Summer Recap

For the first time in six years Tony and I slept in to 7 o'clock before the sound of little pitter patter woke us this morning! And along with said pitter patter we woke to thunder storms and rain...ahh, fall. Of course that second part reminded me that I hadn't posted anything about our summer to the blog...so much for sleeping in.

This summer was a bit of a scheduling nightmare for me. We had Jayden playing T-ball, trips for vacations, playdates, and museum visits all scheduled into a very short 13 weeks. Admittedly, before school had let out I was a bit fearful of those 13 weeks...how was I going to manage to keep my sanity with two kids under foot for that length of time. As summer wound down, I couldn't believe 13 weeks flew by so quickly and I still felt like we had more to accomplish. Well, here are the highlights.

Jayden played T-ball on a Naperville Parks team. He loved every minute. We still can't catch and our throwing accuracy needs a little work but, we can sure hit a stationary ball. Now a days we don't keep score, nobody loses...therefore, nobody wins and at the end of the season every player gets there own trophy, certificate for good sportsmanship and a team photo. He liked it so much he wants to play coach pitch next year!

We now have our "Chicago House" summer traditions. We did our annual trip into the city for a weekend stay. The weekend we were in the city it was 95 degrees and mild humidity. Landon had a fever all weekend so he and I stayed at the hotel during the day while Tony and Jayden went out to Navy Pier and to take in Michigan Avenue. In the evening, Tony stayed with Landon while Jayden and I went to the movies. I think Jayden enjoyed this better because he got one on one time with both of us. And, we also took our annual trip up to Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin...95 degrees with high humidity, thank god for the water slides. We also did a little family round of miniature golf...I think Landon actually won! Says a lot for the rest of us, doesn't it.

I kept Landon in "school" through the summer which gave Jayden and I time to do some fun "Jayden" things. We went into the city once a month on the train to have lunch with Tony. We took in a museum each week (which usually included a ride into the city). We went to lunch at some of Jayden's favorite places. And, overall just had two days of Jayden/Mom time each week.

For trips: We finally made it back out to Seattle for a long weekend (85 and high humidity...noticing a theme this year?). Although we had a great time, it wasn't enough time because we didn't get to see all of our friends on this trip. I guess we'll just have to head back out next summer :) Tony took a trip out to Martha's Vineyard for a Radio Boys Weekend (as some of us have compared it; think Star Trek convention without Star Trek...just geeky). He also took a quick trip down to Miami for a friends birthday celebration. And next week, Jayden and I will be heading out for a Mommy/Jayden trip back to Portland to visit Jayden's best friend.

So now Jayden is finishing up his first month as a First Grader. School starting wasn't a big deal this year, he just fell right back into his routine. He loves his teacher, Mrs. Ose, and he has about half of his friends from his Kindergarten class in his class this year.

You know, as I was walking to school to pick Jayden up the other day, I was thinking we should purchase a new bigger bike for him and then I realized...we will only be walking to/from school for another four weeks before winter hits, snow starts falling and the temperature plummets...which means...Christmas is right around the corner...Wooohoooo!

Birthdays

This year I decided I would do one post about the busy Birthday Season in our house, March through May. I know I'm a little late...but better late than never.

First up, Landon. Landon turned 2 at the end of March. He has embraced all there is to being two, especially those Terrible Twos Tantrums! He's learned a few things in the tantrum department from his big brother and he's putting it all to good use. His little vocabulary is expanding by the day but my favorite words are J.J. (it sounds more like Shay-Shay) and cracker (he breaks it up and it comes out Crack-Car). He's definately become more animated when talking and he loves to giggle and get you laughing as well. We celebrated his birthday very low key with an at home party with the four of us and a Mickey Mouse cake.

In between the boys was my birthday. Yay, 33! It was a good birthday. Jayden handmade me a coffee mug (with a little help from Daddy). Landon did the typical male thing, he added his name to the card and just went with whatever his Dad had picked out. I decided that part of my present was going to be a few days "off" so two days during my birthday week I didn't clean or cook; surprisingly, I nearly broke out in hives...it's hard allowing the house to be torn apart without following along and picking up.

