Pre-Christmas 2011

Well, Christmas 2011 is now behind us. We had a great December leading up to it and the best Christmas yet since Pat and I met (looming federal trials, prison camps, newborns, and toddlers do not make for a peaceful Christmas). However, I must say that looking back our Atlanta Christmases rank highly as two of the best because we were focused on what was important rather than presents, food, Christmas trees, and stockings. I wouldn't have said that at the time, though.

OK, I'll start with all of the fun leading up to Christmas and then do another post of just Christmas.

We did our 3rd Annual Jesse Tree nightly devotional. At the end of November, the girls colored cut-out ornaments and I drew them each their own tree to hang on the wall. Each night (in theory) we read our devotional and they put their ornaments on their trees. Charley was usually the one to remind us to do it and I think it was party because it stalled bath and bedtime. She still really doesn't understand it or the questions but Ryan is doing a better job of answering the questions (example: What could you do to make God happy?) However, Ryan kept giving the same answer even if it wasn't relevant to the question. One of her standard answers was: God always hears us and is always with us. Some of the time I read the short devotional fast because they were talking over me and not listening. I'm trying to build memories and traditions and especially love for God's Word but at the time I feel like I must be wasting my time because they are in left-field and clueless. I know I'm not wasting my time but the actual devotion is not how I picture it in my mind. But then again, nothing about parenting has been what I have pictured in my mind-ha!

Ryan and Charley love the Fisher-Price Advent Calendar, which is soft and has little figures to move. So, they switched off each night who got to move the figures. Last year Ryan got to move Baby Jesus on Christmas and I was smart enough (surprising) to make a note in the kit that it was Charley's turn this year. Ryan is very controlling about the locations of the figures and the directions they face. Charley thinks Ryan knows best and will say "Ryan, where do I put this one?" And Ryan will show her. And really...there is no "right" place to put it. It's going to be a sad day for Ryan when Charley figures out that she is not all-knowing.

The Rhodes (my Nana and Dada Ketz's very good friends) gave the girls an advent calendar last year that was a biblical them and the same one this year that was the Nutcracker. We tried to do them all but four advent calendars were too much. These were the two that we just didn't do that much but we had them out and occasionally would do them.

We also had our Fisher-Price Nativity Set this year. We have two-and both were given as gifts. We didn't return the second one when we got it and that is perfect because they both like to play with it at the same time. Charley calls it the Bativity Set.  The "a" is not a "long a" and is pronounced more like "uh."  I wish we had more time to read the Christmas stories and have them set up their sets to go along with the story....we only did this one time and it was very sweet. It seems like we played with it more last year and I think it was because it was in the room with the Christmas tree and this year it got moved upstairs. Next year I will make sure it stays by the tree because it is one of my favorite parts of our Christmas.

This year we also made our first gingerbread house. Ryan and Charley had fun and I didn't realize how hard it was...even a kit. It wasn't the prettiest gingerbread house but it was my favorite.

