After the gifts we got everyone fed and hung out. We did not have lot to do to prepare the food, which left all of us feeling a little ill at ease. We set up an anti-pasti plate, which is a family tradition that reaches back into the mists of time, at least four years. I like anti-pasti and just decided that it would be part of our tradition. So sue me.
The rest of the family started arriving around 1400. Adults, kids, guests. My sister and her family. My "brother" and his family. My cousin. One of my sister's co-workers, who was away from home for the holiday. Eighteen of us in all, from 87 to 18 months. We also had four dogs, two cats and two fish. It all sounds very Dr. Seuss, when I put it like that.
We snacked and drank and talked until the turkey was done. We loaded the table and got down to business. The chaos almost subsided during the meal, though with small kids it never truly goes away.
After the meal we cleared the table, I did some dishes and then Tracy came in to let me know that the kids were circling the tree like vultures. We opened up the second set, mostly for the kids this time. Owyn was totally down with opening presents the second time around. Rhys was all over the place. There was a cloud of wrapping paper and in five minutes the kids turned a tree full of presents into toys and trash. The adults barely had time to snap a couple pictures.
Following the second present opening it was time for the kids to get down to some serious play and for the adults to chill a little bit and catch our breath. Everyone left about 1830, leaving us to put the boys to bed and sit with our feet up.
It was a great day. Happy kids, lots of family, no drama and good food. Just the way Christmas should be.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Day
Today is Christmas. The boys have been very excited, especially Rhys. He has practically been vibrating.
My folks came down and stayed with us last night. They brought my grandfather and his incontinent, zombie dog. Gramps and the dead dog walking slept in Rhys' bed. They pee'd in it.
Rhys slept on our floor. He was awake at 0445. Tracy managed to get him to hang out until 0545, when Owyn woke up. Even for our boys, this is early, but, of course, it is Christmas. Tracy and I took great pleasure in sending the boys to wake up Nana & Grandad. "Wake up! Santa! Christmas!"
We were down stairs by 0600. Our neighbor's lights were already on. I was glad we weren't the only ones. We opened presents and drank coffee. It was a good year for gifts for all of us. Santa brought Owyn a farm set and Rhys a Geo-Trax set. They were both set up and ready to go. Owyn also got a train set for Geo-Trax, so they were both able to play with it. That was the grand slam hit of the day.
Owyn pretty much lost interest in opening more presents because he was so busy with the ones that he already had. Rhys opened all of his then "helped" Owyn with his.
I was very pleased with everything I got, including some things that I didn't even know I wanted until I opened them and realized that my life had been incomplete without them.
My folks came down and stayed with us last night. They brought my grandfather and his incontinent, zombie dog. Gramps and the dead dog walking slept in Rhys' bed. They pee'd in it.
Rhys slept on our floor. He was awake at 0445. Tracy managed to get him to hang out until 0545, when Owyn woke up. Even for our boys, this is early, but, of course, it is Christmas. Tracy and I took great pleasure in sending the boys to wake up Nana & Grandad. "Wake up! Santa! Christmas!"
We were down stairs by 0600. Our neighbor's lights were already on. I was glad we weren't the only ones. We opened presents and drank coffee. It was a good year for gifts for all of us. Santa brought Owyn a farm set and Rhys a Geo-Trax set. They were both set up and ready to go. Owyn also got a train set for Geo-Trax, so they were both able to play with it. That was the grand slam hit of the day.
Owyn pretty much lost interest in opening more presents because he was so busy with the ones that he already had. Rhys opened all of his then "helped" Owyn with his.
I was very pleased with everything I got, including some things that I didn't even know I wanted until I opened them and realized that my life had been incomplete without them.
Hot Peppers
It's Christmas day today. We had eighteen people over for dinner. One of those people is my cousin Luke, who Rhys adores. Luke is 35'ish.
I walked into the kitchen and Luke was eating a piece of garlic bread, which he had made. The garlic bread was sitting on top of a bottle of pepperinci. Rhys said "Eat pepper". Luke, "No way, they're hot". "No they're not, eat one". Rhys "I eat one, you eat too". Luke, "Ok, I'll eat one with you".
As I watched Luke pulled out a pepper for himself and one for Rhys. They stood there, holding their peppers and looking at each other. They each, slowly, moved the pepper closer to their mouths, never taking their eyes off of the other's pepper. When they could not get any closer they both stopped and waited. I'm pretty sure a tumbleweed blew between them. Luke stuck his in his mouth and Rhys was right behind him. They both chewed.
Rhys, "Do again!".
I walked into the kitchen and Luke was eating a piece of garlic bread, which he had made. The garlic bread was sitting on top of a bottle of pepperinci. Rhys said "Eat pepper". Luke, "No way, they're hot". "No they're not, eat one". Rhys "I eat one, you eat too". Luke, "Ok, I'll eat one with you".
As I watched Luke pulled out a pepper for himself and one for Rhys. They stood there, holding their peppers and looking at each other. They each, slowly, moved the pepper closer to their mouths, never taking their eyes off of the other's pepper. When they could not get any closer they both stopped and waited. I'm pretty sure a tumbleweed blew between them. Luke stuck his in his mouth and Rhys was right behind him. They both chewed.
Rhys, "Do again!".
Thursday, December 10, 2009
G-E-E
Owyn's pacifier, his binkie, is called his Gee. He came up with this name. It took us awhile to figure out what he meant when he was asking for a gee. It comes from Bink-gee.
Owyn loves his gee. He is not allowed to have one at day care, but as soon as we pick him up he asks for it. We have been spelling it out, when we didn't want him to know what we were talking about.
