We were very busy yesterday

Gamma Rosie and I are making a music video which could get Gramma into trouble. Yesterday we used some locations, backdrops and props without signed releases; as a result, Gramma Rosie said our short film might not be released until the Sundance Film Festival or until she's carefully out of sight on a flight to the Himalayas, whichever one comes first. I want to go on record here and now that Gramma gave me permission to break a few rules with the promise that I wouldn't repeat the performance without supervision or permission. All actions were done for the purpose of artistic expression, and while I was the performer, Gramma Rosie was the Choreographer and director, so any complaints must be filed with her if you can find her.

After working in the studio for most of the morning, we headed off to Staples to buy a few supplies. I got some neat workbooks and Drew latched onto another set of bathtub paints. After supervising crafts with both of us and then seeing us paint bathtub graffiti, Gramma Rosie said you couldn't pay her enough to home school us, so if you've given that any thought, forget it. She said go ahead and send us off to the great unknown when we are four and let the teachers earn their money.

THE GIRLS ARE BACK IN THE KITCHEN

Last night we slept like logs and woke up happy as new seedlings. Gramma Rosie and I were cooked out after Dad and Drew's birthday week, so Grampa Jimmy and Drew had eaten nothing but a boring diet of cheerios for the past three days. Needless to say, they were very happy this morning, when suddenly, the girls were back on their game. Gramma Rosie and I returned from our hiatus and pulled out all the stops. The boy's smiles lit up the kitchen when they heard the sound of rattling pots and pans. After we made and served our special French Toast, we took group pictures. Mom, Dad, Uncle Kerry and Auntie Maria don't know what they're missing. Our French Toast can compete with any vegas rendition.

We are finally getting the grandparents trained

Drew and I have been training the grandparents. Sometimes they don't realize that we are growing up and we are very smart. Today, Grampa Jimmy and I argued about how to run the TV and Blue-ray through the PS3. Gramma Rosie doesn't even know what a PS3 is, so she's out of the equation. Anyway, I'm trying to teach Grampa Jimmy how to do it but he's a little slow picking up new technology. Another thing, Drew is just as independent as I am and doesn't want help unless he ask for it. This is kind of hard for Gramma Rosie who always wants to help even when Drew says, "No help. No help." Drew learns new words everyday, so the grandparents need to be paying closer attention. Yesterday Gramma Rosie played "This little piggy went to market" with Drew's toes. Today Drew pulled off Gramma Rosie's socks, grabbed her toes and said, "market," and Gramma Rosie said, "What are you doing?" She really needs to sharpen up. One more thing, Gramma Rosie is a teacher, but she doesn't know everything. Today, while working on crafts, I told her all about dinosaurs; she seemed shocked by the information. She really needs to expand her knowledge base. Fortunately, she is learning a lot for me and Drew. Tomorrow we are playing in the dress up clothes. It should be a great day.

Gymnastics is my favorite activity

Every time I want to go to gymnastics, I remind Gramma Rosie that she says: "a busy girl is a happy girl." Drew and I jumped until our legs almost fell off, and Gramma recorded our progress. I'm almost ready for the Jr. Olympics. On the way out, we played games in the rec room. Grampa and I played the Hockey Game while Gramma and Drew did the Skip Bo. When it was time to go, Grampa couldn't get Drew to give up the balls. In fact, Drew threw his first big fit and hung on to the balls and the machine. Then he launched himself around the leg of the machine so Grampa lost his grasp and almost fell on top of Drew and his blanket. Grampa finally collected himself, but by then Drew was running across the game room to the next machine. Gramma was trying to get her camera rolling, but she missed the action. Without proof, Mom and Dad will still think he is the "good" child. When we got home, Jimmy and Drew were so exhausted that they had to take a nap while Gramma and I did our arts and crafts.

Our Trip to City Hall

First, Drew and I snuggled with Grampa Jimmy. Then, Gramma Rosie and I decided to make a family trip to City Hall. I can't tell you what we did because Daddy didn't think it was funny, but it was an adventure. First we trudged through the snow and I showed Gramma and Grampa all the places we walk when I'm at Day Care. Now I can tell my friends that I went inside the buildings. I might even tell them what we did. After we climbed the steep steps and went inside, I signed in at the City Hall and talked to all the people I saw. Drew and I rode the elevator. Then we went home and played in the snow.

Happy Valentines Day

I wrote out all of my valentine cards last week, so I'm ready for today's party. Gramma Rosie said some kids might need to use their imagination to recognize their names, but I just laughed. The kids will be more interested in the chocolate hearts and mechanical/princess pencils I'm giving away. I dressed up for the party; as a result, I'm so cute that Gramma Rosie and Grampa Jimmy thought about taking me to Hollywood for a "child star" audition. Drew wasn't about to get decked out for a valentines party when he can talk Gramma Rosie into a chocolate heart without having to go out in the cold winter snow storm. It seems last night he kept Gramma Rosie and Grampa Jimmy awake by demanding to snuggle at 2:30 in the morning; baby Drew usually gets his way. The bottom line is the grandparents are a little haggard, but Drew and I are cruising. As you can see, I wrote my name all by myself. Gramma grumbles about my parents saddling me with such a long name and then calling me AJ. Fortunately, I'm smart enough to write long names and answer to anyone with a smile on their face. So, despite the -7 degree temperature with a wind chill of -14, I'm on my way to the party. I'll report when my chauffeur delivers me back to Gramma.

