** Update: Niki is doing very well, recovering better than anyone expected.  We’re finally starting to all hit a pretty reasonable groove in terms of coordinating things.

1. We went to the aquarium and Charlotte, She-Who-Has-Always-Been-Exceedingly-Wary-Of-Mascots-And-Generally-Rejects-The-Idea-Of-Being-In-The-Same-Building-As-Someone-Wearing-A-Costume (exceptions made for the circus), asked to take a photograph with the penguin.  Donald stood in line with her, she insisted that the picture be taken without him in it, and then we both promptly died from shock.
2. We’ve been more proactive about our cats and dogs being part of our family lately and as a result the fur-babies keep photo-bombing things.
3. Evelyn can walk now, but she still prefers to ape crawl all across the yard instead.
4. She is also forever stuffing my hair in her mouth.  I forgive her because she’s adorable, but have taken to wearing her on my back only as a last resort because my poor scalp can only take so much pulling.
5. Our new favorite thing to do is hang out at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.  If you have a kid who loves dinosaurs, I highly recommend the dinosaur hall.  Upstairs there is a little paleontology lab that Charlotte cannot get enough of.  A few weeks ago when we were there, she stood in one place and watched one of the paleontologists clean a bone for forty minutes.  The paleontologist actually came out and introduced herself since there weren’t any other kids around and Charlotte had been so focused.  Charlotte was completely star-struck.
6. Donald tandem-wearing his babies.  Oh, my heart!
7. In an effort to teach Charlotte how her bicycle works, Donald has involved Charlotte in every detail of fixing up her bike (we freecycled it last summer) and maintaining it.  It’s pretty sweet to witness.
8. Charlotte and I gave Evelyn half a banana and let her go to town.  Boy was it messy!
9. Just another afternoon sidewalk-chalking up the back patio.  Charlotte likes to tell me what to draw (i.e. “a flying dog).  I draw it, then we color it in together and she names it Grover.  Almost everything I draw for her is named Grover.
10. Again with the natural history museum.  Our second favorite exhibit is the nature lab downstairs.
11. Charlotte took this of me holding Evelyn up.  Not too shabby, kiddo, not too shabby.
12. I can never get enough of my babies loving on each other.