Let's see, what else? The girls had alot of "parties" to attend.  I think the festivities started off with Breakfast with Santa at the Presbyterian Church. I believe that was mentioned in an earlier post. So, when Charley's school Christmas party rolled around Pat and I considered just keeping her home from school that day because she would be so traumatized by Santa visiting. Well, lo and behold she proved us wrong. She let me hold her hand and walk up to Santa to get her gift and tell him what she wanted. As we got close she wanted me to pick her up but she looked at him in the eye and said loudly "I want a dog house for my dog Pluto" then quickly looked away. She wouldn't sit on his lap but let me hold her by him and have her picture taken. She also accepted a gift from him. Her class sang a few songs and they were precious. Oh my...I can't even tell you. One of her friends cried through the whole thing and it was so sad and pathetic. They sang the Australian version of the 12 Days of Christmas.  Charley had been singing it at home and kept singing "a kookaburra in a gum tree" and I had no idea what she was talking about.  They were so cute and would yell the 5th day's FIVE KANGAROOS at the top of their lungs each time that verse came around. They also sang Jingle Bells and were so excited to ring the Jingle Bells. Most of the kids were still while they sang but Charley twisted around back and forth making her dress swing.  I'm not sure if that was because she was nervous or what. We ate lunch there and she got to come home afterward with me because Pat made the mistake of coming to her Halloween party and leaving her to return to work-she wasn't happy. We didn't even make her Thanksgiving party where she wore an Indian hat made of construction paper. That's off subject....but it makes me so sad:-(  Back to the party. Charley sat next to her beloved teacher Kallie during the story. She was so attention seeking it was embarrassing. You would think she had never had adult attention. If the story said "the sky is blue" Charley would look at Kallie with a dramatic face and say "BLUE?" And then just die laughing. She kept poking Kallie and Kallie would usually look at her and she would smile really big. However, at other times she just ignored her. After it was over I asked Kallie if she does this all of the time and she indicated that yes, indeed, she does.

Ryan's school party was simple and sweet. Her class gets to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on the last day of school before Christmas. Then, they sang a few songs including the usual version of the 12 Days of Christmas and Jingle Bells (must be preschool favorites).  Then, the teachers had set up snacks for all of us and the kids were told they were to serve us first. So, we went through the line and Ryan held my plate, asked what I wanted, and filled it up. Then, she escorted me to my seat and went to get her own plate. It was the best meal since she was born. When I wanted more food she gladly went back to get it for me.  She then took my plate, threw it away, and cleaned the area where we ate (including sweeping). Then, Mrs. Oster gave me a bag of all of the ornaments she made this year and they are my favorites (including the ones Charley made).

One of Pat's favorite things to do is go to parades (he also likes fairs....strange). As I type this I am reminded of Bubby...did I marry my father? Don't we all? OK, back on track. We were out of town for the parade this year (Park City for Eddie's 50th birthday). So, Gin Gin and Bubby were in charge but Bubby made the decision to go to Memphis to hear one of his favorite singers (Bob Seger) and leave Gin Gin with the girls to go to the Carlton's for cookies, hot chocolate, and parade. I wouldn't want to take that on myself even with an IV of Valium. She luckily got Venus to accompany her who Ryan and Charley adore. I guess they had fun at the parade....apparently they were talking about Santa coming soon and Charley then had to go inside to go to the bathroom. She apparently sat on the potty awhile saying she had to poop. We aren't sure if she was avoiding seeing Santa in the parade.

The next thing we did was pretty uneventful compared to all of the above fun. Ryan and Charley's dance class had a parent observation night. Their classes are at the same time so Pat and I switched off. I watched Charley first and you wouldn't have thought she had ever been to this dance class. She stood off to the side a little bit and didn't do a thing. The other girls totally were doing the dances.  She would look over at me, though, and smile really big and proud as if she was doing something. It was really funny. To be fair, when they did some stretches on the floor and pretended to make ice cream she participated. She also did the tumbling because it was mostly individual attention....she seemed to love the tumbling-it was so cute. As the class wore on she stood out there with her hands down the back of her skirt...still doing nothing. To top things off, they were going to sit down and Charley pulled her skirt down a little bit (she still had on leotard and tights) and was laughing at herself. Her teacher told her to pull it up and she growled at her (she was doing this a while back after learning it from a boy at school). It was time to switch places with Pat so I pretended not to see and made my way into the other room. I couldn't believe she did that to a teacher. I don't think she has ever been deviant with anyone but us. It was kind of funny-only because it's so uncharacteristic of her. Definately not funny if it happens again.

