One day Jack came running down the hall with a screwdriver in his hand. (?) He tripped and fell, it scratched his nose, and I thanked his angels for helping him not gouge his eye. It completely tripped me up that - just like that - my kid could have been blind. Instead, he just had a scratch for a couple of days. Seriously, I know we're being helped out by loved ones on the other side of the veil. Moments like these - stacked deep - just make it undeniable.
The kids have been cracking me up this month. I've felt much more lighthearted with Todd's homecoming just around the bend and have been noticing more the happiness of our everydays. Like Jack insisting on wearing his new dress-up vest without a shirt (like Aladdin) all day long, paired with purple sunglasses, an umbrella, some singing, and an aversion to picture-taking.
Or Hazel coming crying for help, kind of in a panic, because she trapped herself inside a zippered dress still on the hanger and needed assistance. She was so mad that I snapped pictures and outright laughed before I rescued her. I still can't help laughing every time I look at this picture.
Jack turned three on January 4th. We had a family brunch (muffins, sausage, and fruit) since the only food I can bank on Jack loving every single day is breakfast food. He was so excited to help me make his tiger cake, and to share it with everyone who came.
You probably noticed Hazel's radical hat in the above photo. She made birthday hats for everyone out of tissue paper, yarn, and tape, and wore hers for a couple of hours. Another laugh-aloud.
I interviewed Jack and got some fun answers from him.
Favorite color: orange
Favorite toy: remote control car
Favorite movie: Peter Pan
Favorite animal: tiger
Favorite song: nursery ones
Best friend: hmm, maybe Hazel
What do you like to do outside: bubbles
What do you like to sleep with: blue blanket
What do you want to be when you grow up? Dad
Favorite food: muffins
Where is your favorite place to go? Backyard and Nana’s house
What do you do really well? Hmm, movie
Favorite season: when it’s hot and I can wear my swimsuit
One food I really dislike is: mashed potatoes
What makes you laugh? birthdays
What are you afraid of? Mean tigers, bad dreams
What do you love to learn about? Everything (he's always asking questions)
She scavenges in the cereal cupboard when she's hungry.
We finally had some good packing snow, and Hazel was stoked to go out and make a snow girl.
The next day, she helped me shovel the driveway while the others were napping. Then she suggested we secretly shovel the neighbor's driveway. What a good girl! She spent a good portion of the time planning how we would dive behind a car or tree to hide if they came out. When we were all done and heading inside, I just had this feeling to teach her how to make a snowball and lob a few at her. We ended up making snow angels and a big snowgirl together and having a really good time feeling connected. We seem to butt heads a lot, so I treasure opportunities like this, where she and I definitely strengthened our relationship as we spent time together.
Grammie and Poppa brought Kelsi and baby Kollyn with them up to our place for a Saturday. It was wonderful spending time together. My favorite moment was the impromptu dance party. Yes, my kids were in their swimsuits. I think they'd been playing "Oh no, we're trapped in a hurricane!"
Who says water noodles are only for the summer? They make excellent weapons for winter sword fights, too.
This picture = happiness. The kids play out in the backyard together a ton still. All it takes is a little bribery. They only get gum if they're outside, and they always get hot chocolate if they play out there for at least half an hour, so the two of them actually trundle around in the back quite frequently.
Gemma-Bemma had her first birthday on January 14th. I fell in love with her all over again that day. My heart was just filled to the brim.
This girl can pack in a cupcake! She shoved every last crumb in her mouth. It was fascinating to watch.
Her present was a walker. Gemma loves to stand, and can take a few steps, but isn't really walking yet. But she loves to cruise around the house if you hold her hands and help her, and now she gets this enormous grin on her face pushing this thing around.
The next day I took J and G in for their well-child check-ups. Jack's 38 1/2 inches (75th percentile) and 34 pounds (50th percentile). He and Hazel have always been around that zone (or taller). Gemma is 27 inches tall and 18 pounds, 5th percentile in both. (Hazel and Jack were both 30 inches tall and 21-22 pounds at this age.) Gemma is my Teensy Beense.
She's a constant mess-maker. Totally in that stage where she loves to pull things out.
One Saturday I decided we needed a date day. My dad took over Gemma Duty, putting her down for a nap at home, and my mom came with Hazel, Jack and me to the movie theater to see Frozen. My kids have never been in a movie theater before. Two weeks later, Jack still out of the blue talks to me about how HUGE the screen was. We loved the show! We've been going nuts listening to the soundtrack ever since. One night, while I was putting Gemma to bed, I could hear them playing the songs over and over and over again. When I came out, I found that Hazel had moved the table and chairs over to the other side of the kitchen island so they'd have a huge dance floor, and she and Jack were just twirling and stomping their hearts out.
There have been many days I've wished for our trampoline. It's hard to burn out the kids' energy in the winter! Jack's stopped napping except for the rare occasion.
I've taken to calling Jack Mr. Electronics lately, as he has taught himself how to use one of Todd's old phones, how to navigate several programs on the computer, how to work a playlist on Grooveshark or iTunes, and is constantly listening to books on CD, mostly (I believe) so he can play with the machine.
Hazel said to me the other day, "It's a good thing you wrote on my birthday paper that I'm artistic, because today I'm being very artistic!" And it's true. The girl is constantly creating. I love it. Here's a little hidden picture she drew on a Kleenex - find the hearts.
We spent the night at Grammy's last weekend. Cousins Shaylee and Carli stayed, too, and the kids had a grand time playing together. I had to snap a shot of this, Jack and Carli playing Mancala together. Three years old! Actually, it turned out they were making muffins with the Mancala board. Even better.
We should have Todd home before the end of February. We cannot wait!!!
