A Post!

I have no excuses so I'll just leave it at that for the reason I haven't posted in two months. Back in February (I know, I know, it was a long time ago) we had winter break and needed something to do with the kids. Mom and I decided to drive to Rochester to see some family and spend time in a hotel with a pool. Before this trip, the kids have always been exited about the idea of a pool but once in it for five minutes, were essentially done. For some reason, they decided during this trip to love the pool - and I was ok with it since we had plenty of time on our hands! Jamison's mode of entry: sliding down the rail. And Lily figured out how to swim with her face underwater (she's behind Jamison in all pink). He was a little hyper during the trip (at Uncle Loren and Aunt Linda's house).

Since all schools were out this week we knew we were asking for trouble, but we had no choice but to go to the Strong Museum of Play. It is such a fun museum and the older kids are the perfect age. We arrived at 2pm, hoping to miss most of the crowd and knowing that my kids couldn't spend more than 3 hours there anyway.

Here they are shopping at the kid-sized Wegmans.

Jamison has been HUGE into action heroes from Marvel comics lately. I've had to really search for age-appropriate shows that have these characters in them since they aren't exactly made for three year olds. The museum has a nice size area devoted to Marvel comics.

He studied this display for 5 minutes. I took a nap during that time since he never spends that much time on one thing. Must take advantage of opportunities when they come up!

"That is so cool, mom!!" He's a fan of spider man.

Of course, since it is a museum, there are lots of learning activities in each area. This activity was to balance on a black line that appeared to go across two buildings. Jamison was not as impressed by the challenge as with the detail work of the city below. During this shot, Lily was lecturing him about his behavior since he was preventing her from finishing the task.

And then she just gave in and did what he was doing.

My attempt to get them both to sit in Big Bird's nest. Lily pretended to sleep and Jamison wouldn't even sit. (But I got him in it! HA HA for little victories).

I wanted a picture of all three of them but it just didn't work out.

Patrick is apathetic and the older ones are focused on their milkshake.

So this is where Lily cracked me up. Her personality really showed through with the following progression. There is a stage in the museum that has a bunch of different features. Naturally, there is the stage and the dress up area. But there is also a sound board, a lighting board, and a movie camera. While many children can dress up and perform, only one at a time can man the sounds, lights, and camera. Lily's goal: conquer each of these areas.

Step One: Look nonchalant.

Step Two: Show interest AND (this is key) boss the kid around until he runs away.

Step Three: Swoop in for the seat!

Step Four: Expertly keep a trained eye on the next goal (camera) until the seat is vacant, then swiftly move in.

Step Five: Proceed to last goal - Music! Success! (Please pay attention to my mother in the background talking to a random person. She is obviously incredulous about something)

Step Six: Re-Write the title of the play - The Dress Up Play.

Step Seven: Sit in the dress up area and critique everyone's choices. I'm so proud of her strategy to utilize every area except for getting on stage.

While Lily was slowing mastering all activities for the play, Patrick was content chewing my mother's purse. I am sure he was watching and learning from his big sister, though.

Jamison found an area that completely appealed to him. Loading and unloading construction vehicles.

On our way out we found a video game area that had a Zelda character on it. A few nights a week they play Zelda with Brian - they were so excited when they saw this! They had me take a picture and email it to him right away.

So now you're caught up on our life through February! I will try to post more often!

The January of Our Discontent

January was not the best month for our family. Now, this is completely subjective since we live in a free country, have loving family, are free to worship as we choose, and thankfully, have health care. So when I say "not the best month" it's purely from our perspective understating that there are many people around the world who would give anything for the month that we had.

First week of January we all got a stomach bug. Oddly, we didn't all get it at the same time, but two to three days a part. First Lily got it. Then two days later, Brian had it. Next, Jamison said his stomach hurt but didn't produce anything (yay for tiny victories). I am a firm believer in mind over matter and I had told myself that I would not get this thing. It did try to get me but I was only down for a day and if I stayed very, very, very still then I would be ok. Patrick didn't exactly seem to get it, only had a few fussy moments. It's hard to tell with a five month old.


Then it was the snow days. Normally snow days don't bother me. Rarely is school cancelled - maybe 2-3 days a year. Except THIS YEAR. The snow has been unbelievable. When the kids are stuck in the house for more than one day it gets scary around here. They have so much pent up energy. I put them on the treadmill, on the trampoline, and try to create more structure in the day. But it's not easy.