Observing Ryan's class was totally different from Charley's. Ryan takes things so seriously. It was so sweet to see how hard she would try and she really wanted to do the very best she could. After doing a dance or sashaying across the floor she would look over at me with a big smile and she was so proud. Her teacher told me that she is one of the best in the class (oh I'm proud but I know I'm not supposed to be). They want her front and center in the recital but she doesn't like being in the front. The teacher said she just withdraws and prefers the back. Hmmmm....who is she acting like now? I hope we can talk with her and slowly let her practice being in the front. I hope her nervousness/lack of confidence or whatever it is doesn't interfere with her being the best she can be.

Last but not least, Ryan was in a piano recital. It wasn't the big one because we were out of town for that one. It was a small and quick recital that only lasted 40 minutes at the piano studio (not the big auditorium). She didn't want to do it but we bribed her by saying we could go to Just Chillin' afterward. Dr. Weston told her that she had to dress up and so she immediately decided that she wanted to wear her Daddy-Daughter Dance dress from last year that she associates with anything nice (she also wore it to her lemonade stand on move in day...that would normally be find except the top was black velvet and it was August). Ryan got to go first and Dr. Weston played with her. By the time she started it was over.  It was followed by some amazing piano and voice talent. We were so proud of her for participating, though.

OK, worn out now.....will post soon about actual Christmas!! Hopefully it won't be as long since this post covered a month and Christmas will only cover two days (including Christmas Eve). But, with me you never know....

KK

Do You Take Salt With Your Coffee?

At this point in time I don't think I'll ever forget the story I'm about to relay but in 30 years the memory may have faded a bit. If I put it on the blog then it will be preserved as if wrapped in salt (hehe).

So, last year on Christmas morning 2010, Gin Gin and Bubby came to the house to watch Ryan and Charley come down the stairs and see what Santa brought them. We all sipped coffee as is the norm and Bubby kept commenting on how strong Pat makes his coffee.  No one really paid any attention to it until I walked in the kitchen and found my canister of kosher salt sitting next to the coffee pot. He thought the salt was sugar and put a couple of teaspoons in his coffee. We all tasted what he was drinking and couldn't believe 1) how hideous it was; 2) that he kept trying to drink it; and 3) he didn't realize it tasted like salt. So, we had many laughs about this over the last year.

Fast forward another year to Christmas morning 2011and we are all together again, this time at Spragins House where we are living. Bubby commented, again, on the strength of the coffee. No one thought anything about it. Then, he says that someone mentioned the word salt and a light bulb went off in his head. He then brought the kosher salt canister to me and asked what it was. Let me just say....I cannot type this without laughing out loud. Maybe you just had to be there. He had been drinking salted coffee AGAIN for an hour thinking it was just strong. We tasted it again and it makes me laugh AGAIN at the thought of him drinking it and thinking it was just strong.

So, anyway, that is the Legend of the Salted Coffee.  I hope to not have to add to this post next year. Uncle Aaron suggested that Bubby put a reminder in his phone to make sure he isn't salting his coffee next Christmas.

Childlike Faith

Jesus said in Matthew that we will not enter the kingdom of heaven until we become like little children. I don't think he meant fighting and laughing at bathroom jokes.

While we were doing our Jessie Tree lesson today, Ryan said that she couldn't wait to go to heaven (she said something like that recently, too). Of course, I was horrified because I'm not ready for her or anyone I know to go to heaven even though I know in my head it is a better place than here.  I asked her why and she said "so I can love God and no one will be sad or fight." I think that is what Jesus is talking about-that we need to loosen our grips on this earth and have no fear of death because it is just the doorway to perfect peace and communion with Him.

A 5-year-old just innocently and randomly said something that is key to some of my biggest fears. Wow!

Ho Ho Ho

Well, Breakfast with Santa 2011 was a flop. Ryan and Charley have never liked Santa and have usually been crying in pictures with Santa even though Pat and I go with them. This year was even worse. We walked in the Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall and Charley immediately stopped in her tracks and said she wanted to go home. She started to tear up but we told her that we would sit in a far-away corner where she couldn't see Santa. Charley wouldn't sit in her own seat (one of us held her) and didn't eat. She looked sick and pathetic the whole time. She didn't talk and mostly layed her head on Pat's shoulder (the mintue we left she perked up and was normal again.) Partway through the meal she said she didn't want Santa to eat with us. I think she was expecting Santa to come sit down with us and eat because we kept calling it "Breakfast with Santa."

