New Years Eve - Goodbye 2013!

We told the kids if they took a nap on the way to Michigan, they could stay up late on NYE. They happily obliged (little did we know what we had gotten ourselves into!)






We went out for a short dinner at a local favorite restaurant before heading home for the night. The kids donned their party hats, grabbed their noise makers, and proceeded to hold the loudest dance party ever. After tiring of that, they sat on the couch and made a bit more noise.



We somehow convinced them to get into their pjs. They decided to "cheers", and Brooke announced that every time they clinked glasses they needed to drink (uh, milk that is).


We then offered them an exciting surprise - we were going to allow them to have a "sleepover"! The kids have been begging for about a year to sleep over in each others rooms, and we've been avoiding starting any sort of trend like that. It was assumed that since they were up late and tired, that the sleepover would be easy-as-pie ...

We were SO wrong. Dad put the kids to bed and it seemed to be going well. Ryan immediately closed his eyes to sleep. Then I listened along on the room monitor to come to the realization that Brooke had other plans. She continued to whisper and talk to him, eventually riling him up. Over the next two hours they repeated called us up, came out of the room, switched beds, fought over blankets and pillows, giggled, talked ... you get the idea. Finally it was 10:15PM and they both started crying. Ryan lost his bunny, Brooke gave him her bunny (a different one, but same animal at least!), but it wasnt good enough. I went up there and he was distraught over the missing bunny - she basically just wanted him to leave her alone. She was tired and done of the messing around.

I brought him back to his room and put him in his own bed. She was pretty much asleep by the time her bedroom door was closed. He took some calming down and eventually fell asleep too. We thought that was the end of it. Then he called me at 3AM screaming and crying - a combination of anger and sadness. He continually apologized, told me he missed his sister, he didnt want to sleep alone, and then moved into yelling at me about how he wasnt tired and I was making him angry. He finally passed out again...

I think we all learned our lessons. There will not be any sleepovers for the foreseeable future :)


(And both kids were up at 7:30 the next morning. Pretty close to their usual wakeup time, except they were about 3 hours short due to the "sleepover".)

Merry Christmas!

The kids woke up this morning and happily hung out in our bed for a while (20-30 minutes) before heading downstairs. I honestly expected a pre-dawn rampage, but was pleasantly surprised. They were aware it was Christmas morning, but not overcome with excitement or anxiety.

Once downstairs they explored the scene, and their true personalities were quickly demonstrated.  Ryan walked over to the plate where we placed Santa's cookies the night before ... and ate the crumbs that were left.

Brooke immediately went to the stockings and gifts.  After the crumbs were clear, Ryan joined Brooke at the stockings.  As Brooke looked at all of the contents, Ryan pulled out the candy, and screamed and yelped with joy. He then forgot there were any presents at all and focused on trying to convince us he should have his M&M's right away.

After we finally got him away from the candy, momentarily, they began to tear through their presents. Again, it was a typical scene. Each gift Ryan opened was met with a scream of delight. Each gift Brooke opened was tossed aside without much response as she reached for another.

After the kids successfully trashed the living room, we all sat down for breakfast.  I was proud of my beautiful monkey bread, of which neither kid would touch.  Turns out it was for the best as I ate most of it myself :)

Those Christmas morning minutes are so fleeting, its hard to capture memories.  Everything happens so fast and there aren't many opportunities to sit back and just enjoy the moment.  I wish I could just yell "FREEZE" and have everything pause.  Next year there will be three little monsters rushing down the stairs.  Hope Santa can keep up with their expectations!

Santa Visit

This was the first year where both kids were genuinely excited to see Santa ... And a sign of how much more materialistic they've become as the years passed ;)

Santa was in a local kids store, and the kids picked up everything in the store, walked it over, and said "Santa, I want this".  There was no rhyme or reason - they wanted everything.

Santa offered candy canes, and my peppermint-haters both replied "No thank you!", so at least they were polite while requesting everything and anything :)

Before we left, I told them to make sure they told Santa everything they needed to.  Ryan walked up to him and said "Santa, can I have all the toys?  So much toys!" ... And then proceeded to throw a tantrum the minute we left the store because he didn't want to go home.

Little Picassos

Brooke TBPK Art

Food Nightmares

A few nights ago Ryan let out the most horrible scream in the middle of the night. I ran in, expecting a terrible injury, and he told me (in midst of incoherent babbling) that he wanted a cookie and his teachers didn't give him one. I chalked it up to a bad dream, got him back to sleep, and went back to bed.

Within the last week he has repeated this three other times!

1) after the blood curling screaming he simply informed me "I'm hungry"
2) I ran in and he informed me that I forgot to give him a smoothie as promised.
3) he yelled at me "Don't throw it away! Don't throw it away!" ... I asked him what ... He said "my sandwich"

On one hand I'm glad he's not having bad dreams about monsters or bullies. On the other hand, Im getting increasingly frustrated at the 3am demands for food ;). Can't wait to see what's next!

Big Transitions For A Big Boy

This past Saturday we moved the crib out of Ryan's room ... And the full bed from the guest room in. He woke twice during the night crying and both times said he wanted to come in our room. He fell asleep again on his own, in the big boy bed, and woke in the am with a big smile. Sunday night he didn't wake at all. Last night he got me up a bit before 5am to go potty, tried to convince me to stay and sleep with him, but then fell back asleep in his bed and woke a few hours later.

Today, to add to his big boy status, he went to school wearing his big boy underwear (vs a diaper). He was beaming with pride all day.

