Owen's 4th Birthday Bowling Party

Off to the Races

Today was a beautiful day, so we headed out to the cul-de-sac for some fresh air and to spin our wheels. Kate surprised me by mastering her tricycle, so tonight we put the training wheels back on Owen's old bike and ... she was OFF! Within minutes, she'd conquered our "loop!" Still working on the brakes, of course, (Owen rode for MONTHS without knowing how to brake), but she's officially Off to the Races!

Conducting the Rain

I try very hard each morning to let my children pick their own clothes, their own shoes, their own accessories. I love seeing the outfits they put together or hearing how and why they make their choices. For example, today, Collin has a new haircut so he wanted to wear a new shirt. Plus, he felt like he looks especially handsome, so he wanted to wear an especially handsome shirt ... he wore cargo pants and a new button-up shirt, and he did indeed look handsome. Owen, on the other hand, heard Collin's debate and also wanted to look handsome, but his Seahawks jersey was clean and hanging temptingly in the closet. So he wore a polo shirt displaying Seahawks colors and a blue color under his jersey. (But I've digressed ...)

So despite their awesome outfits, today I couldn't help myself and had to speak up when I saw them by the front door with their rain boots on but without jackets, apparently "ready to go."

Me: It's raining out there boys ...

Collin: Oh! I'm going to go conduct it. (Huh? Like a science experiment? What's he talking about? He quickly put on his jacket and walked out onto the front porch, closing the door behind him.)

Everyone else finished putting on jackets and hats, and we said our goodbyes. Miss Natalie walked out front with Owen and Kate, who was waving and signing "I love you" with her pointer and thumb (the pinky trailing and trying desperately to join in the act).

On the front porch, Collin was waving his arms up and down, back and forth and looking out into the cul-de-sac with purpose!

Natalie: What are you doing, Collin?

Collin: Conducting the rain.

And he continued to conduct the raindrops with a wand and a pointed finger all the way down the driveway and up the sidewalk to Natalie's car. Just before he climbed into the car, he said very loudly, "Keep going, Rain!!", climbed in, and buckled up.

Have a GREAT day!

Telling Time

I thought I would love the day when my kids could tell time on the clock. In reality, I now hear: "Mom, it's 7:01. We can get up now." and "Mom, it's not 8:00 yet. It's not bedtime." So much for: "It's not light yet. I'll let you know when it's time to get up." And an early bedtime is that much more difficult to come by now. Glad you can read the clock boys! It's telling time.

Christmas 2009

We had an excellent Christmas Celebration this year! Keeping with tradition, we made cookies for Santa Christmas Eve. This year Grandma and Grandpa J joined us overnight, and Grandma taught us to use a cookie press:The kids' Gingerbread House:
Little Cuties (yes, Kate's a cutie, but I'm talking about the orange in her hand in the pic below!) made a huge splash in our home this year! The kids ate so many oranges I couldn't begin to count. However, I DID count one afternoon when Owen polished off 11 (yes, eleven!) little oranges!
Kate has discovered the love of reading and happily will bring her books, plop in your lap, and sit patiently, listening to stories. I am amazed at her attention span at 20 months. She can ~ and wants to ~ listen to a whole Bernstein Bear book; seems I remember the boys sitting through books, but much shorter books at 20 months.

Christmas Eve we had a feast of ham, baby potatoes, and multi-colored beans:
Then bathtime and new jammies (pants in the boys' case) from Grandma and Grandpa, and we're all set to put out the milk, cookies, and carrots for Santa and his reindeer:
Uh oh:
We've put out cookies, within arms reach, for the last 5 years. Kate is the first kid to take advantage of their close proximity and taste Santa's treat:
Might as well enjoy some of the Reindeers' treat too:
Christmas Wink:
Santa arrived!
Owen asked Santa for an "indoor soccer ball" and was thrilled Christmas morning when he spotted it (wrapped and all) under the tree! "There's my soccer ball! I know it! I got it!!"
He was equally thrilled that he got a new Seahawks shirt:
Collin asked for a big Buzz Lightyear "with wings" (for the second year in a row) and was beyond words that it arrived this year after he'd forgot to put it on his list (for the second year in a row). Thankfully he was also excited when he opened new sheets (and bath towels and jackets and jammies!):
One of my most precious moments from this holiday season occurred about 10 days before Christmas. The boys were concerned that Kate didn't know how to open gifts. "Remember her first birthday, Mom? We had to help her!" So one evening they searched the house, then wrapped empty boxes so she could practice. It was adorable! And it worked! By Christmas morning, she was a pro:
Second on the Most Wanted list for both boys this year: Bakugan. I still really have no idea what they are or what you do with them (they are little transformer-like balls that open when you throw them or when they hit a magnetic field, and there's a game association?), but after all the gifts appeared to be open, Collin looked at Kevin with a sad face and said something about really wanting Bakugan. They were the last gift, tucked in back, and the boys were delighted to open them begin to play right away:
Grandma made Kate a new outfit:
Peak-a-Boo:
We then spent the afternoon at my sisters with her family, my brother and Janae, Grandma and Grandpa Y, my Great Grandma, my uncle David, Lynn, and her daughter Jessica, my brother Kramer. The kids played outside till the sun went down, and we did gifts after dinner and bath. Here they are in jammies waiting for "Santa David" to pass out the gifts:

Collin, Owen, Marley, Taylor, Jessica, and Kate (up on Grandpa's lap)

Merry Christmas 2009