Lydia’s vocabulary grows daily and her articulation is very appropriate for a 21 month old. Her newest words have given me a smile this week. She is starting 2-word combinations, which is great---her clearest are “hat off” with a prolonged “f” at the end, as she removes my hat after a workout; and last night we heard “bug bite” as she tends to be a sweet and tasty morsel for our backyard friends. Just a minute ago, I heard “China” as she matter-of-factly imitated Ben talking about a new magazine we received in the mail. We want her to feel that being Chinese is something to be proud of, so it’s wonderful to hear---that must mean it’s in our vocabulary enough to make its way into hers.
Perhaps the funniest word this past week, “Wii !!!” as she hops around squealing. She has no idea what the Wii is; but she just knows that whatever it is, it brings smiles and joy to the boys when we are at Grandma’s. So, she skips around the house hollering “Wee! Wee…”, content to just say it, and not play it. The Wii is providing much entertainment for the Kemper side of the family and we have a great portrait of Mii people on the system (for those who don’t know, those are the little characters you create of yourself that you play the games with).
Our Mii family is quite funny---I wish I could post them here, but don’t think that’s possible. Jason’s character is a bald old man, with square spectacles (he looks very much like his Grandpa Muenks). My character was created by the boys and looks amazingly like me---except they overdid it a bit with the blue eyeshadow :-) The boys each have characters that look pretty much like them, except “cooler” they say---I guess it’s the spikey hair they added, which we aren’t quite able to achieve with their real hair. Lydia is the only one without a Mii character, but I’m sure she’ll have one soon (when the boys are bored enough to think of creating her).
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
The TV perishes, but Imagination comes alive!
As many know, we aren’t frequent T.V. watchers. I just am too impatient to sit and watch anything; and basically we don’t have the time to spare, and there is very little worthwhile to watch anyway (however, I do enjoy a bit of “Mythbusters” now and then). So, we are very content to have our very old T.V. (with rabbit ears, as we have no cable) that the kids use to watch videos and DVDs. Even then, I really try to limit how much time they spend watching and it’s always a battle, with me ending up the bad guy. Well, that is no more! The old thing finally gave out and we are not planning to get another one very soon. The best part was, the boys were actually watching when the picture went out and they know first-hand that it’s gone. Yea! No more T.V. whining, I’m not the mean Mama, and they can now keep their brains working on other things.
Tonight was a great example of where the imagination can go when there isn’t technology to entertain it. I came home from a therapy session to be greeted by Jack wanting to know how to write 5 cents. As I pondered what he was doing, he announced that he was setting up a store so that he can sell some of his junk. His goal---to raise money to buy a BB gun (typical Kemper Boy ambition). I went upstairs to find a little stand of items for sale and his store was open for business. Soon Sam joined in by opening his store. It was great to see their entrepreneurial sides, and each had a different strategy. Jack focused on ‘Cheap, cheap, cheap”---he was selling things at bargain prices so that you would be more likely to buy and so he could “move his inventory.” Sam’s strategy was a little more tricky…he would announce the price and then tell you how much you were saving (everything was on sale) so it sounded like you were getting a great deal “It’s $1…but it used to be $3,” was the type of hype that I heard for his items.
The idea of the stores was great and made me smile. They have always liked to play store, but with play money…this time they were serious! My smile soon faded as the salesmen got a little more pushy with each passing hour, and they began demanding more money. Jack’s inventory seemed to grow every minute as he would add more junk to his shelves. Finally when I was out of coins and dollars that I had scrounged for, I told them that my shopping was done. Jack’s response…”Wait! You still have your credit card!” “You take credit cards?” I said. “Sure, everybody does,” he reasoned. Hmm…I don’t think I want to be in debt to my 5 year old. Guess I need to use the debit card less often and stick to the greens so they can actually see the money going bye-bye! Now I'm hearing "Mom! Come get Lydia, she's shoplifting!"
The “stores” are still open (sitting in my hallway, that we keep tripping over), my coin stash is now in their hands, and they keep asking when I’ll go to the bank for more cash. But, I’m now the proud owner of a Pokemon card, an antique bullet, an empty hermit crab shell, and a few pieces of eccentric tinker-toy art. And, I’ve found the perfect spot to display my new treasures…on top of that broken T.V!
