Monday, January 6, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Christmas Tree
One activity we had this year was to cut down our own tree at a tree farm.
Normally, we would go the grocery store, cut down the tree and WALK the tree home.
This year, it became too much for us. Plus, it was during that really COLD snap that we had "scheduled" to get our tree. So, we went to the tree farm instead.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Christmas Decorations
Joel's new ornament this year. The letter J. He's all into letters and found it in the store. That's a J for Joel mommy!
Nativity set.
Dan and I bought this on our honeymoon. I love it. Handcrafted and still smells like cedar.
The boys set. The boys enjoyed playing with it and reenacting the Christmas story. It was always thrown around the house. We would find random pieces everywhere. In fact, about three days after we "put away Christmas" we found that long lost wise man. Apparently, he was following the wrong star.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Advent Activities
Joel was at the perfect age this year to start doing activities for Advent. I printed off a simple numbered advent off the Internet. Most were simple activities, like reading a Christmas story or colouring a Christmas picture. Some were a little more labour intensive, like decorating cookies. Joel and Micah both enjoyed the activities and looked forward to seeing what they were going to do that day.
Joel LOVED decorating cookies. And eating them. Mostly eating them.
Joel LOVED decorating cookies. And eating them. Mostly eating them.
One day we made salt dough ornaments and painted them. Joel really got into it. They made for great presents for the grandparents. Plus, they are a cool addition to our tree.
Micah only painted two ornaments. And his head. Two hands. The newspaper. The chair. And anything else in his two foot radius.
Father Christmas visited for Sinterklaas on December 5th, the Dutch version of Christmas. You set out your shoe the night before and the next morning it is filled with treats. The kids thought it was great since they got to have sprinkle toast for breakfast (another Dutch tradition).
*Side note: It was here that I realized how ridiculous the concept of Santa is. I tried to explain the whole chimney, sleigh, present thing. It was stupid. We don't necessarily want the boys to believe in Santa, but we want them to be informed about what others believe. Joel understands a lot. He did NOT understand Santa. The only thing he can do is point out who Santa is, thanks to the lovely displays down the street. But he couldn't tell you anything about that story if he tried.
Sadly, it was also this evening that I realized how difficult the story of Jesus' birth is to grasp as well. It is also ridiculous. But somehow Joel got attached to Jesus' story. Slowly, as we explained it over and over again, it became less ridiculous and more believable. He can retell the story if he needs to and re-enacts it with his nativity figurines.
A fun "Christmas" experiment. Okay. It has nothing to do with Christmas. The only thing that would make it remotely Christmas, was the green food colouring, which I couldn't find and replaced with blue. The boys had fun scooping out the foam, made from peroxide and yeast (and a few other things).
The traditional paper chain. This thing was HUGE. But only about one foot made it on our tree. I rescued it from amidst the broken pieces the boys had fun destroying as they chased one another around the house. My type A personality had to repeat constantly that this is about the boys having fun, not about having a perfect craft. For some reason this particular morning, it took all of my effort to allow them to play. I'm still glad that I rescued that one foot section. It was my little piece of compromise with the boys. I got my "craft," and they got to have fun.
Having dinner by candlelight (and Christmas lights).
Lessons from Advent:
1. Half an hour is PLENTY of time to do some sort of activity. It doesn't take long. The kids are really only interested for a few minutes, so within the half hour there is time for set up, the activity and clean up. I have found myself not wasting those thirty minutes or so we have before we need to leave for an appointment. I did an activity instead. A much better use of my time than previous to advent. I hope to keep up with some preschool type activities in the future.
2. Confession. I fell off the advent activity bandwagon around Joel's birthday (the 14th). It wasn't something that I felt like I had time for during the busyness of the season. I promised myself at the beginning of the month to show myself Grace. This was about having fun with the boys, not getting upset about something not happening. I vowed that I would only do an activity if I could have fun as well. I didn't want to let them paint only to yell at them for getting it everywhere. If I wasn't going to be nice, I wasn't going to do the activity (it was about creating good memories, not memories where their mom yelled at them). I wanted my priorities to be straight. Needless to say, around the 14th, it became too much to keep up with. But, in those remaining days until Christmas, we still did an activity a day. They weren't the crafts or activities I had planned, but we still did an activity. One day, we went shopping instead. One day, they had a hot cocoa, rather than doing an elaborate craft. A candlelit dinner, rather than a particular outing. A drive to see the lights as opposed to that days planned activity. The boys had fun and so did we.
