Overheard

GINGER: You need to forgive Ethan.
EMMA: I'm trying to, but my mind won't let me.

Merry Christmas!

Overheard

ETHAN: Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg... I hate Robin. He wears tights.

Overheard

EMMA: I have a good smelly nose.

Overheard

ETHAN: Dad, I have a good idea. My good idea is that we celebrate
Christmas early and that Christmas early is after dinner today.

Overheard

Ethan got his haircut yesterday, which is something we try to avoid as much as possible because it stirs CONTENTION, and we all know what contention is of. As usual, he didn't like the haircut, even though it was such a minimal cut as to not even be noticed by anyone but him.

He didn't want to go to school this morning because of the haircut. "No one will even notice," we told him.

Oops. This is what Tyson said to him at school:

"I can't be your friend anymore. I need you to have your long hair back."

Or so Ethan claims. Even though the story withstood the first level or two of questioning from us, this is very suspicious. It reminds us of how Ethan would come home from preschool and tell us the entire day was spent with him in a headlock, as the other students and the teachers took turns giving him noogies.

More photos from Emma's preschool performance

Catching up

It's been a while since I've posted any photos... So here's what we've been doing recently:

Ophie has been up to her usual hijinks. Like a future facebook pro, she gives us status updates all the time: "I happy" or "I NOT happy." Yesterday, she barked an order at me. I asked, "Sophie, why are you yelling at me?" And she sheepishly answered, "I happy," in a tone of voice that said, "Don't worry. Sometimes I just have to yell to make you slaves do my will. It's not a reflection of my emotional state."

Since she rarely eats meals anymore, we think she survives through stolen Christmas cookies and some kind of photosynthesis.

She likes to take my iPhone to watch Elmo. ("Watch Elmo! Yah! Yah!") She also likes to give hugs. "Hugga!" Or if you're leaving, "Huggy bye!"

We would not laugh nearly as often around here if it weren't for Sophie. We love her.

Emma was selected to play Mary in her preschool Christmas performance this week. It was one of the highlights of her life so far, that is for sure. It was so much fun to watch; she really loved the chance to be Mary (as you can tell by her smile in that photo). I'll post more pictures from the performance later.

Ethan started his basketball season, playing on the Phoenix Suns.

Ethan also made it into the Challenge program at school! It's a big deal, since only a few kids from each grade make the cut. Last time he took the tests, he was crushed when he barely missed the cutoff. This time he killed the test, scoring far beyond what he needed. The school said he could go into the Challenge class after Christmas, but we decided to wait for the third grade to make the switch.

One more thing: Ethan doesn't like to wear a jacket. Or a hat. If we force him to wear a jacket, he doesn't zip it up, because that's so not cool. Yesterday Ethan, Andrew and I stood in line outside Handel's to pick up Ginger's birthday cake, and Ethan refused to wear anything more on top than a thin T-shirt. He was shivering and his lips were purple, but he wasn't cold!

Andrew wrapped up his Lego Robots season with a competition near Chicago. His team did well and he had a lot of fun. (And yes, as you can see in the photo, the other kids on his team are all twice as large as Andrew. Literally. We compared poundage.) Andrew designed some good programs for the robot and figured out how to add an additional motor to give the robot an arm it could use to move objects. In the midst of all that, he made it onto the Science Bowl team at school! He's the only 4th grader to make the team and we are very proud of him.

Yesterday we celebrated Ginger's birthday. I am so lucky to be married to her.

Overheard

Tonight, while Ginger was putting garland on the stair rails:

ETHAN: Mom, are you decking the halls?

Overheard

EMMA: Dad, when is it going to be hot out? I want to swim in the pool.
ME: Emma, I have some bad news...

For the record

A couple of nights ago I went upstairs at 9:30PM to check on the kids. The door to the girls' room was shut and the light was on, which was weird. An hour earlier, both girls had been in bed with the lights out. So I opened the door.

There was Emma, asleep on her bed. And there was Sophie, on the floor doing puzzles.

Overheard

Last night during dinner Emma somehow slipped out of her chair and fell onto her head. Yes. After the hugs and crying were done, this is the conversation that ensued:

EMMA: I think I need to eat something soft to help my head feel better.
ME: Something soft? Like meatloaf? Or steamed carrots?
EMMA: No.
ME: We have some baby food in the pantry. Do you need to eat something soft like baby food?
EMMA: No. I need to eat something soft and cold... Like ICE CREAM.