Tonight was a great example of where the imagination can go when there isn’t technology to entertain it. I came home from a therapy session to be greeted by Jack wanting to know how to write 5 cents. As I pondered what he was doing, he announced that he was setting up a store so that he can sell some of his junk. His goal---to raise money to buy a BB gun (typical Kemper Boy ambition). I went upstairs to find a little stand of items for sale and his store was open for business. Soon Sam joined in by opening his store. It was great to see their entrepreneurial sides, and each had a different strategy. Jack focused on ‘Cheap, cheap, cheap”---he was selling things at bargain prices so that you would be more likely to buy and so he could “move his inventory.” Sam’s strategy was a little more tricky…he would announce the price and then tell you how much you were saving (everything was on sale) so it sounded like you were getting a great deal “It’s $1…but it used to be $3,” was the type of hype that I heard for his items.
The idea of the stores was great and made me smile. They have always liked to play store, but with play money…this time they were serious! My smile soon faded as the salesmen got a little more pushy with each passing hour, and they began demanding more money. Jack’s inventory seemed to grow every minute as he would add more junk to his shelves. Finally when I was out of coins and dollars that I had scrounged for, I told them that my shopping was done. Jack’s response…”Wait! You still have your credit card!” “You take credit cards?” I said. “Sure, everybody does,” he reasoned. Hmm…I don’t think I want to be in debt to my 5 year old. Guess I need to use the debit card less often and stick to the greens so they can actually see the money going bye-bye! Now I'm hearing "Mom! Come get Lydia, she's shoplifting!"
The “stores” are still open (sitting in my hallway, that we keep tripping over), my coin stash is now in their hands, and they keep asking when I’ll go to the bank for more cash. But, I’m now the proud owner of a Pokemon card, an antique bullet, an empty hermit crab shell, and a few pieces of eccentric tinker-toy art. And, I’ve found the perfect spot to display my new treasures…on top of that broken T.V!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
She's Becoming a Mini-Me!
Strangely, Lydia is very much like me in her personality and tends to like the same things that I do. We are a perfect match and more often we are finding ourselves hanging out together as Jason does guy-stuff with the boys. She is VERY strong, and it takes all my strength to hold her down sometimes (like taking blood). She is a "people-person" and chatty, but also likes alone time. She is smiley, but also a thinker. She loves to sleep! And like me, she loves spicy food (esp. Mexican) and we are finding that she loves to go to Chipotle (I could eat there every day). She also loves shoes, purses, and jewlery (like me) and is becoming a pack-rat. Today, as we were out in a store, she found a bracelet and screamed her head off when we had to put it back. She had it on her arm, showing it to people (fishing for compliments). Alot of these things, most little girls like and do. But, for any Nature/Nurture debaters out there...it is something to ponder. We'll see how much more like me she becomes later in life!
Many people ask how Lydia is adjusting and also regarding her health/development. So, here is a little summary:
We have had her now for seven months. She runs, skips, hops, and gallops---she is very fast and can make it across the yard and climbing up into the fort before I even know what's going on! Her speech and language are nearly age-appropriate and gets better every day. Her fav words now are "no-no" and "mine", and (the most sweet) "home." It is so precious to hear her little voice say "home" ---like when she's had too much shopping or like today, when I picked her up from the church nursery--she greeted me with a squeal and then a soft "home" letting me know that she'd had enough there and that she loves her place with us. It melts my heart, especially when I think that previously she had no "home".
Her health at this time is very good. I haven't written much about it, because we actually often forget that she was a "Special Needs" baby! Hopefully, it will stay that way. Upon visiting the Cardiologist in the winter, we found that there is absolutely nothing wrong with her heart....what a blessing and a relief! When we applied for her, we were preparing for surgery or whatever it took to heal her...and now her heart is perfectly healthy! She continues to see a Gastroenterologist, and that is going well. We will visit him again this summer for more testing and to determine if a liver biopsy is necessary. I tend to forget that we may still have challenges in the future. But, I'm content to just "take things as they come."
In the area of attachment, she is doing great---however, will still go to strangers sometimes-but then usually comes back to me for a hug or reassurance.
