Slippers

I guess we're really into accessories around here lately. I saw these Cars slippers at Target the other day and I just couldn't resist. They crack me up every time I see them. Peter loves them, and even tried to wear them to bed the first night he had them. Pretty quickly I heard moaning, and when I went into his room he said, "Oh no, Mama! Slipper fall down!" We'd lost a man overboard, and since it was so distressing, we made the rule that slippers can't be worn to bed, or outside. They're just for cozy fun around the house. Cheers to toasty toes:)

Gloves

Yes, the Superman costume is still going strong, even though it's looking a little worse for the wear. But now it's gotten a new spiffy addition- gloves! Now that the weather is really chilly, we've brought out our winter coats and gloves. Lizzy and I always wear our gloves out, but it took Peter a little while to warm up to his (pun intended). Now, he loves sporting them all over the house, and we have to really talk him out of eating his lunch with them on- yuck! I wonder what the next accessory to this outfit will be? Can't wait to find out.....

More Thanksgiving Fun

We're so lucky that we live so close to everyone in our family. Really, it's such a treat to just be a short car ride away from your loved ones, and to get to spend time with them. On Friday we took a trip over to Modesto to spend time with Grandma Susan. Philip and Maria were visiting, and we haven't seen them in a long time, so it was great to spend some time together. Lizzy and Peter helped put up the Christmas lights, then we played at the park. Lizzy and Peter loved getting to share some hot chocolate with Grandma on a chilly day. Lizzy loved the whipped cream and her beautiful flowered mug, and Peter loved feeling like a big guy, sipping from his own mug all by himself. An added bonus to the day, getting to play with adorable Meredith! She is so big now, and such a cutie. Both kids were very gentle and sweet with her, and loved bringing her toys and touching her long, soft hair. What a great day!

Thanksgiving

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and it was......... just simply, the best. It was everything you could wish Thanksgiving to be- family, laughter, children running around and playing, delicious food, and fun. When you have eight children running around, two (sometimes persnickety) grandparents, and six dazed adults, there are surely moments of chaos and confusion-someone's crying, someone's hungry, something's broken. But peel away those moments, and you have the essence of what makes life so beautiful. Oh, how I just loved watching all those children play! Seeing their shared secrets and silly games, coming together in the most precious of ways. How amazing to gather in this home that has been our home for so many years, and no matter how much we change, or how far we go, there's always the shadow of the child you once were, dancing with your own children. And I had a moment of clarity when I felt how lucky I am and how thankful I truly am. I feel like I'm pretty reflective, and live with an "attitude of gratitude," but if you're not careful, even that can become a little stale and commonplace. For just a moment, I felt invigorated, with clear eyes, and blessed. Thank God for my family, for my children, for shared times together. It is, fundamentally, what it's all about.

Rainy Morning Fun

We had a wet few days before Thanksgiving, and we spent a wonderful, cozy morning inside playing together in the play room. I love when it's pouring outside, and I get to watch the wet world from the dry, warm comfort of the indoors. It feels like being a spectator at a great event, but instead of action, there's the peaceful rhythm of the drip-drop, drip-drop. We played with blocks forever! We took turns sharing our ideas and adding to each other's creations. I tried, in vain, to build a super tall tower using all the blocks, only to have it knocked down by Peter numerous times. Lizzy kept me in line, so I wasn't too bad a sport about it. Lizzy then began making a fingerprint picture using the ink pad and her Ed Emberly book. Peter ran out of the room and quickly came back with a book of his own that he spread out on the table, then carefully began making his own fingerprint picture. For a few minutes...........ahhhhhhh........that wonderful, silent calm fell over the room where people are mesmerized by their work, and you can feel the contentment. I loved watching them busy at work, each working so hard on their project, creating something so special. Thank goodness for rainy days, and the excuse to stay in, slow down, and enjoy.

Connor Is Two

It's hard to believe, but Connor is already two! We celebrated in style with a super fun party. It was a very rainy Saturday, so it was perfect that his party was in the gym where we have gym class. It was perfect- the whole gym was rented out just for our special friends, and we had free reign of the place. I don't know who had more fun, the kids...... or the adults. We all balanced on the balance beams, jumped on the trampoline, shot hoops, and began an impromptu dodge ball game. Back at the house the kids went crazy having so much fun running around. I loved getting the chance to talk with old friends while the kids played wonderfully (even if they weren't too quiet) together. Happy Birthday to our special friend, Connor!

Grandma Susan

Grandma Susan came over to watch Lizzy and Peter so Pat and I could see an art exhibit and have a little time away. What a treat! The kids were so excited to see her, and Grandma said she had a great time. They built forts, read lots of books, and played games together. I'm sure Lizzy kept Grandma very busy with her steady stream of conversation. We were very thankful for a special afternoon to ourselves, and Grandma seemed glad to have some time with the kids. Thank goodness for Grandmas and all their help!

