New Traditional Christmas present

James and I decided that we wouldn't get the boys new toys for Christmas; instead we "gifted" them with a family adventure. We embarked on that adventure this weekend and all four of us agreed that it's an excellent beginning to what we're going to make a Christmas tradition.

First, we rode the train to Baltimore. This is definitely the way to travel. I'm willing to sacrifice some on-time issues for the comfort of 1 - not driving and 2 - the kids not being strapped into car seats. I guess it works best when the destination is a city like Baltimore where you don't need a car anyway.

The boys loved the train. We need to plan another trip for the summer, when it doesn't get dark so early.

We got in pretty late on Friday, but everyone was still in a good mood and we were hungry. I'd actually been organized enough to buy certificates at restaurant.com so we took Brady and Rudy out for tapas at the Inner Harbor. We let each of them pick out one of the plates; Brady picked bacon-wrapped steak bites and Rudy picked Spanish meatballs. How cool is it that our kids are willing to try so many new things?!?

The next morning we went to the Maryland Science Center. We got in for FREE with our membership from our local kids' museum (that thing has got to be one of our best investments!). We only had two hours at the museum, which was about a third of what we needed to really see everything.

Rudy loved the dinosaurs. He's showing me the big one in this picture, but he was really taken with the smallest skeleton (compsignathus) because "he's wittle wike me."

We grabbed a quick bite for lunch and then changed clothes before heading over to the Hippodrome for the weekend's big attraction: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. As in, the live theater musical. We were really nervous about taking a 5-year old and a 2-year old to the theater, but they really couldn't have behaved any better. They were absolutely enthralled with the whole production; both declared that their favorite parts were the dogs and when the car flies.

We had an unexciting dinner at The Cheesecake Factory that night, where Rudy promptly fell asleep in his chair.

Sunday morning we headed to the aquarium. I think the dolphin show was probably the biggest hit there. We spent the entire day checking out the new Australia exhibit and the sharks and rays.

Finally, we got one last snack before heading back to the train station. It was cold and Rudy's hair looked like this every time we took his hat off!

It was really a great trip! They boys were so well-behaved the entire time and it was just the right amount of activity - kept us busy but not totally exhausted. (Although we were joking by Sunday evening that they had used up all of their good behavior and we'd up all of our patience...)

So, now the big question is...where to next year?!?

FIVE years old

I can't believe I've got a five year old! Everyone says it...but really...where did the time go? Since we're all usually a little burned out after the holidays, we do most of Brady's birthday celebrating on his half-birthday. So, we save all of his presents and his big birthday party for the summer. He's perfectly happy with this plan because then he gets to have a pool party!

We still tried to make today special though. We continued our "birthday pancake" tradition (pancakes with food coloring and sprinkles) this morning; James stayed home for breakfast as an extra treat. Brady got to help James make his special IHOP pancake recipe.

Brady was supposed to have special friend week at school this week. We postponed it because he was sick on Monday, but we still got to bring in snacks all week and I got to do story time today. He picked out ice cream snowmen as his special birthday snack for school. They were a big hit, but my hands were freezing after making 18 snowmen!! I read Happy Birthday Danny and the Dinosaur for storytime; we took in props (a rescue hero as Danny and a couple dinosaurs and balloons) and Brady got to help "act out" the story.

This afternoon, we went to Bella's house for cupcakes and then came home for Brady's birthday dinner. His special request was English muffin pizzas for dinner.

We didn't have a birthday cake, but I we still managed to turn regular fondue into "birthday fundue". (We'd been planning fondue for New Years Eve but decided we didn't want to share a pot of chocolate with him and his cooties that night. He thought it would be fun to have it tonight.)

We finished off the day with a family game of CandyLand and family story time with Brady's baby book. He loved looking at all of the pictures and hearing the stories of his first year!

And - how's this for perfect timing - he lost his first tooth today! It's been loose for a few weeks and we noticed that the new tooth was coming in. I've been teasing him since it was first loose that I was going to pull it out with pliers. He showed me how loose it was today and I asked if I could try to pull it out. He wasn't thrilled at first, but the tooth practically fell out as soon as I touched it. He's told everyone that he lost it and that the tooth fairy might not come tonight because she's pretty busy!

OUCH

This is what happens when a two year old "dances" in new Elmo slippers near sharp corners:

Sleepy-time routines

This is what I found when I went to check on Rudy during nap time...