Tonight the boys had a shower. As I carried Owyn into his room, all wrapped up burrito like in a towel, I realized that I had left his gee in the bathroom. I told Tracy, "Oops, I have to get the G-E-E." Owyn said "Yeah". I looked at him thinking, "surely not." "Do you know what a G-E-E is Owyn?" "Yeah, Gee!".
Have I mentioned that he is two?
Owyn loves his gee. He is not allowed to have one at day care, but as soon as we pick him up he asks for it. We have been spelling it out, when we didn't want him to know what we were talking about.
Tonight the boys had a shower. As I carried Owyn into his room, all wrapped up burrito like in a towel, I realized that I had left his gee in the bathroom. I told Tracy, "Oops, I have to get the G-E-E." Owyn said "Yeah". I looked at him thinking, "surely not." "Do you know what a G-E-E is Owyn?" "Yeah, Gee!".
Have I mentioned that he is two?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Two cars
Rhys has been insistent, lately, that he needs to take two cars to school. Tracy had not really given it much thought. Both boys like to take toys to school with them.
On Monday the three of them walked in and started to get ready. It has been freaking frigid here the last two weeks so there is a lot of getting ready to do. As Tracy was getting Rhys out of his coat Amaya walked up and said "Do you have cars Rhys?", "Yep, right here". The two of them walked off, each with one of Rhys' cars.
As mama stood there with his jacket he looked back and said "Bye mama".
On Monday the three of them walked in and started to get ready. It has been freaking frigid here the last two weeks so there is a lot of getting ready to do. As Tracy was getting Rhys out of his coat Amaya walked up and said "Do you have cars Rhys?", "Yep, right here". The two of them walked off, each with one of Rhys' cars.
As mama stood there with his jacket he looked back and said "Bye mama".
Leave the door open
Rhys has been having accidents again. Almost every day for the last two weeks he has had an accident. If you ask him if he needs to go, he says no, even if he is wiggling his little butt on your lap.
Today at day care he looked like he needed to go but he told his teacher that he did not need to. Amaya, (his best friend at day care) walked up to the teacher and told him, "If you leave the door open, Rhys will pee." Mr. Keith tried it, he opened the door, escorted Amaya to where she could not see him, and Rhys went pee.
Amaya is a very smart little girl. She knows her Rhys pretty well too.
Today at day care he looked like he needed to go but he told his teacher that he did not need to. Amaya, (his best friend at day care) walked up to the teacher and told him, "If you leave the door open, Rhys will pee." Mr. Keith tried it, he opened the door, escorted Amaya to where she could not see him, and Rhys went pee.
Amaya is a very smart little girl. She knows her Rhys pretty well too.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Parent Teacher conference
Yesterday we had Rhys' parent teacher conference. His teacher and all three of his special ed teachers were there. It was somewhat painful getting the conference scheduled but we finally got them all in the same place at the same time.
He is making great progress in all areas. He has met some of the goals on his IEP and is close on others. They are optimistic that he will do well transitioning to kindergarten next year. They briefed us on the process for turning him over from the current team to his new team, since he will be at our neighborhood school next year.
Importantly, he is also much more compliant and able to do things on his own, critical skills for kindergarten. His current class has twelve kids, four of whom are special needs. There are four adults in the classroom at any given time. The ratio will not be that good next year.
They were very excited that we have gotten him in to speech therapy, (as are we). They could already see an improvement.
They were also very impressed by his sweetness and compassion. He has taken the new, smaller, kids under his wing and helps them out. There is one child who is extremely special needs, strapped down in a wheel chair. Rhys talks to him and brings him toys. He doesn't talk back, but Rhys never gives up on him.
It was all very positive and hopeful.
He is making great progress in all areas. He has met some of the goals on his IEP and is close on others. They are optimistic that he will do well transitioning to kindergarten next year. They briefed us on the process for turning him over from the current team to his new team, since he will be at our neighborhood school next year.
Importantly, he is also much more compliant and able to do things on his own, critical skills for kindergarten. His current class has twelve kids, four of whom are special needs. There are four adults in the classroom at any given time. The ratio will not be that good next year.
They were very excited that we have gotten him in to speech therapy, (as are we). They could already see an improvement.
They were also very impressed by his sweetness and compassion. He has taken the new, smaller, kids under his wing and helps them out. There is one child who is extremely special needs, strapped down in a wheel chair. Rhys talks to him and brings him toys. He doesn't talk back, but Rhys never gives up on him.
It was all very positive and hopeful.
POOOOOL!
Tracy got us a gym membership. Tonight we took the boys to see it. They have a huge indoor pool and a very cool day care center. I took Owyn over to the window so he could look at the pool. He was mesmerized. He couldn't look away. We did not have swim suits with us. As I walked away and headed towards the car he let out a long wail. "Nooooooo, Poooooool!"
He will get to swim on Saturday at Rhys' birthday party, but I think the gym will be a hit with the boys, at least.
He will get to swim on Saturday at Rhys' birthday party, but I think the gym will be a hit with the boys, at least.
Look at me!
The other day Rhys was sitting on my lap while we watched his shows. He wanted a cookie. I had told him no. As I sat there a small hand reached up and grabbed my chin. He turned my head to him and said, "Look at me, Cookie, Now!" We had to have a serious talk about being rude.
It was all I could do not to laugh and spoil the whole thing. I was laughing on the inside though.
It was all I could do not to laugh and spoil the whole thing. I was laughing on the inside though.
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