Nine degrees outside and we went swimming

Gramma Rosie says it is a three hour turnaround. It takes an hour to get everyone's coats, boots, hats and gloves on, pack up the snacks, towels and blankies, heat up the car and drive there. We spend an hour swimming and then reverse the effort. Still, Drew and I have a blast, so she thinks it's worth the effort. I'm swimming like a fish when I feel like it and like a toad when I want to play. Gramma offered me a bribe to swim halfway across the pool; just to make her happy, I cooperated after she put the camera away. Drew is having fun in his Ducky and sort of jumping off the side. I'm not sure if it's a jump or a "fall in" but everyone cheers and claps, so he thinks he's done something great. That's the great thing about grandparents–they think everything we do is great. Now they are passed out from the outing and I'm playing.

The Birthday Boys

Drew is two on Valentines and Daddy is forty the day after, so Gramma Rosie and I spent two days making cake for Drew and cookies for Daddy. I am cooked out but still interested in eating the chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies. I helped Drew open his presents; he got fun toys and we played until everyone was exhausted. Gramma Rosie says: "Memories are made of this."

Gramma's Chocolate Shop

Finally, I got to take a picture with Gramma Rosie in my Rosie's Chocolate Shop shirt while holding Valentine Chocolate for my class Valentines Party. Of course I had to have a heart; then Drew got into the act and had a chocolate heart also, but he doesn't understand "just one," so life became a little difficult after that. Then we spent the afternoon getting ready for the birthday party and snuggling together watching the snow fall.

The Birthday Cakes

In the process of making Daddy and Drew's birthday cakes, Gramma Rosie and I made flour and powdered sugar snow inside the kitchen. Our inside looked just like the two feet of snow falling outside. We had a few glitches along; plus what Gramma Rosie called a "snafu." Our kitchen cabinets are full of "stuff," but we couldn't find any baking soda, so Gramma Rosie got on the internet and read that you could substitute baking powder for baking soda by doubling the amount required. With that info, she turned me loose to count out six teaspoons of baking powder and dump them in our bowl. As usual, she didn't pay attention to detail; instead,she was busy videoing our progress, so it was no surprise to me when the playback revealed her inadequacy as a cooking instructor. She forgot to tell me to add salt and she didn't say the teaspoons should be level. My teaspoons were a little large, but as you can see, I made up for it by I catching the bowl before it sailed off the counter. The end result is that mommy needs to come up with an outrageously great frosting recipe to counteract what Gramma Rosie calls "our little snafu."

Gramma Rosie says busy kids are happy kids

Daddy was home today, so we got to loaf a little even though we still ran around the play structure at Kingwood for almost two hours. Grampa Jimmy didn't catch Drew when he came flying down the slide and Gramma Rosie wasn't paying attention when Drew went down the slide without her, but he's only got a few bumps and bruises and they shouldn't be too noticeable by tomorrow. Drew and I had craft time, put together puzzles and played with blocks. Live is good.

Gymnastics was Fantastic!!!!

Gramma Rosie and Grampa Jimmy started off in a state of disarray because both of them had missing underwear. For the life of me, I don't understand why grownups panic over such things. I said, "look in Mom and Dad's room," but Gramma said, "No Alexandra, it wouldn't be in there." Once again she was wrong because the cleaning lady put her things in with ours and sure enough, all the missing pieces were located so we could get on with our lives.

Today we went to gymnastics during open gym and Drew and I showed off for everyone. I learned to do the seat and knee drop and Drew learned to bounce on his own. He had a hard time because he wouldn't let go of his ball, but he had fun just the same. When we got back, Drew took a nap. Gramma and I got out the art stuff and she hustled around cleaning up after me as I did my masterpieces. Then Grampa and I played games on his ipad. I know more about it than he does, but I let him show me a few things so he won't feel so far behind what Gramma Rosie calls, "the eight ball."

Gramma Rosie lost my post

I'm so glad that I can operate everything by myself now because Gramma Rosie and Grampa Jimmy are slowing down to a standstill. Last night Gramma lost access to my blog, needed help with her camera and lost her unmentionables in the laundry pile-up. Add to that, Grampa Jimmy couldn't get my videos on the TV screen. Drew and I had so show him everything. I'll admit it was a long day. We spent two hours making, eating and cleaning up the Beignets project, but it was worth it. They were scrumptions. After that, I worked on craft projects while Drew took his nap; then we headed to the mall for a little shopping and a lot of playing in the play structure. We had a great time playing with the kids at the play structure and found everything we needed at Wallyworld. Dinner was a free for all with everyone wanting their favorite food. I said "Mommy gives me choices." You know Gramma, she wasn't about to be out done by mom, so she let me choose a sandwich with the small bagels she let me purchase. Drew went for the Nunu's and Grampa Jimmy had picked up some "man's meat" from the wallyfreezer."

Most important, we had a fun day and Drew finished it off by making a football picture for Dad. Good night for now and stay tuned for breakfast of French Toast in the morning.

Time to call it a night

While Drew took is nap, I tackled my drawing and writing projects. Gramma Rosie said no one in our family had ever been what you would call a "good student," so everyone is putting all of their marbles on me. I wonder what she meant; I haven't seen any marbles anywhere. Anyway, I told Gramma Rosie that Mom wouldn't mind if I wrote out my valentines. Gramma wasn't sure I should be doing them, but since she was busy talking to my Dad, I got started and had the first four done before she realized it and hung up the phone. Craft time was over the top; Drew and I played with the stamps and thought the new ink was awesome. I can't wait to try it again. After dinner, Drew and I wound up our clocks and stated going full force. We trained for a marathon and polished up our circus soleil act. About the time we were getting our second wind, Gramma Rosie and Grampa Jimmy's wind was long gone. They were starting to nod off, so I had to remind them that Drew and I have a curfew. Gramma Rosie's tummy was feeling weird thanks to someone's diary in the pool and she was ready for bed herself. I wanted to tell her she was starting to get lazy, but decided to let it go in hopes of a wild day tomorrow. Who knows what morning will bring.