And finally, Jayden. Jay turned 6 in May! He celebrated his birthday with a bowling party with 9 of his close friends from school. He was very excited to get his special birthday crown from school and have his class sing to him in Music class. Jayden is the typical 6 year old; loving outside and hanging with some his friends whenever he gets the chance. He is really looking forward to losing his first tooth sometime this year (nearly all of his classmates had lost at least one before the end of Kindergarten) and returning to school to start 1st Grade. It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that he's a first grader now. Time flies.

That's all for birthdays until October when Mr. Coles turns...42!

Wait for it...wait for it...

The last 5 (or so) seconds Landon transforms...

A Long Winter

Winter #2 down. Oh my has it been a long winter. With that said, I have to admit this winter was a far cry from the severity of last winter. Yes, it was cold and yes, it snowed but not like last year. What was more severe, cabin fever.

I feel as though I have been in a cave for a year. Running to the grocery store is a chore when you have coats, mittens, hats and kids in tow. Heading to the mall, worthless...you spend ten minutes undressing from the outdoor elements only to have to carry all those extra layers through the mall with you. No midday walks. No getting out to run around the yard or play on the swings. I haven't sat in the sun in so long, my mom is probably darker than I am (and that says a lot)!

The kids are now accustomed to the weather and the Chicago past times. Landon doesn't like to leave the house without his little winter hat on. Jayden is excited to be going out to recess in 5 degree weather (and no, I'm not kidding there) while I mumble profanities under my breath every time I have to get out of the car during drop off. The whole family went out to ice skate...Jayden and I made it on the ice, Tony and Landon watched from the side. Jayden thinks he likes hockey but after watching the Olympics and seeing the agressive behavior, he's not so sure. He was very excited to be from the same city as Evan Lysacek, Olympic Gold Medalist in Men's Figure Skating.

Lately though, the days are lighter longer. The sun is shining. The snow is melting. It's almost warm enough to walk to school to pick up Jayden. I can feel hibernation season drawing to close. Thank god.

18 Years of Life

Today, my beloved Tiger Kitty passed away. She lived a great long life of 18 years, 9 with us. She brought peace and love to our home. She was a loyal and loving friend and big kitty sister. She will be eternally missed.





Tiger Kitty Coles

5/5/91-1/29/10

Thankful

I can hear the crowds beginning to gather in Times Square already...the end of a year and the start of a new one is upon us. This year has given us a lot to be thankful for and a few reminders of what is most important. It seems hard to believe that with the Christmas decorations and lights, we are also packing up '09 and the first decade of the 21st century...but, I'm getting ahead of myself...let's talk Christmas!

Jayden wrote his own letter to Santa this year. Of course it was like pulling teeth with that kid. One would think if you threaten a child with absolutely NO presents from Santa unless a letter is written and delivered, a fire would be lit under them and the letter would be finished and sealed before you complete the previous sentence...not Jayden. Jayden delivered his letter to Macy's Santa's Letter Mailbox on...December 21st! (Which in case you missing it, meant I had to go to a mall THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS!) The good news is that Santa recieved his letter in time for gifts to arrive on Christmas morning and I didn't have to hurt anyone to get a parking spot :)

Landon wanted absolutely nothing to do with Santa and the whole Santa thing. He didn't want to talk to, walk near, see or acknowledge anyone with a white beard, red suit or goes by the name of Santa. He did however fall in love with The Night Before Christmas book at the last minute...and Santa rewarded him, handsomely.

We want to thank everyone who gave so generously to Jayden and Landon this Christmas; I wish you all could have seen the excitement in their eyes on Christmas morning.

