Rooftop Antics

Thomas has developed a knack for climbing up sheer surfaces and is here pictured enjoying the view from our garage rooftop. When he was 4, he would climb onto Simon's car roof to play. (Exactly what the appeal of that activity was we never did determine.) Now it is this roof. How long before he is climbing onto the house roof? I give it another three years at most.

How Could We Forget Easter?!

Easter was quite some time ago but, since we really did have Easter hunts and actually remembered to take pictures, we might as well include them here. Frederick, after following his trail of clues, happily rips into the presents in his Easter bucket.
And here is Thomas who insists that although he is very mature (and should be left alone to buy whatever he wants whenever he wants from the neighborhood "party store") nonetheless insists that he is "owed" an Easter hunt and basket.

More Frederick Art

The eyebrow look (Tyrone Powers/Bette Davis):

The big-nosed person:

Eyelashes make their appearance:

Frederick and Emily

To say that "Frederick is fond of Emily" is to utter the understatement of human history. When he sees her walk from her car to our house, his face glows with excitement. I have seen him, at the moment of her entering the house, dive under the blanket on our couch squealing, "Shy!" This weekend, he spent many hours searching the house for every photo of Emily and surrounding himself with them wherever he went. Yesterday, we found him drawing this:

Frederick had drawn himself and Emily and then asked Simon to write the names underneath. (Frederick is perfectly capable of writing out whatever he wants wherever he wants--just check our walls--but why write when you can order your father to do it for you?) Simon used a blue pencil (a Ferby!) which F. then took to add the forgotten Emily ears. I especially like the bold sweeping line, symbolizing them holding hands. [There are all sorts of (pretty questionable) articles in existence that claim that you can determine one developmental level of a child by analyzing their drawing skills--one chestnut is "the more small parts the child draws, the more mature the child is". A few months ago F's favorite body part was hair--one drawing of Thomas featured a quite dramatic hair-do. Then the hair disappeared by belly buttons appeared--every person and animal had a belly button to flaunt. Then we saw noses of all sorts, shapes and sizes. Last week it was eyebrows--huge, bold lines that you wouldn't normally see on any person not in a b/w silent movie. Now ears have appeared. As usual, Frederick defies simple categorization.]

In Like a Lion, Out Like a...

We woke up Monday morning to this...

Frederick, as always, appreciates a good snowfall and spent much of the day outdoors. Thomas, however, barely noticed as he was sick in bed with the worst cold and/or flu he's had in two years. (Make that the only cold and/or flu he's had in two years.) He woke up crying about 5 am (never a good thing) with a splitting headache. By noon nausea was added, and by late that night a gurgling cough and a sore throat. So no school for him. Or the next day, or the next...or the next...or the next. Thomas spent five days in bed, barely moving, hardly even talking and during that time ate three popcicles, an ice cream bar and a few pieces of toast. Finally today (Saturday) he managed to get clothes on and was able to move about a bit. It just about did him in and he is now back in bed, struggling stoicly (stoickally??) to get caught up with his homework.
We were also treated to a bit of sun today and found signs of spring in our yard.

No signs of green on any trees and the yard is mostly mud but with daylight lasting until after 8 pm, it does feel that we are finally climbing out of winter. (And, best of all, next week is the last week of this semester!!)