Tales of a Preschool Nothing

Finally some time to sit down and write!!

Alex continues to grow and surprise us everyday! He is still in preschool and is looking forward to heading to Kindergarten next year. He loves school and is resentful of the fact that I am keeping him away from it over the Christmas break. He keeps asking me when I will let him go back to school...He acts as though I am intentionally keeping him out of school over break!! Little does he know... :). He must be the only kid around who actually wants to go back to school. Hopefully, this enthusiasm about school will continue right through college!


We have been working with him on reading over the past few months. I have been taking both a word recognition and phonics approach to teaching him how to read. Hopefully, Alex's Kindergarten teacher won't think that I have screwed him up too much!! Anyways, we have been plugging through library books and some of our own early readers and he has been progressing really well. My only complaint is that sometimes I feel that he is paying too much attention to the pictures in the book rather than the words. So, I have tried to find early readers that have pictures related to the story, but that aren't too specific to give him clues to the words without him actually reading the words. I have found that the Dick and Jane books are particularly good for this reason.

Alex has really been enjoying all the snow we have been getting recently. He again played outside with Owen today. He loves to help shovel the driveway, make snow angels, and go sledding. I find this to be a rough time of year for myself for I have a little puppy who loves to go on walks...even in the snow, but it is difficult to push a stroller or pull a wagon when neighbors do not shovel their sidewalks. Alex doesn't mind walking through the snow, but Julia gets distracted or intentionally falls in drifts and cries (why she does this, I'm not sure :). Our solution has been to put Julia in a sled and pull her for now...which sometimes she likes, and sometimes she doesn't! Alex does a good job of helping out by sitting with her for awhile, though.

A Final Alexism for 2009

Alex to Mommy: What kind of plant is that?
Mommy to Alex: It is a Peace Plant.
Alex to Mommy: Why is called a Peas Plant? Does it make peas?

It reminded me of those silly bumper stickers people have on their cars that say "Whirled Peas."

Have a Happy New Year in 2010!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Snowfall earlier this week brought hopes of a 'White Christmas!'

Taking a walk in a 'Winter Wonderland!'

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Caroling

We started a new tradition this year...Christmas caroling in our neighborhood with our neighbors. We went to several houses and sang Away in a Manger, O Christmas Tree, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. We ended our tradition with a surprise visit from Santa for the kids, hot chocolate, and cookies. They had tons of fun!!!

More Christmas Pictures

Getting ready to go on our 'date' to the Nutcracker!

Alex, Gabrielle, and the beautiful roses that he picked out for her to give her after the show!

Walking in a winter wonderland...

Showing Duke the way...

Is it odd that she also wants to carry her purse when she heads out for a snowy walk?

Oh My Goodness...Countdown to Christmas and I have a Bunch of Pics to Post!!

Getting Started...

The tree is starting to take shape...

Oooohhhhh....Pretty Lights!

Admiring all of their hard work...Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, and the
awesome choo-choo train!!

I Guess it is Time to Write

I am realizing that I am becoming a 'lazy' blogger. I would rather post some quick photos and video rather that actually sitting down and writing interesting things about our lives. I guess that aside from the weird idiosyncrasies of Alex and Julia, I truly believe that our lives are pretty 'normal.' So, because Mommy and Daddy are so boring, I will again use this time to tell all the funnies of the kids lately!

I'll start with Julia today since she has been doing more and more funny things recently...She is just a short time away from turning 2 now! I really don't know where the time has gone. Julia is really turning into a little girl now...She is saying more and more words and is expressing herself in all kinds of interesting ways. Some interesting recent stories...

1) Julia went to her first wedding a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it!! She seemed to know what exactly she was supposed to do...and that was dance!! At times I felt bad for Jackie and Cody because it seemed as though Julia was bound and determined to steal their spotlight. Julia was even trying to pull me on the dance floor during their first dance!! Julia danced the night away and I had to pull her off the dance floor at 8:30 (which, if you know Julia, is a late night :) so she could go home to bed. Her moves were great...a little shake of the booty here...and there, but mostly just falling to the dance floor. Somehow, she has gotten the impression that falling to the ground is a fancy dance move!

