No one had to work today but me (*sob*) but I was cheered up by some special visitors!! The boys quickly settled into an office routine, with jake setting up his own office space on one of my tables and Liam taking diligent notes at my desk.
Jake's new office space
"Ok, the first order of business is that I propose is that we increase the number of snacks that are distributed per day"
We went to lunch at joe mamas (yum!) and of course, it wouldn't be a trip to Oakland without visiting the Pitt panther statue!! Liam was quite hesitant to sit right in front of it at first (by hesitant, I mean that he repeatedly said "NO PANTHER! NO PANTHER!"as if it were going to come alive and eat him) but of course, once Jake sat down in front of it, he was fine. By the time we left, he was waving to the panther and telling it goodbye, so I think he made peace with the beast.
Jake hammed it up and yelled "Hail to Pitt!". It was a proud moment for me.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!! Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!
No need to adjust your screen or have your eyes checked....that picture is really one of me skiing. I'll give you a minute to collect yourself from the shock you've just experienced.
All better now? Great. Ok, so for years Brian has been saying that I should try skiing. I went skiing one time in high school...it was not a pretty sight. I was cold, whiny, and overall just hated the experience. Fast forward to this winter, and Jake has asked me a few times if I was going to go skiing with him. I kept putting off the question, then finally a few weeks ago Brian pointed out that we were nearing the end of ski season, and it was supposed to be warmer during the upcoming weekend, so it might be a good time to go. I'm such a sucker, I agreed to this plan.
I will admit: it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, between us, I enjoyed myself. I wasn't cold at all, which helped tremendously. It was 42 degrees, no wind, and Brian got me some great cold-weather gear that really helped (I was actually hot after the first few runs!)
The only bad part of the day was that I took a pretty bad fall on the 5th run or so. I had been having trouble stopping, so we got to the top of this run and Brian told me to wait to go down, he wanted to go in front of me so that I could see exactly how he came to a stop. Well, in the middle of him trying to position himself in front of me, I couldn't seem to stop (go figure) and ended up going down the hill. So there I was, careening down the hill, and somehow I ended up turning backwards. As you can guess, it did not go well from there....I ended up falling backwards, cracking my head (I actually felt it bounce off the ground, OUCH! Thank God for that helmet!), and then landing in a heap of tangled skis. My head actually ended up hurting less than my back; I think when I fell I instinctively tried to land on my right side. However, my skis didn't come off, so when I tried to turn, I just became tangled in them and my upper body moved, but my lower body stayed in the same place. My back and neck were quite sore for a few days....along with the muscles in the rest of my body that haven't been used in an embarrassingly long period of time.
Here is a video, though it does not feature my fall (sorry to disappoint you). It's my 2nd run:
Here is a longer one a bit later in the morning (somehow, I still look just as awkward as I did during earlier runs), and also features Jake doing some small jump things at the end:
So, there you have it, internet world. I skied. I lived to tell the tale. I was only sore for a week. Funniest conversation of the day was as follows, while on the lift. We had been skiing for about 2 hours at this point, and Jake was clearly having to slow down a lot on all of the runs to wait for me.
Jake: Mommy, did you know that some people like to hang out in the lodge?
Me: Oh yeah? That sounds nice.
Jake: Yeah, it's true. (pause) You can hang out in the lodge, if you want to.....
Me: Oh that's ok, buddy...I'm having lots of fun with you and daddy!
Jake: Oh...well, ok then............
I'm pretty sure he was trying to get rid of his slow poke mother. Jake's wish was granted though after lunch; once I sat down I really felt the soreness from my fall. And the warmth of the lodge called to me....so I settled in with my book and let daddy & Jake head back out for another hour or so by themselves. He didn't say so, but I'm sure he was ecstatic!
I had mentioned in a previous post that Jake's room had started to feel babyish, and that I hoped to update some of the accents with a superhero theme. We made the transformation this past weekend (and I use the word "transformation" very loosely-really, we just pulled down some of the old animal decor, put up some superhero signs and changed the comforter)-but I was happy with how it turned out, and Jake loved it, so that's what matters. In typical 2nd child fashion, Liam will inherit the animal decor once he moves to a big boy bed.
Here is the before:
And, the after!! (don't mind the mismatched curtains, they were out of the color that I wanted, so hopefully I can replace those soon)
Comforter from walmart, Spiderman doll was a gift from GG & Pappy for Christmas
LOVE THIS
vintage looking signs that I picked up in NY.
Basketball hoop (Christmas gift from GG & Pappy)
Posters on the back of his door (Thanks, Beth!!)
Comforter: $24.99 at walmart
Shams & Skirt: $16 at walmart
Signs: $20
Vinyl decal on wall: $12
Spiderman trash can (not pictured): $4 at Target
I posted the video of Jake skiing last week with the promise of more details about the kids trip. Some other daycare dads and Brian had decided that they should take the kids skiing together, so they headed out for a day in the snow!
Here is Maddie, Jake (messing with his goggles), Nick, and Zach (also messing with his goggles!)
The kids had a great time!!
