So this is the year. I knew it was coming, and I was right. It's here! Delanie is officially old enough to find her Christmas gifts!
Seriously, up until now, I have been spoiled. I have even taken her along on trips to buy HER Christmas gifts! Not this year. I have tried to be very sneaky, but she has found 1 of her gifts not once, but twice already! Ok, it might be my fault, but I really wasn't expecting this.
I VERY discretely brought home a four pack of Magic School Bus Videos, that would be from her brother, the other day. I wrapped them in a King Soopers bag and brought them into the house. Success...she never questioned it. Then in all my excitement, and I shall add, after the kids were IN BED, I got the DVD's out for Scott to take a look at. We oohed and aaahed over the great find, and then I set them on my vanity while I finished getting ready for bed. Guess who walks in "I need more water." she says. I tell her to ask her daddy, who is standing by the sink...at the vanity! ARRRRGG Of course she sees them! She has eagle eyes for anything Magic School Bus related.
After Scott scolded me for leaving them out in plain sight, and I convinced Delanie that she need not worry about the mysterious DVD's on the vanity, I put them on my trusty closet shelf...you know where all the Christmas gifts go. Apparently, said shelf is at eye level this year.
Delanie: MOMMY MOMMY!!!
me: yes
Delanie: Magic School Bus videos! Lookie lookie! Why are they in your closet?
me: uggggg Delanie, why are you in my closet?
Delanie: What? Lets watch Magic School Bus!!...Who are these for?
So there I went again, explaining some weird story as to why I have these DVD's in my closet, why she can't watch them, and why she must now forever stay out of my closet...Yes, I changed my hiding place.
If she finds them again, I am going to take it as a sign and just give the poor girl the DVD's! She will deserve them for crying-out-loud, and I don't think I can handle anymore on-the-fly stories anymore! Surely, she won't find them this time....I guess I need to find a babysitter so I can complete my Christmas shopping this year.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
And So It Begins!
AHHH...you can almost smell it in the air. Thanksgiving is just a few days away...and then the craziness begins. I do love Thanksgiving. The family all gathered 'round, good food, good laughs, good relaxation. However, the day after is what I look forward to the most. No, it's not because of Black Friday...I am not fond of shopping in crowds, and no, it isn't all the leftovers from the day before either. This is the day, that our family has a very special tradition.
This will be year 3 of my favorite family tradition to-date! The day after Thanksgiving, Scott pulls out all of our Christmas decorations. As we work on getting the house decorated, which really could take about a week, down at the bottom of one of the ornament boxes it lays. The Polar Express!
Packed away each year with the Christmas stuff so that the kids (ok and I) don't get too tired or desensitized to it's magic, is the BEST holiday movie (barring Christmas Vacation, but I am talking about kid friendly here!)!
That night we will sit as a family with our hot cocoa, blankets, in jammies, and no lights on mesmerized by the music, beauty, and magic of this movie. This year, Pax will be old enough to join us, and I can't wait to see his face as he watches the train weave its way through tall mountain peaks, icy polar caps, and into Santa's village in the North Pole.
Delanie is already talking all about it. "Guess what?" she says to anyone who will listen/answer back...people at the grocery store, her cousins, our neighbors, ANYONE! "Friday is the day for Polar Express!" People usually look at her with a very confused look. See she doesn't quite get that this isn't something that everyone does. I really think she is waiting for a response of "YES! I know I can't wait" She usually says "You know the Polar Express...? Friday's the day we get it out!" With another confused look from whom ever she is speaking to she usually lets the conversation drop at this point, if I haven't rescued her already.
That's what I love about traditions. Something so simple, yet something you can't imagine not having. Something you don't even recall NOT doing. Something you can't wait to do every year. Something you have to talk about with others because you're so excited you might burst.