2) Julia has developed her very own fashion style. It mostly involves wearing anything with 'Rella' (Cinderella) on it. Unfortunately, since she has no 'Rella' clothing, this means wearing her 'Rella' PJs and snowboots 24-7. Hopefully, this choosiness stage will soon pass...but, I doubt it. She has just recently decided that she must go through all the diapers before choosing which one she will wear..."Big Bird, Melmo, Cookie, Grover, Ernie....Mommy-Cookie!" "No, Mommy...Melmo!" Good Grief, Julia...just pick one already!!

3) Julia has opened my eyes greatly to the difference between boys and girls. I really used to believe that there wasn't much difference, but now that I have had both a boy and a girl, I can see that there actually is much more nature behind this difference rather than nurture. Julia mimics everything I do (which is scaring me a little...she is getting a little bossy and I think she is getting it from me :)--bossy- in the sense that she calls you and acts as though you are a dog by patting her leg as she beckons you-kind of bossy). She is loving and compassionate with her babies and nothing brings her more joy than giving them rides around the downstairs and basement in their strollers. She is so sensitive to everyone's needs...Julia has earned the nickname "Nurse Julia," because she is always taking care of everyone's boo-boos with ice packs and band-aids. She even likes to play hostess when we have guests...serving the punch at the spooky lunch, sitting with the ladies while the boys played tonight while stirring Mommy's hot chocolate, and showing everyone where the light switches are! I could go on and on!!

4) Julia is a cookie monster!! If she comes over to your house, I highly suggest that you hide your cookies!! She knows where to look...the freezer, the pantry, the cookie jar...you had better come up with a creative hiding place if she heads your way! :)

I hope that Julia has brought a smile to you today with her happenings recently...Stay tuned to hear about some of Alex recent funnies...

Go You Redbirds

Elf Yourself

Check out the following link for a special Christmas treat...

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/2C9bhSmGy05dP1ZQzytj

Merry Christmas!!

Goodbye Fall

Fall was definitely a rough one this year!! The kids didn't get to do much playing in the leaves due to all the rainy weather we had around the time the leaves fell...We usually head over to Meema and Papa's for a romp in the leaves, but their leaves were just too wet and stinky! After things dried up a bit, Mommy improvised. We headed to the local park with a rake and a mission: Rake up some leaves and then dive in!! Enjoy the shots!

Buried!!

It's raining...leaves?!?

Yay!!

Looking pretty while checking out the creek!

A Winter Alexism

I told Alex that we would be getting some snow this week...Not that you can tell!! These wind gusts are blowing it all away, but, anyways, Alex then asked me...

"Are we really going to get some snow or is it just going to be that 'freckle' stuff again?"

Bahaha...I assume he really meant flurries, but how funny that he thought flurries were called freckles!! I corrected him, so hopefully he will call them flurries in the future! :)

No Santa for Julia this Year!!

Eying Santa from the line...

Wait a second...Where is Julia??

No cooperation from the little ones...We had them sitting by themselves at first, but Alex kept making funny faces and Julia kept running away!

A little more cooperation!!

A picture of Santa's bag!! I bet he was hoping that he would find his Hot Wheels Racetrack in there!!

We thought that maybe she would make it...She was eying him from the line. She flirted with him with a hand wave 'hello' on the approach, but the moment I tried to put her in his lap, she let out an emphatic "NO!" She didn't cry, but she was clinging on me tighter than white on rice. I could have let go and she wouldn't have fallen...she was like one of those monkey babies clinging onto their mother as their mother swings through the trees. Maybe next year we can again have a picture of Alex and Julia on Santa's lap!!

Fun Times

Alex enjoyed spending some time with
Uncle Matt and Uncle Mike during
Uncle Matt's visit home last month.

ISU Homecoming Parade

Waiting for the parade to begin...

Future lil' Redbird cheerleader!!

The stars of the show...the Big Red Marching Machine!!

Alex's Wish Almost Came True

Some recent Alexisms...