Both girls adamantly refused to go near him, even Ryan. Usually we make them and get the funny crying and scared picture but this year they really were scared and I fear it would have been something they would talk about with their therapist in 20 years. They happened to see Santa at Walmart a week ago and felt sure that he knew what they wanted (Pat told Santa because they wouldn't talk to him). Charley covered her eyes with her hands. I asked Ryan if she thought she would sit in Santa's lap when she is 6 but she said that she would when she is 10.

Pat was telling someone about our experience and told them that although he took his girls to see Santa it was really like taking them to a haunted house-ha!

Ryan would like a computer this year but a few days after she had Pat tell Santa she changed her mind and said she wanted a real carriage with four horses. We explained that Santa didn't bring big things like that and she changed it to "just a carriage that we can hook to the back of the car."

When Charley saw Santa last week she told Pat to tell him that she wanted a dog house for her dog named Pluto. This is interesting because although she did go through a phase of playing alot with a stuffed dog she named Pluto we haven't seen it lately or heard it mentioned. Originally, she said she wanted a Dora guitar (which I do believe her Fayetteville aunt and uncle have purchased her).

So, we'll have to see what Santa has to bring us!! Mostly we want to focus on Jesus and we already have the best gift ever in Him. If only we can all remember this at this time of the year!!

Happy 5th Birthday Ry Ry! Did I just say 5th?

Dear Baby Ry Ry,

Since you are 5 I think I can still call you that. I cannot believe how fast these 5 years have gone. It is very disturbing that the next 5 will go just as fast and in the blink of an eye you will be 10. I am going to do better to slow down and enjoy you because I think the years ahead will be great. A lady I work with, Marcheta, calls these next few years the golden years of childhood. The years in between the crazy toddler years and the years before teenage years.

You have been pretty golden in the last few months. It seems like a couple of months before turning 5 you really matured. You are less emotional and can cope with frustrations and being told "no" so much better. You seem to let it roll right off of you-something I never thought I would say:-) You have not had any major "issues" that need serious addressing. You have just been fun and laid back.

As I have said again and again, you are a great big sister. Charley loves you so much and you are so sweet with her (most of the time). If she cries you immediately give her something to help her feel better. Or you do your "I'm a moose" pose.

Your best friend is Emma, for better or for worse. I could do a post on your friendship. You both just love each other but it is to the exclusion of others. You all act crazy and silly. You are learning hard lessons on how to be friends with more than one person. I am sounding like my mother as I encourage you to have more than one friend. May the Lord helps us all if I continue down that road-haha!

You love t.v. You would watch it 24-7 if we let you. You get to watch t.v. while you eat breakfast on school mornings and sometimes after school a little bit. Your favorite shows are Little Einsteins, Bubble Guppies, and Team Umizoomi. You zone out and go into another world while watching t.v. and we have to yell in your ear or get right in front of your face for you to hear us.

You seem to like things that are beautiful. You comment on when you think something is pretty. You like to decorate and arrange things. Gin Gin said a long time ago that even when you were little you liked colors and seemed to know when things were pretty.

When you grow up you say that you want to be an animal doctor, a doctor, a teacher, and a Mommie. You talk about how I will be the grandmother and will babysit. You also say that you will want to live with Mommy and Daddy when you grow up. I think that would be just fine!

You started taking piano lessons this summer and I think you are doing really well. You seem to like it and have learned more than I learned in years of piano. I asked you what your favorite part was and you said the candy at the end and the flash cards-ha! Not the actual playing the piano. You are playing Away in a Manger for the Christmas recital.

