Sunday, February 28, 2010

Reflections

I've been thinking lately about how much the kids have grown. I notice it especially when I pick up Jeremy and realize that is legs no longer fit snugly into my arms. I notice it when Riley focuses so diligently on coloring. And I suppose every mother, at one time or another, realizes that her children have suddenly morphed into little people. Well, I guess suddenly isn't the word. But now that we're creeping upon Jeremy's 4th birthday (!!), I find that I'm missing the baby years more and more.

We have very dear friends of ours who are in the midst of adopting a little boy, and I was blessed enough to attend the baby shower last weekend. And to see all the little boy clothes and toys did make me a little sentimental. I wonder if that will ever go away.

At the same time, I am really enjoying the ages of the kids now...for the most part. Riley spends most of her time coloring, drawing, reading or playing numerous games of Uno. Jeremy enjoys playing with his race cars every day and covering the floor with puzzles. I know I'm going to miss these days. I really am. I already tear up when I think about Jeremy starting kindergarten, and I still have another year of him at home.

And looking at these pictures doesn't help.

Riley and Dad circa spring '04.

Riley enjoying her 3-month-old brother.

Look at the eyes on those kids.
Sigh. That's all I can say.









Friday, February 19, 2010

Outer Space


The above picture just cracks me up. It was from his cousin Caden's birthday party last month, and you can tell he just ate the frosting off the cupcake.

Today when I dropped Jeremy off at school, the teachers had placed on the bulletin board responses the kids had to this question: What would you do if you were stranded on the moon? And with any toddler, you can imagine the hilarity that would ensue.

Jeremy's answer?

I would bring Uno. I would eat pickles and pears. Someone would bring a car and my mom and dad would take me home.

Sounds about right, don't you think?


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Overheard

Lately all I hear out of the kids' mouths is: I know.

To which I tell them, yes, but what you know and what you do are two different things. (I don't quite think they understand what that means.) I also told them that I'd rather them say, "Yes, Mom" or "Yes, Dad" instead of "I know." A friend of mine recommended those words after her daughter was saying similar things.

So this morning, after I gathered the kids' clothes from upstairs, I overheard Riley telling Jeremy that I had his clothes. He told her, "I know."

And then I heard Riley say, "No, you're supposed to say, yes, Riley."

At least I know she's listening to some of the things I say.

Olympic Fever

Jeremy has really gotten into the Olympics. Of course it took me the better part of an entire day for me to explain to him what the USA was and why they don't play the Blackhawks and why Patrick Kane is on a different team than Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. It's been a challenge, but he's had some funny comments.

Yesterday I thought the USA hockey team was playing at 11, so after lunch, I turned on the TV to see if the game was on. Much to my displeasure, there was curling on. Jeremy took one look at the curling and asked me if I knew what they were doing. I said I didn't really understand the game, and he said he didn't either, just that they were doing a lot of sweeping.

I finally found out that the game was on at 2, so we turned the TV off until then. When I turned it on, I asked Jeremy to come over to the TV and tell me who was on there talking about hockey. I kid you not, the kid took one look at the TV and shouted, "Jeremy Roenick!"

Now our Jeremy was introduced to Jeremy Roenick on TV for the New Year's Day hockey game. That's the only time he's ever seen him on television. The kid had a memory that's quite remarkable. Let's hope that when he gets older and needs to memorize things for school, he can be just as able.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Valentine's Day

From our blog to your eyes, we wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day.

Riley was so sweet. Last night she made handmade Valentine's for myself, Phil and Jeremy. She was so proud, and first thing she did this morning was set them out. She even made cards to send to all the grandparents wishing them a happy Valentine's Day and how much she loves them. I sometimes feel like I don't give her enough credit for all that she does.

On Friday, neither child had school thanks in part to one of the lovely teacher institute days. The kids and I ran a bunch of errands (I think we ended up going to five different places before lunch), and they were troopers for the most part. When we arrived at home, Riley went to help me take some of the cat food out of the trunk. The next thing I know is that I hear Jeremy screaming. The poor kid got his thumb caught in the door! Luckily he had his mitten on, but it still hurt.

Riley ran inside, got him some ice, wrapped it in a towel, and then went upstairs to get his stuffed moose. She was so loving and wonderful during this traumatic time. She's so loving and thoughtful sometimes that I feel like I don't acknowledge it enough. She's my girl.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Teeth

Jeremy was lucky enough to have a dentist appointment yesterday. Unfortunately, I couldn't get Riley in until next month. I don't want to take her out of school just for a cleaning. And of course the office is booked this Friday and Monday when the kids don't have school. Go figure.

Anyway, the big guy did fantastic! I was so proud of him. He opened when he needed to, didn't flinch at all, and even let the hygienist put fluoride on his teeth. He was a total rock star. I love our dentist office, and on a side note, the hygienist went to my high school and I graduated with her brother. It was so funny the first time I sat in the chair. She was like, "Did you play basketball in high school? Did you go to Maine South?" So now I look forward to catching up with her about anything and everything.

And backing up, Riley lost her first tooth way back on Christmas Day. She had been concerned for awhile in that she hadn't lost a tooth. I think she was actually one of the last few kids in her class!

Her new tooth was coming in first before the baby tooth was loose. The baby tooth was pretty wiggly for a few days, and on Christmas Eve I was about ready to rip that thing out of her mouth! She was being pretty whiny and crabby. We were hoping that she would lose her tooth on Christmas Eve so that the Tooth Fairy and Santa could share a ride, but no such luck. And since the Tooth Fairy couldn't hit up the ATM on Christmas Day, Riley scored a $5. Lucky girl. We told her that it was a special occassion and to not expect $5 for every tooth.

Riley with her missing tooth on Christmas.

And you know what? Riley has a field trip coming up later this month, and I told her I had to ask Dad if he had $5 on him since I had used my last one at the grocery store. She said she had her $5 tooth fairy money that I could use. I told her that's her money to spend, and that Mom and Dad would take care of the school stuff. How sweet is that?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Civic Duty

I apologize to those of you who already heard this on Facebook, but it was funny enough to share here, too.

On Tuesday, I did my civic duty and voted in the primary election. I will tell you, until 2004, I never voted. (She hides her head in shame.) I never thought it was important. And quite frankly, I didn't want to run the risk of getting called for jury duty. But when my brother left the country, he made me promise to vote on his behalf. So I did. And it made the husband glad, too, since he's quite the political buff.

So back to Tuesday. I took Jeremy with me, and we voted at our church (which, for the record, confused the heck out of the boy, who insists we only go to church on Sundays). I had prepped him beforehand about how he went with me a little over a year ago to vote for the president.

It was quiet when we got there, I received my ballot, Jeremy cooperated and didn't ask too many questions. Just as we were leaving, though, he turned to me and asked me:

"Where is Barack Obama?"

The people working at the polls sure got a kick out of it. As did I.