Thursday, December 31, 2009

Loving the Snow


Last year when it snowed, David rejected the cold, which makes sense coming from a tropical climate, and he thought the snow needed to be cleaned up because it made his shoes dirty. This year he still was timid of the cold and snow, but he more readily embraced it. This time he even climbed through a snow tunnel at Scott & Andrea's and participated in snowball fights!
Stay Warm,
E

WHY?????!!!!!!!!!

Wow! The moment I've dreaded has now reared its head, as of yesterday. David officially understood the meaning of WHY and asked, "Why?" after asking him to do something. I'm sure my jaw must have dropped to the floor in surprise, and he quickly smiled. He later asked, "Why?" again during the day, but I thought it was simply prompted by my reaction. However, this morning, when getting ready to go to Cathy's (his in-home daycare), he asked if he could watch an episode of THE BACKYARDIGANS, and I told him, "No." "Why, Mama?"Again, slightly shocked but desperately trying to play it cool, I responded, "Because we don't have enough time, David." "Oh, okay."

Oh my gosh!!! We've entered into a new realm of parenting where my child will now (as Kyle brilliantly states) "begin flexing his personality and opinion muscles." Welcome to a whole new world!!!
E

Christmas 2009

This Christmas was much more experienced than the previous; I think the birthday round of presents to David solidified what should be done. We spent this Christmas, first, with my parents at our house. My favorite moments, by far, were when they opened the ceramic cross David had painted for them, and also when David opened the Home Depot Stool/Work bench. He cutely said, "Oh, thank you. A stool for time out!" (David has a time out stool at the end of our hallway). We giggled and giggled.
Our second Christmas occurred at our house on Christmas morning after Santa had come. David enjoyed his knight costume, R2Potatoo, Backyardigans computer game, books, fruit snacks, world map floor puzzle, and, most importantly, his VTech camera. He spent the morning taking interesting pictures: everything from the dogs, us, himself, the insides of bags, and rooms in the house. We finished off our morning with pancakes and digging ourselves out of the driveway so we could leave for Tulsa.
Eventually, we made it to Tulsa, and because they were snowed in, we celebrated at Scott & Andrea's house and helped rescue them from their covered driveway. David appreciated more books, clothes, Backyardigans figures, and Star Wars action figures.
Overall, it was a plentiful and enjoyable holiday, and the cool aspect of this Christmas was the David understood and was ready for the loot.
Thanks to all, and Merry Christmas.
E

Friday, December 25, 2009

Clearing the Driveway

Poor cold Kyle clearing our driveway of the 1.5-2 + feet of snow. Stay warm, love! E

Oklahoma Blizzard of 2009

This morning while we were getting ready David asked if we were going to Poppy & Granna's after presents and pancakes. I told him that we'd have to wait to check the weather and see about the snow. David replied, "Mama, Jesus drive lawnmower and clean up the snow."

Gotta love it,
E

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Backseat Style

Here's just a brief glimpse of David's unique style & fashion sense.

DDD

Today was another Daddy and David Day!!! Mama took her students to a speech tournament in Choctaw, so David and I had the rule of the roost. The day started as normal with a trip to the donut shop and to Wal-Mart for groceries, except this time David wanted to buy a Nerf "gum" like Daddy's with his chore chart money.

So we tried a few different models at the store until we found one that he could operate. It took a little bit of extra effort in the beginning, but he finally got the hang of it. After some target practice in the living room, I decided we should play hide and seek "Nerf style." I went first and hid in the office behind a chair for cover. After counting to a very fast 10, David slowly came down the hallway calling my name. He soon found me, and a gun battle quickly followed. We collected the darts, and David announced it was his turn to hide. However, when I was halfway finished with counting, I heard his dart shoot and wondered what happened. I started down the hallway only to be met by David running my way hollering like a crazed warrior. (I was so proud!) I noticed that his gun was unloaded, and I destroyed him with me barrage of darts!!! Next, we collected the darts the darts, but we could not find the dart from David's premature discharge of his weapon. (Officer Dake, I may need you to talk to him about that.) Just as I was about to give up, I looked towards the ceiling and saw our wayward dart. I am not sure if he doing target practice or just got excited about hiding and squeezed the trigger early. Either way I grabbed the camera and documented the occasion.