You also started taking gymnastics this summer and are doing great. You look like a little gymnast and are very muscular. I think balance beam is your favorite.

You still take dance and have added tap this year. You love tap and show us the moves alot.

You are doing AWANA Cubbies again this year. You don't hesitate about going like you did last year.

You have been on your first playdate without a parent. You went to your friend Anna Lampkin's house this summer. I think you were a little nervous. Tomorrow you are going home from school with Eleanor McClain. At first you did not want to do that but today you decided that you did. I'm excited for you to spread your wings and make some new friends.

You are doing a great job with reading and you are starting to spell. You ask us all the time to spell out sentences for you. You say that you don't do math/numbers/counting at school but you are counting to 100 by 10s and saying things like what is 2 plus 2? What is 4 plus 4? What is 6 plus 6? Mrs. Smith, the 1st and 2nd grade teacher, asked you if you were doing math and you said "no." And then a little bit later you said "what is math?"

You are working on your Open House for Hope Lutheran and this year the unit is on the USA. You are loving it. You are talking about the "olden days" all the time. You are learning about "The Grand Ole Flag" and point out the American flag all over town. Mrs. Oster said that when you sing you tend to be quiet and reserved but when you sing The Grand Ole Flag you open your mouth big and sing loud. How cute!!!

You love animals. You are very good with Snowball. You can be very firm with him when needed. You put him away for us when we leave the house. You take a treat with you in the kitchen and shut him in. You really really loves cats. I'm not sure if that is because you can't have one due to my allergies:-) You do seem like a cat person, though. I'm sure you will have one when you grow up and move out.

You remind me of myself when I was little. You are a little bit shy and reserved. You have a hard time looking at people in the eye and speaking to them. It takes you time to warm up to other people but once you do your full personality comes out. I see you getting better and better in these areas all the time.

All in all, you are such a blessing. I am so thankful for your little life. I sure don't deserve a sweet little girl like you. I hope that I can be the Mommie you deserve. If not, which will inevitably happen, there is always Jesus. He won't fail you.

I love you!

Mommie

Happy 3rd Birthday Char Char!!

Dear Char Char,

I cannot believe you are already 3-years-old. Time flies. This year has been a great one for you. You have grown up so much in so many ways! You have the funniest and sweetest little personality (if you aren't growling with a scrunched up face in a bent-over hunch-back posture pointing your finger at me).

You are so loving (usually, see above paragraph). You give very good hugs and out of the blue will say "Mommy, I love you." When we cuddle with you in bed you will swing your arm around our neck. You love love love big sister, Ryan. You call her "Ryan" now, not Ry Ry. Actually, you call her "Wyan." I wish you still called her Ry Ry.

You speak in complete and long sentences. Your voice is so cute I wish I could freeze it in time. I interviewed you earlier this week on video. You make your "K" sound "T." So, candy or Kandy (your old teacher)=Tandy. Cold=Told. Kitty=Titty. Cake=take. You make the "ch" sound "chl". So, Charley is Chlarley, but really the r is a w and it is Chlawley. Chocolate is chlocolate. You say "three" as "fee"-too cute! You say the word America as "Amereeca." Yes, you are three and talking about America. Yes, you are brilliant. Or maybe you learned a song about the continents at school.

You are very funny. You keep us laughing. You are sort of dramatic in your presentation. You have a good sense of humor and seem to know when things are funny and how to make others laugh. You have a funny deep voice that you use sometimes.

Your best friends at school are Mila, Reece, and Bonnie. In the last month or so you have started playing with kids at school. Last year (when you were 1-2) you only followed Kandy around. Last summer (age 2) Ryan was in your class and neither of you played with anyone else. During the first bit of this school-year you only stayed near your new favorite teacher (Callie). We are so happy you now have friends you like to play with. Callie (and her twin sister Cassie) are coming to your birthday party. We've never invited teachers before but you really want them to come.

