The Last Few Days In Pictures

A normal car ride. Greta is always prepared as a Girl Scout. For a quick errand she likes to pack us water, a picnic, or even just a snack. Her sleeping buddies and some toys usually come along too. I blame us for this. We took her on too many road trips as a child. On this excursion she brought a thermos, plastic plates and cups. She would ask"Does anyone need water or a snack, yet?" She served fieldy his fruit snacks on a plate.....
The kids made this map together. It is the way to find the abominable snowman. That is him on the map with the fierce jagged teeth as I was told. Our toy snowman came along for the ride for reference, plus he just looked cute there. Always up for an adventure, Jeff and me loaded them in the car. We headed on a drive with Greta yelling from the back" you are going the wrong way. We aren't headed to Multnomah Falls. He lives at the top!"
We had a fun little drive and found a lot of new cool places within 15 miles of our house but no snowman.... Greta said"next time we need to head to the hills..."

Mr. Harmonica Man. He giggles and does a jig.

December means Advent Calendar time. This year we are doing the lego advent calendar which is very fun. Our favorite so far, the lego snowman. I think Jeff has more fun with this than even the kids...just an observation.;)

A first attempt at toilet training. It may not be the perfect time yet. We will revisit this scene in another month. I don't think the strategies that worked with Greta will work with Fieldin, which makes perfect sense. I need time to revise my game plan.. then game on!

Kinder Reader

So, for the third day, I attempted to get a video of Sweet Greta Reading.

Something always happens and I can't get decent footage. Today it was Fieldin. He was climbing all over me shoving his little yappy play dog in my face "for kisses". I didn't want to distract Greta while she read to me, so I gave up on video or pics.

I am so proud of her! She has only been in school for 2 1/2 mths and she is reading so well. Along with her school work I sometimes slide old school Dick and Jane into her reading time. Today she read and read. So future Miss Greta, here is a passage from Dick and Jane that you read to me today, without any help. I am not sure if I was even reading this much by the end of first grade.

Baby Sally said, "Oh Mother. Sally is big. Sally wants to work.

Sally wants to help."

Mother said, "Run, Sally. Run to the car. Run to the car and help me. Big, Big

Sally can help me".

&

Jane said, "Oh, Father. Mother can jump. Mother can play."

"oh,oh," said baby Sally.

"Mother can jump and play. Oh,oh. Mother is funny".

I always said, if you were ever a "thing", you would be a book. So happy you get to explore your beloved books in a whole new way. Gold star sweetheart.

The Burden Of A Tsunami Watchman

Jeff gives the kid's their nightly baths.

I find this, his most enduring quality. O.k. one of his most enduring qualities.

I have to admit bathtime is no funtime...most days.

One must be tsunami storm watcher, boxing ref, lifeguard, stern shrilly screamer, wet slippery seal/ child herder and animal hooded towel costume coordinator(they must be matching animals, of course).

Most evenings Jeff ascends from the depths of h...I mean the bathroom and looks defeated.

Two matching green frogs busting past him in a sprint for the hall yelling, "ribbit, ribbit, ribbit".

He is half soaked along with the floor. He smells of lavender Johnson & Johnson's soap which sorry to say, just doesn't smell the same on an adult or at least Jeff.

I love that he takes the burden of bathtime. Especially since I am busy doing(acting like) I have dishes or laundry to do.

Thank you tsunami watchman.

On another note, Fieldin tried to ride the bus today. He was equipped with his coat, knit cap, mini backpack and two cool kindergartner's in tow as we walked to the bus stop. He stayed in front of the pack constantly asking them "are you coming?" & "keep up". He waited in line for the bus with a delighted look on his face. He ignored those skeptics that tried to tell him"you have to be 5 to go to school" or "you are too small to climb the bus stairs". He ended up trying to make a break for the bus as the kids trudged on. Even though he gave poor doe eyes to the bus driver, it turns out he is too small to climb the bus steps. A sad day for pudger. We walked home, with him saying" mommy I ride bus, I go to school" In due time I told him. Once the backpack was dropped at the front door his Little People school bus was found and he played until thoughts of school were forgotten.. which was about 4 minutes.