We've rearranged his room so his workbench is at the foot of his bed. He got new Bob the Builder tools for Christmas and apparently decided to get some work done before falling asleep. I love the construction hat on Simba :)

I've been meaning to write about our sleepy-time routines with both kids. This seems like a good time to document Ru's!

Naptime

I worked hard this summer to push his nap time to later in the afternoon. It was nearly impossible to keep him awake until after we got Brady home from school last year. It's worked well and he's happy until at least 1 or 2 now. He can actually get by with out a nap, but it generally leads to a rough hour or so in the evening.

Since he's convinced he doesn't need to sleep, he usually has a lot to say on the way upstairs: Me not go to sleep! Don't sleep me mommy! Me not take a nap!

And, as if to prove it, he'll sometimes play for an hour before finally falling asleep. Sometimes, I have to go back in and tell him it's time to go to sleep. Generally, at this point, he'll let me cover him up and he'll go right to sleep.

He still wakes up and calls for me until I come get him. If I don't come soon enough, he lays on the bed and kicks the wall until I come in.

Bedtime

James and I trade off taking each kid to bed - two nights and then we switch. Rudy gets one book in bed (lately, Goodnight Moon is a favorite again. Other standbys are How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight and Casey at the Bat.

After the story, he says his prayer. (We start the lines and he finishes them. Often with his own twist - which I've put in brackets.)

Dear God, I thank you for your care
You've been right with me everywhere

At school and at play, you're by my side [by myself]
My special friend, my loving guide

With all I do and all I say,
Help me to walk in Jesus' way

Help me to do the things I should [do]
To be to others kind and good

You're always with me, not far above
Watch over me and those I love [you]. Amen.

After that, he sings ABCs with us and then we sing him Kum-Ba-Yah with the second verse as "Rudy's sleepin', Lord. Kumbaya..."

We give a kiss, a big hug, and an eskimo kiss before leaving. Generally, that's the end of it, but he's starting to test the waters to see how much he can get away with!

And, finally a couple funny bedtime stories from the last few weeks (long post, I know!)...

After reading Casey at the Bat:

J: There was no joy in Mudville, the mighty Casey had struckout.
R, after a moment of thought: Why Casey have a mighty struckout?

After being tucked in for the night...

R: MOOOOMMMMMMEEEE! MOMMMEEEEE!
He gets James instead.

J,at the door: What is it, Rudy?
R: inaudible whisper
J, now at Rudy’s bedside: What is it?
R, still whispering: I need a kiss.
J, after a quick peck and walking back out: Night, night, Ru.
R: another whisper.
J, back at the bedside: What?
R: And some pants.

His too-short pajama pants were up around his knees, so he thought he wasn’t wearing any.

J: You have pants on.
R, after further investigation: Oh.

Again, after being tucked in (a different night, thankfully!) After the initial hollering, the rest of the conversation was conducted in whispers.

R: MOOOOMMMMMMEEEE! MOMMMEEEEE!
K: What Rudy?
R: Come here!
K: No, Rudy. It's bedtime.
R: Come here!
K: No, Rudy, it's time to go to sleep. Good night.
R: Mommy! Come in.
K: Rudy, if I come in I'm going to spank your bottom.
R: Good night Mommy.

...a couple minutes later...

R: MOOOOMMMMMMEEEE! MOMMMEEEEE!
K: What Rudy?
R: Don't spank my bottom.
K: OK, Rudy. Go to sleep.
R: OK, Mommy. Good night.

Christmas is over

2008 went out more with a whimper than a bang in our household. We had family in town until the 31st and then we had to cancel our New Years Eve plans because Brady was sick for six days. He couldn't seem to kick whatever cootie he had, so we are still recovering from the holidays around here!

We spent last weekend at my parents house for our family Christmas. Everyone was trying to avoid Brady's cooties, so it was quite as much family time as usual. We still managed to squeeze in our gift exchange and the boys are having a great time now that we're home (and healthy) with all their new presents.



We've gotten most of the Christmas decorations packed up. Rudy keeps trying to tell me, "Christmas not over?!?" If I say yes, he says (quite emphatically!), "NOOO. Christmas is NOT over!" Generally, he stomps his foot for emphasis at the same time.

I LOVE Christmas (more than most sane people) but I'm definitely ready to return my house to some sort of order this week!

