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13 Huge

23 Feb

B has new favorite adjective – 13. Yep, that’s right.  13 is more than a number now.

B uses 13 to mean “really big” “really tall” or  just “really  cool”.

I am not sure how the word 13 started to mean more than just a number to B.  It started sometime last week and he has been using his new 13 phrases several times a day.

He uses 13 like this:

“That tower is 13 tall!”

“It is really huge!  It is like 13!”

“It is 13 big, Dad!”

“Whoa! That water slide is 13 huger!”

So apparently, 13 is humongous, towering, magnificent, colossal, awesome!

I asked B, “What do you think 13 means? Isn’t 13 a number?”

He replies matter of factly, “It means it is 13! 13 Huge!”

OK Then.  B is 13 Huge to me.

“When I was older…”

28 Jan

B tells stories lately that start in one of these 3 ways:

“When I was a baby….” (Insert funny story here about something that he did or did not do as a baby…. Usually this is something silly, or something he saw CJ or another baby do.)

For example, “When I was a baby, I ate my food like this.” or “When I was a baby I really liked Super Mario Wii.”

“When I was older…” (Insert something here that he wants to do when he gets older, or thinks he did in the past, except he was older.  This was also the inspiration behind this post about 20 things I would do if I was a kid again)

For example, “When I was older, I went to work with Dad.” or “When I was older, I liked to go bowling.”

“When I was a kid…” (Insert random funny story about something that he thinks is in the past, now that he is not a kid?  Sometimes this is the start of a request for something he wants to do now, or a strange combination of past & future.)

For example, “When I was a kid, I ate a lot of pizza.” or “When I was a kid, M was a baby and CJ was a mom.”

What will he come up with next? It is fun to see what his imagination dreams up.

Pipe Dreams

1 Jan

A few months ago, there was a conversation between the boys on what they wanted to be when they grew up. M wanted to be a policeman and help people. B wanted to be Batman. Hopefully they would make a good team.

Tonite on the drive home they had a similar conversation except M said he wanted to work for the city and paint all the houses in town so they would look nice. B followed up by saying that when he grew up, he wanted to be a snowman.

20120101-220126.jpg

This is my first blog post published entirely from my iPhone!

Christmas Concerts and Joyful Voices

20 Dec

One of my favorite parts of Christmas (since having kids) is the pre-Christmas concerts and programs that involve the kids.  They are a little magical, very sweet, and always fun. This year was the first year that B was in a preschool Christmas program. I was happy to see B being such an active participant in the concert of 3-4 year olds and follow the teacher’s directions so well.

Here is his Jingle Bell song: (notice the  bow at the end)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2MWJbEMRFo

And here is the “Reindeer Hokey Pokey”:
(notice the “hoofs”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRyXHixOKDY

M also had an amazing Christmas program at St. M’s last week.  My favorite part was the “march” in.  All the kids marched in, and M put everything he had into a very deliberate, wide stride, and stiff arm march.  Then the K & 1 sang 2 songs (one being Away in a Manger) with actions which made it cute. There was lots of playfulness in the concert with the K boys also being “naughty sheep” for a part, running down the church aisle away from the shepherd.

I don’t know  a lot of lullabies (nor am I good singer), but this time of year (actually anytime of year), I like to sing Silent Night to CJ when I rock her before bed (sometimes she tries to sing it with me).  It was funny to see how attentive she was when the kids sang Silent Night at the Church Christmas Concert. She really liked the music.  Several times during the concert, she was also imitating the director and was moving her arms with the music.

Some moments feel so magical. There were times during both M’s and B’s concerts where I started to tear up (proud – and moved my music – even the “Reindeer Pokey” apparently). These little things are what life is all about.

Autumn Little Big Things…

8 Nov

Little things are big,  and what make life memorable.  Here are some of the little things about my kids that are memorable to me the past few months:

M.J.ready to sparr

  • M has been loving playing football.  It is pretty fun to see him catch a 20 yard pass and then see that look on his face. So proud and a little shocked (I caught it!)
  • M went to his first Tae Kwon Do tournament and got 4th place in forms and 3rd place in sparring. Both him and his Dad loved the experience overall.  I am looking forward to seeing the next one, which will be closer to home. (see short video of practicing form here, or longer video of tournament sparring here)
  • M got Student of the Month in October for being artistic/creative. Then he also got a sudden interest in playing electric guitar again.
  • Today Neil joined M for lunch at his school and it was a surprise. I am not sure who had more fun, M or his Dad.  When the kids talk you into staying for recess, you know it is good.
  • It is really fun to see him really learning how to read words and be so excited about school.
B.T.B on a hayride
  • I have been enjoying some time w/B in the mornings, on the laptop next to me, after M leaves for school and before CJ wakes up.  He likes to wake up early, then “rest in my office” with his blankie for a bit.  I like my  new office-mate.
  • I love first drawings.  B’s faces and family drawings are fun.  Big eyes, big smiles, lots of legs.
  • B has had mid-night wakings lately that result in “Daaaad” being yelled from upstairs.  Dad (or mom) goes upstairs and then he says”I just want you to lay by me.” or “I want you”. Sleepy parents usually abide, but in the meantime a bad habit has begun.  Sleeping by a cuddly kid who wants you to sleep by him, though, is not all that bad.
  • B knows how to talk the talk.  His says some pretty “big” things and his dad says “his negotiating skills have improved.” huh.
  • So he loves to Dance and Sing, he particularly likes Go Fish and a kids Halloween CD (yes all year round).  But if his mom dances or sings *too much* with him, he says “Stop Mom!” Yes he already thinks his mom is embarrassing.
  • Preschool is oozing out of this kid, he is learning so much and growing so smart.
C.J.kitty cat learns how to say trick or treat
  • She learned how to say “trick or treat” by the end of Halloween night.  She also protected her furry pink pumpkin candy holder all night until bedtime.  She then transferred all the candy to her purse, and then proceeded to try to hide her purse under her crib.
  • We are working on all of our words.  She says some words, but many others are a bit backwards or all sound like “daa” or “dis” or “joose”  or “uck” or “um”.  I have to remind her to practice all the time, “can you say [insert any random word here that CJ thinks is pronounced  "diiiis" or "aaaaaak"]?.  Maybe every word needs to have the excitement of “Trick or treat” with it for her to learn it faster.
  • We have been working on potty training, mostly when we see the look that a #2 is coming, we rush to the bathroom.  She knows the drill now because she will look at me smile, hold her hand out (grab it mom) then totally get into the mad rush to the bathroom. She is doing pretty good but we are not pushing it real hard.
  • Although she loves to try dressing herself (likes pulling up her own pants!), she likes to make it a challenge for me to get her dressed, usually escaping mid-way with giggles half naked.  The funny part, if I want to take the easy way out, I just pass the chore on to her Dad, which she will run to (instead of away) to get dressed.
Other fun stuff:
  • We went to Nelson Farm with Grandma Kathy and saw all kinds of farm animals, climbed haystacks, and went on all kinds of wagon rides.  Kids all fell asleep on the way home.
  • Halloween is one of our favorite holidays.  The kids get so excited about it that the decorations go out around Oct. 1.  The kids were Darth Vader, a Ninja, and a kitty.  The kids got a couple rounds of trick or treating in, as well as a full dose of handing out candy at our house and seeing all the other spooky and silly costumes.
  • Neil turned 36.  I had no idea that putting all those candles (an entire box) on a cake would make such a waxy, smoky mess.
  • I am a new Aunt!  Joe and Amanda had baby Nolan Hendrix! And the baby has some very proud cousins, especially when Darth Vader so little Yoda sleeping on Halloween.
halloween crew

Tae Kwon Do Kid and Copycats

24 Oct

So here is M demonstrating one of his “patterns” to me, on his first day of going to Tae Kwon Do with his white belt on.   He started Tae Kwon Do last month and so far loves it.  He knows how to count to ten in Korean and a few other “patterns”.  He said that he can earn his purple trim (this is the seventh belt) in two years. I hope he sticks with it.  His instructor “Master” is awesome and I can tell that he teaches the kids a lot of respect and discipline.

Then there are these two comedians.  They fight. They play.  They scream. They laugh.  They are only one year and nine months apart so right now and for a few months yet they are age 2 and 3.  The older brother does a lot of teasing.  The little sister is learning a few bad habits.  B calls CJ  “Sweetie” all the time, and he tends to know what toys to pick up that will instantly set her off.  But as  you can in this video, they are two peas in a pod.  The cupcakes they are eating were a prize CJ won at the church cake walk.  We were just having fun eating cupcakes outside one afternoon and being silly.

Jawbreakers are for Big Boys

16 Oct

B got his hands on some candy that M brought home from a birthday party. CJ went screaming after him upstairs, where I continued to hear screaming and fighting over the candy.  Then I found the 2 kids hiding in a corner, still trying to get the package open.

Somehow, I convinced them to come downstairs and to “save the candy for after dinner”.  CJ now had the package of candy in her hand and was cooperatively coming down stairs, with B following closely behind.

As I was getting dinner ready, there was still arguing over the candy in the kitchen.  Then, before we even knew what the candy was, CJ  had the package of 3 jawbreakers open, and one in her mouth.

I have never been a fan of jawbreakers – they just don’t taste good at all, and they just seem totally unsafe for kids…. a broken tooth or candy lodged in my kids throat? I don’t want either, thanks.

