2013-12-15

Caleb:  Enjoyed watching you play Schroeder in the church Christmas program.  I'd say you nailed it:

Leah:  Although it killed my sustainable inner-hippie, I loved (and sorta cringed) watching you use an entire roll of wrapping paper to wrap a present for the dog.  However, I don't think Jetta is in to Lalaloopsy.  She's more of a Paw Patrol pooch.

Elizabeth:  If the way you're eating those chips are any indication, you've been watching too much Sesame Street.  Cookie Monster would be proud:

Why We Can't Have Nice Things - Christmas Edition

Why can't we have a nice Christmas tree with ornaments spread evenly around it?



Oh yeah, now I remember:



Wouldn't it be nice if we still had the numbers for our Days 'Til Christmas countdown?  I guess this will work for the next 13 days.

2013-12-11

Caleb:  On the way home from your Christmas play practice tonight, you asked me to turn on the stereo to drown out Leah's singing.  The song was Rage Against The Machine's Without A Face.  When the chorus kicked in (really loud) you said, "Now, we're talking!"  That's my boy.


Leah:  Every Wednesday we get you dressed up for tumbling and every week I'm amazed at how much older (grown up) you look.  You are a beautiful girl and I'm not ready for you to grow up just yet.

Elizabeth:  That bug-eyed look you get cracks me up every time.  Every.  Single.  Time.  Also, kudos on sharing some Taco-roni drenched in Fire Sauce with me today.

2013-12-09

Caleb:  I don't usually encourage "talking back", but it's different with you.  I don't think you talk-back as much as you just make observant statements.  I told you I couldn't wrestle with you because I was cooking dinner.  You said, "I don't see you standing at the stove", which made your Mom laugh.  Knowing the way your brain works, it cracked me up too.

Leah:  I almost had you tricked in to watching football with me tonight.  I asked if you wanted to watch a movie about Cowboys and Bears.  A huge smile broke across your face as you said you loved Boys and Bears.  Then Momma ruined it by telling you it was football and not a movie.  So, I sat in front of the t.v. alone, watching football and worrying about you loving Boys.

Elizabeth:  You are always getting in to stuff.  It's usually my stuff and it's usually annoying.  Once in awhile, it's kind of cute.  Rolling around the floor like one of the Wheelers from Return To Oz falls under the latter.

A Father's Love

A father's love--in pictures:

Meanwhile....

2013-12-06

Caleb:  I love watching you get off the school bus.  Some days you shuffle your feet slowly across the two-lane highway.  I can almost hear the drivers groaning in their stopped cars.  Other days, like today, you run full force, arms flailing like Phoebe from Friends.  Regardless of which style you choose for the day, the bus driver and I just look at each other and smile.  You always make us smile.  Keep running.

Leah and Elizabeth:  The two of you kept me thoroughly entertained today.  Ornaments were removed from the tree, some were replaced, others were broken, but the two of you had a blast playing together.  I especially liked the "Usual Suspects" line-up with all the stuffed animals.  I'm betting on Dora, in the Conservatory, with the rope.

2013-12-05

Caleb:  We sat on the couch and you read 4 books to me while you tried to meet your BOOK IT 100-page requirement the night before it was due.  You are your father's son.  Half-way through the 3rd book you said, "I think I'm starting to love reading Daddy!"  You are your father's son.

Leah:  I absolutely love how independent you are.  You rarely let me help you with getting dressed or ready for bed anymore.  I know that it'd be easier (quicker) to do things for you myself, but you've taught me the importance of letting you work things out for yourself.

Elizabeth:  You still seemed a little ill today.  No worries--you just burrowed down into my arms most of the day.  I hope you get back to your joyful, constant smiling and happiness, but I do love when you sit still enough for me to hold you.

Best Toddler Toys

The best toddler toys can't be bought in fancy stores, online, or even at Wal-Mart.  No, they're found at garage sales...

...and in your cabinets...

...and in your dresser:

Skip the upcoming shopping season and give your kids the Best Christmas Gift Ever!

2013-12-04

Caleb:  We loved how excited you were to get out the Christmas decorations tonight.  It's amazing that in your rush to get the tree out of the box, you didn't break any ornaments.  The speed with which you yanked Yuletide joy out of storage was matched only by your mother's quick tongue telling you to slow down and be careful.  Can't wait for Christmas.

Leah:  You were just as overzealous about holiday decorating, only it had to do with your personal Christmas tree.  We have special, smaller ornaments for your tree, but you insisted on using the biggest, breakable ornaments we have.

Elizabeth:  You gravitated towards all things shiny and breakable--ornaments, candle-stick holders, and porcelain baby Jesus.  Mom's attempts to redirect you with soft, fuzzy, stuffed reindeer and snowmen were met with emphatic "No's" and head-shaking.

2013-12-03

Caleb:  On my way out the door for band practice, you asked if we could wrestle one time.  I picked you up, tickled you, body-slammed you (gently) on the couch, picked you up by your feet, swung you around, and then you did the wheel-barrow into the kitchen.  This is your favorite way to wrestle right now and it's my favorite moment between us today.

Leah:  You played so nicely with Camdyn today.  We really need to set up more play-dates for you.  You are our social butterfly.  I'm not sure how you ended up that way with two introverts for parents, but I love watching you play and interact with others.  You are a compassionate soul.  Never change.

Elizabeth:  Words can't really describe my favorite memory of you today.  But thankfully, I have a camera:

Doing Something About The Weather

I've thought a lot lately about the legacy that I will leave my children when I pass away.  Legacy might be too "epic" of a word to use.  Legacies are left by politicians and serial criminals.  I've been thinking about the stories that I'll be leaving behind and while there are many good ones to tell, I haven't shared as many of them here as I should.  I've often ranted about the frustrating moments in parenting and it seems like all I do is complain about it.   I feel it's time to let the kids know how much I really do love them.

I'd like to start by writing a post each night about the one (or two) things that made that day special.  As much as I'd love for this to be a nightly exercise in showing gratitude, the demands of checking homework, giving baths, brushing teeth, and tucking in might make it a little more scattered than that.  So please forgive me Caleb, Leah, and Elizabeth, if I miss a day, but know that each day with you all has been absolutely amazing.

Here's the proof:

Caleb:  I loved when you asked me to watch football with you tonight.  I enjoyed it even more when you fell asleep on my lap.  I'm proud of the hard work you did for earning your physical education and swimming belt loops at the Pack meeting tonight.

Leah:  It is a joy to hear you speak.  Nothing melts my heart more than hearing you mix up your pronouns.  "Where is her?" and "I not like that" are enough to shut down the grammar nazi in me.

Elizabeth:    I really thought you were going to make it through the week without catching the flu.  It has been a joy holding your hacking, wheezing body in my arms for the day.

Until tomorrow....