3. We were given an advent set from a lady at Church (thanks Joan). I filled that with candy (one day at a time. Those boys are smart and would open every box in one sitting). By about half way through the month, I was so tired of the boys eating candy, I tried to shove a baby orange in one of the boxes. It was too big, and I didn't want to peel that nasty thing, so we "neglected" the boxes for a few days. The boys didn't seem to mind and I got a little piece of mind.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I look forward to doing it again next year and having Micah participate a little bit more (he was a bit to little this year).
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Van to Foot Ratio=BAD!
These pictures don't even do Joel's foot justice. Plus, its been 3 days since it happened. Healing has taken place.
So how did this happen? Enter the most guilt ridden mom who caused said accident. We had been out all day and got home at dinner time with two very exhausted and un-napped children. Meltdowns were ensuing. Joel had kicked his shoes off in the van and since it was raining, I decided to carry him in.
I had my arms full of the days events, picked up Joel and yanked the door shut. Only, the door didn't shut. It popped back open. Then I heard that sound. The sound that sends chills up your spine. That blood curdling scream. You know the one that screeches pain. I had accidentally slammed the door on Joel's foot.
We spend the next hour or so consoling an overtired, extremely hungry and hurt little boy. It was difficult to determine the extent of his injuries due to the hunger and tiredness. But once we got a few raisins (the only thing he would eat) into him, the tears eventually subsided. We iced it on and off in four minute increments (the longest our little guy would allow the ice to remain on his foot. Thank goodness for timers). We eventually determined that it was not broken, just extremely swollen and bruised. We had been worried for a little while since the tears were so huge and he wouldn't even allow the bag of peas to rest on it since it hurt too much (or maybe he was hungry OR tired). Who knows? After an hour or so, he finally was able to wiggle his toes and put weight on it. He slept well that night and woke up like nothing had happened.
The guilt? That's staying. Especially when he asks why I slammed the door on his foot. It was an accident!!!! Why doesn't he know the meaning of that word?
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Joel's Birthday
Last week, we celebrated Joel's 3rd birthday. We decided to host a breakfast party, since his birthday is so close to Christmas and we figured that an afternoon/evening party would be difficult as many people have parties to go to or shopping to do.
We enjoyed a pancake breakfast, yogurt and fruit, wieners and beans, complete with sausage AND bacon (as per his request).
Of course, a birthday isn't complete without cake. Joel requested a digger cake, and that's what he got!
Monday, December 16, 2013
18 months
Joel: 18 months |
Micah: 18 months |
If Micah was born first, we wouldn't have struggled so much in those early days, when we were trying so hard to get two children to sleep. Micah would have slept through the night and we would only have to contend with a newborn baby.
But such is life. We were blessed with a difficult sleeper first. Followed by a really good sleeper (as long as he's not teething or in pain). We are extremely blessed that Micah (mostly) sleeps through the night. He goes down super easy and is fairly easy to calm if he does wake up.
Joel was the exact opposite at this age. He was up at least 3 times a night and was difficult to put to bed. It would often take an hour or more to calm him enough to get him to lie down and another half an hour of 'putting him back to bed' before he finally passed out. Then he would wake up, sometimes screaming, and we would spend hours putting him back to bed. Then we would be so awake from the adrenalin of Joel's screams that we would struggle to fall asleep. Sadly, quite often we would just fall asleep, only to have Micah wake up for his next feeding.