1. We noticed yet another for sale sign on our street this morning. Alex suggested that we move from our house into the house for sale. I asked him why he wanted to do so and he replied..."Nevermind, we do not need to move. I have a better idea...How about we get a cat instead?" This certainly came from nowhere, but later today, sitting on our porch was a black cat. Alex acted as though it was sent from heaven. He was not so pleased when I told him he couldn't have it or go pet it...Little does he know that mommy does not share the same love for cats as she does for dogs.

2. Alex's vocabulary continually amazes us...The other day while playing with his Uncle Jeff...Alex tells Uncle Jeff that he "exasperates him." Where does he get this stuff??

3. While changing Julia's diaper the other day, Alex tells me that "Julia's butt looks like donuts." I was slightly offended for Julia and asked him why he thought so and he told me it was because she had "powder on her butt." I quickly realized not to be so upset, I had just doused her in powder.

4. After I put my new sweater on the other day, I asked Alex if I looked "hot." He quickly responded..."No, just warm." Now, what exactly did he mean by that??

5. Alex was upset that his friend wasn't coming over to play the other day and I told him that it was because his friend's sister was sick with swine flu and they didn't want to get us sick. He definitely didn't understand the situation and I was trying to tell him that we could 'get bit by swine flu bugs' and get sick if we weren't careful. He seemed to understand until a little while later when he started to cry in the car...I asked him why he was crying and he said..."Mommy, you shouldn't leave the car windows open...the swine flu bugs will come in here and bite us." Good gracious, shame on Mommy for trying to enjoy the first nice day in a week!

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch

Hanging out at the top of the haystack with Aunt Tonya!!

When I asked Tonya to take our picture here, I did so because of the pretty mums...not because of the beautiful septic tank in the background!! How lovely!!

That is better!! No septic tank!!

I only took about a million pictures of this shot...A picture with the kiddies and their pumpkins...Not one of them turned out that great!

Another example...They never cooperate!!

Daddy's First 5K

Pre-Run Picture

Daddy (in the red shorts) anxiously awaiting the start of the race.

Here he comes--A finish of 11th place overall in 21:11!!

Julia doing a little running of her own.

Mommy and Julia having some fun at the 5k!

Getting ready for Alex's mini-5k!! Look--he is starting running position!

Daddy getting his medal for placing 5th in the 30-40 year old division.

One final shot...Daddy looking a bit dazed after his run...and the kids not paying attention...as usual!!

11-11-09--Happy Veteran's Day!

Daddy, Mommy, Alex, Julia, and Duke would all like to thank our family members who have helped protect our country our family over the years! Happy Veteran's Day!! We LOVE you!!

Grandpa Lloyd--Army Air Corps
Grandpa Richard--Air Force
Grandpa Wayne--Air Force
Grandpa Al--Army
Papa Carl--Army
Papa John--Navy
Cousin Nathaniel--Army (Currently Serving in Afghanistan)
Special Family Friend Aaron--Army

The Train Museum

Alex's first train ride...ever!! He was so excited! This was an original passenger train...I wish I had taken more pictures of the ornate interior. Not sure what the year was on it...

This is Julia's first experience on a train as well. She seemed to be cool with it, but I'm not sure she was as excited as Alex!

Alex and Daddy got to ride in the top seat in the caboose on the freight train! The caboose was circa 1946...A product of new production after the end of WWII!

Silly cheeses!!

Somebody has had enough...Four train rides was enough to tucker this little one out!

Julia Loves Pumpkin Pie!!

This is a tribute to Julia's love of pumpkin pie!! If you ask her what she wants for breakfast, she says "pie" and points to the fridge. When you tell her it is all gone because she ate it all, she cries!! :( When you call Meema to tell her Julia is crying, Meema immediately runs over with another pie (specifically, Papa's pie...Poor Papa!!). Julia has Meema wrapped around her finger!!

Airport Open Cockpit Day

Top Gun!!

Passenger plane simulator!

Shooting the guns...His most favorite thing to do!!

Checking out all the buttons!

The Last of the Halloween...I won't torture you anymore!!

Witchy Julia

Knight Alex and Pirate Duke

Getting ready for a night of fun!!

Take a good look at the costume I made for him! That is right...I made that!

Hopped up on candy...She made the loop in our house about 30 times. This is lap 21...