it as well.  He's off screen on a blue blanket watching all the madness.

Hiatus

Oops, I've been away for a while.  Sorry about that.  But life, vacations, illness, laziness, idleness, and (fill in any other appropriate noun) has kept me from my appointed duties.  I shall add more pictures shortly.

Jack is now five months old and he can roll over.  He has the ability to hold a bottle for at least a few seconds at a time.  Oh, that's a huge milestone for parents.

Betsy Jo is speaking with greater clarity... although that low mumble voice she does in the morning can be unsettling at times.

Mary Jane is now three and has had a big cake for her party.  Yes, Deborah the Zebra was there to keep an eye on it. 

Really, more pictures and posts to follow.  I always wish to have more posts than the previous year but sometimes... life just gets in the way.  Kind of like a big truck passing another truck on the 10 East when we're trying to get to Phoenix.  They pass even though they know I'll be stuck behind them for an extra five minutes.  Hey, I have crying children in my car!!!

Wait, I'm ranting... I best be getting back to grading now.

Girls, Guys and Tea

This weekend Mary Jane and Betsy wanted to have some early morning tea.  Along with them were Paul the Panda, Phone Wolf (always known for his love of iced tea), and Lyle the Crocodile.  They all sat there and enjoyed their tea and scones for the morning.  Cheerio!

Girls on the Farm

 A few weeks back the girls went to Underwood Farms and had a great time riding on the tractor as well as picking berries and sitting on pumpkins.  Tis the season for pumpkins!!!

 Jack is hidden underneath my sling.

OK, maybe too many berries for Betsy Jo Jo.

Too Cool for School

Nothing says Hollywood quite like Betsy and Mary Jane.

Note: it's been a good season for our rose bushes.  I really do need to take a picture of them as they have blossomed something fierce.  Ah, nothing like the smell of roses in the front yard.

Oops, Took a Month Off

Yeah, well, what are you going to do when you have three children under three?  Something has to give and for me it is blogging.  I think I'll toss in a few pics here just to keep the loyal bloggers happy.

Here in this picture Grampa Kendall helps Betsy climb a tree.  She wasn't sure if she wanted to or not but there she goes.

Operation: Tree Climb seems to be a success.  Never mind that she wanted down about 30 seconds later but she still loved it for the brief time she was up there.

Baby Jack stole the show in Fresno last weekend as everyone came over to look at the new baby boy.  He kept his eyes open and looked at all the family members.  Yes, some day you'll need to memorize the names.

Here Mary Jane is looking at a small dog.  She's not a big dog person -- Betsy has always been the bigger animal lover -- but she didn't run away this time.

Looking at the New Guy!

Here Mary Jane and Betsy Jo are wondering who this Jack guy is.  They've heard all about him but now they get to see him up close and personal for the very first time.

Betsy's True Love?

Tonight as I was rocking a twisty-turny Mary Jane in her bedroom one hour after her prospective bedtime, she decided to start singing imaginary songs.  I asked her to sing a "Crocodile Song."  Her response: "Crocodiles have big teeth.  Chomp.  Crocodiles have big teeth.  Chomp.  Chomp."  Impressive.

Then she reversed my typical night time role of asking her which animals make which sounds.  So she asked Daddy, "What lion say?"  GROWL!  After a few other animals, she asked, "What fan say?"  I looked up at the rotating fan and replied, "Vroom vroom vroom" or something sounding like a circling fan.  She laughed so I guess that did the trick.

Finally she asked me, "What does Betsy say?"  Wow, there's a loaded question!  How would I know?  I responded that I didn't know.  "What does she say?" I inquired.  She glibly replied, "I LIKE PIZZA!"

Mary Jane Leads the Erb Caravan

Mary Jane is slowly mastering her tricycling ability.  In this video, she's working her way down Stanwood, the street adjacent to Dewey.  This was only her second time circumnavigating the block.  Hey now, it takes her almost 30 minutes for the whole trip.

Betsy was sitting in the wagon and was not in this video.  Betsy, at this point, can make the walk around the block but often lingers and wants to pull off flowers.  Oops.  Thus when she gets a little... tired and distracted... I place her in the wagon and off we go.  It's the Erb Caravan.

The Wheels on That Bus Went Up and Down... Too Much

Mary Jane and Betsy Jo took on their very first amusement park today as they went with Mommy and Daddy to Adventure City in Anaheim.  It's geared towards the smaller set.  There was a carousel (Daddy had never ridden one before), a train (a good slow ride), and a crazy bus among other rides.  Mary Jane went on the ride twice... Betsy could only manage it once.  Afterward Mary Jane said, "I don't like bus.  Up and down too much."  Indeed!!!

Overall a thumbs up for the park as it entertained our two girls for the two hours we were there.  Why so short of a time?  Hey now, they're toddlers.  They have nap times to deal with!

Crazy Bus!

Modern Art

Betsy Jo and Mary Jane had their weekly art fest in the backyard this afternoon.  If it's Monday, it has to be art day.  With each work I've learned more lessons... no more shirts to be painted upon, mix the paints with water, paint on grass, let them be.  Yes, whisper words of wisdom: let them be, let them be.

While that piece might not look like me to the untrained eye, one can clearly see a red pterodactyl in the upper left hand corner of the work.  I don't think that Salvador Dali could do any better.  OK, maybe he had the really cool mustache but Mary Jane has the artistic pacifier.  Normally I say no pacifiers unless you're sleeping but if it spurs such artistic genius, I will let her use it as her muse.

The girls especially like art day because early bath time follows that (yeah, extra time to wash out all the paint that ends up on their skin... and hair!).

Dare I say I feel like I need to sneak out there the next time the girls have a nap and work on some paints myself.  I have no idea what I would paint but there's always inspiration.  I'm not using a pacifier though.

Girls, Garbage Trucks, Good Times

Mondays are quite the fun-days with Mary Jane and Betsy.  You wouldn't believe how much excitement they receive watching trash trucks go down the street.  And the best news: three different trash trucks and they have to go east and west down the street.  Six times to see trash trucks!!!  No greater joy than seeing that arm reach down, grab the receptacle, raise it high into the air, fling it over the top, release the garbage, and then slamming it back down onto the ground.  Try it some time.  It might not awe you but watch it with a toddler.  Now I understand why little kids were so into Bob the Builder and stuff like that.

Of course that would just be six times to see the trash trucks doing their glorious deeds.  To maximize trash-dumping viewings, I pulled out the stroller and followed them down Dewey Street.  Interestingly enough, the trucks eke ahead a little more than the casual stroll a parent would use.  Yes, I could haul it with the Double Bob but I had my sandals on and as Mary Jane knows, I only run with my white shoes.  Sandals?  Maybe a deliberate pace... but never fast.  Regardless we did see lots more trash dumping today.

Happy Independence Day!

Mary Jane and Betsy Jo say happy Fourth of July to all.