The Real March Madness

For many people, the month of March is consumed by college basketball games.  While that is true for one person in this house (Ally), when your teams are eliminated early in the tournament you discover true March Madness - 13 kids under one roof!  Yes, we had a play date last week, we are desperately searching for ways to forget that it is STILL cold outside.  So, Tuesday we had 11 of Ally's friends over (along with six adults) and then on Saturday we had another 6 friends over.  The ironic thing was that on Saturday the play date was run by the dads who devised some American Gladiator-ish game in the basement with the ball pit balls.  So, technically you could add another 5 kids to that mix!  (And, of course, I got no pictures of either play date.)

Ally and Aaron are doing well aside from a severe case of cabin fever.  We did have a rather nice day a week or so ago when we headed out to the zoo.  We are planning to go again tomorrow, it is supposed to be cold but Nana got us a zoo pass that we need to activate before Wednesday.  So, we will brave the cold and hang out in the cafeteria if need be.

Aaron has become an adorable walking machine.  He walks everywhere and has even tried (unsuccessfully) to run when excited.  I love watching him toddle around with a cup or his blankie.  He will even bring me books to read.  His favorite is Baby Boo, probably because it has large pictures of other babies and a large mirror at the end.  Ally loved that book when she was little too.

Speaking of books, I have a bad feeling that my lovely little home library is not going to survive Aaron.  Ally wasn't too rough with the books.  She would occasionally stand on them or rip a lift-the-flap book, but nothing too bad.  Aaron is rough with them.  He reads them, then flings them around the room after trying to bend them in half.  Our books are quickly looking tattered.  Although, I will say, Ally destroyed one book beyond repair.  Working in a library, I had heard of books getting peed on and I always have wondered HOW in the world can that happen?  Well, when your toddler is so obsessed with a book that she sleeps with it every night and her diaper does not hold until morning... well... you get a soggy book.  So, now I have bought 2 copies of The Little Drummer Boy and Ally wins the award for most destroyed book (it was trashed).

She told me she was a wise man - I think Bear is a turban.

I am continually amazed by what Aaron understands.  For a few weeks now if you as him if he is ready to eat he will toddle right over to the kitchen gate.  He will give kisses when asked (slobbery but sweet) and he will 'go get Ally' in the morning by walking into her room to wake her up.  Last night I was excited to discover that he will go to bed when told.  I asked him if he was ready for bed (he didn't nap much and was tired) and he sped across the room and went right up the stairs into his room.  Rumor has it I used to ask to go to bed, maybe Aaron is like mommy in that respect too.

And, Ally is still saying crazy things.  Here are a few recent favorites:
We saw a river: When I become a dolphin I will swim in the river.  (??? Um... ok?)
Talking about climbing a tree: We can pray to Jesus to give us wings to climb up!  (Amen)
My favorite: Mommy, you are my best friend!  (Awwww)
Talking about an Easter Egg hunt: I will help hide the eggs and I will put them all in my room behind the dollhouse.  (I guess that is one way to get all the candy.)
Talking about patience: Patience is when (mommy) says in a minute and I wait and I get to watch two shows and have a snack!  (This must be her fantasy world.)
Reading the Nativity story: That angel looks like Miss Julia!  (Ally's Sunday school teacher.)