Now if we could only stop the temper tantrums and insistence he be carried all the time ;)

Trimming The Tree

The one thing I realize year-after-year ... its hard to let your kids help trim the tree.  They place all the ornaments in the same spot (about 3.5 feet from the ground and on the same branches as one another).  They love doing it and its hard not to smile as they ask about each ornament we pull out, or start to remember ones from previous years.  However, the perfectionist inside almost dies as they clutter them all together on one branch ... knowing that this tradition is just for memories and as soon as they go to bed I'll be removing every ornament they placed and putting it somewhere else :)

Holiday (Model) Train Outing

In past years we've trekked out to the burbs to check out a pretty extensive indoor holiday "railroad garden".  While the kids think its pretty cool ... its actually quite an expensive outing ... and they dont think its that cool.  So this year we decided to try something along the same line within the city, which also is a little cheaper (aka: free!).


We took an outing to to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, which had a couple trains running in a holiday-type scene.  It turns out it was a good choice.  Although there were only about two trains (compared to the 12 in the burbs) it was plenty.  Ryan found the two fascinating and Brooke was bored within minutes.  Both kids actually found the "fern room" to be the most entertaining - it had a wild/tropical feel ... and miniature hidden dinosaurs :)  We then took the money we saved and enjoyed a nice lunch.  Everyone was happy!

To complete our holiday-themed day, we concluded the evening by starting to decorate the tree :)

Holiday Parades!

Last weekend we went downtown to see the Magnificent Mile Lights Parade. It was cold and packed ... but the kids were thrilled. Both spent the parade up on our shoulders to ensure a good view. At the end of the parade we were both a bit sore, but the smiles on the kids faces was well worth the effort!


We followed up last weekend's parade with another parade - different state ... and MUCH different atmosphere. Here we were one of maybe 40 or so spectators, viewing 5 or so floats, and yet with equally excited kids.

  

This time we brought along Uncle Tim, Aunt Jackie & Cousin Gavin.  While Brooke and Ryan appreciated the blaring of the horns and sirens of each police car and firetruck, Gavin increasingly wondered what cruelty we were subjecting him to.  We walked away with a ton of candy, a Santa sighting, and a little bit of Christmas spirit ... Gavin might not have been quite as moved by the whole event.  Perhaps next year they'll join us again and he will get to give our small town festivities another chance :) 

Brooke "How To Cook A Turkey"

Sunday She Said / He Said

Brooke: I want a Giant Jack!
Dad: You mean Long John?
Brooke: yeah!

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Ryan: Dad can fix it
Mom: You think dad can fix everything?
Ryan: Yeah. He's amazing!

Big Changes

Today Daddy drove away in one of these...

And returned home in one of these...

Brooke and Ryan were pretty thrilled with the new car. Mommy & Daddy, on the other hand, are still getting used to it (on a variety of different levels).

Gymnastics X 2

Since Ryan is now 3, he's old enough for gymnastics.  Brooke's class is for 3-5 year olds, so I put him in with her.

Yesterday was his first day.  He sat outside the window and wouldn't go in.  He first said the kids were too big.  Then he claimed his toe hurt.

Finally got him in - 15 minutes into the class.  Big sister Brooke took charge.

He seemed to love the class.  He and Brooke screwed around too much - and got in trouble for wrestling during class.  The teacher has to tell them "we don't hit in gymnastics" :(. Hopefully he will learn to listen and have the opportunity to improve his skills.

He needs some SERIOUS work on his balance - can't even make it a few steps on the beam. However, he did great on the bar stuff (not surprising, he's part monkey).

Making Dreams Come True

We couldn't be shown up by preschool, so we had no choice. It was time to go where the magic happens ... Chuck E Cheese!

Our visit started with a dance-off featuring the mouse himself.

The kids played lots of games, including a little ski ball

And redeemed their tickets for little pieces of junk before we left :)

 

Brooke gave Ryan a gift she picked out by herself, but, more importantly, addressed with fancy writing all by herself!

 

Walkie Talkies! A gift they can use to play together. Everyone wins.

Ryan is Three

Ryan's 3rd birthday fell on a school day, so he brought donuts with to class to celebrate!

 

His teachers made him a crown, which he got to decorate himself. He was the (birthday) King for a day.

 

Obviously the school celebration was quite exhausting.  He could not make it the 20 minute drive home from school :)

Halloween!

Brooke got to wear her Halloween costume to school.  She was Ariel :) During the day the kids got to parade around the school so all the "big kids" got to see their costumes. They also had a party with games in class.

Ryan (aka Superman) also got to wear his costume to school and have a party with his class.

 

 After school we ventured out for some trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Brooke still in her Ariel costume, but Ryan had transformed into a different superhero!

 

The kids actually bore of trick-or-treating pretty quickly.  They prefer to give vs. receive.

 

At the end of the night, each kid counted their stash and chose one treat to eat.  

Sunday She Said / He Said

Mom:  Ryan!  Did you slam that door?  We do not slam doors!

Ryan: You get what you get and you don't get upset.

Halloween Birthday

We celebrated both kids birthdays in conjunction with our neighborhood Halloween parade and trick-or-treating. Our little super heros marched down the street in style.

They went store to store and gathered lots of candy.

After trick-or-treating we had cake - two of them actually! Ryan chose a Batman cake and Brooke chose a Sophia the First cake. Unfortunately we veered from the norm and got them from a different bakery, and both kids thought the cakes were yucky :) There was lots of cake left over!