Zach and Jake
Maddie, Jake & Brian on the lift
Here is a video of Jake going over some jumps....it's very clear that he has inherited Brian's sense of athleticism and coordination.
I'll have to do a full post with some pictures, but here is a video of Jake skiing yesterday....he, daddy, and a few friends from school played hooky for the day & hit the slopes!
Today is picture day at school! Originally, I had a sweater picked out for Jake that coordinated with the colors in Liam's button down shirt that I planned for him to wear. Those plans went out the window when Jake saw them and said, "Oh no, mommy...that's not going to work. For picture day at school, I have to wear something really fancy!" What qualifies as fancy to my 5 year old? A clip-on tie (that was too small) and a button down shirt (that was too big) :-) How could I say no??
He requested that Liam wear a tie as well, but Liam's tie was green and they get their picture taken together, so I didn't want them to look like they were posing for a Christmas card. I can't wait to see how these turn out!
Gracie was snoozing away in her bed this morning (she's on a schedule where she is awake for approximately 15 minutes, then needs to settle in for her first morning nap); Liam noticed her there and said, "awww....Gwacie! Seep (sleep). Bwankie?" and looked at me. I told him to go ahead and put the blanket on her; he proceeded to take about 2 minutes to spread it out juuuuuuuuust so. I told him that was very nice and I'd like to take a picture:
After I took the picture, Liam came running over and said "Yeee-am (Liam), Gwacie, pee-chore" and plopped himself down in the next shot :)
Our registration appointment is in early April; there's a good chance I'm going to need a valium and smelling salts by the time I'm done with the whole ordeal.
I'll set the scene for you: I'm in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove, when all of a sudden I hear the shuffle of itty, bitty feet behind me. I spin around and catch Liam headed right for the pantry, trying to steal snacks; I say his name, he squeals with delight, knowing he just got busted for something he knows he shouldn't be doing.
What's that shuffle sound, you ask? it's the sound of sneaky feet. He uses them often, in situations just like I've described above, or for nearly anything else where he's getting into something he shouldn't be. Here is a demo:
Happy Valentine's Day!! We never do too much for Valentine's Day (especially when it falls on a weekday), but it was a nice day nonetheless.
Well, I wasn't able to sleep in, but I did get the next best thing from Brian---Reeses Cups and a bottle of my new favorite wine, pink moscato. He knows the way to my heart is through a good combo of peanut butter and chocolate.
The kids were super excited for their party at school, which involved pizza, jello and strawberry milk. When they woke up in the morning, they found their gifts from Brian & I on the kitchen table; Liam got a Little Einsteins book and Jake got a box of Cars chocolate.
Conversation with Jake on the way home from school yesterday:
Jake: Mommy, I have to tell you something...I'm sorry to say that you are not my valentine anymore.
Me: Oh yeah? Who's the lucky girl who's taken my place??
Jake: It's Maddie. She's my valentine. At least, I think she is.
Last week's conversation about Maddie included this gem from Jake: "Mommy, I think Maddie might be my girlfriend. Or maybe we're just friends. I'm not actually sure what is happening!"
Young love.
Since the beginning of February, I had been doing a Pinterest inspired project; the original post called it a Heart Attack, and basically, you cover their bedroom door with hearts and write on each one a different reason why you love them. I found the template for the hearts here and just printed the hearts on colored paper. Every night, we taped a different heart to each door---the boys LOVED it! Even Liam, who didn't really get it, was just excited to see new hearts every morning. It was fun, we'll definitely do it again next year.
The boys made us valentines at school that are adorable, but I forgot to snap a picture last night, so I'll be sure to post those soon. Happy Friday!!!
Conversation in the car the other day: Jake: You know what guys? I wish I was little. I wish I was still a baby.
Me: Why is that? Then you wouldn't be able to do fun big boy things!
Jake: Because if I were little like Liam, then I could be his best friend.
*insert heart melting into a puddle here*
Of course, we explained to Jake that they can certainly still be best friends, even if they aren't the same age. And we would obviously love for that to be the case for them. I can see them in the stands, cheering for each other on the field, or the stage, or wherever life takes them....then being each others best man in their weddings. Silly to think so far ahead? Probably. But it's definitely on my mommy wish list.
Quick description from Amazon: In 1945, Elsie Schmidt is a naive teenager, as eager for her first sip
of champagne as she is for her first kiss. She and her family have been
protected from the worst of the terror and desperation overtaking her
country by a high-ranking Nazi who wishes to marry her. So when an
escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep on Christmas Eve, Elsie
understands that opening the door would put all she loves in danger.
Sixty
years later, in El Paso, Texas, Reba Adams is trying to file a
feel-good Christmas piece for the local magazine, and she sits down with
the owner of Elsie's German Bakery for what she expects will be an easy
interview. But Reba finds herself returning to the bakery again and
again, anxious to find the heart of the story--a story that resonates
with her own turbulent past. For Elsie, Reba’s questions are a stinging
reminder of that last bleak year of WWII. As the two women's lives
become intertwined, both are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths
of the past and seek out the courage to forgive.
