Happy New Year!

Wow. I realized it's been nearly a year since I blogged. YIPES how time flies!

Jonah has two loose teeth and I am just sad about it. Well, sad and creeped out equally. That means they are really, seriously growing up. And, ew. just ew. The feeling of the loose tooth in your mouth. Blech!

Some Christmas memories to share from this year- I was touched one night when Jonah wrapped up his Santa Clause PEZ dispenser and gave it to me as a gift to hold my pills. He was so sweet just standing there pleased as punch with himself for making me a present. So cute!

Mike and I were amazed that on Christmas morning, the boys got through about 2/3 of their gifts and began playing with them and literally left the rest for a couple of hours. Notable favorites this year were Leapfrog Leapster video games, light up sketcher tennis shoes and a cool Hot Wheels race track. Biggest of all, though was their BAKUGAN launchers. WOW! What a hit those were!

The boys are really having a tough time in school. I hate it for them and they are not enjoying it. We are trying to work with the school to rearrange a bit but so far, not a lot of luck. We are having Caleb evaluated for ADHD or ADD but anticipate the results coming back negative. It is a hoop we must jump through for the school. Jeeez.

Last night Gayle came over and we went to Indian food. Jonah said that his chicken nuggets (not really chicken nuggets but the Indian version thereof) were really alligator. He bit one and said "But it tastes like chicken!" We laughed hysterically because he does not know that whole "everything tastes like chicken" thing.

Over the weekend we went into SF to eat at One Market and Jonah asked what the toll booth people do. I said that they help collect money to keep the bridge safe. He said that he "Wants to be a part of that team when I grow up". wow. Previously he expressed interes in being a roller coaster designer since he is always drawing them. Caleb has decided that he wants to be a skateboarder so he can show me his moves . *lol*

That's all for now.

Things of Today

So, I pretty much listen to Christian music full time now.  Shocking for some folks who know me but since it is impossible for me to get to church it seems, I hold my own little church service in the car every morning.  It works for me and the big Guy upstairs.  Today I was thinking about God and how amazing His grace is and how unworthy of it I am and still, how lavishly He gives it to me.  I was thinking about songs about grace and of course, amazing grace came to mind.  I was considering putting something about it on Facebook when I got home and the next thing I knew, Amazing Grace came on the radio.  I love it when God sends a little shout out to say "Hi!   I love you and I'm thinking of you too!"  It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

The radio station that I listen to has the call letters "KLOVE"  So their jingle is "More music, K-LOVE"  Well, about 1 year and half ago or so, I was driving the boys to preschool and the station jungle came on and Jonah got ALL excited!   He said, "Cawub!   Dey said Cawub!"  He heard "K-Love" and thought the radio said "Ca-Lub"   It was the sweetest thing ever!!!!

These are such nice memories to have of today.  They practically drown out the rotten produce clerk I dealt with.  I should pray for him and yet, I just don't want to- SHOCKER!   :-D

Hot Tamales!

So, I got up from a Saturday nap and decided to have a few Hot Tamales.  Caleb asked for some and I warned him that they were spicy.  He tried one and liked it.  He took one to Jonah and I heard a wail from the other room.  Jonah screamed "Mama, deez awe hot!"  So, we laughed and said, "Yes, they are!  Sorry!"   A little while later, Caleb disappeared into the bathroom. I heard the water running and I knew this would not end well.   Caleb emerged from the bathroom a short while later holding water logged Hot Tamales and explained that he had put them in cold water so they would not burn his brother's mouth when he ate them.  Awwww, I love him!

Tarantulas and My Best New Year's Kiss EVER

Oh, the depth of a brother's love. And, the sweetness of a four year old child. Both are amazing to me. The other day the family was driving to Applebees to grab a bite to eat and I overheard Caleb telling Jonah that he didn't like going to Applebees because he was afraid there would be spiders in there.

I, of course, being the Super Mom that I am, put on my proverbial cape and responded, "Oh, Caleb. There are no spiders allowed in Applebees. Isn't that right, dad?" looking expectantly to Mike to help sooth our nervous son.

Before Mike could respond, Jonah said, "It's OK Caleb, anytime you are afraid, you just tell me and I will get those spiders! I will make them go away. Even big ones like tarantulas. I will GET THEM brother!" Mike and I looked at each other and our hearts just melted at how sincere he was about protecting his brother from those spiders. It was so, so sweet. I wish I could have just bottled that moment in time. Truly precious.

On to New Year's...as we approached New Year's Eve this year I was really bummed. I had nothing to do and nowhere to go. Well, scratch that. I had a great party invitation but it required finding overnight childcare and additional childcare for the day after if any recuperating would be required. And, with a husband in the restaurant industry, that leaves him out. Which means, that left me out of the uber fun par-tay. No one that I invited over to hang was able to come and so I finally resigned myself to a night at home with the monkeys.

