Too much Sunday school?

Reece brought home the following piece of paper yesterday from school:

My initial reaction was, "Are we comparing our body parts to people who follow Christ, now?" Then I remembered there's a boy in his class named Christian. Heh.

Does it really take that much time to check things out before forwarding them??

I just received one of those forwarded-a-million-times emails about something supposedly horrific (this time an Amber alert) from a friend. It took me all of 20 seconds to find it on snopes.com and determine that it is (shock!) a hoax/urban legend. I know they don't really harm people, although in this case the Missing and Exploited Children hotline gets inundated with calls every time it gets sent out in a new wave of emails, but I'm just so tired of them! We've all been on email long enough to be able to spot these a mile away, or at least to check up on them before forwarding. So, while I used to just reply to the sender with the link to the refutation, now I Reply All. Just my little contribution to making the world a better place.

In other news, the boys still sleep in the same bed sometimes, and invariably we find them zonked in some kind of crazy position. Case in point from a few weeks ago:

Also, last week I turned the corner and saw this:

I fear this blog is just going to fall apart when the crazy leaves that boy in a few years. That or it will change to a police blotter log dedicated to him.

Mother Nature's kicking my...

So, I usually try to stay very far away from posting about the weather. Because really, everyone has it, it's always changing, and it just shouldn't warrant discussion in a semi-permanent place such as a blog unless farm animals flew or something equally amazing.

However.

Last week we had an ice storm, lost power for at least 12 hours, had two gorgeous days of iced-over everything and brilliant sun, then random non-weather, then a foot of snow in 10 hours, a snow day, Dan's car stuck in our driveway TWICE (Greyson and me alternating pushing and shoveling), and then a thunderstorm Sunday night that kept me up for an extra hour or so. So now I'm cold, wet, tired, and sore in muscles I forgot even existed. I'm just saying, could we have maybe a short break in between? I have to schedule a week-long massage to recover.

The pictures, as always, do not do it justice:

Skiing ups and downs, so to speak

The kids had their first ski lesson last Saturday, on my birthday. I was amazed at how quickly they picked things up - my memories of my own lessons are extremely sketchy, although I think I spent at least one entire season on the bunny hill. Reece, in particular, had no fear and what appears to be a bit of talent (although it could be just because he's closer to the ground than anyone else, so his low center of gravity helps). Greyson took a bit longer to warm up to everything, and there was much whining along the way from his corner. He did, however, get the guts up to try the next hill over, which involved a rope pull rather than a J-bar to get up the hill, and it turns out was actually an expert hill (not obvious from the base, believe it or not). I ended up having to go up to help him get down, but he gets props for even trying.

 Notice the sullen one on the right.

  

I was surprised at how much I remembered, especially since the last time I skied was 12 years and two kids ago. I'm so thankful that my mom had us take skiing lessons and schlepped us back and forth to the slopes even though she didn't ski, because not only am I comfortable and confident on skis (and I LOVE the new shorter skis), but I watched other adults learning how and was so glad not to be in their shoes (or boots, if you will). Dan was supposed to take snowboard lessons but had a minor foot injury so didn't chance it. Which was good, because then he could monitor the boys while I got to hit the "big" slopes.

If you look at these three pictures quickly, in order, it seems like Reece is coming right at you!

This week we went back for lesson #2, and I wish we'd taken pictures of the hills, because it was such a dramatic change from last week! Fewer than half the runs were open this week, with large patches of grass all over, and the "snow" was so icy that it was not as much fun (at least for me) to ski. The kids did well, though, and this time Greyson had lots of confidence and pretty much taught himself to do turns, while Reece began the whining halfway through the afternoon and had to leave the hill with Dan before the rest of us were ready to go.

So to recap, last week Greyson was whiny and Reece was happy. This week, Reece was whiny and Greyson was happy. If we go again, either everyone will be happy or I'm leaving the country - alone.

February and cold, with a side of chocolate

Usually I like February. Short month, my birthday is in it, the chocolate-to-person ratio is very favorable, and it's closer to the first day of spring than to the first day of winter. However, something has changed a bit this year, and I am now officially tired of the cold. Don't mind the snow (in fact, it's quite pretty), but this perpetual shivering is getting on my nerves. I just need one or two days of 50+ degrees, and then it can go back to the icy chill. Is that too much to ask? I know, I know, I CHOSE to move here from parts south. And I'm really trying not to complain, because life here is 95% awesome. It's just that other 5%, which is at this moment frozen under a sheet of ice and a foot of snow in the back yard, that I'm not happy with.

Mostly same old, same old around here. Reece's birthday seems to be lasting indefinitely, as we celebrated it with my brother's family this week but weren't able to do the laser tag we'd planned on because Reece was a bit under the weather, so that still has to take place. He's been averaging a present every 4-5 days since his birthday, although I think those are finally done. Reece did say to me on Friday, kind of dejectedly, "I wish more boxes would come for me in the mail."