You can do the US puzzle (although that's been going on since February). You know all of the continents (learned a song at school). You are learning your letters and numbers. You surprise us sometimes because we don't always know that you know so much.

You don't like t.v. as much as Ryan did at your age (and her current age). You get bored and like to be more active. You still like puzzles.

You started taking gymnastics last summer and love your teacher Andrea. You took her a picture a few weeks ago that you made. You started dance class this fall and love it, too. We weren't sure how you would do without Ryan but you do just fine! Instead of calling your feet left and right, you call them peanut butter and jelly (Ryan didn't learn that in dance).

You've recently been talking in this deep growl sometimes. You've been saying "I don't like you" in the growl...you bend over at the waist and point your finger when you say that. We've starting telling you not to say those words. You told us one of the boys in your class says it. So, now you are doing the same growl and gestures but saying "I love you." It's hilarious.

You are scared of thunder. Last night there was a storm and you needed Daddy to stay in bed with you until you fell asleep.

Bottom line is you are so loved. Remember how much God loves you and has a special plan for you. His plan will be better than you can imagine.

Love,

Mommy

P.S. Just for remembering purposes, your third birthday party left a little to be desired. I'll try to do better next year. We had it at Just Chillin on your birthday night. As soon as we arrived your sister fell ill and had to be transported home by Daddy. Daddy was very sad that he missed your first actual birthday party. That left your nutcase Mommy in charge, which is never a good thing. Your guests (Logan, Drew, Annaleigh, Anna Yarnell, Mila, Reece, and Allie) showed up at 5:30, the same time the pizza was to be delivered. We had planned a quick pizza, yogurt and cake, and opening of presents so parents could get kids home early on a school night. It still worked out that way, although at 5:45 when everyone was standing around exchanging pleasantries trying to pretend it wasn't awkward that the pizza wasn't there we found out the pizza place thought we were doing carry-out. So, Bubby, a.k.a. John Henry, to the rescue ran to get the pizza while you opened presents (I was proud of re-arranging the schedule to fill the awkwardness but I was still about 20 minutes too late in coming up with that idea).

A highlight was that Callie and Cassie, your twin teachers at Montessori came and brought you a card and $10. Ashton, your favorite babysitter, and her friend Callie also came, which excited you more than your own friends.

You decided to pull a "Little Kristi" and not sit with your friends or even speak to them to tell them thank you for my present or thank you for coming. I carried you around sweating trying to manage the chaos that is a 3-year-old birthday party. But, it is now a great memory.

Quick Observation

Charley is napping now and I have a quick second (I hope). I've just noticed in the last couple of days how I love the innocence and lack of self-consciousness and R & C have. For instance, Ryan has been riding home with the Sebastian and his mother once a week from Hope Lutheran to Batesville Montessori where I pick up Charley and Sebastian's two brothers. Yesterday Diane dropped Ryan off and she was carrying her Huggums doll that she had taken to school and slept with. In a couple of years I bet she would be embarrassed to ride in the car with a boy AND her doll. But, it was so sweet to see them pull up and see her holding her baby doll not the least bit ashamed:-)

This morning Charley and I stayed at Ryan's school and played outside until they went inside (we do this on most Tuesday and Thursday mornings when I am home with Charley). Charley wore her hoodie zipped up to her neck with the hood on (more bundled up than necessary) and pushed her Blah Blah doll out on the playground. She wasn't at all self-conscious to be around the big kids and to have her doll stroller and look slightly ridiculous with the hoodie. Then, a couple of hours later she was still wearing the hoodie with the hood on her head but had spilled something on her pants and was only wearing panties on the bottom. She had to go potty and was sitting there with nothing on but the hoodie zipped up and a hood on....she didn't realize at all how ridiculous she looked. I loved it-it was so adorable!!

Oh how I wish that they could always be so innocent and clueless about what other people think about them.