My review: loved this book! I really enjoyed it, especially Elsie's half of the story. It was a very fast read, and one that I didn't want to put down. I would definitely recommend it!!
Up next: Starstruck by Lauren Conrad (yes, LC from The Hills. Don't judge-I needed something fluffly after this last book!)
Every few months, daycare sends home a progress report of sorts, detailing information about the kids development and what they've been working on in school. I figured I'd share some quotes from the most recent reports for each of the kiddos:
Jake
Jake loves to play outside and in the playroom. He can run, hop, kick a ball, and throw a ball very well. He can walk around the balance beam completely unassisted. He is able to manipulate scissors, pencils, and crayons well.
Jake can write his name, recognize letters of the alphabet, and count past 20. He is able to distinguish between letters and numbers, and can match numbers 1-10 to their corresponding sets. He is a very hands-on learner, and understands concepts the most when he is actively engaged.
He is very social and loves to tell stories. He is receptive to new people and situations. He is a good friend to others, and is able to listen quietly when others are speaking. He speaks in complete sentences and uses a variety of vocabulary words. He's interested in new words and learning reading concepts, and he's beginning to be able to read small sight words. He is an active listener to stories, and can then answer comprehension questions orally.
Liam
Liam is able to go up and down stairs unassisted. He is starting to walk and run with increased coordination, speed, and balance. He drives a push car by moving his feet. Feeds himself with no problems.
He is able to wash his hands with adult help and completes other short tasks with assistance. Completes familiar puzzles on his own. He enjoys music and uses body movements to respond. Liam has a strong interest in art projects. He is able to build a small tower with blocks and can imitate simple actions, gestures, and words.
Liam is very social, and plays very well with his peers for his age. He smiles a lot and is very content. He is able to make simple choices when presented with the opportunity, and actively responds to requests for action, such as clapping in songs.
I made this recipe for the 2nd time for Super Bowl Sunday, and it was a crowd-pleaser yet again! The boys each gobbled up their first helping, and asked for more.Recipe originally found on Pinterest, from the Plain Chicken blog.
In a skillet, brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain fat and stir in spaghetti sauce. Set aside.
Cook spaghetti according to directions on packet. Drain and place
cooked spaghetti in bowl. Add cream cheese, Italian Seasoning and
minced garlic. Stir until cream cheese is melted and the spaghetti is
thoroughly coated.
Lightly grease a 9x13" pan. Spread a small amount of meat sauce in the
bottom of the dish. Put spaghetti on top of sauce and top with
remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
I think this is the first time ever that his weight has been a higher percentile than his height! There for awhile, his weight was always near that percentile but his height was up in the 60-70th percentiles. Maybe his growth will even out now, and his pants won't become flood water pants within just a few short months :)
Everything at the appointment looked great, he's right on track physically and developmentally. We were able to get all of the forms he needs for kindergarten registration (GULP). That process actually starts today; I have to call in this afternoon to get an appointment to then register him in person in April. My eyes fill up with tears nearly every time I pass a school bus with little kids on it, so this process should go well.
I leave you with a picture of my handsome little buddy!
When Jake transitioned out of his crib 2 years ago, we gave him an animal themed room (which you can see here); and even though I specifically chose decorations that weren't too "babyish" so that the room could grow with him, the room has looked babyish to me in recent months. The best laid plans, right? I don't feel too bad about having to change the room so soon, because whenever Liam moves to a big boy bed, he'll inherit all of my hard work on the animal theme :)
I'm going to go with a superhero theme because I think (hope!) that might stick with him for a little while before he outgrows it. And my plan is to just find a solid color comforter that we can just continue to use once he's moved on to other ideas.
Here are some of the ideas I've been thinking about; his walls are yellow, and he has a red Pottery Barn anywhere chair, so I feel like just doing a general superhero theme with lots of primary colors will be easy to blend into the room.
I only have a few things so far, including these metal, vintage-looking signs that I picked up while in NYC a few weeks ago (gotta love bargains from street vendors!):
I also scored this Spiderman trash can from Target the other day, marked down to $4!!
Other items I'm considering:
I did these free printables for Jake's bday party and had them on the front door; I'm thinking they might look cute if I printed them out as 8x10's and framed them in white frames?? (just one of each, obviously, not 12!)
This vinyl decal from VinylKrazy is a must ($10!), I love this phrase and it's so perfect for him (I'd probably order in red or blue):
Bedding options:
Mainstays Bed-in-a-Bag ($30, walmart):
Mainstays reversible comforter set-comes in blue and red ($24, walmart):
I just wanted to share a few pictures of Jake on his actual birthday....mainly because he wanted to wear his Batman shirt that included a cape to school that day. He also wanted to Liam to wear his-have I ever mentioned how much I love the fact that he is into wearing matching clothes with his brother?? Oh, I've mentioned it multiple times on here? Oh well. I am. Because I know it's short-lived, so for now, I embrace it.
Work it, Batman.
Jake's feedback on his birthday was that it was "so much fun" and he loved sharing cookies with his friends at school that day, and loved getting to stand on a chair while they sang happy birthday to him.
the gift he wanted most...Flo's Cafe from the movie, Cars
