Holiday Pictures and Santa

"Okay kids, let's take a picture that we can use for the family Christmas card. Come on now, smile . . . just once . . . please . . . ahhh Sam!".

"How cute would a kiss be. Please? Okay Sam, just lean over and give Audrey a quick kiss. Come on KIDS!".

Alas, not even the awkward sibling hug photo could make the cut.

If you're reading this you probably received our Christmas card this year. You're also right now trying to remember the photo . . . yes, it was that non descript and unmemorable for us as well.

The hour and a half wait in the Santa line was brutal. I'm sure every parent feels this way (at least I hope they do), but waiting in a slow moving line with a 2 and 5 year old makes you wonder if your parenting has sunk in AT ALL with your children.

That is until Santa takes them by the hand. They were absolutely speechless while he was talking to them. It was very prescious.

I have to remind Santa next year that the one thing (my) children DO NOT need to hear on December 12th is how wonderful they've been. I need him to put the fear of coal into their little heads. Lord knows Mom and Dad don't strike any fear in them.

Sam was so star-struck by Santa he forgot what he wanted to ask for. Audrey was on the money asking for a bike. Sam sheepishly followed up that he wanted a bike too. Oh Sam, you just got one this fall! Luckily, I think he was so in awe that he immediately forgot what he asked for. Either that or his comprehension is not so good. Even money on that bet.

We immediately put them to work for Santa.

Santa came through for Audrey. I'm not sure I've ever seen that much excitement in her little smile.

You know what is awesome about being the first people through the door at a mid-week aquarium visit? There is actually staff available to answer the incessant questioning of a 5 year old. The girl asks so many questions! I'm constantly struggling with a string of white lies or admitting I don't know everything. I'll let you guess which side I err on.

"Sam, not that one! It's the electric eel! Oh no, you're glowing red!".

Sam is starting to develop into quite a little goofball. Just tonight he was telling a story and as he got more and more animated his hands and arms started flailing about. Lisa laughed and asked "where did he get THAT?". Really Lisa? Pretty sure that's your Italian side and not my Swedish heritage that gets that motor going.

Happy New Year!

Best Friends and Holiday Crafting

A beautiful snow angel from my little angel. Okay, so part of that last statement was a stretch. She's a sweetheart, but angel might be a bridge too far.

Actually, I catch glimpses of them sometimes that melt my heart. Lisa got these two similar pictures that I just love. Maybe it's the eyelashes, or perhaps the chubby cheeks . . either way, I love 'em!

Okay, now to the holiday crafting. Who knew Thanksgiving lends itself to crafting?! If you doubted, then you certainly do not know my wife. Styrofoam ball, brown spray paint, colored feathers, googly eyes, and voila . . . you have the perfect turkey. What, you don't have these items in your craft cupboard? You don't have a craft cupboard?!

Sam was a little looser with the feathers and little closer together with the eyes. Audrey was unwilling to even acknowledge Sam's "crafting disaster". I thought it was pretty good. But then again, when I drew her a picture of her and her puppy she replied "Daddy, what IS that?!".

You didn't think we'd stop at 1 Thanksgiving craft did you? On to the Pilgrim portion of the holiday. Aren't our little early settler kids (meet Haley, one of Audrey's Kindergarten friends) so cute. I know, I know . . . the Pilgrims certainly didn't "discover" America . . .

. . . enter the native of this wild and untamed land. Don't let the blond hair and blue eyes fool you, Sam is very native! Okay, we'll settle for welcoming.

After a season of Lil Kickers with Sam, I've informed Lisa that I will NOT be a coach/dad. His general apathy for all things competitive had me grumbling on the sidelines like the old man I'm pretending not to be.

Okay, so we did get one action photo during the 3 month session. Either he's uber fast or we haven't figured out our new camera. I love his left arm in perfect position to create balance and torque . . . did I say I wouldn't be a coach/dad?

And here he is peering over the fence once he figured out that Audrey and Mommy came to watch practice. Come on Sam, eyes on the field! Coach/dad off again.

I have no idea what has changed over the past several months but the kids have actually started to respect each other, and dare I say care for each other?

Encroaching on each other's forts used to be reason to unleash the full arsenal of fists and feet. Now they actually invite each other into what used to be hostile territory.

Sharing a movie? Impossible 3 months ago when simply agreeing on a movie was an insurmountable task. Thinking they would share the same piece of furniture was absolute crazy talk. I mean seriously, what could have changed that would actually make Sam human to Audrey?

Oh snap Sam! Really?! You'd go there? I guess we all have our price.

Moooooky!

Providing further proof that either 1. Girls are more verbal than boys, or 2. 1st borns progress quicker than 2nd borns . . . Sam still cannot quite get an "S" sound before his words. For the past month we've been hearing about how "mooky" everything is. Come on Sam, your first and last names begin with an S!

Getting ready for the big event. Sam actually had a disney character costume all ready (Dave from the Imagination Movers), which he proceeded to reject in favor of the soccer jersey he was already wearing that day. Never mind the fact that he's been calling himself Dave for the past 3 months. He even introduces himself as Dave to strangers! Hmmmm, maybe this "S" problem is bigger than I think . . .

Lisa did a great job pulling together a ghost costume for herself. It reminds me of the little girl we used to see in the upstairs window of our old house . . . . mooooky!

