History

This is as close to history as we got today. Even though we're only about 90 minutes from DC we decided that for the safety of the kids and the sanity of Tom and I we'd stay home. Believe me, I really wanted to be there to witness this momentous day. I did have the TV on throughout the day. I tried to explain to Erin what was going on. I pointed out who Obama was and explained what a president is (not just a dead guy on a coin). By mid-afternoon she would get excited whenever she saw him on the TV. Jeffrey on the other hand didn't really get it. He was impressed by YoYo Ma playing the cello right before the swearing in. At least the boy's got taste. So the kids have some pictures of them sitting in front of the TV that they can show their own grandchildren in 50 years.

King Boo Jr.

Does anyone remember this post?

He Was A Tree Cutter

I still get a laugh out of reading it.

A few weeks ago, at a Worship Committee meeting, someone brought up the point that kids don't know why they are getting a day off from school. It just happens. I nodded my head in agreement, but added that I felt Erin's teacher was doing a really good job incorporating history into their daily lessons. Learning about money? Then talk about Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson when you learn about the penny and the nickel. Kinda cool.

I know that Martin Luther King Jr. is on the kindergarten SOL (standards of learning here in VA) so the kids are taught about him - generally around his birthday. So, I asked Erin if she had school on Monday (knowing well enough that she didn't but wanted to see what she'd say).

"Hey Erin, do you have school Monday?"

"Huh? Oh. No."

"Why not?"

"We're celebrating something."

"Something?"

"Yeah. Some guy's birthday. King Boo I think." (for those of you who are not Super Mario fans.....King Boo is a character from a video game.)

"Oooooh. King Boo huh?"

"Yeah, or Junior something."

(trying very hard to control my laughter)"OK Junior something. Why are we celebrating this King Jr.'s birthday? You don't get the day off school on daddy's birthday or mommy's birthday."

"I don't know mommy. Can I go play now?" (clearly finished with this silly conversation)

"Yes dear, you can go play now."


Anyway, the weekly report from the teacher said that this week they were talking about public safety -- got to meet a real police man and everything -- and that next week the topic of Martin Luther King Jr. will be discussed. I have every faith that they will, but for this weekend, there's no school on Monday because it's King Boo Jr's Birthday (or something) and who knows why that's such a big deal.

This Afternoon's Project

Check out this afternoon's project. I'm pretty happy with it.

Happy Birthday Cousin Will

We went to New York to celebrate Cousin Will's first Birthday. We had a great time playing with our cousins Rylie, Avery and Will while staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We even got to take an hour one afternoon to go sledding with Cousin Rylie and Uncle Jeff. It was so much fun.

On Saturday we went to Cousin Will's birthday party. There were lots of people there and Aunt Katie brought lots of toys to play with. It was a great time. Both Erin and Jeffrey got to help deliver Will's presents to him.


It was a fun time and I'm glad we got to be there for Will's special day!!!

Jeffrey Helping Will Open His Birthday Present That He Picked Out

Erin Giving Daddy and Jeffrey A Push To Start

Puzzles

It amazes me how differently the kids can approach the same problem. I realize that they are two years apart in age and that may have something to do with it but it's a very interesting phenomenon.

Take this puzzle for example.It's a definite favorite of the kids. If you haven't checked out the Melissa & Doug puzzles, they're awesome. We have 3 of the board puzzles like this one and 3 floor puzzles they make. Seriously, they're great puzzles.

Anyway Jeffrey approaches the puzzle in this manner. He first puts together the flag. Next comes the pirate under the flag and other pirates from there on. He will take pieces that he knows go together, even if they don't 'fit' into the board yet and place them where he thinks they would go. It's a very interesting method of working puzzles but he can prettily easily complete this one and it's 48 pieces.

Erin looks at the puzzle totally differently. She MUST start with the piece in the bottom left-hand corner. She then works across the bottom of the puzzle. When she finishes that row, it's back to the left and she puts in the next row. She will NOT go out of order. She will hold onto pieces, knowing where they go, but won't put them in until the gets to them in line. The biggest issue with this method is that if she can't find one certain piece the whole process comes to a stop. Even if she has other pieces she can easily fit in, she refuses to until she finds the 'missing' piece. Watching her work with the puzzles is really fascinating to me, but she always finishes them.

So two kids, raised by the same parents and their approaches to a simple problem are night and day. How cool it is to watch them learn and grow and turn into their own little thinkers.

A Look Back at 2008

Just thought this might be fun to do. Here's a look back at some of the things we did and some of our favorite things from 2008.

From Meg's Mommy Journal

Christmas 2007

From Meg's Mommy Journal

Christmas 2008

Basic Stats: This is the year that little brother broke the "little" title and out-grew his big sister. At their mid-year check up he was 35 lbs and she weighed in at a whopping 32. But in June she measured 42" and he 41". Now I'm afraid even that has changed. It appears he's got a good 1/2" on her in height now.

Starting Schools: Erin started Kindergarten in August and Jeffrey started 2-day preschool in September. Both are having a blast at school.


Places we went: Memphis with Noni and mommy. We liked the zoo there the best. To New York for Uncle Jonathan's graduation. To Pennsylvania with mommy and daddy for our very first family (just the 4 of us) vacation. We had a super fun time at Hershey Park -- locally referred to as "Chocolate World". To the New Jersey shore with all of daddy's family. The kids decided that a week at the beach was an awesome time. To Maryland a few times to visit Noni, Grandpa, Oma and Uncle Jon.


Our favorite movies: 2008 was the year of The Incredibles, Madagascar (the Move It Move It Movie), and Annie. As for movies at the theater Wall*E takes the cake. And now that it's out on DVD it's a staple here at home too.


Our favorite things to do around home: Erin continued to love going to gymnastics and being in the plays. This year she was a street girl in Annie and an angel in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Jeffrey discovered a LOVE of swimming over the summer and couldn't get enough of the water. He also loves going to the gym with mommy and playing with all his friends there. Both kids like playing the Wii. Erin's mastered several of the games including bowling, mini-golf, tennis and cow racing. Jeffrey's slowing picking things up but enjoyed race car driving until the game broke. This was also the year that the kids really got into helping in the kitchen. Both kids especially love making bread with daddy as well as making cookies and even helping with dinners.


2008 Firsts: First time camping. First time bowling. First time for Jeffrey to ride a roller coaster. First days of school. First time seeing the Mississippi River. First summer spent playing on the deck. First time Erin read a book to mommy. First time Jeffrey traced his name. First soccer game. First field trip for Jeffrey.

Favorite Toys: Erin still loves her Little Pet Shop toys as well as her tea party sets, stuffed animals and magnet dress up dolls. Jeffrey goes nuts over anything with wheels, especially Cars cars, his Diego truck, his train set, and still loves playing with his Little People.