I think I could write a book about our kids sleep habits (or lack thereof). Let me tell you, a GOOD sleeper, one that sleeps through the night fairly early on and keeps doing that, would be a monstrous blessing to our family. Both kids slept okay until six months old. Then all hell would break loose and we would spend the next year or more instilling good sleep habits (hahaha...more like surviving massive sleep deprivation) until finally they would 'suddenly' sleep better.
Okay, Joel didn't sleep well until he turned 2. Micah was born when Joel was 18 months old. So, there was six month of overlapping bad sleeping. But Micah wasn't too bad, just newborn like, those first six months. He didn't sleep well until about a month ago. So, all in all, we have endured 3 years of sleep deprivation. That is a long time folks. That's waking up 2-3 times a night, minimum. For THREE YEARS! We are finally (sorta) sleeping better. Waking up only once a night feels like a dream. I can't imagine what sleeping through every night for a week would feel like. Perhaps, soon, I will know. Now, if only we could get Joel to stop waking up in the middle of the night because his blanket came off, or his boat is facing the wrong way, or whatever that nights excuse is.
Now that we mostly sleep through the night, and are not-so sleep deprived, we have developed a new problem. When the boys just so happen to wake up in the middle of the night, and we quickly put them back to bed, we find ourselves struggling to fall back asleep. When we weren't sleeping, we were so tired that we would lie back down and immediately be asleep. But now, we are semi well-rested and once we are woken up, we are finding it harder and harder to fall asleep. Thus, making us more and more tired. Oh the life of a parent!
Saturday, December 14, 2013
3 Years Old
Dear Joel
Today,at the moment I post this (8:02pm) you turn three years old. From the moment you were conceived, you have sent us on an emotional roller coaster ride. Once you started to move, you decided that stopping is NOT an option. Even in the womb, you kept me on my toes. Twice, I almost passed out from your movements. The nurses labeled it "active baby syndrome" and boy were they right! When the time came for you to be born, you came flying out. This momma was not prepared for that! And you haven't stopped moving since. I remember a time when Darnell and Greg took you and Cody to the park. He could never quite understand what I was talking about when I said that you were fast. He came back exhausted from chasing you and was glad he didn't lose you. If he blinked, you were gone. More times than I care to count that has happened to me. You just bolt. The worst part for me is that you think its a game to keep quiet when I call your name. I remember searching our old house, looking for you. I looked everywhere and I couldn't find you. I was calling your name and getting frantic and still you kept hiding. I later found you in the closet, still and quiet, playing your little "game" with me. (By the way, its NOT funny)
Joel, from the moment you were born, I knew I was in trouble. You constantly keep me on my toes. You love to do things in your own time (usually fast), but will quite often only do things if you know you CAN do them. You rolled over for two weeks before anyone actually witnessed it. You refused to practise crawling, until one day you were gone. You liked walking but were too nervous to take steps on your own until you knew you could it alone. Then, within just twenty short minutes, you went from taking your first steps to walking across the room. You were nine and half months old! Much too little for that sorta thing. But you were a mover. You weren't much of a talker, sometimes trying to imitate our voices or make sounds, but never in front of anyone else. But once you started talking, boy were we in trouble. You haven't stopped since! (Yet, you still refuse to "perform" for anyone!) I think you just went from making sounds to talking in full sentences. The words that you pick up on astound me. I often wonder where you heard such a word. The other day, you were playing with a friends calculator type toy. When you asked what it was, I said calculator. You said, "No mommy. Its a typewriter." Say what? Typewriter? Where you learnt that word, I still don't know. Perhaps its from a book you read.
You LOVE reading. We've had to hide books on you because we are so sick of reading the same story over and over again. But once we pull them out, you can recite the book word for word. I think you've memorized Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and that's how you know the alphabet. (It ain't from us singing, that's for sure!)
You still rarely play with toys, but would prefer to play with me. Or rather, cook and clean alongside me. You still are obsessed with cooking and are almost ready to take over dinner preparation. You quite often come up with fun games for you and Micah to play, often involving running in circles around the house. You are so loving to Micah. You always want to wake him up when he is sleeping. You care for him and make sure he has forks at mealtimes. But you are often rough with him also. I have seen you boys wrestle a few times and although it is cute, someone, usually Micah, ends up hurt. You love to share with Micah, but you also enjoy stealing toys from him. Really, its a love/hate relationship. Just like most brothers have! You are either the kindest brother or you are smacking him over the head and stealing his toy. We are working on sharing and treating Micah kindly.
