Brothers & Sisters

The bambini have been getting along a bit better of late...except when they aren't. Now that she can give as good as she gets verbally, she's a more fun companion. Except when she isn't. And he's even sometimes pleased to have a little co-conspirator. Except, of course, when he isn't. Because like it or not, she wants to be wherever he is and do whatever he's doing--the eternal plight of an adoring little sister and eternal plague of a big brother. A few highlights...

I took them on a picnic Friday to Occoquan, to see the construction site in action. (He wrangled an invitation to ride the excavator, which he then declined in a panic; she hid her face in my shoulder the whole time and said, "I am scared of that machine!")

Here they are, helping each other down the stairs. "I want to walk down on my own feet and hold onto the bani-storm!" she insisted. "NO!" he declared. "You are too small. That is not safe. I will spot you." "O-KAY!" she said happily.

Then, he wanted to camp with Grawp, his excavator. Naturally, this was suddenly the best and most interesting idea she'd heard all day. She grabbed a dump truck and another blankie (and, inexplicably, a pair of sunglasses) and curled up beside him.

The best, though, is this series. She stole his Batman slippers (again), clambered up on to the trunk to escape his wrath, and decided that going down headfirst was both the safest and most logical way to descend. Look closely at the bottom left-hand corner of the last picture.

That's right. He's wielding a saw. In her general direction.