So the kids have been home for one week of their two week break. Landon usually only heads off to "school" twice a week but he too is staying home for a break. I have to say, it's a much easier day when they don't have to go off to school...they are on my routine and all is quiet...very little fighting, shouting or crying, no tantrums, lots of sharing and the occassional kiss on Landon's forehead from his big brother. I'm really going to miss my time with them once school resumes next week...until Monday afternoon when all hell breaks loose and they begin yelling and screaming at each other (which isn't really fair for Landon because he...nevermind, he makes up for a small vocabulary by trying to scratch his brother's eyes out...yep, all's fair again) and I will be counting the hours until the next school day begins.

And with the Winter Break comes milestones...Landon has left babyhood behind, he is now a big boy in a big boy bed. Okay, so really he just moved out of the crib and into a toddler bed but it's a big milestone...for us all. It means that he's no longer a "baby" and now our house is "babyless"...forever. We are done with cribs, bottles, formula and baby food for good...no going back...finished. I'm not that sentimental about potty training...the sooner the better on that one, I will gladly say goodbye to that last phase without a tear.

Oh yeah, and one more bit of good news...the cat made it to see another Christmas. I'm really starting to question her mortality. What other cat do you know is 17 with heart condition, asthma (that has gone dormant), diabetes (that is no longer detectable), a year long upper respitory infection (that is now cleared up), a case of "bulimia" that turned out to be an ulcer that dropped her weight down to 4 pounds but is now rebounding nicely and putting the weight back on. In the words of Grey's Anatomy...Seriously?

So to all, I wish you a wonderfully happy, healthy, and safe New Year...see you all in 2010.

P.S. As I was finishing up this post Tony informed me that Tiger is in kitty confinement because...she threw up. Great.

Fall & Halloween

Each passing years seems faster and shorter than the last. We've already celebrated a year in Illinois. Landon is now attending "school" twice a week. Jayden just received his first report card (with solid "Secure" marks across the board...Secure is the Kindergardener's equivalent to an "A"). And, Halloween is now behind us with Thanksgiving and Christmas fresh on the horizon. Time needs to slow down a bit, just enough to allow us time to stop and enjoy the days going by.

Jay is really enjoying school. There is the occasional "bad" day, the days when the girls are being, well, girls and mean (really there seems to be just one mean girl who "knows" everything and proceeds to tell all the other kids that they don't measure up to her). Of course, as in years past, Jay seems to be one of the big men on campus; all the little girls surrounding him. I've always been very supportive and happy with this, Jay has never been the rough and tumble type boy so girl friends seem great...however, I'm starting to notice a little bit of a change. First, there are more girls. Second, some of them are "older" as in 1st and 2nd grade. And third, as we witnessed on Halloween...they squeal when they're around him. Yeah, I need this this early like a hole in the head.

Landon is...Landon. He is talking more now; "bus", "mouse", "meow", "doggie", "train", "choo choo", etc. He really enjoys going to school to visit with his friends, and like Jayden, has a thing for the ladies...especially cutie patootie Mary. He apparently plays "home living" with her a lot (they don't call it "house" any longer?). He's still very shy but seems to enjoy blowing kisses to anyone that talks to him. Presently, as I'm writing this, he is manhandling his brother, pushing him down because he didn't get his way! Ah, brothers.

Halloween came and went pretty fast this year. We decorated a little more outside but with storms and wind, most of my "web" was pulled down well before the holiday. Last year the weather was far wamer all month and leaves were still on trees. This year, the weather turned cold early, the leaves all fell and we froze as we went house to house (Jayden looked like a relative of Rudolph by the time walked back to the house). Raking leaves is not fun in 40 degree weather, even when both boys enjoy it and "help out".

With the weather cold and the leaves all fallen, it seems that fall has zoomed right past. The temps will continue to fall and snows will soon begin. The men will be here next week to put up the outdoor Christmas lights and then we're well on our way toward the winter season and holidays. Preparations are under way for the Winter Party in Jayden's class. My Christmas shopping is done! Now just let the days slow down a little and let's enjoy and appreciate these next few months, the last two months of 2009!