A baby yak, pony rides-what more could you want?

A few Sundays ago, for our girls, not much else was needed! We heard about an indoor petting zoo nearby and we headed over.

(Point for parents-keep in mind, petting zoos are typically outside for a reason, not just the obvious reason of the animals wanting/needing/deserving fresh air and space, but at least for us, the less obvious, for some ridiculous reason, the stench!!!!!)

I digress, our girls had a BLAST!!!! They are so funny though, one wanted only to feed and look at the animals, that would be Jenna! She likes to be the observer and watch at a comfortable distance. Then there was Maya, who for the first time rode a pony-twice! She spent the majority of our visit there, yelling "More more nay-nay!" As Mommy and Daddy each took a loop round and round and round with Maya grinning on Trigger the pony, she showed her happiness and fearlessness as she let go of the saddle and put her hands up! (THANK GOD we were holding her!)

After we got home, the girls munched on a much needed lunch and then we opted for a full removal of clothes and everyone took turns bathing and showering to remove the lingering aroma of a petting zoo. The memories we would happily keep, the smell, I could do without! :)

Girls' Night, taking on a whole new meaning!!!

It was one of those nights I used to really dread.

Being home all day and then night while Daddy was at work. Knowing I was going to be the one getting both girls dressed, I was going to be the one cleaning up the floor after all three meals, I was going to be the one bathing both girls, I was going to be the putting both girls to bed, I was going to be at it all alone. By nightfall, those are the types of days that I find exhausting.

However, this night was not like that. The day just started off too well; Jenna helped me fold laundry--well I might add. She then took her pile on her own, brought it up to her room and put most of it away in the right places!!!!

We spent a significant amount of time during the earlier part of the day with Emmy and Sabba doing paint your own pottery and having lunch out at Bertucci's. We drove home and the girls fell asleep simultaneously only to stay asleep until I woke them after 2 1/2 hours! I managed to catch up with a dear friend uninterrupted on the phone for the first time in FOREVER and then get some serious organizing and down time taken care of!

The most amazing part of the day though had to be tonight. Jenna's request for dinner was sushi! She managed to polish off an entire maki roll and then some and Maya enjoyed a few as well! We talked about our day, about how good the food tasted and when I looked on the floor, all I saw were 5 grains of rice! WOW!!!

Our evening was completed with baths and by seamlessly putting each girl to bed. As Jenna and I read our last book "Silverlicious" she asked me "Mommy, can we get our nails done soon at the nail place?" My she is growing up! Jenna wants a REAL manicure? I told her we could do that as a special birthday present for her 3rd birthday. Her response--a mom's dream, "Well, Mommy how soon is that because I am REALLY excited and can't wait! Me and you together! FUN FUN!" Truthfully, don't know which one of us is more excited! :)

I love my girls!

She's got a memory like a vault!

How is that a child can remember details of events as small as one can imagine with such exact accuracy? Jenna's memory is downright near perfect!

She has proven to us that she doesn't miss ANY detail-sharing tidbits of information about playdates that happened a year ago, telling us each of her friends parents' and siblings names, reciting Hebrew blessings and songs in near entirety heard once or twice and finally the most astonishing of all, committing to memory her home phone number, Emmy and Sabba's home number, Daddy's work number and now Auntie Heidi, Uncle Dave and Lilah's phone number! The most astounding part of that, NO ONE explicitly taught her! She just memorized them from listening to us recite them to each other; and in the days of cell phones, we barely ever actually "DIAL" a phone number!

We often marvel at her attention to detail and how can recall where she wore an outfit last or what she ate for dinner many nights before. It's really mind blowing. So if you are faced with getting directions or trying to remember to buy something specific at the grocery store later in the week, tell Jenna. No joke! She'll remember!!!! And if you don't know where your keys, wallet, shoes, drink, whatever is-ask Jenna, chances are, she'll know!

Dear Maya,

I can't remember exactly when it happened and to be honest, it makes me a little sad it has, but you have definitely developed into a little kid-no longer a baby...

Maybe it is because you have now learned to say "No" and "Yeah" as appropriate responses or maybe because you have successfully sat on the potty a few times or it could be seeing you feed yourself successfully with a spoon and fork, but I catch myself looking at you and wanting to grab you up, snuggle you and hold you tight so you stay little a bit longer. But alas, that can't happen.

You continue to grow up to be a personality for sure. A little girl filled with such a HUGE heart, lovable, an amazing cuddler, busy as anything, an incredible climber, adventurous, fearless of nearly everything and funny as ever!!!

Daddy and I think about how crazy it is that when Jenna was your age (about) you were born. It's so hard to remember what life was like before you came into our lives and we feel so lucky to have you in it! xoxo

The Witching Hour!

GONE!!!!!!! We have found a method to erase (or at least lessen) the madness from 5 pm-6pm each night. HOW you might ask? A little song called "Twist and Shout."

One night about a month ago, amidst the howling and complaining of my two angels, I just decided to start singing. Not some boring soothing song, but some serious music-I went deep to The Beatles and came up with "Twist and Shout!" I continued to sing louder and louder over their noise and violently started waving my arms in the air from side to side and wiggling my hips. And wouldn't you know, they stopped. Completely perplexed, baffled, embarrassed, concerned-who knows... But they stopped. It worked!