Later in the afternoon, we went to a hobby store on the southside of OKC. (FYI - I bought a little hobby store RC helicopter recently, and it has become my new obsession! I even fly it in the gym at work when the kids are at electives.) David was really excited by all the cars, planes, and helicopters in the store. I guess the old saying is true that the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys! After I found what I needed, we just walked around the store looking at the fun stuff, and David would occasionally tell me he wanted to play with one of the cars on display. We finished the day by fulfilling a long standing tradition of mine. Since Emily does not like seafood of any kind, I have made it a point to eat some kind of seafood when she is gone for a tournament; I usually have to go out to eat for this since even the smell bothers her, so I decided that David would Long John Silvers a try and he loved it. The funniest was when I looked over and noticed that he was dipping everything into his cole slaw. (The boy loves condiments!) We rounded out the day with another Nerf war before cleaning up and welcoming Mama home. What can I say? Another great day at Daddy daycare!

Kyle

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Lyrical Genius!

We were amused by our influence on our 3-year-old, who changes song lyrics too! Tonight he started singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and changed "Glad tidings we bring, to you and your kin" to "We're hiding the beef from you and your kids!" What have we done?! :)

Emily

Monday, December 7, 2009

Build and Grow



Lately we have been enjoying trips to Lowe's for their "Build and Grow" program. (www.lowesbuildandgrow.com) On various Saturdays throughout the year they have little hammer and nail projects for parents and kids to do together. We have made a school bus, a firetruck, a ball toss game, a snowman, and many other things. David enjoys them all, and he has only hit my finger a couple of times!

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On another front, David is getting excited about Christmas. We have dropped off our box for Operation Christmas Child (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/). He has already talked to Santa at the mall, and presents are showing up under the tree, but I know he is really getting the hang of it because of what happened today.

David was helping Emily bring presents out to the tree, and he was full of questions. When he found out that some of the presents were for him, he got really excited and began telling us "thank you," although I think some of the excitement went away when Emily reminded him that we had to wait until Christmas to open them. Right about that time I hear something rattling, and I look up just in time to see David shaking on of his presents and ask Emily, "Lego's, Mama?" GREAT!!! He has already started snooping. I thought that did not start until he was 5! It was another one of those "Now what do I do?" parenting moments. Man, this is a great job.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Holiday Fun

The Thanksgiving break was great and we all enjoyed the food and family visits, but I thought I would share one story in particular.

When we visit my parents in Tulsa, David sleeps on an air mattress in the room with us. The first time he slept there, David got freaked out by a rag doll that my mom had on display on a shelf. Being a good grandma, she now migrates the doll to another room whenever we visit.

Well... we arrived Thanksgiving afternoon and put David down for a nap shortly after lunch. Just a few minutes later David started crying so I went to check on him. When I arrived, he was staring at the shelf and crying. I asked what was wrong, and I got a one word answer, "Bear." I looked up and saw a teddy bear dressed as a soldier (my brother is in the Air Force) on the shelf. I told David it was okay, that the bear was nice, and asked if he wanted to say "hi" to the bear. He answered with a shaky, "Yes," followed be an even more tentative, "Hi, bear," after I picked the bear off the shelf. We both hugged the bear, but David still looked a little unsure.

Not knowing what to do next and not wanting to make mom redecorate the room whenever we come over, I said the first thing that came to my mind. "Now David, the bear wants to go to sleep, but you are being too loud, aren't you?" That seemed to click with David because he said, "Yes," and laid back down. We both wished the bear sweet dreams, and David was asleep shortly afterwards. For the rest of the trip, whenever David woke up, he would say, "Hi," to the bear. What a funny kid!

Kyle