Christmastime

This was Christmas week: two Grandmas visiting, two excited boys and one baby's 1st Christmas. Not to mention a couple of cool freight trains from Santa, some rescue helicopters from Grandpa & Grammy and a surprise oil tanker truck for Daddy. All in all a great time.

Twas The Night Before Christmas...

...and all through the house
two little boys clad in sleeper pajamas
listened to their Dad as he read them the stories
of the Night Before Christmas and the birth of Christ Jesus
Then after a prayer, and hugs and kisses for all around
they both ran to their beds
and jumped in to snuggle under their blankets
to await the coming of Santa and Christmas morn'...

Sleep tight little men...
morning will be here before you know it.

Special Singing Time

Last Thursday, my class and I went to the senior home next store and performed for the seniors who live there. We sang three songs: The Mango Song, My Favorite Things & Frosty the Snowman. I liked it alot. Mommy and Daddy came with Baby Owen to watch. My other classmates - their Moms and Dads came too. It was a fun time. My teacher Nicole sat up front and directed us on when to sing. We all did. She wanted us to sing loudly and I did. In fact my friend, Rafael's Dad said I sang the loudest. I was like a "choral leader" what ever that means.

Here's part one song I sang. It's called The Mango Song:


Momma, Momma, I want some mango.
Papa, Papa, please payaya.
No No Nana, a ripe banana;
Kiwi, Kiwi, Kiwi, Kiwi...
Red berries, Berries blue,
these are fruits that are so good for you!


It was a fun time. It made me really happy to do it. I love to sing.

- Noah

Thanksgiving, 2010

Daddy made dinner. Noah helped. Rhys, once again, was oblivious, until it was time to eat. Owen got his first bite of mash potato along with sweet potato and he ate it up and then some.  It was a good time.  

The Start of a Tradition

Three Saturdays ago, Matt and Noah went to a college football game: University of Colorado vs. Iowa State. This is the second year in a row that they were able to go together. Once again, Noah loved it. And of course, Daddy did too. And hopefully next year, another opportunity will come up for them to share in another experience like this together...just father and son and football.

One Halloween Afternoon

It was a great day to be an Oregon Duck Fan and Lightning McQueen's Pit Crew Guy.  Oh and A Pumpkin too. 

It was a little Munchkin Madness down on The  Pearl Street Mall where the boys along with a gazillion other kiddos got to walk along the cobblestones, going to the different stores along the mall and say "trick or treat" and get candy.  Not to mention a fresh baked cookie from BJ's Grill and stickers from the Patagonia store.  

Carving Pumpkins

After dinner tonight, we took the pumpkins we got from the pumpkin patch and we carved them.

Noah: I drew a face on my pumpkin with triangle eyes and a missing tooth. Then Daddy cut out the eyes and mouth for me. He then gave it back to me and I drew another face on the other side. Daddy cut that face out for me too so I have a pumpkin with 2 faces.

Rhys: I drew a face on my pumpkin with two eyes, a nose and a chin. And cheeks. And Daddy cut out square eyes and square teeth for my pumpkin. When he gave it back to me, I added more to the face and that was it.

The Mommy: It was a good time to be had by all. Below is our littlest pumpkin. With God's help, The Parents made him and we're quite fond of him.

A Pumpkin Patch Sunday

It was a Pumpkin Patch Sunday. Rhys' primary school class had a social at Cottonwood Farms down the road from us. Lots of pumpkins, a hay bale maze, a large steam engine and a bunch of school friends and their parents. The boys (and their parents) had a good time.  And they took home two pumpkins.  

What They're Learning...

This past Thursday evening, we went to the boys' school and discovered what they were learning in class. They both go to a Montessori school here in Boulder. We visited each of their classrooms and they showed us the "works" that they do. Rhys is working with cylinder blocks and putting together puzzles (see photo above) while Noah is tracing shapes, building his dexterity with a pencil and practicing writing his numbers then adding them up (see photo above).   We, The Parents, were totally impressed.  

Grabbing At Straws (and other things...)

I grab at straws
and the remote
and the spoon The Mommy feeds me formula with

and The Daddy's glasses.
I like The Daddy's glasses.
And I like the way he fusses when I grab them.
He says sounds like "Nononono..."
I like the "Nonono" sound.

I grab at hair.
My favorite thing ever.
I like the sound that The Big Brother Rhys makes when I do: "Ahhhhhhh!"
That's a fun sound.
When I pull hair, no matter whose hair I pull that sound comes out.

I grab at Everything now. Fingers. Toes. Noses. Dirty Diapers.

Oooh, I found a new thing to grab...
It's silver, has a square window that shows pictures and has square buttons that The Mommy is pressing right now.

