Back to "normal"

Mom and Dad left a few days ago and as always I was nervous about handling these two energizer bunnies on my own again. But as always it's easier than I'd anticipated. It's so nice to have a clean lanai - thanks to mom and dad, who scrubbed and carpeted and cleaned for hours so the kids would have a comfy playroom. We spend most of our time out there, especially if Nina gets her way. She just loves being outside, more than I remember from Kai's early days.
Last night the kids ate dinner out back...I ran in to grab something and came out in time to see Nina ON TOP OF the patio table on hands and knees with Kai's SHARP FORK trying to eat his dinner. This girl climbs anything and everything, can't leave her out of my sight. And, as mom said, I should be less worried about Nina hurting herself and more worried about Kai hurting Nina. He's been a bit aggressive with her lately, but she can usually hold her own. She's got attitude! Really. She bites, hits, paws, claws if she really wants something (like the computer...or my wallet...or the keys...or a toothbrush).
Kai still seems to love school, doesn't fight it ever, not even once while Meece and Fud were here. Brings home some kind of artwork every day, and comes home pretty dirty from playing outside. When I arrive to pick him up it's quiet visiting time, and he isn't usually ready to leave. His best buddy I think is his teacher's son, Devin, who this morning said, "Hi, Pie!" and they both cracked up.
This sense of self-awareness that Kai is experiencing is kind of sad for me to observe. The other day I dressed him (Nina picks out her clothes; Kai doesn't) and he said, "This doesn't look cool, Mom. The shirt is too long." But in typical Kai fashion he forgot about it within seconds. At the park the other day some older girls were kind of mean to Kai; he wanted to play with them and was innocently chasing them and doing whatever they were doing. They said, "Stop copying us!" "You can't play with us!" But he persisted, more like his dad and less like his mom, and pretty soon the girls were allowing him to run along with them. (A grandpa said, "He screams like a girl!" What a prick. I wanted to hit him. Kai was oblivious.)
The highlight of Mom and Dad's visit was Yosemite. We all felt so invigorated and alive. Our cabin was just perfect, beautiful, quiet, and right outside of the park. We hiked in a sequoia grove the first afternoon, the next we visited the Valley, saw the major sights of interests, ended the day with a hike up to Sentinel Dome. Kai wanted to go all the way, but we were warned all the way up that it was too windy and cold for him. So he almost made it and we kind of fooled him into thinking he did the whole thing.
I'm home with Nina this morning, no work from Michigan this week so canceled the babysitter. I wish every day were like this. Kai woke up early enough so we didn't have to rush to school; I got to go to the coffeeshop and sit outside with Nina; she gets to nap in her crib! And I get some one-on-one time with her, which rarely happens. I'm mourning the fact that she's almost weaned from night feedings. Mom took on the task of rocking her last week, the first night was awful and there is no way I would have let the crying persist if we weren't going to NOLA next week. But after that first night, with the exception of a bad cry here and there, she's doing great. Waking up just once in the night for a snuggle/rock or pat on the buns.
The past two nights Kai has incredibly fallen asleep while reading bedtime stories with Nate. Here's a picture.