But CJ already had it in her mouth, and B, he just couldn’t believe she got the package open herself.  He was accusingly asking me and and his Dad, “Did you open it for she?”… “Did you?”

To avoid a bad medical jawbreaker situations, I said to CJ, “CJ please spit that candy out, it is icky and not for little girls.” I held out my hand in front of her mouth, and she must have realized it didn’t taste good anyways.  She spit it out in my hand.

Then B said matter-of-factly, “Yeah!  It’s for big boys!” And he grabbed the already-been-sucked-on candy from my hand and put it in his mouth.

And I was left with just spit on my hand and a smile on my face.

My Bionic Boy

25 Sep

Wrestling is normal in our house with 2 boys.  It is  sport, after all…  Today a normal wrestling event between M and B ended up with one boy crying, which is also not uncommon.  This usually happens after several “someone is going to get hurt” warnings from mom and dad, or repeated “settle down now“.

11:40

So Today, little brother B got hurt.  We were not sure exactly what happened, but B had said later that he fell on the coffee table on his arm.  Neil thought he hear a “popping” sound.  The way he was acting told us that he had hurt it pretty bad – pointing to the middle of his arm, crying and very upset.  After about 15 minutes of observing him, we thought it may be broken and so Neil took him to the hospital.

In the mean time, M is going thru extreme remorse…. feeling bad for B, a bit sorry for himself, just “so so sorry that it happened,” Of course it was an accident, but they were also not listening when we asked them to stop.  M and I said a prayer for B and talked about all the nice things that we were going to do for him when he came home… M started to feel a little better but moped around the whole time B was gone.

12:30

Neil said that even while B was getting the xrays done, and had to lift his arm or twist his arm, that he was in major pain. B is pretty tough, but you could tell that any turning, lfting, or flexing of his arm or wrist was very painful.  After an hour and a half, the x-ray revealed no breaks or cracks.  The diagnosis was a deep tissue bruising.  Keep it iced for 24-48 hours, then heat, and give him Ibuprofin or Tylenol. Bring him back in a couple days if it doesn’t get better. No broken arm or cast, thank goodness.

1:30

He spent the next 5 hours laying back at home.  Ibuprofin, arm on an icepack, watching movies.  For a while, he was saying he couldn’t walk (I think just the movement and having to reposition his arm caused pain) so we would carry him around to a couple locations around the house.  Even when we picked him up, the movement would sometimes make him cry.  He would not move the bummed arm for any reason.

3:00

For a while we were distracting him with halloween decorations.  He was hamming it up a bit saying things like “can you move the eyeball lights closer to me” or “you go get the pumpkins and I will watch you” and kind of being the superviser in the situation.  Whenever he had to use the potty, it was a struggle, I would carry him from couch/chair to the bathroom and then he would have to stand.  This at least made him realize, that yes, he could walk, but it was painful for him to hold his arm up instead of have it supported.

The whole time, M is really catering to him, being helpful and caring. Saying things like “B you just tell me if you need anything and I will get it for you, ok?” And  actually letting B chose the movie.  This never happens usually.  I have to admit, I did like seeing them act more caring towards each other.  B would also reply with a “thank you M” and they talked so peacefully to each other…

5:00

So dinnertime, and he ate great. Two helpings of deer steak, and a little cabbage and potatoes.  It took him a little while to get situated comfortably and use just one hand but he was OK.  Then it was time to rest again,  this time in our bedroom watching a new (old) favorite movie, Space Jam.  I could tell he was still in a lot pain as I laid him back in bed, he was crying again as I tried to prop his arm up with pillows and position the icepack.

6:30

One movie later, it was treat time.  I checked on him and his arm was like an icicle.  He took another potty break, and seemed to have the same struggles with his arm.  I tried to get him to put jammies on, but then decided that the t-shirt and sweats he was wearing were fine for bed, to avoid a painful change of clothes.   We walked back to the living room for treats where I gave the kids leftover cake from CJs birthday and some pudding.  Needless to say they were in heaven.

6:45

Then it happened. Dessert was gone. B came back.  He threw his arms up in the air and gave a yell of excitement.  He was jumping, running, climbing, screaming, playing…. all the normal things he does at this time of night. It was like NOTHING EVER HAPPENED to his arm.  When we asked him about it, he just said it was “all better” now. It was totally instant change – physically, emotionally, everything. He was back to his normal self 110% all night.

We are a bit baffeled. We KNOW his arm was causing him a lot of pain because we have never seen him that way.  Both having experienced a broken arm/wrist before, his actions were telling us that he was going through something similar.

