MERRY CHRISTMAS

It has been a rough morning as we have done "Christmas" with Ryan this past Saturday. I think they were confused when I said, Merry Christmas this morning and a few new gifts under the tree. The gifts are from "Santa" Aidan, Aunt Karen, and Uncle Jim. They were ready to start the same way we did Saturday, but today was a new twist. The gifts needed to wait to be opened. A cake is to be baked and we are wishing Jesus "Happy Birthday." We split tradition to give them opportunity to do something on a day in which everyone would be cozied indoors.

Eating orange-cranberry muffins helped to renew some vigor and watching Very First Noel. Now to wait patiently as the time draws near for us to call the west coast via Skype and enjoy opening gifts. Then to wish grandparents on the east coast a wonderful Christmas :-)

Upon reflection, the subdued Christmas with a few key gifts and focus on the main reason for the season of love, giving, and family we had a wonderful day. Although, the hype of presents and everything new is exciting, it can get harried and hectic;causing things to take a quick downturn. So, take a deep breath...remember nothing needs to be perfect because it is the warmth of the love the Most Divine that loved us so much as imperfect as we are that makes this the most joyous day of all. Relax, the meal will come together, the presents will be enjoyed, and time will pass. Enjoy the day for all it delivers!!!

Meghan Cooks

I've been meaning to post this for a while, but couldn't find the cord for the camera in all our stuff. A few weeks ago I made potstickers (pork dumplings) for my husband as I found it is one new item we can add to the menu. I get more amazed each day about the differences between boys and girls that just come innately. I was sitting at the table making these dumplings and Meghan sat quietly watching for a good ten minutes. Then she asked me questions as to what I was doing at each step. I had her help me pinch close a few dumplings. After a few more minutes of "helping" and questions, she had memorized all the steps. She began to tell me how to do each one, just before I did it. So, I figured...let's give my nearly 3 year-old a chance to make them. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! She was so excited and happy she could do them. Enjoy! (P.S. Calvin is playing a game on the tv in the background and Daddy is playing his game on the computer....hahahahaha...like father, like son.)

List of daily quotes

It began around 630am. We needed to drive daddy to the airport. Ryan did a sudden stop as the cars in front had slammed their brakes.. Calvin is into commenting about how we are doing. From the back we hear, "HEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYY!" We asked him what's the matter and he said," You're making me nuts!"

We went to lunch at Lupe Tortillas and they have a huge sandbox play area. Calvin saw a bunch of kids in the big sandbox and said he was going to play with "my boys." He walked up to the first boy and said "Hi My Brother". And patted him on the back. He proceeded to wave and say hi to all the kids.

When we got home he was a bit tired, so I sent him to his room to relax a bit. While he was relaxing, I put together his birthday gift (it finally arrived). We purchased a box of action figures and accessories for Calvin to go with a book Traction Man Is Here by Mimi Grey. We had checked this book out so many times, I thought it was time for his own copy with an added bonus. I set one up with a jumpsuit, jetpack, and helmet. Meghan made sure I did not forget the boots (she LOVES boots). When he was complete, she asked in the sweetest voice possible this EXACTLY...Mommy can I have the man, please. Since there were several in the box, I promosed to put one together for her. She was so excited about the one man, she hollered all the way to their room, "Bubbies, happy dirtday. It's man. Bubbies, bubbies...here...happy dirtday!" Calvin's reaction, "WOW! WHAT IS IT?!?!IS it my man?" Where he proceeded to fly him around. I asked him if he liked it and he said yes. He said watch, and he pushed the two pretend buttons on the jet pack and said whooooooooosh! I'm not sure where he learned this because he hasn't seen a movie with a jetpack that I can remember. Apparently, my kids are not one for names. The one dressed in uniform for Meghan is soldier daddy and Calvin's with the jetpack is astronaught. At least they are thrilled with the new toys. Now to find a good home for it in the bookshelf......

Meghan watched me carefully open the box to organize what was inside. She squealed with delight, "It's my man." No Honey, it's Bubbies (this is what she calls Calvin) man. "It's daddy. My daddy."