Each night now, from 5pm-6pm, we bust out ITUNES, blast our favorite song and dance away! As their dinner cooks, Mommy can set the table, prepare the food and all the while, bust a move with her two favorite dancers! And let me tell you-can they twist!!!!!!! Now, after doing this routine for quite some time, the girls sing parts of the song along with the music-Maya knows the "Ahh... Ahh... Ahh.. AHHHHHHHH...." part and sings along, while you can catch Jenna rehearsing to herself "Well shake it up baby now!"

I am certain the neighbors thoroughly enjoy the immense laugh they get each night at my/our expense, but who cares-that dreaded horrible "witching hour" as I was always told, is now our own "Solid Gold" showcase. It is a whole lot less stressful and a LOT more fun! Now to just get it on film...

February Photos!

So sweet!

Addendum to Dear Ear Infections

As a child, I can recall being in the Emergency Room a total of twice-once at about 13 from summer camp due to a run in with a tennis net--requiring 3 stitches in my chin, and then after having my wisdom teeth extracted and having an adverse reaction to an anti-nausea medication which required two shots of Benedryl in the tush!

Our little girls, not accident prone, having never broken/fractured/sprained anything, have been to an Emergency room a total of 4 times now! This last run in due to a reaction to Bactrim-just like her Mommy had when she was young, but a different reaction.... Anyway, I'd rather not rehash the gory details of our visit at Winchester Hospital, but instead, please appreciate my acrostic poem:

Ear infections

Medicine reactions

Excessive pooping

Reflux-not chest pains

Gushing chins

Eventually being admitted-but only once

Nausea and vomiting

Compazine reaction

Yes, us 4 Farbers have surely had enough of the E.R.!

Dear Ear Infections,

Dear Ear Infections,

I HATE YOU! You have hit my little love Maya now 3 or 4 times and each time, except one, has slammed her--HARD! She is not a crier, nor a fusser or a whiner, but each time you come into the picture, you change that-which is usually how we can tell you have arrived.

This time, just as you did last July, you came in and were met with an anti-biotic that seemed to be "on your team." For not only did it not cure your annoying infection, but it hit sweet happy-go-lucky Maya with rounds of vomiting, screaming and most of all tears no little one should have to shed.

Our only triumph against you without any additional ramifications was the infamous "pink medicine." Everyone (except for me) LOVES the taste and it has proven to be relatively effective in battling against you.

So therefore, as we dress to battle you this time, with forces of Bactrim in our pocket, we hope hope hope, that you stay clear for quite some time and let our little peanut have a reprive!

The Farbers

Bob and Miss Rumphius

Each night when Scott gets home from work, Jenna asks him who he saw at work. One of her favorite parts of the day is to recount the people she knows and check if they were in HUNTS.

"Bob Watts" is a favorite, Maya has actually just started saying his name over the last few weeks! :)

Now anyone who knows Bob can see what a kind and thoughtful person he is, even at such a young age, the girls have a fondness for him. He has taken the time to connect with them, sending them personal notes, responding to their dictated emails, and even giving them gifts for holidays, birthdays and no real reason at all.

The most special gift the girls have received from Bob was the book Miss Rumphius/The Lupine Lady, even with a small note inside telling them to "Make the world a better place." (The message of the book.) Miss Rumphius/The Lupine Lady is a great story, sweet with a phenomenal message about doing what you can to improve this wonderful world we live in and such a touching story of family.

Just over the past few weeks, Jenna has been repeatedly requesting this book at bedtime. Scott has read it to her many many a night and each night she wants to talk with him about how SHE will be like Alice and make a difference when she is bigger. If that is not touching enough, Scott has shared with Jenna that his dad, Papa Jack, used to tell he and his siblings the story of how the lupines got to be all over the highways. Such a powerful connection for Jack to posthumously share with his namesake.

As the four year anniversary of his passing approaches this month, it was only fitting and honestly a bit too ironic, that Jenna requested when the snow has melted we "do just what Alice did and spread lupine seeds all over."

Papa Jack continues to live on through us and we hope to make this an annual family event in an effort to remember and honor Papa Jack and to help encourage our children to "make the world a better place." Thank you Bob! What a big impact your gift has made!

NO!

Maya learned how to say "NO!" She's been able to shake her head "NO!" for quite some time, but just today, she busted out with a very loud and emphatic "NO!" It's quite humorous to listen to and even funnier that she is using it correctly. Little, sweet, easy going Maya has decided, she isn't going to play doctor anymore if she doesn't want to, isn't going to use a particular baby doll if she doesn't want to, eat cheese if she doesn't want to and when she doesn't want to do something, she's going to let everyone know it!

Jenna: "Maya do you want to finger paint with us?"
Maya: "Umm, NO!"

Mommy: "Maya, how about some macaroni and cheese for lunch?"
Maya: "Umm, NOOOOOO!"

Exercising her right to say no, which is so precious to hear, happened more frequently than I would have expected, but I have the feeling until Maya can turn her bouncing up and down with her legs to a consistent "YES" with her words, "NO" will be heard a fair amount! :)