woo hoo doubly good day

today we finally got our act together and were all up bright and early, had our breakfast, got washed up and dressed and out the door. we've all had enough with being couped up here at the Somerset. we did not know how the kids would do with going out, but David, when i would not pick him up to carry him outside, just kinda thought fine then, I'll roll my way out. and that's what he did. he rolled all the way from out hotel door to the elevator. when he finished he was so dizzy he was wobbly. but the kids walked the several long blocks to the old quarter. we did so well in fact we got there before any of the shops opened. oops that's what happens when you wake up at 5am. luckily a really nice cafe across the street was opened and we had some drinks. we walked back over to silk street.  we had the kids measured for some really nice ao dais.  i've gotten them the pre packaged ones and some beautiful ones made in Hoi An -- but they turned out to be huge. we go back on Monday to get these. we walked and shopped for a couple of hours, and i was able to pick up two power ranger outfits for David. he LOVES his power rangers. in fact right after that he insisted on carrying the bag and Jeff said the outfits gave him special powers. we had to rush as it was pee pee time, and if you have a toddler you know there is no Hold It Til We Get Back discussion. so we made a mental note of some of the shops we want to go back and see. We went back to Hanoi 2 for lunch and David took out his new clothes and would hold them and happily say Power rangers (in Vietnamese) he wanted to put his new shirt on and started to put it on there at the table over his clothes. so i helped him out a bit. he loves his new wardrobe. David walked back almost the entire way and only asked to be carried about a block from the hotel. and figure we left around 7:30am and were back by 11am. well that's a lot of walking for a little guy. At one point he was so happy with his new garments he actually let go my hand and starting running and playing. if it hadn't been for the mean streets of Ha Noi i would have let him. but i had to grab his hand back and walk with him. he was so happy and confident that little guy. Emma did great too. Just a happy go lucky kid that one. they were pretty bored a few times with mom's lousy attempts at negotiations. (when you're haggling over a dollar, it hardly feels worth it)

David has gotten exceptionally good at communicating with us. He speaks to me in Vietnamese, and when he realizes i don't understand, he starts using gestures. he says eat with the hand to mouth gesture. potty time we know already and when he wants a drink he gestures the tipping up of a glass. smart boy that one.

we dressed Emma up in one of her Ao Dai's and all the Vietnamese people we saw would oohh and ahhh over her. she looked so cute beyond words. and when i first put it on her she squealed with delight and would twirl around and play with the soft fabric. she loves being the princess!!! i wanted to put her dress shoes on but she got her sandals, so i thought oh what does it matter. next thing i notice her looking at her dress shoes and putting those on instead. that kid has good fashion sense. she hated the stiff collar and would yank at it a few times  but she wore her outfit like a trouper. i was going to dress David up too in a linen outfit but we let him wear his new PR garbs instead.

The kids have quite a sense of humor. they started this new thing to pretend to cry. they walked into the kitchen and started "crying" emmay emmay. at first i thought, oh no not this again. it was AWFUL seeing them crying like that. but they were laughing and pointing and giggling. they were making fun of themselves and us. funny kids, huh??? so now when one of them gets all whiny, we laugh at them, and they just (for the most part) snap out of it. as if to say, okay you got our number.

they did gang up on us at dinner time. they both were in a very strong willed and feisty mood. so Emma ended up getting THREE time outs today. i don't think she's ever gotten one and was quite surprised we meant it when we said she needs to behave. she likes to stand up in her chair, which of course is dangerous as the chair will tip back. and she kept insisting and looking me right in the face to say, so what are you going to do about it. i mean this girl has gumption. so finally i said that's it, time out for you. and i took her away from the table and sat her down in the living room (a few feet away from us) boy did she wail. a few minutes later i walked over and asked her if she was done. she got up, took my hand and sat very nicely at the table. we're trying to discourage them from using their hands to eat. they'll use the fork to put the food in their hands and then to their mouth. i was going to let them get away with this until we got home.  But when we eat out, (and i can't always wash their hands first), they shove everything in their mouth with their hands and it's just gross! so today at dinner i started the process. Emma was quite upset with this new change to her dining habits, but after getting her time out, she was very much the good girl at dinner.