It is amazing that it has been one year already since we found out about her---time seems to be accelerating. I'm noticing a couple more gray hairs and wrinkles (or crinkles, as I like to call them). I don't mind how old I am, as long as I don't look that old! It's beginning to get more difficult to appear young...no hair color or Botox yet though :)
We have had her now for seven months. She runs, skips, hops, and gallops---she is very fast and can make it across the yard and climbing up into the fort before I even know what's going on! Her speech and language are nearly age-appropriate and gets better every day. Her fav words now are "no-no" and "mine", and (the most sweet) "home." It is so precious to hear her little voice say "home" ---like when she's had too much shopping or like today, when I picked her up from the church nursery--she greeted me with a squeal and then a soft "home" letting me know that she'd had enough there and that she loves her place with us. It melts my heart, especially when I think that previously she had no "home".
Her health at this time is very good. I haven't written much about it, because we actually often forget that she was a "Special Needs" baby! Hopefully, it will stay that way. Upon visiting the Cardiologist in the winter, we found that there is absolutely nothing wrong with her heart....what a blessing and a relief! When we applied for her, we were preparing for surgery or whatever it took to heal her...and now her heart is perfectly healthy! She continues to see a Gastroenterologist, and that is going well. We will visit him again this summer for more testing and to determine if a liver biopsy is necessary. I tend to forget that we may still have challenges in the future. But, I'm content to just "take things as they come."
In the area of attachment, she is doing great---however, will still go to strangers sometimes-but then usually comes back to me for a hug or reassurance.
It is amazing that it has been one year already since we found out about her---time seems to be accelerating. I'm noticing a couple more gray hairs and wrinkles (or crinkles, as I like to call them). I don't mind how old I am, as long as I don't look that old! It's beginning to get more difficult to appear young...no hair color or Botox yet though :)
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Hangin' Out in the Country
We spent the last week hanging out with my parents in our little hometown. What started as just a weekend trip, turned into a whole week of fun in the country. It was great for the kids to enjoy being out of the city, and experience the exact things that I loved about summer. During the day they played in the sand, rode bikes on the gravel roads, chased each other with water guns, watched the farmers bale hay, and dug around in my Dad's huge garden. At night they caught lightening bugs, played flashlight tag, looked at the moon and stars through their telescope, caught a few frogs, and had a bonfire with roasted marshmallows, and for the most fun of all----went for lawnmower and tractor rides with Grandpa. I used to do all of these things when I was little and so it was neat to watch them play under the same trees that had watched over me as a little girl.
What did I do? I relaxed in the hammock or fluffy pillow swing, keeping an eye on Lydia. If she was napping, I caught a nap too, but under the old trees in our yard---not a sound, but th
e wind rustling the leaves or an occasional tractor going by on the gravel. It was wonderful to be carefree, floating in the breeze---just thinking about nothing, or recalling what all those trees had witnessed over the years. (perhaps that's a great story line for a poem or novel).
Lydia enjoyed the summer fun at Grandma's for the first time---she loved being able to wander around in the yard---there are some worries though, like the corn field that stretches forever that would quickly lose a curious 1 year old, or the 3-foot goldfish pond, which is deep and dangerous! So, it was not all relaxing in keeping up with her.
Our hometown was celebrating 150 years since its founding, so we participated in small town fun. Everything looks different since I was a kid, and everything seems so much smaller. We saw many faces from the past and the kids got to experience a small town celebration--even Grandma marched in the parade with her old twirling group! It made me feel old and returning to your past is always strange, as people seem to remember you for who you used to be, and
the past can't be changed.
Comment of the week...while we are driving to Grandma's---
Sam: "Well Dad, I guess if you would just work a little bit harder, we'd have enough money to move to the country. So, I guess that's just what you need to do."
We laughed so hard! Jason laughed because of Sam's implication that he doesn't work hard enough and that just a little more money would get him someplace like Grandma and Grandpa's---a fun life forever! And I laughed at the thought of living in the country again---although that's how I grew up, I am now an absolute city-girl and the thought of being trapped in the country seems crazy. We love to visit and have some respite there, but to live there is another thing
. Actually, we have the best of both worlds, a life in the city and rest at Grandma's in the countryside :)
What did I do? I relaxed in the hammock or fluffy pillow swing, keeping an eye on Lydia. If she was napping, I caught a nap too, but under the old trees in our yard---not a sound, but th
e wind rustling the leaves or an occasional tractor going by on the gravel. It was wonderful to be carefree, floating in the breeze---just thinking about nothing, or recalling what all those trees had witnessed over the years. (perhaps that's a great story line for a poem or novel).Lydia enjoyed the summer fun at Grandma's for the first time---she loved being able to wander around in the yard---there are some worries though, like the corn field that stretches forever that would quickly lose a curious 1 year old, or the 3-foot goldfish pond, which is deep and dangerous! So, it was not all relaxing in keeping up with her.