You love Jacob Moon. You can recognize his voice, even from his new songs. I think seeing him in concert last June made you fall in love with music even more. You have been obsessed with the guitar ever since. The first time I felt you move, was at the Highland games when the bagpipes were playing. Daddy says you were dancing, but I'm convinced you were kicking and screaming, "make it stop!"
Joel you have been blessed with a very sensitive spirit. You have shown so much empathy in your little life. I have seen and been a recipient of your caring spirit. You give stuffed animals to your brother when he is sad or hurt. You have this little routine of 'pound it, hug, kiss, tickle' that you do, but only when I am really sad. You have come up with ideas of how to bless others, like sending snacks to Asher for the plane ride after his grandpa passed away. Or giving cookies to friends because they are going through a tough time. When you heard that Katrina gave birth to Deklan, you ran to the kitchen to make her dinner because you care about her. But with this sensitive spirit comes some challenges. You have large emotions son. They are a blessing when you are happy because the whole world knows it. But when are struggling with something, it can overwhelm you. Part of that is because you are three. The other part is that you are very sensitive to the world around you. Fear can sometimes overtake you. But we are practicing putting on our courage belt and facing the scary world head on. Anger and frustration sometimes get the best of you. But we are working on asking for help with those big emotions. We are learning that trying (and failing) is okay. We are learning to not run away from those things that frustrate you, but to ask for help to face them.
Joel, you have challenged me in ways I could never express. Those days of sleeplessness and pleading to God to make you sleep have (mostly) ended. But now, I am asking God to help me, help you with your emotions. I have seen them overtake you and it saddens me. But as you mother, I am privileged to be able to wrap you in my arms and snuggle you until they cease.
My favorite moments with you are those right before you go to bed when I get to snuggle you. Sometimes you try to goof off and other times you snuggle right in and talk about your day. I love hearing the things that made an impression on you. You are always thankful for the kind people God has brought into your life. You remember with gratitude those who have helped you, given to you or played with you. I am glad that gratitude and thankfulness are two big emotions I see regularly. You are thankful for so many cute and funny things, like nightlights and diggers. You pray for specific people every night, thanking God for them. I am thankful for them too. They have blessed you and poured into your life in ways that I am not always capable of or in ways that are different to my own. I am grateful for them too.
Joel, on this, your third birthday, I am grateful for you. You challenge me and bless me everyday. I am proud to be your mother and I look forward to seeing who you become in the years to come.
Today,at the moment I post this (8:02pm) you turn three years old. From the moment you were conceived, you have sent us on an emotional roller coaster ride. Once you started to move, you decided that stopping is NOT an option. Even in the womb, you kept me on my toes. Twice, I almost passed out from your movements. The nurses labeled it "active baby syndrome" and boy were they right! When the time came for you to be born, you came flying out. This momma was not prepared for that! And you haven't stopped moving since. I remember a time when Darnell and Greg took you and Cody to the park. He could never quite understand what I was talking about when I said that you were fast. He came back exhausted from chasing you and was glad he didn't lose you. If he blinked, you were gone. More times than I care to count that has happened to me. You just bolt. The worst part for me is that you think its a game to keep quiet when I call your name. I remember searching our old house, looking for you. I looked everywhere and I couldn't find you. I was calling your name and getting frantic and still you kept hiding. I later found you in the closet, still and quiet, playing your little "game" with me. (By the way, its NOT funny)
Joel, from the moment you were born, I knew I was in trouble. You constantly keep me on my toes. You love to do things in your own time (usually fast), but will quite often only do things if you know you CAN do them. You rolled over for two weeks before anyone actually witnessed it. You refused to practise crawling, until one day you were gone. You liked walking but were too nervous to take steps on your own until you knew you could it alone. Then, within just twenty short minutes, you went from taking your first steps to walking across the room. You were nine and half months old! Much too little for that sorta thing. But you were a mover. You weren't much of a talker, sometimes trying to imitate our voices or make sounds, but never in front of anyone else. But once you started talking, boy were we in trouble. You haven't stopped since! (Yet, you still refuse to "perform" for anyone!) I think you just went from making sounds to talking in full sentences. The words that you pick up on astound me. I often wonder where you heard such a word. The other day, you were playing with a friends calculator type toy. When you asked what it was, I said calculator. You said, "No mommy. Its a typewriter." Say what? Typewriter? Where you learnt that word, I still don't know. Perhaps its from a book you read.