Greyson's hairstyle looks more and more like Justin Bieber's on a bad day, and on Saturday I grabbed the entire front that was hanging in his eyes and told him I had something that could help. He liked it so much, he asked me to continue with as much of the rest of his hair as I could. And then he complained that it itched and took them all out. Dan took the picture as blackmail for sometime in the future:

In other news, I remembered LAST NIGHT that Reece's 100th day project was due this morning. Which we hadn't even started. At least I had gotten the supplies. So I spent an hour of the time I should have been prepping for my class to do Reece's homework. He did do half the taping, so at least I can say we worked on it together. And then I turned it in this morning, because Reece stayed home sick (with Dan), and I found out the 100th day has been delayed one day due to the snowday the kids had last week. So I didn't even have to finish it last night. Gah.

(Those are 100 q-tips, in case you couldn't tell.)

Six years of living completed

 Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate ice cream, his request.

As of last Thursday, Reece is now six years old. I had a whole other post half written on this subject but deleted it all. I'm telling you this just so you know that sometimes I actually do edit the things I post. Not usually, but sometimes.

So, about that six year old boy in our house...I have to say, he just doesn't seem six to me! Maybe because he's a bitty thing compared to most other kids his age, although when he talks sometimes I think he's 12. Or a teenager in need of an attitude adjustment. Dan is looking into military schools just in case.

I think in general the change from five to six isn't as dramatic as four to five (or any of the other age increased before that). We're now in more of a holding pattern that can only be seen by viewing each year's school pictures side-by-side. I put the new picture on top of the old ones when I replace them every year and like to do just that. And for the most part, he's doing and saying similar things as he was last year at this time. He jumps and runs around the house like he'll never run out of energy, and then he meanders so slowly on the walk to the bus stop in the morning (when we're usually late), that it seems he will never actually get there, kind of like how if you divide a number in half and then keep dividing each subsequent one in half, you never actually reach zero. He is kind of quiet and reserved at school, apparently, but at home he is vocal and argumentative when he thinks it's necessary. He has decided not to continue with chess club at school and has not latched on to any one sport or activity. He does really like ice skating, but none of the class times fit in with my schedule this semester, and he doesn't seem bothered by that. Reece, Dan and Greyson will be taking skiing lessons in February (well, Dan will do snowboarding), and I've signed Reece up for tennis lessons starting that month as well at his request. Mostly, he likes to play his DS, the Wii, Legos sometimes, and Nerf guns much of the time. As you can see, we have been stuck indoors a lot recently! Overall, our now six year old is sweet, cute, cuddly, and most definitely his own person. While Greyson gave me confidence in my parenting abilities, Reece has shown me that there are lots of other, equally good if not better, ways to do things. Happy birthday, Bean!

Newness in 2011

New office! With a window!

And already cluttered. Plus, please notice the very droopy flowering plant on the right. The woman at the garden center wasn't even sure she should sell it to me when I described how bad I am at keeping plants alive. I'm happy to report that a strong dose of water perked it right back up. The next step is to get some inexpensive but meaningful artwork and to seriously look for my diplomas to hang on the wall. Hey, I'm a professor!

2010, a year in review (from my perspective, at least)

I didn't write a newsletter to go into the Christmas cards (the last of which didn't even get sent out until today), and I included this blog's address in the cards, so I'm just going to do a recap of the past year here, and then people are free to read or not as they desire. I'm all about free will over here.

January: Reece turned five and I cried a little. He'll be six in 13 days, and I may just weep. This month was also the first time we really got to test out our new mudroom, and it proved itself many times over.

February: I don't remember anything of interest happening this month, except that there was snow. And more snow. At least according to the pictures I took this month. We also took Reece to a bunch of specialists to check on his weight gain (or lack thereof). Oh, yes, and I turned 40.

March: I met Greyson's class at the Cleveland Orchestra, and I went to a conference in Bethesda, MD. Greyson had his birthday party a month early because the laser tag facility had a special Star Wars event planned the end of March.

April: Easter in Columbus with Dan's cousins, Dan's brother visited, Greyson turned 10. I realized how much my life has changed in the past ten years. In ten more, Greyson will be in college and Reece will be a sophomore in high school. Unbelievable.

May: Reece and I planted a garden in the backyard. Both boys started baseball practice. My mom visited over Memorial Day (and to watch the kids).

June: Dan and I visited San Francisco for the first time and had a great tour guide in the form of Nick, who was still living there then. We got home just in time for Greyson's 4th grade clap-out and the end of the school year. The boys' baseball games started.

July: Baseball STILL going on. My mom came back to watch the kids so Dan and I could go to Florida for a friend's wedding (Dan) and to help Becka with the new baby (me). Instead, Dan go so sick that he was hospitalized for five days with what turned out to be infectious colitis. He recovered quickly but is laying off the really spicy foods. Nick stopped by on his move from CA to VT, and my cousins from Michigan came down to spend the weekend with all of us. Greyson's baseball team won the championship.

