WATCH OUT FOR TADPOLES!

As I was driving The Wog to school yesterday, she very emphatically warned me to be careful of the "tadpoles" in the road. It took me a while, but I got there....she meant potholes! (I later learned that her father had explained all about potholes to The Wog the previous evening--while following me home from a birthday party and watching, apparently, as I hit every single one. I have a problem with the potholes.)

OLDIES BUT WOGGIES

The Wog's very good friends Bee and Eva sent us some pictures from visits recent and not-so. They are fun to look at to see how much the kiddies have grown. We'll have another chance soon enough when we head to The O.C. in April!

This set of pictures was taken just over a year ago when the Baltimore Lazurs came for a visit. I was let off the sledding hook due to the fact I was six months pregnant, but it looked like quite an endeavor--more trudging than sledding. (And I did enjoy watching...)


The Wog clearly enjoys being plopped down in a pile of snow. Eva? Not so much.


If you come to visit us and it is winter, we will almost certainly take you on a sleigh ride--whether you are into it or not.




Just chilling inside. (And literally! It was very cold that weekend!):


(This picture also features the world's most beautiful--and problematic--red bag.)

Way too good-looking for Glen Burnie:


JHU "purebread" spawn turn out quite nicely. (Alex, Lucky, Sark and Sasha, I'm looking at you, too. See you all at Freshman Orientation/Playfair 2022 or so...) The old "2x+1" formula of attractiveness clearly does not apply to our offspring:


And these are from this past Christmas, when the Lazurs (now sunny, happy Californians) came to visit in NJ. At the playground:




Duck stalking:



The Doodle (about whom Eva is unsure--look at her expression!) makes a rare appearance.


There was some serious lovin' going on:


(The girls have only met sporadically but they are really good little friends. In fact, The Wog's school has a "reading buddies" program from the local little kindergarten, and she insists that she is paired with Bee.)

WILL JUMP FOR JERKY

The Wog has become quite particular about what she eats, and getting protein into her can be a struggle. Imagine her father's surprise when he discovered that this girl loves herself some beef jerky.


I know a lot can be said about the allures of natural wooden toys free of blinking lights and offensive noises and plastic (or lead!) parts. But whoever is saying it has obviously not seen the adorable Animal Train. The Doodle received this for Christmas from Aunt Mary Beth, and we all love it--and it's blinking lights, colorful plastic and catchy (inoffensive) little tune.

UNINVITED

We kept joking that it was going to happen, but then this morning it did:






The snow actually burst through the glass window and screen into our home. Thankfully it was just the enclosed porch. All other windows seem to be holding sound. For now.

So far this winter, we have had nearly 130 inches of snow, which is the biggest snowfall on New Hampshire record. (The record, inexplicably, only dates back 30-something years, but still.) This house has been withstanding the elements (give or take a few floods and broken window panes) for over 100 years, so while it may have lost this battle, it is winning the war. But maybe we'll steer clear of windows for the time being, just in case.

VERMONT IS FOR WOGGERS

We took an impromptu trip up to Burlington, Vermont this weekend for some exploration and the Dan Zanes show. The Wog had a great time; the highlight of the trip for her, was--undeniably and unexplainably--the hotel. She kept asking, "Can we go back to the what-do-you-call-it-again?"

We went to the Echo Science Center which was fun and not nearly as grostesque as one might expect an exhibit on "Bloodsuckers" to be. It had it's moments, though; I'm sure the 10-year-olds boys just love it!

Coloring in her tick:


Meanwhile, The Wog's father attempts to filch a burger while being attacked by a giant mosquito:


The "tick" wall (Ick!):


Inspecting frogs and fish:



The Wog's father got morphed into one (look closely for his nose, mouth and beard):


Watching some of the aformentioned "bloodsuckers" be fed...or maybe they're the meal; I didn't get close enough to find out! (Notice how The Wog made her way right up front to get in on the action):




Our petite archaeologist:




Convenient exhibit/washing up place following the big dig:




It's in her genes:




The only shot we have from the concert, which is one more shot than we have of The Doodle from the entire weekend!


Pacina the Pacy Fairy is coming soon, but The Wog keeps delaying her visit. Here she is (The Wog, not Pacina) napping in her new favorite place:


We met up with Grandma and Grandpa on the way back home, and The Wog had to try on Grandma's glasses; The Doodle, meanwhile, was more interested in eating them.


I couldn't quite place who she resembled in these glasses, and then I remembered Madge:


Burlington is a great little town ("little" and yet the biggest in Vermont, and can the birthplace of Ben & Jerry's really be described as "little," anyway?) and I am looking forward to a return trip free of ice, snow, sludge and mud.

And a quick Wog-ecdote:
Grandma and Grandpa returned from a trip to Abu Dhabi with a gold chain and camel pendant for The Wog. When they gave it to her, they thoroughly explained that it is a special and valuable necklace because it's 21 carat gold. Earlier today The Wog self-importantly told me that she had to be careful with it because it is "very, very gold."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEAPLINGS!

We sure know our fair share of leap year babies!

Also Happy (Belated) Birthday(s) in order to Miriam and Amy, and an early Happy Birthday to Aunt "Bloria"! We miss you!

BROKEN WOGDOLL

I don't know if I ever posted this picture here. It's my all-time favorite photo of The Wog, and was taken when she was about 14 months old.