More Griswald

A lazy Sunday.

Greta and I enjoyed watching Tangled at the theatre. It was wonderful. Greta dressed ALL up in party dress and glittery shoes. Hair curled and wearing Burts Bees lipcolor for "our date". I love dates with Greta. My Clark Griswald found some time to get outside for more decorating and we now own another Christmas inflatable...

Starting to deck the halls
Our newest inflatable and a trimmed front yard tree.

Putting out special family holiday artwork.

and stockings hung with ribbons saying"no peeking" and "don't open until Christmas".

We are still adjusting to Winter weather here. This year Jeff wore shorts, flip flops and a sweatshirt to decorate instead of the snow bibs he wore last year in Pullman. So strange. Nice, but strange.

It Took Less Than 12 Hours...

For this lil' Rascal to find wrapped Christmas presents. I admit I didn't hide them well but he found them first thing. Greta still hasn't seen them. Surprisingly, Fieldin, usually runs to his sister and shares any spy like info that is to their advantage and the two of them start scheming. This discovery must have been to huge, since he kept his finding to himself. Smart lad. After staring dumbfounded for a few seconds he found a play cell phone and called his friend Mickey Mouse for help. He described the wrapping paper to Mickey, which presents he thought were his..(Thomas and Goofy paper) and he needed "help!" Mickey must have had a prior engagement 'cause he never showed. Attempt #2 was dragging in his large garbage truck to climb up to the presents. "Too High" he grunted and headed back to the playroom. He returned with a play baby stroller which he called his "present cart". When we didn't fill it for him, he finally gave up and set up a nice tea party for himself(below).

"what that???" he said.
Enjoying a little peace and a tea party. After this, he set up a grocery store where everything cost $15,008.
We took the kids to a drive through Christmas light wonderland tonight. It was very cute and the kids loved it. They have some fun Holiday activities around here. While driving, Greta volunteered to help Fieldin write his letter to santa. What is he asking for? A real live penguin. "real live penguin, Greta! real live penguin" As my dad said, if you are going to dream, dream big. As for Greta, I have a feeling her letter will be 10 pages long, she is wishing very big this year!
On an unrelated note, Fieldin told me he is glad he is "called Fieldin, not Hans. I like Fieldin" I wonder what goes on in that two year old brain of his....

Gobble Gobble

Weather and traffic didn't cooperate with us this year. We really wanted to go to my dad's house for Thanksgiving but didn't make it. We were sad, especially the little ones. We hung around home instead and visited a neighbor's house in the evening for Pie Fest.

Watching Thanksgiving Charlie Brown...again!
Greta hanging under the tree after dinner.

Caught in the act!! Eating all the olives, on their fingers of course.

A game of pin the pilgrim hat on the turkey. Jeff's a little off the mark. I can't talk, I ended up in the hallway.

And a morning of the Macy's day parade. Fieldin loved it. Especially the Sesame Street float. Greta liked the dancing and Rockette's.

A Little Snow..

(Greta and her sweet friend made ornaments for our tree)
Our Skiff of snow. School was cancelled(don't laugh!) Thanks to rare snow memories from childhood, I guessed the skiff would melt in 2 hours. I got us out side early so we could enjoy it!

He was sooo excited"mommy SNOW!" "Get me dressed for SNOW!" "Wow"
He was too impatient to get his snow boots on, so we had to settle for his rain boots.

(Trying to make a snow man... me reminding them we weren't in Pullman anymore:)

So happy.

It's 9 p.m. and I am watching the Cougs win at basketball, so far(at least we can win at something :)) I hear lil' man, who should be in bed...ahem... shouting "awesome dunk!" "shoot the ball"..There is also alot of high fiving going on over there.. Sounds like he is learning alot from his daddy tonight.