However, a bright idea hit just in the nick of time and I found an awesome spot to go and celebrate with the kids. Think Chuck E. Cheese but if cool people made it- so, overstuffed leather chairs and a Starbucks counter with food that actually tastes good. So, the boys and I headed over there and played glow-in-the-dark mini golf, ate pizza, played arcade games, dodge ball in the indoor gym, rode plasma cars and toasted the New Year at midnight! OK- so it was the Eastern time zone, but who was counting? The most fun they had BY FAR was dancing to "I like to move it move it" while the air blowers blew confetti everywhere! Then they gathered it all up again so they could see it blown all over again! It was a blast.

They were home and asleep by about 10:30 and I quietly welcomed the new year in our time zone watching Kathy Griffin curled up under a cozy blanket. When the clock struck 12:00, I relished two soft, gentle, sleepy head kisses planted directly upon the heads of my darling boys. Truly, my best New Year's kisses EVER. And I have to say, I did appreciate that I didn't have to wonder if I'd be getting them! ha ha

This week I was reminded of two things that had completely slipped my mind. So, I thought I'd blog them before they left again. My beautiful cousin, Cassie came to visit this weekend and we had a good laugh about Caleb watching the Diego Christmas special last year well into April of this year and calling it "Diego Critmas" "I wanna watch Diego Critmas mama!" It was so funny. I think he may have a little "Critmas" obsession! He was SO upset when we took our tree down on Saturday that we had to go out and buy a very small tree (fake of course) to put up in the boys' room so he wouldn't be so sad. So, we'll see how long that needs to stay up. Any bets?

My friend Joy, from Los Angeles called and reminded me that the boys used to call hotels "hotowns" which brings to mind a whole other set of humorous images that I'm not touching in this G - PG rated blog! *LOL* OK- I think I have blogged enough for one night...time to go see what those wild little apes are up to!

Whoever you are, whatever you are up to, Welcome to a New Year...I hope it is amazing!

Jesus, Lord of Diapers

So, the other night my children are singing like the little *ahem* angels that they are and I am singing along...."Si-i-lent niiiight.  Ho-o-lyyy niiiiight.  Aaaalllll is caaaaaalm.   Aaaaalllll is brrrriiiiight.  Round yon birgin, mudder and chiwd, ho-wy infant so tender and miwd, sweep in heavenwy peeeeeeee-ace, sweee-eeeeep in heaven-wy peace.  Jesus, Lord of dia-pers, Je-sus, Lord of Diapers."    I soon realized they thought "Lord at thy birth was in fact, Lord of diapers!"  Awesome!  May God bless you and yours this Christmas and always!

Preschool Christmas Program and a New Gilpin!!!

The boys had their Preschool Christmas Program Friday night.  They had been practicing for weeks and weeks.  Every day Caleb practiced singing Silent Night and he sings so beautifully I couldn't wait!   Jonah, who has always been very deeply touched by music always gets upset by that song because he feels like it's sad so I was interested to see how the whole thing would go. 

Well, the big night came and the class before theirs had two little boys who each grabbed a microphone and started singing an unplanned solo.  I laughed thinking "how funny" and Mike got nervous thinking "Uh oh...look what Caleb just witnessed."  Then, it occurred to me that Caleb also heard everyone laugh.  

I turned on the video camera with great apprehension and I saw their class begin to sing and I watched Jonah's legs begin to twitch and sway ala Elvis himself.  He pretty much did this throughout the entire performance.  Jonah is a honky-tonk, blues,  R & B boy, that is for sure!!!!

    

Caleb left the stage to say hello to me twice and apparently felt a little tired so he laid down on the stairs while the class finished up their numbers.  It was hilarious.  Not what I had expected but not as wild as it could have been!   Either way, the whole thing was just darling and their teachers did a remarkable job teaching all of those wonderful little people the songs of Christmas.    

Also, today, we welcomed Sarah Elizabeth Gilpin into the world in Brazil!  We understand she is 18" long and weighs 6.1 lbs.  and has blonde hair like her mommy!  Tara (Sarah's mommy) is tired but good and we are so pleased to hear that mommy and baby are doing well!  God is so good to us!  We will get to meet little Sarah in September and we cannot wait for pictures.  No doubt she will have a big Gilpin head (we'll buy her a big pillow) but will be gorgeous!!!  :-D

Yay! A New Look!

So my fabulous cousin Susie made a new look for our blog!   I am loving it and her very much!   Thank you dearie!!!!