Family Reunion in OK

We went to Oklahoma this past weekend and spent time on the lake with the Lanning and Owen crews. Loads of cousins to play with and tons of food. I have a few pictures so far. I will post more when I can get them formatted correctly. Everyone had a terrific time and we all want to come back again.



We were on the lake and Calvin got up from his nap in time to catch a ride with Daddy on the lake.



They were heading back in and Calvin was happy to direct.



Not be out done, Meghan wanted her turn in the boat with her cousins Rebecca and Micheala. Aunt Tanya was on hand to make sure everyone was safe (after all this one was duct taped on one end).



Calvin loves the lake so much that when he got up the next morning he went out skip rocks (well throw rocks).



He stayed there long enough for the early morning fog to lift.

NO matter how tough the day

I had a routine checkup today and had to take the kids with me. We had a good time playing the no/yes game (Meghan is on a no streak these days and I just copy and she says the reverse...Calvin plays too). It took longer with all the paperwork to get things going and the kids were getting bored (too close to lunch time). I knew it was going to be a silly time when Calvin popped out of the large chair all smiles and said, " You think I'm silly?" with a huge grin. I said yes, but not right now please (yes I was a bit out of it). He sat back down only to have Meghan to repeat the same exact movement and phrase. How do you stay frustrated with two kids looking at you with huge silly grins? They tried everything they knew to make me laugh. Then we moved to the inner waiting room. Being more private, they took their boots off. When we made it to the exam room, there is a small changing area with a mirror. It is like a little dressing room complete with small bench and full length mirror. There is a curtain for privacy. Since the kids were not interested in watching the movie on the portable dvd, I showed them the lovely little room. I was entertained with peekaboo, flashes of smiles while sitting on the little cushioned bench, and silly faces in the mirror. Only kids can have hours of fun with a small curtained area and a mirror. When the PA came in for the check up they were still playing. All the way through to when I had to lay down. Calvin must have sensed when the lamp moved away from the curtain...I heard oh mommy owowowow....Not that he was in pain, but was sympathizing with me. He chose that moment to come around the curtain. After she left, he came to give me a hug and asked if I was all better. I said I wasn't hurt, but thank you for the hugs. Even in silliness we have moments of sincerity and pure love.

I was taken aback to have him come around the curtain at that moment, but was touched by his sincere concern and love when he gave me a hug.

Who needs a patch of green?

On the side of our new home there is a huge open patch of dry dirt. Calvin, Meghan and friends Zachary and Aris decided it was the best place to play. We nicknamed them all our mini crop dusters.





Calvin was a bit harder to catch on film, but quick as he was...I got him mid-run
Meghan is always happy to pose and being dirty provided an added bonus.

Meghan was the most gleeful. She loved chasing them and being dirty. Yet when it was done she really wanted to play bubbles.


She convinced Aris to play bubbles after all the running...bath time should be fun....
Outdoors... even when it seems like there is nothing to play ...with friends...there is ALWAYS SOME THING TO DO! :-)

Swimming...finally

We have met the neighbors twice, but they have been wonderfully friendly. Saturday, we all went swimming at the neighborhood pool. Calvin, Meghan, Zachary, Aris, Kayla, Mrs Vicki, and Mrs. Donna. oh and me too. Zachary (8), Aris (6), Kayla (16) are the wonderful kids from next door that play with Calvin and Meghan. Mrs. Donna's boys are all grown. None of the kids really know how to swim and Mrs. Donna used to teach swimming, sowe all went to learn. Meghan did ok as long as someone held her and she had the swimmer floats (chest and back vest). Calvin did not get in for the first 20 minutes. I thought much longer as he is very timid about larger pools. He's great in the tub and kiddie pools, but anything greater than a foot and he's all about staying away. I don't use floaties because I didn't want the kids to think they would always keep safe if they had them.

He tried arm movements in the baby pool to show he could swim. He walked and splashed a little in the baby pool. He was nervous, but he tried. WEll, Mrs. Donna had Calvin splashing and playing submarine for a good hour in the bigger pool after that. He surprised me because he crab crawled the whole length of the wall to 5ft. section and back. He let her lay him on his back to float a bit and kick! He was so comfortable, he played shark in the baby pool with friends during break. Head in the water and everything.

