Not So Hoppy Easter

I took Tootle to the egg hunt at church today, and later we colored eggs at home. We aren't doing much hopping to and from Easter related events this weekend. Doodle has the flu, despite the supposed protection of the flu shot. Her fever rose to 105.7 yesterday (notice the commemorative egg), which prompted a quick trip to the doctor's office. The nurse swabbed her nose and the test was positive. Doodle hasn't had the flu since she was three; that time she lost four pounds. It takes Doodle a long time to gain that much weight so I hope that she doesn't drop four pounds again. She is still miserable, but we're hopeful that Tamiflu will at least cut the duration of the virus by a day or two. I have my fingers crossed that Tootle doesn't get sick too.

Motherhood Is Hard

Tootle and I had the following conversation this morning:

Tootle: When I'm an adult, I want to be a mom, but I only want to have one kid.

Me: You've always said that you want seven kids.

Tootle: I think it's too hard to have more than one kid. Two kids fight. (Interestingly, there were no spats this morning or any that I recall this week.)

Me: Do you think it's too hard for me?

Tootle: No. Do you think it's hard to have two kids?

Me: Sometimes, but most of the time it's pretty awesome.

Jump

The national champion Bouncing Bulldogs jump roping team came to our area, and both Doodle and Tootle participated in a three-hour jump roping workshop. Tootle wants to lift her legs separately, so she doesn't quite have the hang of jump roping yet, but she did love doing double dutch. Doodle reports that she could do up to Level 7; I have no idea how many levels they are, but Doodle can do some pretty cool tricks.

The Bulldogs, based in North Carolina, certainly teach discipline. They don't allow talking in their practices, which means that the kids are silent for up to 90 minutes. They also don't let kids compete if they get a C in school.

Movie Night

Friday night is often movie night at our house. We turn into couch potatoes (the theme of this week's FFFF), make some popcorn, and snuggle on my bed. Tonight's feature presentation was The Bee Movie. I give it two stars.

The girls don't watch much TV during the school week. Tootle loves Dora and Super WHY, but she isn't home during the day when these shows are on. Occasionally she watches Sponge Bob before dinner. Doodle makes sure that she catches American Idol (it's the only thing her classmates talk about on Wednesdays and Thursdays), and she likes to prove that she is Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. She also likes the Disney shows (Suite Life, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place), but generally only watches them on the weekends. I seldom get to watch anything that is on before 10 p.m. because Doodle goes to bed so late, so my top picks, in addition to American Idol and Grey's Anatomy, are generally reality shows like Project Runway. A little escapism at the end of a long day is always appreciated.

Doodle's Debut: Updated as FFFF

Doodle and her 4th grade classmates recently had their debut concert. The school's instrumental music teacher rocks, and he more than proved it at the concert. The concert was totally enjoyable, an extraordinary feat for kids who had been playing their instruments for four months, in my totally unbiased opinion. (OK, the clarinets were a little squeaky, but that's a really hard thing to get under control.) My one disappointment was that Doodle was hidden behind her music stand so I was unable to get any good pictures.

Doodle practices before the concert.Tootle and her posse play a Diego Nintendo DS game as they wait to see their siblings perform.
Doodle, the headless flutist.

The concert consisted of three selections performed by each instrument class, followed by a rousing finale by the whole band and orchestra.

Pajama Day in Whoville

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday (March 2), Tootle's school had Pajama Day today. Tootle also wore her Horton ears, courtesy of Target, and took her favorite Seuss book, Green Eggs and Ham.

Does Doodle Need an Agent?

This weekend Nana gave Tootle an iPod Shuffle. As Tootle bopped to the music this morning, I asked her what she was listening to. "Hannah Montana," she answered. "I love her. She's just a teensey bit better than my sister." I didn't know that Tootle considers Doodle to be a great singer. Will Doodle be the one to bring fame and fortune to our house, or is Tootle looking at the world through sister worshipping glasses? I think it's probably the latter, but cute nonetheless.