Oma and Papa got the boys slippers. Brady got it in his head that he wanted slippers after seeing Bella and Ben's. I thought he would never wear them, but he usually puts them on as soon as he walks in the house. They love racing around the house in their "svippers," as Rudy says.

My mom had packaged Rudy's slippers in a coffee can and then wrapped them. Rudy unwrapped the coffee can and exclaimed, "It's a drummer!" He was SO excited to have another 'drum' - so cute! :)

More fun with Cooper

Kelly, Dan, and Cooper stayed with us a few days at the end of their visit. Each of the boys loved having extra playmates around :)

Baha

Our insurance company felt the Christmas spirit and approved our appeal for Brady's hearing aid. We got to try out the loaner over the holidays and are going back tomorrow to pick up our very own. He has to wear it on a band around his head, so I was expecting him to be pretty irritated by it.

It turned out that he actually didn't bother with it at all. While not huge, we did notice some definite improvements in his hearing. It will be exciting for him to have the option to wear it in the future!

More Christmas pics

We went to Baltimore the day after Christmas for a holiday party with James' mom's family. I managed to avoid being the photographer for the day, which was nice except that now I have to wait (patiently...I'm so good at that!) for everyone to email me pictures!

We did a lot of Christmas caroling, with piano and guitar accompaniment. This family is exceptionally blessed with good singing voices. I, of course, am not! It was a treat for the kids to hear what Christmas carols are actually supposed to sound like when not sung by the tone deaf. The power went out mid-party, which actually only added to the ambiance.

Firehouse train gardens are a uniquely Baltimore tradition and we visited one that Kathy visited as a child. The kids thought it was fascinating and had to walk through twice.

We told Brady and Rudy about our gift to them on the morning of the 26th. I was a little worried that it would be too abstract for them, but they are so excited! We've organized a family adventure for a weekend in January. We're taking the train to Baltimore, staying in a hotel, going to the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical, and going to the aquarium. Any ONE of those things would be exciting for the kids, but all of them in one weekend is positively thrilling!

Two of my favorite Christmas moments:
-We sat down at the table for Christmas dinner and joined hands for the blessing. Before anyone could even start our every day prayer, Rudy said, "let's sing happy birfday". We asked who we were singing to. He said, "to baby Jesus!" Of course, that was our blessing for the dinner but it was so appropriate. I was thrilled that, even to a 2 year old, we had managed to get that message through!

-I organized a neighborhood-wide sponsorship of two local needy families. We had a huge pile of gifts accumulated in our living room. Brady was very aware of who they were for and kept reminding me that they were for kids who aren't as lucky as he is this Christmas. He did stump me by asking if Santa was going to bring them presents, but then answered his own question by telling me that might bring them something but that these kids probably wouldn't get anything from their families, so our gifts would "make it more fair." [We're all about what's fair and not fair around here these days!]

Merry Christmas morning!

The four of us slept downstairs by the Christmas tree last night to see if we could catch Santa. He came, but he was too sneaky for us!

Nana and Popsie and the Donaldsons all spent the night so we could open presents together this morning. Brady woke up at 4:30 and acknowledged that Santa had come, but promptly fell back asleep. We all started stirring about 6:30 this morning.

Rudy and Cooper with Cooper's new camera:

Videos of our "kids" (Brady, Rudy, and Maggie) opening their presents...

After 7 years, Maggie is a pro at present-opening...

The primary item on Brady's letter to Santa was the Star Wars Transformer...



Since our vacation last summer, Rudy has been wanting a Blue Angel jet. He was sure to share this with Santa (twice) and anyone else who asked!

More cookie baking...

We were still baking cookies yesterday, and I think I'll be baking even more today. Who knew we could eat (and give away!) so many treats!

Rudy was my primary helper yesterday...he was an expert cookie roller and rolled two entire batches of ginger molasses cookies in the sugar for me.

Christmas Eve

I'm taking advantage of a temporary lull in the Christmas activities to put up a few pictures from last night and this morning. (My parents aren't with us and missed seeing the boys!)

We went to church last night. Somehow, we didn't get any pictures with James or me. We'll be dressed up again tomorrow so we'll have to try again!

Before the boys changed out of their jeans...

ABCs Duet

Cooper and Rudy serenaded us at lunch earlier this week with the ABCs.