Nice!

I'm tired now.
I think I'll reach for The Mommy's Milk now...
I love The Mommy's Milk.
It's my favorite thing of all.
Really it is...(yawn!)...

6 Months Old, Baby!

Last Friday, I turned 6 months old.  Already.

"Owen's growing up!" says The Parents. 

Okay, but I'm still Mommy's baby. That's not changing!

First Days...

The older two of our three little men are in school now.  Which is wild because it still feels like summer to me.  Noah is now a big Kindergartner.  He walks around with his big Lightning McQueen backpack and is now one of the Big Kids in class and on the playground during recess. With being the Big Kid comes responsibilities...like looking out for his little brother and best pal, Rhys.  He gets to have Art one day a week now, and Music, two days a week along with PE the last two days.  More importantly, he gets to bring lunch to school in his nifty lunch bag. 

Rhys is now an official preschooler.  He's handled the first week with much bravery and grace. So far, only one potty accident and that was on the playground, where there weren't any bathrooms.  He's cried a few times when he has to leave his big brother on the playground when recess ends (the kindergartners get to stay a little longer than the rest of the preschoolers).  There's a fish tank in his classroom and he gets to work with puzzles, roll rugs, and have snack.  

The Parents are proud and amazed.  These guys have hit some major milestones.  We can't wait to see what's next. 

Frosting A Cake

It was Daddy's 

birthday and I helped to 

make his cake.  The day before his

 birthday I mixed the eggs, flour, oil and water into the cake mix and then on his birthday, in the morning I put the frosting on the cake all by myself.  I was focused because it had to be right.  Then I added lots and lots of chocolate sprinkles afterwards.   Mostly the entire bottle of sprinkles.  I added some stars too.   Rhys watched...though sometimes he was getting in my way with his subway trains.   

Media Talk

Earlier 3 year old Rhys put two red blocks together and said "Wook, Mommy.  A media scween!"  

The Mommy shook her head thinking 'Did he just say what I thought he said?' and then repeated out loud "a media screen?"  

Rhys nodded enthusiastically and said "Yes! A Media Scween!  Look, Dora's on it." and he points to the rectangular block.  Ahhh...

He put the block down under him and then raised it up again and said "Wook, now Dinosaur Train is on!".  

He put the block down again and after raising the block, said "Now, Dora again!" 

The Mommy, then thought simultaneously "Wow! How clever!"/"Yikes, a little too much t.v.?" 

Brotherly Love

Owen from his first smiles, would look at Big Brother Rhys and grin widely.  He was captivated by his big brother with the wild curls and the big smile.   A month ago Rhys turned around and took a good look at Owen and said "That's my baby bwother Owen.  Awww...he so cute!" and it's been love ever since between these two.  Coolness. 

Eggs Sunnyside Up with Strawberries: The Breakfast of Champions

This morning, Mommy made us eggs just like what Daddy eats at IHOP (translation: Eggs Sunnyside Up).  Just like Max on Max & Ruby [children's animated show].  We had it with strawberries. It was Mommy's first time making these eggs.  They were good.  Better than cereal so we asked for more.  

Rhys: And more strawberries!

Saturday Morning Swim Time

On Saturday mornings we go to the Y down the road and take swim classes.  

Rhys: I swim and swim all around  the pool with Daddy.  I don't like putting my face in the water, though Daddy makes me at times.  Yuck!

Noah: (sighs) I don't like to go and do the swimming exercises but Daddy just told me today that I need to try.  So I'll try next time.  Do I have to try every time though?

The Mommy: Beginner classes for the boys where they play in the water and learn important techniques like floating on their back, floating on their front, kicking with their legs and most importantly putting their head underneath the water.  That last one's a challenge for them both. Rhys gets to have his Daddy in the pool with him while Noah is in class sans parent, though I am always standing on the side, with Baby Owen strapped to me, encouraging him on (and of course, helping him to focus).   Such is our Saturday mornings...

Belly Talk

Today, some belly talk...

Rhys: When I was little and a gray baby I pushed out of your tummy.

The Mommy: That's true. 

Rhys: I used my hands, Mommy.  My hands to push?

The Mommy: Well...kind of.  And your head.

Rhys: Mommy, when I was a gray baby pushing out of your tummy, I used my head and my hands to push to come out.  Why did I come out?

       The Mommy: Well, because it was your time to be born. 

    Rhys: Why?

    The Mommy: Because it was. 

     Rhys: Owen was a red baby when he pushed out of your tummy, right?

    The Mommy (smiling): You could say that.  

Owen's First Taste

Several days ago, Owen had his first taste of baby food ever: Oatmeal cereal.  Eating came easy for him.

Owen: Like it's hard?