Lunch Bunch

Lizzy's school does something very special in the four-year-old class. In the fall and spring, the kids stay an extra hour one day a week for "Lunch Bunch." After most of the class goes home after singing time, the lunch bunch group (usually five kids) stays for lunch and a special activity. Lizzy's never had lunch at school before, so we went to Target and bought a special lunch box and talked about what she should have in her lunch. She even told me, "You should write me a note that says 'I love you, Lizzy'" I thought, "Hmmmm......how do you know about that? And.......way to steal my thunder- of course I'm going to write a note! I am my mother's daughter after all, the queen of lunch box notes!" I was so excited to make Lizzy's lunch! I loved cutting her little sandwich in the shape of a heart, putting her things neatly away, and making her little note. We were excited for her to have her big day at school, but Peter and I missed her. Peter kept asking, "Where Lizzy go?" during our lunch at home. When we went to pick her up, the kids were building this amazing tower with blocks. I can't wait to see what they'll be working on next week.

Midnight Read Aloud

Well, not exactly midnight, but it gets so dark now so early, it certainly feels late. The other night, Lizzy wanted to explore her backyard before she went to bed. She brought out the flashlights, and was off on her adventures. It's wonderful what you can see at night- bright stars and the moon, spiderwebs and spiders, snails, and maybe even an owl (if we use our imagination). It was so chilly, you could see your breath! After prowling around the backyard for a while, the kids had the idea to read books outside. We pretended we were camping, and shared stories together- a very fun way to spend an evening.

Monkey

I've solved a mystery! For a long time now, Peter has randomly shouted out "Hoo-Haw! Hoo-Haw!" Sometimes I'll catch him walking around gleefully saying it to himself. I've even shouted it back to him, thinking it was just a funny thing to say. I've finally pieced together, from our conversations and pictures in books, that what Peter was trying to say is......... MONKEY! I'm not sure if this is how he says the word, or if he's imitating the sound, but I think it's adorable! Here's to my little "hoo-haw" sitting up in a tree- precious:)

Lizzy's Favorite Tree

I know I've said it a million times, but it always amazes me how much Lizzy notices beauty all around her. She treasures each rock, bug, flower, and leaf that catches her attention. She always takes time to appreciate the wonder all around her, and I so admire this about her. I am constantly surprised by the tiny things she sees, and how the smallest thing will catch her eye, and she'll take a moment to look and notice. The other day when we were out for a walk, Lizzy discovered this beautiful tree. It's leaves are a bright red, so gorgeous and bursting with color, and I couldn't believe that I could have walked by this tree countless times and never noticed it's glory. It's now become her favorite tree, and we purposely walk by it to admire it's leaves. It is so beautiful, and I'm so thankful to be able to see it, as I know the leaves will be all gone in just a few days. Thank goodness for Lizzy, and her constant reminders to be present in the everyday moments.

Cookies For Sale

The other afternoon, while Peter was taking his nap, Lizzy was struck by inspiration. Remember the "Look At Bugs" kid? The one who set his table up for neighbors to come by and view his bug collection? Lizzy decided she wanted to have a cookie sale, and set her stuff up right along the curb like he did. Amy had brought over a big tub of chocolate chip cookies the other night, more than we could (or should) ever eat, so Lizzy wanted to sell the rest. We made a sign and brought out her table to the curb. She was only out there a few minutes before Rowan, our across the street neighbor, bounded out of his house to join her. These two were priceless. They were so excited! They waved furiously at every passing car, called to people walking by, and Lizzy even chased down people walking blocks away to ask them to come by. Though we gave most of the cookies away, they loved the shiny coins they collected. They really loved sitting at their table, limitless possibilities before them.

Mary Kate's a Star

I got to spend all of Saturday just with Lizzy, and it was wonderful. We drove up to our cousins' house to watch Mary Kate as an Oompa Loompa in her school play. Everyone was very excited for the show. Auntie Elizabeth, Patrick, Caroline, Lizzy, and I all got to eat lunch out together. The little girls were already two peas in a pod, running around being very silly. I was so glad to get to see Mary Kate's amazing school! It is beautiful! The theater is amazing, and it was all decorated in candy theme. Everyone loved the show- the costumes, the sets...... really everything was just top notch. After the show, we went back to our cousins' house to play. Caroline and Lizzy put on soccer jerseys and played soccer in the backyard, then got distracted by climbing a big tree and pretending they were pirates. The girls, as usual, had a blast together, and just played and laughed and enjoyed one another. We stayed for dinner, and then too quickly had to head home. What a wonderful day!