After Friday night, it's onward to the Christmas holiday rush. We will shop, eat, party, watch the other Christmas movies (probably Polar Express a few more times), and spend time with the fam....But that Friday after Thanksgiving, we take a few hours to wind our way up to the North Pole every year to see if we can still hear the bells on Santa's reindeer and sleigh. As I sit back with my family all warm and cozy and wrapped up in the magic, I think to myself, "Please, never let those bells go silent."
This will be year 3 of my favorite family tradition to-date! The day after Thanksgiving, Scott pulls out all of our Christmas decorations. As we work on getting the house decorated, which really could take about a week, down at the bottom of one of the ornament boxes it lays. The Polar Express!
Packed away each year with the Christmas stuff so that the kids (ok and I) don't get too tired or desensitized to it's magic, is the BEST holiday movie (barring Christmas Vacation, but I am talking about kid friendly here!)!
That night we will sit as a family with our hot cocoa, blankets, in jammies, and no lights on mesmerized by the music, beauty, and magic of this movie. This year, Pax will be old enough to join us, and I can't wait to see his face as he watches the train weave its way through tall mountain peaks, icy polar caps, and into Santa's village in the North Pole.
Delanie is already talking all about it. "Guess what?" she says to anyone who will listen/answer back...people at the grocery store, her cousins, our neighbors, ANYONE! "Friday is the day for Polar Express!" People usually look at her with a very confused look. See she doesn't quite get that this isn't something that everyone does. I really think she is waiting for a response of "YES! I know I can't wait" She usually says "You know the Polar Express...? Friday's the day we get it out!" With another confused look from whom ever she is speaking to she usually lets the conversation drop at this point, if I haven't rescued her already.
That's what I love about traditions. Something so simple, yet something you can't imagine not having. Something you don't even recall NOT doing. Something you can't wait to do every year. Something you have to talk about with others because you're so excited you might burst.
After Friday night, it's onward to the Christmas holiday rush. We will shop, eat, party, watch the other Christmas movies (probably Polar Express a few more times), and spend time with the fam....But that Friday after Thanksgiving, we take a few hours to wind our way up to the North Pole every year to see if we can still hear the bells on Santa's reindeer and sleigh. As I sit back with my family all warm and cozy and wrapped up in the magic, I think to myself, "Please, never let those bells go silent."
Friday, November 16, 2007
Puzzle-mania!
Delanie has officially entered a "Puzzle Stage". She is done with the little kids type puzzles, and now enjoys working the more difficult puzzles. Her favorites so far, Strawberry Shortcake and the Gang (63 pieces) and a Dinosaur Panorama (48 pieces). Well, today our lovely Auntie upped the ante when she brought over several puzzles for us to work that all had 100 pieces!
After dinner, she got to pick which one of these puzzles she wanted to work...of course the Beauty and the Beast...Belle is gorgeous. Also, we wouldn't want begin our 100 piece puzzle adventure with a puzzle that is nice and square...oh no, that is too easy. This one is shaped like a heart (ie no straight sides!).
It was a good lesson in patience and perseverance. It was hard work! This wasn't like her favorite puzzles that took a mere 15 minutes to put together...nope we worked that thing for at least 45 minutes. There were times when giving up sounded like the best option, when it was thought "maybe we don't have all the pieces", or "this thing is just too hard". NOPE...I had to be gently reminded by Lanie..."Mom, we gotta get this thing done! Just keep trying!"
Delanie is good at puzzles, and she doesn't get it from me!
After dinner, she got to pick which one of these puzzles she wanted to work...of course the Beauty and the Beast...Belle is gorgeous. Also, we wouldn't want begin our 100 piece puzzle adventure with a puzzle that is nice and square...oh no, that is too easy. This one is shaped like a heart (ie no straight sides!).
It was a good lesson in patience and perseverance. It was hard work! This wasn't like her favorite puzzles that took a mere 15 minutes to put together...nope we worked that thing for at least 45 minutes. There were times when giving up sounded like the best option, when it was thought "maybe we don't have all the pieces", or "this thing is just too hard". NOPE...I had to be gently reminded by Lanie..."Mom, we gotta get this thing done! Just keep trying!"
