Tio Charlie comes to visit

Sofia's version of dress-up:

This past weekend tio Charlie came to visit and the kids were beyond happy.  Sofia only wanted him to hold her and wouldn't let me even get close.  I need to teach her the word "TIO" because she kept referring to Charlie as 'daddy.'  The boys definitely liked wrestling and climbing on him, but their favorite was the marble maze structure he built.  Diego got QB Maze for Christmas and we've all been a little annoyed at how easily it falls down - especially when you have a little person at table height constantly swiping her hands in search of something she can destroy.  The box has a picture of a terrific structure, but when I took one look at the directions to build it I closed it immediately.  It looked worse than Ikea instructions.  The next thing I knew tio Charlie was halfway through building it.  Check it out:

The kids were uber-impressed and quite taken with it.  That of course meant their little hands frequently touching it and fighting over it, which meant that pieces started getting knocked off and within a couple of days the whole thing came crashing down and a lot of tears were shed.  Charlie's friend was over and decided he wanted to switch one of the pieces....that piece happened to be a bottom piece and that was the end of the maze.  Looks like we need to get tio Charlie back here to build it again.

We've been having a lot of conversations about the future - mainly because of all the news of restructuring at Coke and because of the kids' education.  You mix the fact that it has been about 2 months of not knowing if I would have a job with Carlos' recent appointment to the PTA board and you get a whole lot of "strategic planning!"  I can't say we have gotten very far.  Some one sent me their life plan template which was interesting, but seemed to make more sense to use when you are just starting a life together...not three kids into marriage....

The conversation seems even more tangible given that some friends are leaving the Hill this week to move to southern California.  The movers took all their stuff last week so they have been staying in our apartment downstairs and we love having them here.  It made me realize how nice it would be to live next door to people we actually like!  We've been sharing child care and taking the kids to/from school - and having a built in playdate is priceless.  Charlie told me that we were SO lucky to have Luca and Mila living downstairs and I totally agree!

Ode to Sofia...and Thanks to Diego

Carlos says I spoil Sofia too much.  I'm pretty sure he said that about Charlie and Diego too, but Sofia is likely my last little baby and my only girl so I do spend a lot of time admiring her.  She is by far the most feisty baby we have had and the most strong-willed.  90% of the time I love that about her and admire what a strong person she will be.  The other 10% of the time I want to jump out a window.  The percentages may be reversed for Carlos.  I think Diego deserves some credit, because if he were not my bag of sugar- if he were as challenging as Sofia - I think we might have stopped at two kids.  But Diego was the sweetest baby.  It is hard for me to think that this summer he will turn 5 because he is still my little baby.

Sofia loves to sing and dance.  She sings constantly (usually no real words - just sounds she puts together) and loves to dance.  She especially likes to lead everyone in a dance routine.  She'll put the phone on the floor and gather everyone she can into a circle and make everyone dance. No one is allowed to stand on the sidelines.

Sofia also really likes dress up.  She likes to put on everyone's shoes - the bigger the better.  She likes to put on the boys' clothes and even non-clothing items like dish towels.  She tries to put on her own clothes but usually ends up with both legs in one leg hole or shirts pulled over her legs and up to her waist.  The most uncomfortable is when she puts on her underwear with both legs go in one leg hole. It looks like a terrible mini-skirt.  Doesn't matter how uncomfortable it is - she won't let you help her fix it.  Stubborn for sure.

Although she still doesn't talk that much (mainly just screams to get her point across), she catches onto other things quickly.  She basically potty trained herself and likes to show off about it.  She makes visitors come watch her go pee.

And finally, she basically rules the household. It may be because we are trying to avoid her screeching, but what she wants is what happens.  She'll run up to the boys and wag her finger at them, rambling nonsense and then finish with "k?" - as if to ensure they understood her orders.  She'll then march off confidently, sure that they are following her directions.  Poor Diego gets the brunt of her physical attacks; if she feels someone is not listening to her, not following her orders or not giving her what she wants - she goes in for her lethal grab.  I guess Diego isn't too big to intimidate her so she'll grab him so hard and he can't get her to release him.  He just whimpers until we get her to let go.  Mark came over recently and nicknamed her Hurricane Sofia which seems very apt.  We are often left reeling in her wake....Nevertheless, I think she is so amazing and I admire her so much...at least 90% of the time...