Delayed gratification

Reece, on Color Wonder markers:
"You have to wait a couple of hours until the color comes out."

Really, it's a couple of seconds, but in his world it's all the same.

Someone here just turned 4

It's hard to believe that Reece is four years old. He's no longer a toddler and is now a preschooler, which seems like a big milestone to me. Everything moves faster with the second child, I think. He got a sticker and crown to wear at school, both of which he insisted on wearing at home until bedtime. This is my first attempt to imbed a video on the blog, and in previewing it I realized what poor quality it is, so I apologize. I have to dig out the manual to my camera and figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Two entirely different children

I recently watched a family video from when Greyson was 3 1/2. During one clip, it is evening and Greyson is clearly tired. He is sitting in my lap on the floor in the kitchen of our rented house in NC, crying and talking at the same time, saying he's hungry and wants a sandwich but on DIFFERENT bread. I explain to him that we don't have different bread, he cries a little more, and then says "Give me a hug". We cuddle, and he settles down and eats a string cheese he's been holding. The entire scene lasts for maybe 2 minutes. If I remember correctly, this happened maybe twice a month, at most.

Cut to our lives today with another 3 1/2 year old. The above scene times 20 in intensity and length plays out almost daily and often multiple times a day, with no warning or rhyme or reason for whatever triggers the blow-ups. One day I do something and it's fine, the next day it's ALL WRONG and causes yelling and crying and gnashing of teeth. Reece turns 4 on Tuesday, and I am so hoping that a magical transformation will occur on or near that date, because I feel I'm aging years with every day! I am planning on videotaping the next meltdown so we can view it in another 5 years when we have some perspective and (hopefully) no more tantrums. And to show him why we can't pay for his college since all our money is going to keeping me comfortable at a mental institution.

To remind us there is sun, somewhere

A few photos from our recent trip to Florida. I'm hoping just looking at them will give me enough daily vitamin D to stave off any seasonal affective disorder!

Good news for the new year

For anyone who doesn't know, we've been planning some major renovations for the house, including tearing down the garage, extending the mudroom and putting a bedroom above it, attaching a new garage to the mudroom, and renovating the master bath. Our town is known for being strict on architectural changes and deviating from what already exists, so we had to petition both the architectural review board and the zoning committee to get approval for all this. And as you've probably already guessed, we received approval from both as of today. Yippee! It's really thanks to our architect and our neighbors on either side that it all went smoothly. Now we just have to convince the bank to lend us the money...

We have arrived

The bad: Two days in the car. Bumper to bumper traffic on I-95 in Georgia. Fast food. Rain and fog in the mountains.

The good: Having an extra adult in the car. Sonny's BBQ. Warmth. Sun. Family.

Not all nutty conversations are with the 3-year old

Greyson: Can we go caroling?
Me: No.
Greyson: Why not?
Me: Because it's not something I enjoy and it's frigid outside.
Greyson: Do you get treats when you carol?
Me: No.
Greyson: Darn. I don't really like singing.

Minimalist Christmas

Christmas excitement has reached a fevered pitch around here. Friday, Reece's class had a Polar Express party, with the kids in pajamas, hot cocoa with marshmallows (a crucial fact, according to Reece), and a viewing of the movie. We made brownie treats for Reece's teachers, decorated kids' holiday tree cakes (a Crayola edible kit I found on clearance), and each boy has two (because one is insufficient, apparently) advent calendars with chocolate behind each door. Reece seems completely unclear on the concept that he will be receiving gifts in large quantity quite steadily between now and this coming Monday and asks, every time I say we need to go to a store or get something for someone else, "What are we getting for me?" He has said that Christmas is his favorite time EVER because of the whole present theme. With his birthday so close after the holidays, I fear he'll go into withdrawal when February arrives and he's not opening anything for himself!

We’re also involved in the Christmas story pageant at church, which will take place at 5pm on Wednesday. Greyson is the 2nd wise man, Reece may or may not be a shepherd - he's 3, enough said. I somehow got roped into helping with the costumes and making sure the kings do what they’re supposed to at the right time. This is on top of me assistant teaching for Sunday school every week. Now, I really love our church and enjoy being involved, but I’m hitting that too-involved point where I can feel myself cringe rather than look forward to whatever is going on. In order to compensate, I’ve unintentionally instituted a minimalist Christmas at home. We have some decorations up but not even half of what we own, Dan did the tree lights and my boys and nephews put up all the ornaments, only two of the outside bushes have lights on them, and (as I mentioned before) I didn’t write a single word of a newsletter to go out with the cards. I’ve even whittled down the card list to the number of pictures we got in our family photo package deal! And I’m not even feeling guilty about any of it, which makes me think this will be the new plan from here on out. It seems to go well with the whole lousy economy, only do what you can situation these days. Now if only I can find a way to recycle the three bins worth of cheap holiday decor...

Ice storm

We haven't had nearly the storm other areas received. Schools are open in most places, and we have power. I tried to capture the beauty of the ice on branches, but I have discovered two things: 1) my camera is lacking in ability to do much more than point and click, and 2) I really have no idea how to take good pictures. So these are the best of a very sad bunch.

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Update: I changed the settings so that anyone can comment, pending my review. (This is a family blog, people.)