Delanie is good at puzzles, and she doesn't get it from me!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Birds of a Feather...
Even though our home has reached peak grossness, as we battle the bug this week, there is still some sweetness to be found:
Seriously though, I think we are on the tail end of this (until Scott or I get it) so the deep cleaning starts tomorrow. You'll also be happy to know that Paxton has come up with a cure.
Yes it does, Son.
Here are my two little sickies snuggled up on the "Sick Couch" together. Yes, those are towels that they are using as blankets...much more absorbent and easier to clean. They are happily watching the 25th movie of the week (that's approximate...could be less...could be more). Look at how well they share! It's amazing what kind of cooperation you can get out of them when they are weak.
Seriously though, I think we are on the tail end of this (until Scott or I get it) so the deep cleaning starts tomorrow. You'll also be happy to know that Paxton has come up with a cure.
Apparently "Candy makes my tummy allll better" .
Yes it does, Son.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Lure of the Bus
For about 2 months now, my kids (ok and I) have been having a wonderful love affair with the TV series Scholastic's Magic School Bus. Both the books and the videos provide us with hours of scientific joy. For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it is a show about a science class (maybe 4th graders?) and their crazy teacher Ms. Frizzle ("The Friz" for short). The Friz takes them on wild field trips in order to help them understand many different scientific phenomenas such as volcanoes, the water cycle, the solar system, the science of flight, etc. via the Magic School Bus which can shrink, fly, float, whatever it takes to literally get "inside" the science of it all. It is a show that I have no problem what-so-ever allowing my kids to watch hours of. Surprisingly, Pax likes it as much as Lanie does, and even will request a Magic School Bus book for story time before bed.
We've been lucky, the last few times we've gone to the library, there has been at least 1 video and a handful of books of this, apparently, very popular series. Since it was new to us, we haven't had any issues with having to settle for repeat performances. That was until last week. There were no videos at all for check out, and I thought it would be OK to settle for the just a few books. Wrong. Delanie devoured the 3 books I was able to get a hold of in 3 days, and then decided it was imperative that we get the video of the book about volcanoes. Off to the Internet I went. I was determined to hunt down our videos on our library's online catalog and place a hold on them. Not too surprisingly, they were all checked out and there was a wait for all of them. Delanie was understandably upset about the wait, but was willing to flex her patience muscles because she knew the payoff would be worth it.
Well, today was the day! I got a call while Lanie was in school that some of our holds had come in. I was so excited you would have thought I just got the call that I had just won some wonderful shopping spree at Super T. I had to get them while she was still in school so that I could surprise her when she got in the car with our new loot! When I got to the library, I was so pleased to see that the volcano episode was one of the goodies waiting for us...this was going to be the BEST DAY EVER!
As Lanie hopped into the car, she squealed with delight as she saw what was waiting for her in her carseat. Then she saw the volcano video and let out an even louder squeal! I could hardly wait to get home and pop it in while the kids and I ate lunch. In case, you're wondering, it was all it was hyped up to be. We've been in Magic School Bus Nirvana all afternoon.
If only I could get my hands on my own Magic School Bus. There are so many mysteries that I would love to solve via my ride on the bus. For example, what's going on in my son's little brain when he decides that only when we are running late for something he must fill his diaper? There is also the elusive mystery behind why neither my children or husband can hear a single thing coming out of my mouth if there is a TV on anywhere in our home. Lastly, how much work would I really get done if I wasn't spending so much time looking for sippy cups? These are the great mysteries that we may never find the answers to...If only we had the bus!
Seat belts everyone!!!