I know what you're thinking - just throw them outside. And I do. It takes 10 minutes to get them dressed and then they spend 20 minutes outside; falling down everywhere because the snow is so deep, getting stuck in snow drifts, and if you're Jamison, face planting without the ability to lift his body up. Then it's 10 more minutes to get them undressed without (and this is the key) getting snow everywhere. They come inside all red and snotty and cold. And demanding hot chocolate. We do this twice a day.
Then, on January 21, Brian's Granny Pat lost her battle with cancer. She had beat it 20 years ago, but they found it again in August and it was advanced. Granny Pat was the first of Brian's grandparents to pass away. I was trying to think back and I think the last time I saw her was in 2008, when I took this picture of her on the couch with Lily at Jim and Karan's house.

Granny Pat was a very classy East Texas woman. Always put together, always level-headed. She was a wonderful woman - so wonderful that we named Patrick after her. Brian was already in Lubbock for a church conference when she passed; so Patrick and I flew down to Texas to meet him. We met in Dallas and drove to Troup (just south of Tyler, if that helps anyone with a knowledge of Texas geography) to get together with family and celebrate her life.

Patrick to a liking to Pa as soon as we arrived.

Four generations. We have the same picture with Jamison when he was 6 months old in 2007.

We returned home on a Tuesday. By Thursday Patrick's nagging cough turning into wheezing. So Friday morning we headed to the doctor and he was diagnosed with bronchiolitis. We were sent home with a nebulizer machine and instructions to treat him every 4 hours.

Within 24 hours he went from wheezing and couging to wheezing, coughing, panting, and not eating. It was scary. Our pediatrician is open on Saturdays so we headed back. They took chest xrays and decided it was just a really bad case of bronchiolitis. It's been five days and he's no longer panting, but still wheezing. I feel that it's slowly getting better.

I really hate this, mom.

It works best if I strap him in his high chair and let him mess with it a little. As long as it's near his mouth and nose I think it's being inhaled.

Needless to say, I'm thankful for February. We're still dealing with Patrick's breathing and more snow days then I'd prefer, but we've got God to get us through whatever else may come.

Mysteries

Like many mothers, I frequently ask my children, particularly my three year old: "what were you thinking?!?!" And he normally replies: "I love you, mom." That is never a good response.

Jamison hoards items in his bed. When I go to change the sheets enough toys, stuffed animals, and miscellaneous paraphernalia to fill a dumpster come flying out.

This weekend, his nerf ball came bouncing out when I changed his sheets. It looked like a methodical destruction, not the usual carelessness, so I was concerned.

And then I found the pieces under his bed. At least he attempted to clean up. I focus on the baby steps.

So I had to ask him.

Me: Jamison, why did you bite off half of you ball?

Jamie: I only wanted a blue ball.

Me: So you bit off all the orange?

Jamie: Yes, but it's still not blue. I'll go get a marker.

Me: NO. I have to throw it away. It's not even a ball anymore. It's just a lump of foam.

Jamie: It's a phone?

Me: No - I said foaM. With a M.

Jamie: I need a phone....

and he wanders away.

And not five minutes later I find a secret message of some sort from Lily. Apparently the English language does not have adequate vocabulary for her so she decided to use hieroglyphics of some sort. She later read it me but it still didn't make sense.

Car Meets Deer - Not A Love Story

Two weeks ago, Brian and I put the kids down to bed and then I drove to my parents house to help package cards for my sisters' business. I had barely turned out of our neighborhood when I saw something out of my left peripheral vision. Luckily, I wasn't going very fast since a deer decided that was the perfect time to cross the road.

And it didn't touch the hood, so that was another good thing. It rammed into the van and then rolled to the side of the road; where my dad said it was probably knocked out and would run away when it woke up. But it was still "sleeping" two hours later, so I fear the worst.

Deer evidence.

Thankfully, the kids were not in the car with me; or who knows what kind of emotional truama I'd have to deal with. "Mama kiled Bambi!" And I could predict that everytime we would get into the van, from that night on, I'd hear - "Are we going to hit another deer again?"

Uncle Ken's Election

Back in November we traveled to the hot spot of New York state - Watertown. My uncle, Ken Blankenbush, was running for NY state Assembly and we wanted to be there for election night. In the back of my mind I knew what the NYS Assembly did, but as a refresher I went to their website to get all the details. And sadly, the best explanation was on the Kids Page: http://assembly.state.ny.us/kids/?body=assm2

We brought Patrick (who was 3 months old) and my cousin, Denine, brought her son, PJ (who was 9 months old). They wore matching onesies that said "If I were 18 I would have voted for Uncle Ken". My Aunt Linda is holding Patrick and mom is holding PJ.

PJ is huge. And he is very adorable. He'll be one year old in a week and Denine is already in her second trimester for his brother or sister. We're hoping for a brother.

Uncle Ken is not a fan of getting his picture taken. Kinda unfortunate for a politician. Here he is with his "angels" - his wife, my aunt Sheila, and his sisters - my mom and aunt Linda. There was some confusion getting the picture arranged when Sheila (it might have been Linda, I was laughing so hard at the time I just know it wasn't my mother) wasn't sure what to do because she never has held a gun. We quickly brought her up to speed that past experience with a firearm was not necessary - think "Charlie's Angels".