August: The boys and I took our annual trip to northern Michigan and ventured to Mackinac Island for a day of biking with my cousin, Jackie. We also got to spend time with my friend, Lynnette, and her son, Nathan. I spent a weekend at a spa resort in southwestern Pennsylvania with my friend, Bernadette, to celebrate (belatedly) our 40th birthdays. I started my new job on the faculty of Kent State University's new College of Public Health, and both boys started new schools (all in the same week. NEVER again.) The garden just kept growing (and growing, and growing).

September: Dan's brother and friends from high school visited for the annual guys' weekend in Cleveland, which involves Indians and Browns games, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and occasional sleeping. The after school babysitter quit. Via text.

October: Found a new babysitter who lives within walking distance and the kids love. I can breathe again. My mom visited again to make applesauce with the kids and hand out candy for Halloween so the parents could walk the neighborhood while the kids trick or treated. (Tricked or treated?)

November: School conferences, boys are doing fine except that Greyson needs to get more organized - fast. Dan and I helped him clean out his desk, and it took all three of us. Thanksgiving in Michigan, which introduced our boys to Nerf guns in earnest and some new Wii games.

December: Trip to Chicago that included a conference for Dan, shopping on Miracle Mile for the boys and me, a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry and to Three Floyds Brewing Co. for all of us, and time with my relatives. Trip to Florida for Christmas (see most recent posts).

And here we are, a year later but mostly the same. My hope for this year is more travel and many fewer visits to medical professionals. That's not too much to ask, right? RIGHT??

Holiday post, part II

Where was I? Oh, yes, we'd been to Universal Studios and enjoyed ourselves. When we were exhausted, we headed to Dan's parents' house for the duration of our Florida visit. Played lots of games, got some sun, was entertained by our niece (age 4 1/2) and her new baby brother (almost 7 months), spent one afternoon at a pretty chilly beach (water temp was 61 degrees, but Dan and the boys went in anyway), had a visit from Santa and a very large meal, and then the day after Christmas, we headed home, just missing two pretty major storms.

SO CUTE!

Everyone was thrilled that she got to open presents.

Even Reed gets a holiday popper.

Then began round two of the holiday celebrating - spending time with my family in the cold north! My mom and my brother came to visit, and we spent the rest of the week playing lots of games, trying not to get shot by Nerf guns, eating, and trying to get the boys' clothes dry between trips outside in the snow/mud. Much time was spent with "the cousins", as my brother Nat's kids are called around here. The out of town visitors left Jan. 2nd, the boys started back to school and Dan went back to work on the 3rd, and I've spent the last week just trying to clean up, catch up, and generally get our lives back into some kind of pattern again. Oh, and moving into my new office at work (3/4 of my College moved to a new building). I officially start back to work on Monday.

The youngest are the most dangerous.

 

For anyone who wanted to see what Nick looks like these days. He's wearing his winter growth.
 

And for your viewing pleasure, Nerf guns in use. Notice Isaac sitting on the floor in the midst of all the shooting. Now THAT's a boy you want with you for calm in the center of a storm.

Holiday travels 2010, part 1

Almost as soon as the kids' school ended on the last day before winter break, we loaded up the van and headed south. First stop (after a night at a hotel along the way) was to Uncle Greg and Aunt Judy's house in northern Florida, where they were kind enough to take us out on the pontoon boat on a portion of the St. Johns River even though it was 50-some degrees outside and misty.

 

Pointing out the water birds as we drove past.

 

Cold but happy

The kids got to squeeze the orange juice for our breakfast, and we had shrimp caught fresh last summer in the St. Johns River for lunch.

Next stop, Orlando and Universal Studios. The kids' "big" present for Christmas was a visit to the park that has the Harry Potter rides (Islands of Adventure). We met Dan's mom and brother at a hotel on site, staying overnight in a Jurassic Park room) and got up WAY too early to walk for 10 minutes in the near-dark to the entrance of the Harry Potter adventure. Reece and Dan got in line for Ollivander's Wand Shop while the rest of us headed to the Forbidden Journey. We were near the front of the line and waiting when we started to hear announcements that the ride was experiencing technical difficulties. Long story short, after half an hour in line and no sign of the ride starting anytime soon, we jumped out of line and headed to the shops in the HP area (technically Hogsmede, the town where Hogwarts is, but it included stores from Diagon Alley, for those who actually know what any of this means). After we'd had enough of that area, we branched out to the rest of the park where we spent the remainder of the day.

 The Caro-Seuss-el in Seuss Landing

Boys at the entrance wearing their Gryffindor t-shirts

The kids and Grandma T. on the "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" ride

Greyson in the superhero area

Reece on Popeye's boat

To be continued, hopefully tomorrow but no promises.