Milkshakes and Buddies

Now that our friend Drew is in Kindergarten, we don't get to see him that often during the week. Well Drew had a holiday from school yesterday, and we were so excited to get to have a play date with him and Paige. We went to Safari Run, which is basically a big warehouse with a great climbing structure and giant slides. Drew, Lizzy, and Paige went nuts there. They ran around, racing up and down and over and between all the climbing things. Peter had fun climbing and playing for a while, but then took a break to lounge and snack. Even Paige, who was right there with the big kids for a long time, ended up crying, "They just go so fast!" After an hour of play, everyone was bushed. We went to a local diner for lunch. This was Peter's favorite part of the day- a lunch of milkshakes and fries....yummy! We've been having lunch here since all the kids were babies, so it was fun to get a chance to go back and have a "big kid" lunch together (though Peter couldn't stop hugging Drew. Peter's not quite a "big kid" yet I guess). Thank goodness for special friends, fun trips, and yummy lunches.

Scary Alligators

We went to the Academy of Sciences the other day, and left with some cute take-home kids' books full of mazes, puzzles, and masks. Lizzy popped these alligator masks out for her and Peter. They loved running around pretending to be alligators (though don't alligators say, "snap!" These alligators kept saying, "grrrr." ). I found a pop out rattle snake and we soon began a game of snake-chase-alligators. Lizzy and Peter ran around hiding, while I chased them with the snake. They thought it was totally hilarious, and had the best time "hiding," running, and pretty much acting like crazy people. These are my favorite moments- when every one is laughing and being silly and having a great time. Of course we've got places to go, but isn't it wonderful to take a little while to stay in your jammies and pretend to be an alligator in a swamp of snakes? It's the best!

Leaf Pile Fun

The leaf pile is bigger than ever! We visit it almost every afternoon, and now it is enormous. Lizzy and Peter could easily disappear inside if it weren't for their giggles giving them away. It's hard to believe, but when I looked up at the tree yesterday, most of the leaves have fallen off. Pretty soon, the leaf pile will disappear, and we'll have to wait until next year to enjoy it again. Like all things, we should enjoy it while it lasts.....

Proud!

This was one of the sweetest school moments I've had with Peter. Now that Peter is feeling really great about school (no more crying and really having fun), he participates in the art projects. Having Lizzy as a big sister might have something to do with this. Lizzy loves art, and we have a whole wall in the living room where we display school work that is dominated by Lizzy's beautiful crafts. Well lately, Peter's been adding his own wonderful creations to the wall. He loves to see his pictures up, and always says, "Show dada." When Pat gets home from work, Peter proudly shows him his work. When I went to pick up Peter from school today, he ran over to the project table. His pride at his play-dough sculpture was palpable. He held it the whole way home, cleared off the coffee table to display it, and even ate his lunch next to it. I loved to see his proud smile, and how much he loved this project. How wonderful! I can't wait to see more projects from Peter, and to admire his fantastic work:)

Cars Bandaids

It's a well-documented fact that Peter loves cars. Now, his love of cars has joined forces with his new found love of band aids. He often requests, "Mama, cars band aids, peas!" He loves to stick them pretty much anywhere, but his favorite spots are cheeks, tummy, and hands. What's very funny is that he'll often forget they're on his cheeks, get worried that they've gone missing, and then has to look in the mirror and feel them to be reminded he's still covered. Perhaps this can all be linked back to his obsession with his superman outfit. Superman=man of steel= tough guy=needs lots of band aids? Who knows? I think we're definitely in the quirky two-year-old time when he's got lots of opinions, lots of will-power, and not too much reason. Good times!

I'll Just Run

When we go out for a bike ride or scooter ride in the afternoons, Peter really wants to join in. The last two days he's started off on his scooter, and he's actually gotten pretty good at it. But pretty soon, it's painfully clear he just can't keep up with Lizzy. She's tearing down the street, a block ahead, while Peter's stuck back with Mommy- yuck! Today he even told me, "No, Mama! Scooter no fast!" Well, he's come up with the perfect solution. Now he ditches the scooter and runs. I find it hilarious. Lizzy still tears down the street, but she always circles back, and Peter chases her with a giant grin. I have to hand it to him- he's mastered his quickest form of transportation. Run, Peter, run!

Big Girl, Big Bed

And just like that, another milestone is checked off, another footstep toward being a "big girl" is taken. Lately, Lizzy has been complaining a lot about her "little" bed. I think she felt like it was babyish, and to her credit, it was getting pretty small. Almost every night when I would tuck her in after she was asleep, her legs would be hanging out on the floor. Now she has a new, pretty, beautiful big girl bed. It looks so lovely in her room, and she loves it very much. I'm happy for her, but I'm nostalgic too. I remember when we got her crib, before we even knew who she was. I loved it so much! It was so beautiful and new, so totally darling with the cute newborn bedding. Then I loved her little bed. I loved that Papa helped Pat put it together, that it was a real symbol of accomplishment from the painful move from the crib and the first tastes of freedom. It still clung to being little: tiny bed=tiny person. Well, if that's true, then now we've got one big girl. Now she loves to lay on her bed and read, or draw, or play with dolls. She even sits on it and listens to music sometimes. It's starting to feel eerily like a teenagers room! I love this little girl, but I do miss the baby she was.