We've been lucky, the last few times we've gone to the library, there has been at least 1 video and a handful of books of this, apparently, very popular series. Since it was new to us, we haven't had any issues with having to settle for repeat performances. That was until last week. There were no videos at all for check out, and I thought it would be OK to settle for the just a few books. Wrong. Delanie devoured the 3 books I was able to get a hold of in 3 days, and then decided it was imperative that we get the video of the book about volcanoes. Off to the Internet I went. I was determined to hunt down our videos on our library's online catalog and place a hold on them. Not too surprisingly, they were all checked out and there was a wait for all of them. Delanie was understandably upset about the wait, but was willing to flex her patience muscles because she knew the payoff would be worth it.
Well, today was the day! I got a call while Lanie was in school that some of our holds had come in. I was so excited you would have thought I just got the call that I had just won some wonderful shopping spree at Super T. I had to get them while she was still in school so that I could surprise her when she got in the car with our new loot! When I got to the library, I was so pleased to see that the volcano episode was one of the goodies waiting for us...this was going to be the BEST DAY EVER!
As Lanie hopped into the car, she squealed with delight as she saw what was waiting for her in her carseat. Then she saw the volcano video and let out an even louder squeal! I could hardly wait to get home and pop it in while the kids and I ate lunch. In case, you're wondering, it was all it was hyped up to be. We've been in Magic School Bus Nirvana all afternoon.
If only I could get my hands on my own Magic School Bus. There are so many mysteries that I would love to solve via my ride on the bus. For example, what's going on in my son's little brain when he decides that only when we are running late for something he must fill his diaper? There is also the elusive mystery behind why neither my children or husband can hear a single thing coming out of my mouth if there is a TV on anywhere in our home. Lastly, how much work would I really get done if I wasn't spending so much time looking for sippy cups? These are the great mysteries that we may never find the answers to...If only we had the bus!
Seat belts everyone!!!
Monday, November 12, 2007
The Stages of Life
Obviously, I know there is a LARGE gap in the maturity level between Pax and Lanie. Sometimes though, it is just so obvious I have to laugh.
Today, we went to Super T to buy gifts for our "Operation Christmas Child" package. Lanie had to decide whether or not she wanted to give to a boy or a girl, and then what age she would like to get for. She really wasn't too excited about this adventure. I am sure she just thought it was another reason for mom to hit Super T. However, after showing her the brochure and letting her look through the pictures of the kids that receive these gifts, she did get pretty excited about giving a gift to someone in need...very mature of her, I think.
At first she picked a girl, but after going through the toothbrush/toothpaste section, she changed her mind and chose a boy because she thought they had "cooler toothbrushes". Really at the end of the day, it is all about the toothbrush isn't it? She was really getting into picking out what she wanted to get off of the suggested list of items to put into the box.
Pax, however, was on the opposite end of the spectrum. Let me just be up-front about this...I DID NOT expect him to get this project. That is why just Lanie was participating. It was very funny to me though to sit and observe the vast difference just 2.5 years will make in a child's life! On one side of the cart, I have Delanie who is very concentrated on what she would like this little boy to have, and which one (of whatever) he would like the best. In the cart I have sweet little Pax who is yelling out "Mine!", "Me want that!" and "Mommy, you buy that for me". Not to mention "Give me", "Me need to have it", and my favorite "Mommy, I just wuv this...NEED IT!" In his defense, he is only 2, and we were looking at toys for a boy. Also, don't forget Super T's toy section is in prime condition for the up-coming holiday season. Only the best of the best is out right now. Even a lady shopping in the same aisle as us, started laughing out loud. I even had Lanie try to explain to Pax what she was doing:
Lanie: Brother, we are going to get a little boy presents who doesn't have any toys
Pax: No, no boy presents...just me...Need that Diego!
Lanie: No not for you for another little boy
Pax NOOOOOO me!
Maybe next year he'll understand better? Unlikely, but we will keep trying!