I am not sure what it was: the prayer, the intense icepack, super hero powers, healing properties of red velvet cake and pudding? Coincidence? Let’s just say, it was an out-of-the-ordinary day and his arm seems OK now… And hoping that tomorrow is an injury-free day all-day.

Let’s rewind and see where we end up…

23 Sep

I have a million things to write about but a procrastinating gene (from who? not sure. maybe my own?)

Here is my rewind blog post to try to remember all that is worth remembering that I may have not typed into my keyboard this month:

  1. My lovable smarty pants middle child who loves bugs and movies started preschool this morning and had a blast. SO INDEPENDENT and man this kid is funny.
  2. My BABY girl turned 2 on Wednesday.  We were lucky enough to have special guests Bec and Andy at her party and I must say the giant red velvet cupcake I threw together wasn’t too bad.  Check out  video of her blowing out candles.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOV9oKSGNhY

  3. We finally got our couple-year-long landscaping project done, which involved humongous piles of dirt (8 yards), mulch (15 yards) plants, and replacing rotten boards. I can’t wait for spring to come to see how everything looks fresh.  The kids were major helpers in this progress often sporting, hard hats, tools, and shovels.
  4. My kids were dancing machine at my cousin Amanda’s wedding, and I got to see some Mark Bros/nephews jamming.  My uncle Tim is the most amazing drummer. Seriously. Insane.
  5. The annual Ryan golf outting was a blast with our 2 little golfers, and we were partnered up with my cousin’s family with 2 more little golfers. Just fun on the last HOT Saturday of September.
  6. I now have a martial arts student in the house.  M is learning Tae Kwon Do and I am extremely grateful to have this program and excellent teacher in this small community.  M also thinks standing on his head is pretty cool.
  7. My M started Kindergarten and he could not be more excited about it.  He loves it so far and talks frequently about his guardian angel (a program that gives kids in K an 8th grade mentor) and he is also a marathon fundraising machine.  He has also become a social butterfly and enjoys riding bike to visit all his friends in the neighborhood.
  8. So we went to Valley Fair on Labor Day.  The new Planet Snoopy is pretty much the bomb for little kids.  M is excited to be able to go on some of the bigger rides next year (2 more inches!)
  9. We went to Owatonna to visit Neil’s cousins family since as he was a proud Godfather of a beautiful baby girl. It was fun to hang out with family and let little cousins play. Oh and we can’t lose with a waterpark.
  10. My fBFF”s from high school and their families spent a day with us at the lake.  There was lots of jumping in to the lake and giggles….Our summer was full of endless fishing, swimming, and bike rides.

There you have it, about the last month or so.  Lot’s of transitions this year, with a new kindergartner, preschooler, and the two-ness of toddlerhood.  Loving it.

Bunnies & clams, 46/46, Queens don’t need car seats

12 Jul

We found a baby bunny nest on our property last week (just a hole, covered with fur and grass in the lawn).  When we first saw them, their eyes were not even open.  I was reluctant to show B because I knew from that point forward he would not leave them alone.  He adores them but makes me nervous when he holds them because he tries to be gentle but he’s not….He ended up sneaking one of the bunnies in his room.  This was cute for a little bit, but what if I wouldn’t have caught on?  Did I mention that earlier this week, he had a live clam in his swimming trunks? And last week he was playing with leeches and a piece of squirrel tale?  Yes this is my boy. all boy for sure.

M is figuring out how the world work around him and is asking some really intelligent questions. now 6, and 46″ tall and 46 lbs at his 6 year doc appt, he is excited to start kindergarten in Sept.  Probably most apprehensive about riding the bus, and finding his way around (he said he liked preschool better then summer rec because he knew where he had to go).  Always asking me lots of questions about my cousins, he is excited to have 2 new cousins of his own in the months to come. He bats left-handed and can smack that ball hard.  I can’t wait to watch him play baseball!  Him and his dad went to the diamonds to practice, and M wore his baseball pants. He came home so dusty because he was practicing his sliding!

Oh CJ. With the mind of her own. I have to remind myself she is almost two and not really a baby anymore.  She is going thru this awful phase where she fights her car seat.  Screams and cries and twists and turns.  So it is nearly impossible for me to talk her thru it or physically make her do it.  She is that strong and insistent.  There have been several times in the past couple weeks, where a two minute buckle was instead a 20 minute delay.  As B would say, “Not Cool, Not Cool.” So I am hoping this phase passes very quickly, as I dread taking her anywhere right now.

I am loving my new job at Vivid Image and the freedom and control it has given me. More time with my kids, better management of my time during the entire day. Plus I just really enjoy being on the cutting edge of what is going on with the web, and giving myself permission to play with new tools since it is my job, instead of feeling guilty like I should be doing something else. Plus the early AM wake up to hot coffee in my own office is awesome, at least for now during the summer.

Off to bed.

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