You LOVE reading. We've had to hide books on you because we are so sick of reading the same story over and over again. But once we pull them out, you can recite the book word for word. I think you've memorized Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and that's how you know the alphabet. (It ain't from us singing, that's for sure!)
You still rarely play with toys, but would prefer to play with me. Or rather, cook and clean alongside me. You still are obsessed with cooking and are almost ready to take over dinner preparation. You quite often come up with fun games for you and Micah to play, often involving running in circles around the house. You are so loving to Micah. You always want to wake him up when he is sleeping. You care for him and make sure he has forks at mealtimes. But you are often rough with him also. I have seen you boys wrestle a few times and although it is cute, someone, usually Micah, ends up hurt. You love to share with Micah, but you also enjoy stealing toys from him. Really, its a love/hate relationship. Just like most brothers have! You are either the kindest brother or you are smacking him over the head and stealing his toy. We are working on sharing and treating Micah kindly.
You love Jacob Moon. You can recognize his voice, even from his new songs. I think seeing him in concert last June made you fall in love with music even more. You have been obsessed with the guitar ever since. The first time I felt you move, was at the Highland games when the bagpipes were playing. Daddy says you were dancing, but I'm convinced you were kicking and screaming, "make it stop!"
Joel you have been blessed with a very sensitive spirit. You have shown so much empathy in your little life. I have seen and been a recipient of your caring spirit. You give stuffed animals to your brother when he is sad or hurt. You have this little routine of 'pound it, hug, kiss, tickle' that you do, but only when I am really sad. You have come up with ideas of how to bless others, like sending snacks to Asher for the plane ride after his grandpa passed away. Or giving cookies to friends because they are going through a tough time. When you heard that Katrina gave birth to Deklan, you ran to the kitchen to make her dinner because you care about her. But with this sensitive spirit comes some challenges. You have large emotions son. They are a blessing when you are happy because the whole world knows it. But when are struggling with something, it can overwhelm you. Part of that is because you are three. The other part is that you are very sensitive to the world around you. Fear can sometimes overtake you. But we are practicing putting on our courage belt and facing the scary world head on. Anger and frustration sometimes get the best of you. But we are working on asking for help with those big emotions. We are learning that trying (and failing) is okay. We are learning to not run away from those things that frustrate you, but to ask for help to face them.
Joel, you have challenged me in ways I could never express. Those days of sleeplessness and pleading to God to make you sleep have (mostly) ended. But now, I am asking God to help me, help you with your emotions. I have seen them overtake you and it saddens me. But as you mother, I am privileged to be able to wrap you in my arms and snuggle you until they cease.
My favorite moments with you are those right before you go to bed when I get to snuggle you. Sometimes you try to goof off and other times you snuggle right in and talk about your day. I love hearing the things that made an impression on you. You are always thankful for the kind people God has brought into your life. You remember with gratitude those who have helped you, given to you or played with you. I am glad that gratitude and thankfulness are two big emotions I see regularly. You are thankful for so many cute and funny things, like nightlights and diggers. You pray for specific people every night, thanking God for them. I am thankful for them too. They have blessed you and poured into your life in ways that I am not always capable of or in ways that are different to my own. I am grateful for them too.
Joel, on this, your third birthday, I am grateful for you. You challenge me and bless me everyday. I am proud to be your mother and I look forward to seeing who you become in the years to come.
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