Today, we went to Super T to buy gifts for our "Operation Christmas Child" package. Lanie had to decide whether or not she wanted to give to a boy or a girl, and then what age she would like to get for. She really wasn't too excited about this adventure. I am sure she just thought it was another reason for mom to hit Super T. However, after showing her the brochure and letting her look through the pictures of the kids that receive these gifts, she did get pretty excited about giving a gift to someone in need...very mature of her, I think.
At first she picked a girl, but after going through the toothbrush/toothpaste section, she changed her mind and chose a boy because she thought they had "cooler toothbrushes". Really at the end of the day, it is all about the toothbrush isn't it? She was really getting into picking out what she wanted to get off of the suggested list of items to put into the box.
Pax, however, was on the opposite end of the spectrum. Let me just be up-front about this...I DID NOT expect him to get this project. That is why just Lanie was participating. It was very funny to me though to sit and observe the vast difference just 2.5 years will make in a child's life! On one side of the cart, I have Delanie who is very concentrated on what she would like this little boy to have, and which one (of whatever) he would like the best. In the cart I have sweet little Pax who is yelling out "Mine!", "Me want that!" and "Mommy, you buy that for me". Not to mention "Give me", "Me need to have it", and my favorite "Mommy, I just wuv this...NEED IT!" In his defense, he is only 2, and we were looking at toys for a boy. Also, don't forget Super T's toy section is in prime condition for the up-coming holiday season. Only the best of the best is out right now. Even a lady shopping in the same aisle as us, started laughing out loud. I even had Lanie try to explain to Pax what she was doing:
Lanie: Brother, we are going to get a little boy presents who doesn't have any toys
Pax: No, no boy presents...just me...Need that Diego!
Lanie: No not for you for another little boy
Pax NOOOOOO me!
Maybe next year he'll understand better? Unlikely, but we will keep trying!
Unfailing Love
Because I just went to a Chris Tomlin concert last week, his songs are fresh on my heart. Yesterday, I had a particularly hard day because Delanie was ill with a tummy bug. For those that know me, I don't do well with this (that is an understatement!). I knew it was going to happen sooner or later as it is spreading around like wildfire right now. Sure enough...very early yesterday morning she started in. She was very brave and has completely grasped the concept of making it to the toilet so all in all...it really wasn't that bad.
Because I have such a hard time dealing with stomach viruses, I had to completely rely on God and His strength to get me through the day. Once again, he amazed me with His faithfulness to me as his child. It's days like yesterday that remind me that He is not only the creator of the universe, and the great I Am...but he is also my Father and my protector. And just like any good parent, when their child is scared and weak, He comes in scoops you up and says "It's OK, I'm here to take care you."
While I was running this morning, I was listening to my iPod, and Chris Tomlin's Unfailing Love came on. I love it when a song says everything I feel....of the billions of children God has, he takes time for each of us in our needs each and everyday...even when those needs feel small and insignificant compared to others.
Unfailing Love
by Chris Tomlin (emphasis mine)
You have my heart
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can’t understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is
Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God
You remain The Holy One
My unfailing love Unfailing love
You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can’t understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still you make time for me
I can’t understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change
God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love Unfailing love
I will praise You Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change
God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Because I have such a hard time dealing with stomach viruses, I had to completely rely on God and His strength to get me through the day. Once again, he amazed me with His faithfulness to me as his child. It's days like yesterday that remind me that He is not only the creator of the universe, and the great I Am...but he is also my Father and my protector. And just like any good parent, when their child is scared and weak, He comes in scoops you up and says "It's OK, I'm here to take care you."
While I was running this morning, I was listening to my iPod, and Chris Tomlin's Unfailing Love came on. I love it when a song says everything I feel....of the billions of children God has, he takes time for each of us in our needs each and everyday...even when those needs feel small and insignificant compared to others.
Unfailing Love
by Chris Tomlin (emphasis mine)
You have my heart
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can’t understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is
Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God
You remain The Holy One
My unfailing love Unfailing love
You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can’t understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still you make time for me
I can’t understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change
God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love Unfailing love
I will praise You Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change
God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
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