Kids? What kids?

So I'm in some trouble for having too posts about non-kid parts of my life lately. And I realized I never mention my job (and if you're a dooce.com fan you know why), the new class I'm taking (Photoshop at DCAD...no results to show just yet), the classes I normally take (Toning at the JCC...no results thanks to my post-workout cool down with Ben and Jerry), or most importantly, the TV I watch.  And TV is just really an extrememly important part of my life, so I'm actually quite surprised about that one.  WE ARE SO MARRIED.

Anyway, so to pacify those who are interested in the goings-on of the under-4 set, here you go!

Gabe is really amazing us with all that he can absorb and understand at such a young age.  He knows his letters, numbers to 100, all the planets, continents, and states - and for the latter knows some fun little detail about each one (and is EXTREMELY disappointed when we don't know anyone in a state, so if you have any friends in Kansas please introduce me).  And his so-grown-up vocabulary is simply hilarious. Hearing "Hmmm...I suppose we could go there for dinner", or "Excuse me, Mama, but I really need to talk to you. It's very important.", or "I think I'm just having a bad day" couldn't be funnier coming from someone in dinosaur pajamas and a Pull Up. 

But as much as he wows us with his smarts, we are completely overwhelmed with his ability to talk back, throw tantrums, cause injury and chaos, and generally make you want to head for the hills.  Today for example we went to see "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" at the Dupont Theater and went for lunch with friends afterwards.  In the mere 45 minutes we were in Quiznos, he a) flung 14 oz of apple juice all over himself, me, and about 20 square feet of table and flooring, b) had to potty twice, c) threw a tantrum because the paper towel in the bathroom ripped, d) threw a tantrum because he could only have 1 cookie instead of 2, e) received a spanking, and f) ran away from me despite threats of another (e), fell, and scraped his hands.  I actually had high hopes for this particular outing, but all it did was make me want to head back into the office.  Forever.  It's a good thing he's knows those states.

Riley is developing a mind of her own as well, but luckily can't talk back yet!  She has a few words, namely MAMA!, uh-oh, and dadadada, and is such a happy girl she spends at least a few hours a day clapping. But the weather has put us outside a lot lately where Riley sees all the mulch, rocks, and acorns and thinks: lunch!  It matters not how many times she hears NO or has this stuff fished out of her jowls, she is undettered:  there WILL be a rock in that diaper.  Stay tuned.