Our hometown was celebrating 150 years since its founding, so we participated in small town fun. Everything looks different since I was a kid, and everything seems so much smaller. We saw many faces from the past and the kids got to experience a small town celebration--even Grandma marched in the parade with her old twirling group! It made me feel old and returning to your past is always strange, as people seem to remember you for who you used to be, and
the past can't be changed.Comment of the week...while we are driving to Grandma's---
Sam: "Well Dad, I guess if you would just work a little bit harder, we'd have enough money to move to the country. So, I guess that's just what you need to do."
We laughed so hard! Jason laughed because of Sam's implication that he doesn't work hard enough and that just a little more money would get him someplace like Grandma and Grandpa's---a fun life forever! And I laughed at the thought of living in the country again---although that's how I grew up, I am now an absolute city-girl and the thought of being trapped in the country seems crazy. We love to visit and have some respite there, but to live there is another thing
. Actually, we have the best of both worlds, a life in the city and rest at Grandma's in the countryside :)More of the Country Bumpkins
Nearly every night, we spent some time looking through the telescope...my parents have the perfect spot for it---darkness, no city lights!A favorite evening activity in our family is popcorn! After a day packed full of fun, we always have popcorn and t.v. to wrap it up. A rare pic of all four munchkins, mainly because they are busy stuffing their faces.
Sam found a toad and frog hopping through the night. That is something that I did NOT do as a kid, pick up amphibians! The boys loved it and Grandma was happy that they found boy stuff---until they brought it in the house! The poor thing got dropped several times and then tossed out into the yard when they were finished with him...as the kids ran around in the dark---I imagine he got smashed.
Lydia pushing around a talking Ernie---kind of freaky.
A serious look from Lydia as she wanders the yard. What beautiful eyes!
Sam has learned to stay safe on the gravel roads. On one long bike ride
(with a jogging Dad), they brought home a stray dog---that's typical. Unfortunately it stayed around drooling near my hammock until my Dad had to drive it back to its owners property.Grandmas
Jason's mom marching in the hometown parade with her twirling group.
My mom is always looking for fun new things to keep the kids busy---this time she hit the jackpot...a Chocolate Fountain! Now, not everyone has a chocolate fountain. Leave it to my mom to create fun, especially involving sugar. The boys loved dipping their fruit. But, when they were done, everyone was covered in chocolate and my Dad was chasing them around with papertowels. I don't think the chocolate fountain will come out very often!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Our Little Firecrackers
The fireworks that I typically see are the ones with two little legs running around my house, terrorizing my furniture, consuming my energy, and ready to explode any minute! They are loud and must be handled with care or I'll find myself blown up! I'm talking about my children, of course. But, this post is also about our Fourth of July festivities!
We like going to the State Capitol on the 4th to watch the fireworks on the Capitol lawn (and see Jason's family there). And again this year, we were able to do that.
Lydia enjoyed the flag waving and a parade, but missed her first fireworks because she was asleep in the stroller.
The boys are "pyros" at any time of the year, and this 4th were able to light off most of their own explosives (because their Dad let them, not because I think it's a safe thing to do!!!). They are pretty responsible, but I had to go in the house several times so that I had less chance of seeing my kids blow their fingers off or shoot a bottle rocket under Grandma's lawn chair! I voice my "two-cents worth", but Jason usually gets the final say on the dangers that the boys participate in---it's a difficult thing to be a mom of boys (especially ones who are 
reckless and danger-seekers---aren't all boys that way though?)
reckless and danger-seekers---aren't all boys that way though?)Here is Sam getting ready to light off something spectacular.
Jack is getting ready to blow up some green army men (never mind that he was lightin
g them on the mulch)---it was surprising to see how far those guys went!
g them on the mulch)---it was surprising to see how far those guys went!
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