Spectators

Daddy had a great idea, so we decided to try it out last Friday night. Since Lizzy and Peter both love soccer, why not watch the Stanford women's game? It didn't start until pretty late, but we decided to give it a go anyways. We went out to dinner, then over to the stadium. They even had do-it-yourself face-painting out, so we put our gamefaces on, literally, then took our seats. The kids were enraptured. They loved watching the girls warm up. The stands were pretty full, and the fans were excited. Those girls are great! We all enjoyed watching them, and had a fun night. It felt so fun to be out on the town at night with the kids, and we definitely want to try another game soon.

Little Girls

After Lizzy has soccer, we usually walk over to visit the ducks. The ducks, I'm sure, dread this encounter, because of course we don't just admire them from a distance and offer a friendly "hello." We (and by we I mean Lizzy and Peter) chase them, and torment them, and shout, and squeal, and take great delight in waking them and watching them scurry into the water just out of reach of our eager little hands. Lizzy loves to explore and get "lost" in the "wild" areas around the duck pond, the places semi-secluded by drooping tree branches. I love that feeling too, where you feel "hidden" behind a veil of leaves and bushes, and it's just you and nature, alone in your own conversation. Peter tries and tries to find a duck that won't run away from him, and when that fails, he delights in putting his fingertips in the water, and running sticks through the pond. This last time, we spotted a kindred spirit. Another little girl with a big long stick was "fishing" in the pond. She came running right up to Lizzy, and there began the sweet conversation between two little girls that I love so much to hear. I love their mutual curiosity and interest. I love hearing, "What's your name?" and "How old are you?" I love that right away, they feel the connection of shared interest, something in common, the joy of inviting a friend into your imagination. We had the best time running around with this little girl, playing in trees, and then even hitting up story time together. When we parted, I wished we could see her again. I hope our paths will cross by the pond another day.

Superman Lives

Well, Halloween was three days ago, and Peter is still feeling the spirit. He's worn his Superman costume everyday, all day, since his Halloween debut. Yup, he's gone to church, to Safeway, to vote, on a bike ride, and yes, even to school, dressed up as Superman. It's now become totally normal for strangers to call out, "Hey, Superman!" and I swear, sometimes Peter answers them. I'll even share a pretty gross fact about the Superman costume. Peter ate his yogurt too fast the other afternoon and threw up on himself. I seriously considered just throwing it away (which is my go-to response when someone throws up on themselves or steps in poop), but I knew how much he loved that costume, so I washed it out. Wow..... a mother's love knows no bounds! I wonder how long he'll wear this thing? So far, no end in site! I'll let you know when he leaps a tall building in a single bound. Maybe tomorrow?

E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H

Elizabeth has had "Lizzy" down for a while now, and often writes her name on her own. But now it's time she tackle a new challenge- her very lovely, very long, full name. When we were at Grandma and Papa's the other day, she gave it a try on the blackboard. After a few tries, she was really getting the hang of it. Wow! What a big girl she is now! What will she surprise us with next.....

Papa's Birthday

We feel pretty fortunate that we get to spend so much time with our Grandma and Papa. It was Papa's birthday, so we went to have lunch with him to celebrate his special day. Elizabeth, on her own accord, wanted to make a book for Papa. She entitled it, "Birds and Birds," and she wrote all about how much Papa loves birds. We had a special lunch, lots of wonderful conversation, and enjoyed the usual attractions of Grandma and Papa's house- riding our scooters in the backyard, playing with cars, climbing in the treehouse, and kicking the ball around in the backyard. As a special treat, we even enjoyed a yummy ice cream cake. Happy Birthday to our favorite Papa! We love you so:)

Halloween!

I think Halloween may be my favorite holiday. First of all, it is darling to see these little kids all dressed up, looking so silly and wonderful, yet at the same time totally earnest and confident. Like it's totally normal to watch Sleeping Beauty in a heated soccer match with Buzz Lightyear and an elephant moments before eating pizza and then trick-or-treating. Then, there's the buzz of excitement, the anticipation, as dusk starts to settle and trick-or-treating begins. They start off all nervous, timidly knocking on the first door, but quickly get their confidence, and are darting from house to house, giddy with the joy of treats and compliments. There's the hint of daring, as it's getting darker and street lights begin to come on. Isn't it late? Aren't we usually home by now? But tonight is a special night. We visit houses we normally just walk by, laugh with neighbors we've never met, and share smiles and candy with strangers. For one fleeting night, we're all friends, all connected, all happy and carefree. Isn't it intoxicating? Isn't it magical? If only it were Halloween every night.