Meghan blew bubbles and tried kicking, but she comes to agree the floats are no fun. She had them on in the baby pool when we changed pools for break. It was for helping in the big pool, but in the baby pool she could not get up with the float because it is so ackward.

Hopefully, by the end of the summer Calvin and Meghan will have the basics of floating, holding breath, and first steps to swimming.

Enjoy the summer!!!

AH!The outdoors...again...

I know it has been forever since my last post. We've been gearing up for Ryan's new job as a pilot for PHI, packing stuff at the inlaws, finding a new place, and moving into the new home. Calvin was so excited...he kept asking...WE GOING CALVIN HOUSE?!?!?! When we spent two days getting stuff from our inlaws(how wonderfully patient they are) and our storage units, Calvin kept asking...TIME FOR CALVIN HOUSE NOW? I had to remind him to be patient until daddy came with the big truck to load our stuff.

Now the kids are out everyday. As soon as Meghan has changed for the day she says MOMMY, I GO OUTSIDE. BYE MOMMY. She has to be reminded to find shoes and pants before she can go. Calvin would be happy to go out in jammies. He's ready to just go out. They play great together. Some arguing when someone is tired, but otherwise it is pretty peaceful. The nice thing about our house is that it is near The Woodlands. So, we have tons of trees and lots of shade.

After two days of being in the new house and most of the toys unpacked, the kids played in the backyard with a little push car. Calvin running with all his might to push the car in the grass with Meghan sitting happily in the driver seat. After 20 minutes, you can see the toll of pushing car & sister at semi-high speed and all his strength was taking on Calvin. He finally stopped and went to push a toy truck around for a awhile. He went amazingly fast at first. I think he was still in heavy pushing mode. Sister watched for about 5 minutes before realizing brother was not coming back. She asked softly..."Bubbies?" to which Calvin responded, " I told you it was the last time. I tired." She huffed a little and said aww...she called him again "Bubbies!" and he said,"Nope I already said last time." For a little boy who barely spoke until he was three, that was quite the dialogue. He's had more and more these days. He still has his mumbled babble that we don't understand, but for the most part he is talking much more than I ever thought possible. It is amazing, some of the things that he says, but I love it all.

The outdoors have done some great wonders for us all. Dear Lord we thank you for the blessing of enjoying your creations every day.

Differences between boys and girls

My son is 4 and half years old. He is active and all boy. He loves running, jumping, basketball, and dirt...lots and lots of dirt. He learned to use the potty completely at 3.5 years. Every now and again we still have issues with him using the potty for anything that he has to sit for longer than 5 seconds;especially if he is watching a show, playing outside, or playing in general. So, needless to say we have many dirty pants. Just a little, but enough to make you wanna pull your hair...okay maybe just me. I can handle any other mess - mud, food, paint, markers, etc...I just can't seem to handle dirty pants when he knows it is coming. We're still working on this issue.

My daughter is 2 years and 4 months. She discovered the potty when she was 18 months and wanted to sit like everyone else. She just didn't understand the concept of when to go. I think if I had tried to put her on every 20-30 minutes she would have connected the two. Yet, we started our son that early and had many set backs. Plus, we were preparing to move. When we moved in with my in-laws (they are great) and the rules are different, but understandable because it is a new home, we decided to wait until she showed signs she knew when peepee was coming. So, I figure we would wait until she was 3. She sits well and goes...most times to get "potty treats."

TODAY, revelation...I thought it was my son going all by himself, but to my wonderful surprise...it was my little girl. She had managed to take her diaper off (that alone is amazing because its cloth with tough snaps), climb onto the potty, sit, and then pee. I was so excited that I was about to give her a handful of treats. She didn't want them. She said, "dohn wanna potty teas" and headed off to get changed. She picked out her clothes to change and was ready to start the day. I gave her tons of hugs.

Boys are happy are fine as long as they are fed, have something to drink, and toys to make lots of noise or things to throw(like dirt). Girls like being clean to some degree, like hugs and kisses, pretty things, to change hats, clothes, shoes, etc. I love seeing the differences and the things that are the same. As they both love playing guns....LOL.. except Meghan loves to have brother's toy pistol wearing her dress up shoes and bracelets.