My costume on the other hand was totally my decision. I've wanted to be Prince Phillip since I was 7 seven years old. Seriously. Total coincidence that Audrey was Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. It worked out though, I mean who else could have been there to wake her from "a deep dark sleeping spell with love's first kiss"? Oh daughters.

As I told her, you won't need me to be there to wake you because you aren't going to sleep for the next month with all that sugar!

Sam didn't get the concept of getting one piece and then running to the next house. He would get one piece and then stand very patiently (and a bit awkwardly for dad) until they said, "okay, one more piece little guy". Hmmm, maybe he was on to something.

My mom gave Lisa and I tickets to Tilicum Village as a gift. It was a beautiful fall day for a boat ride and some great seafood. They welcome you to the island with a big mug of hot clams. Or as my non-seafood eating wife called it "a big 'ol pot of disgusting".

I assured her "come on honey, I'm sure they'll have some non-seafood options".

Yikes, I should have seen that coming. This is about the moment she reached into her pocket to reveal her stash of granola bars.

I tried to use the "leopard hiding in the wild sunflowers" as a tool to teach Audrey what camouflage means. She just looked at me and said "Dad, it's not a leopard . . . it's a snuggy". Yes, Audrey . . . yes it is.

Kindergarten Baby!

Here we go! Kindergarten baby! I'm imagining the little minds above are thinking something along the lines of:

Sam: Okay Audrey, out of here already! It's my turn for some one-on-one time with Mommy.
Audrey: Whatever Sam, I can't get out of here quick enough. I love mommy, but I'm going to school baby!

Nothing like best friends at the bus stop. Aniston and Dylan (above with Sam) are neighbors and are in the 1st grade. Needless to say, having them at the bus stop made things so easy.

Ah, there goes our little girl. Nothing makes you nostalgic like seeing your kids going to school. I can still remember my elementary school bus driver JoAnn. If you were misbehaving, she would smile her creepiest smile and threaten you with "sugar". Which of course meant she would kiss you. We would all squeal and immediately sit in our seats. Not sure "sugar" would fly as punishment these days!

Flashing back to Audrey's smile above, perhaps she knew exactly what "alone time with mom" entailed!

Ah, this is more in-line with Sam's expectations.

Audrey and her girlfriend Sydney rocked the State Fair in Monroe this year. Off Audrey goes on her first roller coaster ride. All smiles until the coaster pulled away . . . and then it was sheer screaming panic for the next 3 minutes. I believe NEVER AGAIN was the post ride comment.

What can cure a kid that doesn't think they like the fair? Fair food of course. Cotton candy, followed by a caramel apple, chased with a snow cone. Maybe the fair isn't so bad afterall.

After seeing that child labor is apparently acceptable in our household, I figured I would up the ante. It's funny how things can't be loud enough for Sam. Audrey used to cry the entire time I mowed. Sam absolutely loves the noise and cries if he can't help out.

Lisa and I celebrated our 10 year in September. Whoo-hoo! We snuck away to the Woodmark in Kirkland and wondered why the heck we haven't been here before. Why drive and hour or two away when you have a great venue right in our backyard. Book us again honey . . . soon!

Every once in awhile you see a photo that makes you realize your kids are growing up. This one, for me anyway, says that he clearly isn't our baby anymore. Oh Sam, slow down kiddo.

Turning 5 & Kindergarten Prep

It seems like popular sentiment is that you remember the early years with your kids and then once they start school the years fly by. I don't know about Lisa, but I will say the first 5 years of Audrey's life have felt like 15! I love her more than anything (except you Sam, that's equal), but it truly is hard to remember life before the first. Happy 5th kiddo!

It was very sweet to see how organized and (dare I say) fair 5 year old girls are. When Audrey was opening a present, whoever the "giver" was got to sit next to her on the chair. This was a routine the girls decided upon on their own. Well done ladies.

The 2 boys in attendance decided it was much more appropriate to go upstairs and trash the play room while the parents were occupied.

When the party wound down, Sam still had a little energy so we put him inside the 90+ degree bouncy house for a little soccer session. That should do the trick.

5 minutes later he was looking a little haggard. Come on kid, let's get you some water!

While it wasn't a gift, Audrey has taken full responsibility in caring for her Chia pet. I mean, look at the proper hair cutting technique. Tauna, save her a chair at the salon!

Kenmore does a free summer concert series at St. Edward's Park. It really is a great setting with the old monestary in the background. Sam looked like a regular, which he now is. The line-up tends to be your typical bluegrass/folk/bluesy/country genre. It reminded me of the multiple Peter, Paul, & Mary concerts my mom drug me to as a child. It all comes around baby!

Since school officially starts September 1st, you'll have to wait until next month to see the 1st day of kindergarten photos. However, here's a sneak peek of the open house. Luckily Audrey is one of those kids that isn't afraid of anything (social that is). She reminds me so much of my sister in that way. I honestly can't remember the last time I was worried about her refusing to try new things.

It helps when one of your Pre-K best friends is going to be in your class. I think the quote from both was "look dad, there's no seat belt!".

Mom and dad even got to climb on board. I tried to hold Lisa's hand . . . which was promptly slapped away . . . "Tony, the children!".
While Sam is still 3 years away from kindergarten, there are moments when we think he has shed the knuckle-head knickname.

And then he reminds us, as shown in the video below, that there is still much development ahead before he's ready for the real world. Hang in there buddy.