Wanna know what nervewracking is? Watching all the polls being posted on the tv. Here Uncle Ken was less than 40 votes away form his competitor.

And then you see numbers like this and it feels MUCH better!

He won! (it was pretty much expected).

Ken graciously accepted the win on the 11:00 news that night.

On January 4, uncle Ken was sworn in as one of the newest NYS Assemblymen. There were 17 new Assembly-persons sworn in and each got to make a short speech. I was prepared for the long-haul and texted my babysitter that this was going to be a while. But luckily, each of the speeches were short and most were entertaining. It helped that we cracked jokes the whole time. We definitely were not the most reserved group during the swearing in.

Afterwards, we took a family picture. I only noticed later that Denine hid behind her huge son. Not fair, Denine!

The Jeep

We have had to restrain my father from purchasing a Power Wheels for Jamison for a few years now. While we all thought Jamie would love it, we were concerned about his safety. I don't know if you've picked this up, but Jamison is a tad bid accident prone. Every time it was mentioned I pictured Jamison driving full speed into the retaining wall in my parents back yard.

So when my parents decided this was the Christmas for Power Wheels I asked that a helmet be included. I was denied. Apparently that was considered too over-protective. I will admit, I was also the mother who asked that Jamison wear a helmet on the jet ski as well, so maybe I am a little cautious with Jamison. But COME ON! Have you seen my previous posts?!?! He's been to the ER twice, has broken his arm, and has had to have stitches on his nose. That's not even including the silly eye surgery he needed. I actually have a page in his baby book devoted to hospital bracelets. That is just not normal.

So Christmas afternoon Jamison was told to go into my parents garage and see what gift was there. I'm so glad I caught this shot of pure joy on his face - since my parents and Brian were behind him, they couldn't see it.

And then he took off! And despite his training driving with the golf cart, he immediately drove onto the lawn. Or maybe that was because of the golf cart training, who knows?

It took a lot of coordination to figure out how to make it "go" and steer. He was a little timid at first because he just floored it but couldn't steer accordingly. Lily drove it after him and her golf cart training paid off - she loved it!

After driving the Jeep outside for a while it was put in my parents cavernous basement with the bikes. When Maddie and Ruthie came up to visit it was a comedy of errors watching them all try to ride bikes and the Jeep while avoiding the beams that support my parents house. More than once a crying child came upstairs to say they got run over. We considered it a good learning experience for them.

Christmas

The night before....

The morning after....

Santa brought Jamison The Bat Cave with a whole bunch of characters that I don't understand. He was captivated and declared it "exactly what I wanted!" and "the best gift ever!". This warmed my heart. And then he made those two statements for each and every gift he opened. Somehow, it was hard to believe that a mechanical toothbrush fell into those two categories. But he was incredibly enthusiastic every time he said it.

Santa brought Lily a whole bunch of fun paints and some random lights that she chose out of a catalogue. One is a glitter bubble lamp and the other makes a rainbow in her room. She still was more interested in Jamison's Bat Cave and Jamie was happy to share it with her.

Lily wrapped random gifts for her dolls. That she then unwrapped and acted all surprised when she showed them the gifts.

This kid has the funniest facial expressions and voice inflections. It's hard to explain in writing - you just have to listen to him. Here he is trying to explain why there are half eaten carrots in our den.

This is the Reeve (Brian's mom's side) trademark sign of concentration.

Brian and Lily are still reading the Harry Potter series so when Lily saw Hermione's wand at Barnes & Noble, he didn't need any further prodding to get it for her for Christmas. Naturally, all it does is sit on her dresser because what in the world do you do with a light up wand?

Patrick woke up a bit later in the morning then the other two. I should mention that Lily and Jamison were told not to wake us until 7am. Lily came in at 7:01, but Jamison was still asleep. She was perfectly fine with crawling into bed with us and waiting until Jamie woke up around 7:30. I couldn't believe her patience AND her desire to wait for him to wake up.

A teething toy! How appropriate!

He did not like being a reindeer.

The kids each took turns opening gifts so it was a nicely paced morning. By 9:30am they were trying to stay awake on the couches while watching a SuperFriends dvd. Since they are somewhat interested in the Marvel comic book characters, we have to go back to the old school shows in order for them to be age appropriate. The more modern super hero shows - not for my children! I couldn't believe some of the situations and topics that were on a show labeled as Youth.

Not the best picture, but we're all together and dressed up.

Jim and Karan were up for Christmas this year. They were up for a bit longer than they wanted to be due to flight cancellations but it was still a good visit.