Tricycle outings

In effort to wear Marielle out before bedtime, I've been taking the girls out for a late-afternoon jaunt around the neighborhood pond--Marielle on her tricycle, and Genevieve in stroller. These trips begin so idyllicly, the sun shining down on the girls, my admiring eyes gazing down the sidewalk as Marielle speeds ahead, so full of her delighted determination. These trips, (as they so often do with a young child), sometimes also end in tears -- Marielle's that is -- mostly since we are teaching her that she can't give up and leave her trike two blocks away from the house and walk the rest of the way home. And this mom pretty much refuses to try and push a toddler in stroller and tricycle at the same time. And yes, I've tried shortening the trips, but it can pretty much happen no matter when we turn around. :-)

Nonetheless, we all look forward to these outings, and I am seeing this little girl grow in maturity and cheerfulness during them.

"Look, Mom, I'm using my muscles to push the pedals, and not screaming!", she informs

me proudly. :-)

I knew she was smart when . . .

at 15 months old, she learned how to do this:

I'll set the scene for you: Genevieve is politely eating her lunch, (Pb and J and mango), while Marielle is playing outside, not quite ready to eat her own. A tablecloth is down, both girls' seats have plates of food in front of them....This is how I left it at least. When I return, Genevieve has consumed her entire lunch, and deftly pulled the tablecloth toward her until Marielle's full plate of lunch was now within reach. She begins eating....

And somehow, I dont remember exactly how, we end our scene with this: crying baby eating her sister's lunch..I know, it doesnt make much sense.