If you want:

• to freak Bitsy out, paint her nails bright blue while she's sleeping. In the morning she will be puzzled & ecstatic.
• fun books to read to your little ones, check out the Serendipity books written by Stephen Cosgrove. They are beautifully illustrated by Robin James, beautifully written, and each has a wonderful moral to teach young children. QM has our set at home & is sending them up to the FarmHands to read in installments (due to a mildew problem).
• are waiting for the weather to finally warm up enough to put up the kids' pool, you may never get it up this summer. We put ours up yesterday in a light rain & I fear the water may remain frigid most of the summer.
• to answer 8,000 questions about Judaism, Czar-era Russia, and sitting Shiva, watch Fiddler on the Roof with your 8 year old.