Teacher's Comments

Today when I picked up the boys at school, they were helping the teacher assemble the castle gift we had given the class. The castle had many, many pieces that had to be put together to create the finished product. I commented on her bravery taking on that challenge with four little helpers. She said, "It would have been easier if Daniel did not keep telling me that I needed to do it differently because it did not look like the picture on the box." Then she said, "but we do have all these leftover parts." Me being of the engineer mindset glanced at the box and then looked at the castle and assessed that she had, in fact, constructed the castle incorrectly. At that very same moment, she said that she had been telling Daniel that there was probably more than one way to put it together. Then it dawned on me... Is Daniel inherently like this, or did I create it? I'm guessing it is the latter because my reaction to her very nice, although not exactly like the picture on the box, castle was exactly the same as his. Luckily I'll have my chance to do much assembly in the coming days. Christmas with small children results in lots of assembly.

In that moment when I heard my words being echoed back from my son's mouth I realized that I just needed to let it go. Let it go, Rachel, let it go. I've known this for years, or at least I've been told that I focus on some of the smaller details, but I've never seen such a great example of it. I guess she is right, it's ok if all of the pieces are not in the exact right spot. Good thing is, I'm working on finding inner peace. I've taken up yoga, and I love it! So on those really trying days, I just head over to Dragonfly Hot Yoga and sweat it out ;)

We are putting together our last gifts for Christmas, and can't wait for the big day. Too bad it's likely going to be a brown Christmas this year. The little snow we had melted. Ok, must hit the hay and get a little sleep before tomorrow. Here's to hoping your Mother passes on her best qualities to you!

And just for reading, here is a cute picture of the boys.

Christopher-isms

Christopher is a very verbal child. He talks a lot about everything. He also mimics so much of what he hears. It is quite entertaining listening to him. He also has quite a few funny things that he likes to say and do. It all started with tricky several months ago. Anyway, here are a few for your enjoyment:

- When he sings the alphabet, he says "ooo" instead of "u."
- When we start pulling into the driveway he announces, "We're at Mommy's house ... Mommy."
- Most sentences are followed by ...(dramatic pause)... Mommy.
- His name is slowly gaining all of its letters. It started as "Kiffer," but will occasionally come out as, "Chrispher" now.
- Back in September or October when the days started getting much shorter, Christopher learned that it could be dark outside and it was such a novelty (he's been going to bed at 7 pm for as long as I can remember), he would run to the window and point and say, "dark outside" repeatedly until we would acknowledge that it was, in fact, dark outside.
- Christohper loves all the Christmas decorations, he has been pointing out all the "tiny balls" in the neighborhood on the way home. He likes to do that after he tells me, "I found it, Mommy. I found the moon, Mommy."
- Everytime he sees the phone out he says, "Talk to Gigi, Mommy?" and tries to talk to her even though no one is there.
- At every meal, no matter what we are having, he always asks Matt for a, "bite please."
- Christopher is also very interested in cooking. He always comes into the kitchen and asks if he can, "See it, Mommy. See it please?" Then he insists that he look in each pot and in the oven just so that he is in the loop about what's cooking. Hilarious if you ask me.

Trick-or-Treat

The boys had a blast Trick-or-Treating tonight and today at school at "people's work" as Daniel would tell you. I guess that's an added bonus of a corporate daycare. They are all about the treats. Christopher kept asking for "more treats" and pointed out all the "scary" things as we strolled around the neighborhood. He caught on to the concept pretty early in the game. Daniel later exclaimed that, "Trick-or-treat is the best night ever!" Unlike year's past where Daniel thought that the idea of Halloween was to actually go inside everyone's houses (at least four entries each year), he actually picked up on the get candy and run idea this year. We did manage to squeeze, "thank you's" in before the tail was headed on.

Our biggest delay was the little clown wobbling behind with a hat that wouldn't stay up. On one particularly long sidewalk that meandered around several flower beds, Christopher was lagging way behind. I went back to check on him to find him pointing at each petunia. After asking him what he was doing, he replied, "Counting. Counting flowers." As if to say, "Mom, these flowers are all lined up here along the sidewalk. Clearly they were put here for me to count." I'm pretty sure that this was his favorite house because when he finally made it to the door, he was rewarded with two "hot jack-o-lantern's" meaning jack-o-lanterns with candles inside and a full-size candy bar. You should have seen the size of my boy's eyes when that tray came out! So much fun tonight! Makes me look forward to future years.

The clown and Puff the Magic Dragon posing on the front stoop.

Daniel snuggling and Christopher showing me his Jack-o-Lantern.

Dan explaining something really important to Daniel about pumpkins and horses.

Risks of Creative Bedtime Songs

Matt started singing "American Pie" to Daniel as a bedtime song months ago. He now knows all the words and will correct any minor slip-ups. As an extension of this activity Matt started giving Daniel interpretations of some of the verses, for instance, "You know the girl who sings the blues is Janis Joplin." Well, as most things do with Daniel, this one came back to us yesterday when Daniel asked if Janis Joplin was going to be at the Wastewater picnic. The host got a good chuckle out of that one!

Crash!

Farmer's Market Fun

Highlights of the Farmer's Market today included star cookies and the Capitol. We almost got asked to leave the Capitol, but as we were not pouring beer on any legislators, they let the boys continue their hide and seek and echo games with only a hairy eyeball. Believe it or not, we actually made it through 2.5 of the 4 blocks, but in an effort to limit my purchases to what we wanted instead of what Daniel wanted, no pictures were taken.

Little Logic

Daniel asked me if he could use his Thomas puzzle tin box to bring his lunch to school. In lieu of just saying, "No Daniel, that's rediculous," my response was to ask him where the puzzle pieces would go. He responded in a not so subtle way.

Thomas puzzle box in the lunchbox cabinet

Thomas puzzle pieces in Daniel's lunchbox.

He's got it all figured out doesn't he? I guess the idea of a lunchbox with Thomas and wheels on it was just a little too exciting.