Reindeer Games and Such

The boys are LOVING Christmas this year. The sights. The sounds. The smells. The surprises. EVERYTHING!

Here are a few of their favorite activities from the season so far:

Reindeer Games
Transforming IBC Rootbeer containers and bottles into six packs of reindeer for their teachers was a big hit. 

 Crewe thought he needed a reindeer nose, too!

 

The finished products were full of character and so much fun to deliver.

Christmas Baking
Chris is known to say "you need the right tool for the job" and it's rubbing off on the boys -- they wouldn't think of starting Christmas baking without wearing their chef apparel courtesy of Grammy.

Temple Lights
The boys lit up cruising around the temple grounds and admiring the sights. Crewe was obsessed with the star on top of the nativity stable. And yes, the temperature was in the 50s so we had to bust out the mittens and hats!

Train Park

If my boys ever go missing, I'll be looking for them at the Train Park. They are magnets to this place and the attraction is even stronger when it's Christmas time at the Train Park. Crewe nearly had a complete meltdown waiting for our turn to board the train; he just couldn't stand the suspense. It was a good thing his favorite car, the yellow one, was available when we boarded!

Gingerbread House Building
"One candy for the house, two for my tummy." That pretty much sums up the boys' approach to building. Want to hire them for your next project?

 Counting Down
Turning over an ornament on the advent tree became a morning ritual that Calahan wouldn't let us miss. With each number that is turned over, it seems the anticipation and hyperactivity grow!

Dear Santa

 

Calahan had pressing issues to discuss with Santa this year before telling what he'd like to see under the Christmas tree. Here's the letter he dictated: 

Dear Santa,

Where do you park the sleigh? Do you have a garage? How does the sleigh land without wheels?

My brother has been a good boy AND a little naughty so you need to bring him some presents and a little coal. I have been a good boy and would like a scooter with a break and a bell for my bike.

Thank you,

Calahan

Crewe's letter was short and to the point:

Dear Santa,

I would like a Christmas tree with a star on it. I love Christmas trees. 

Ho Ho,

Crewe

A week after mailing their letters to Santa, Cal and Crewe got to meet Santa for the first time and tell him their wishes personally.

Cal was quick to point out that he failed to list something he very much hopes for -- a train to go around the Christmas tree. Santa, did you make a note of it? Crewe clarified that indeed, he only wants a Christmas tree with a star on it -- the same as his birthday wish.

Seriously, ages 4 and 3 are so FUN at Christmas time. We'll see what Santa's elves report about who's been naughty and nice!

The Very Hungry Caterpillars & The Live Insect Lady

In the light of the post office many little caterpillar eggs lay in a box. One Monday morning the warm sun came up and -- pop -- out the post office came me and 10 very hungry caterpillars (and a nickname from the postal workers that I may never shake -- "the live insect lady" -- per the unmistakable box labeling).

These 10 very hungry caterpillars were a Christmas gift for Cal and Crewe from their Florida cousins. On Christmas day the boys opened a butterfly garden kit complete with a butterfly home and a mail-in certificate for a set of live caterpillars. And the day I picked up the caterpillars it was Christmas all over again.

Witnessing these little creatures grow, build their cocoons and then blossom into beautiful butterflies over the past few weeks has been a fantastic experience. The boys loved seeing the visible, almost daily changes in their "pets" and having a hand in caring for them. Several times each day I would hear "mom, we need to check on the caterpillars/butterflies." There was something very moving about beholding one of nature's miracles right before our eyes and observing the intricate design, detail and delicateness of these beautiful creatures.

Cal checking out the caterpillars in their starter home

The first butterfly arrives; Making food for the new butterfly.
Turns out butterflies love freshly cut oranges.

Feeding time again. Have you ever seen a butterfly's tongue?
It's like a piece of very fine ribbon -- it curls beautifully and so carefully.

A close up of butterfly #1. The red spot is actually the butterfly's meconium
(sorry, I know that was too much information for some of you).Not quite sure he's ready to let the butterflies go.Look at them fly!

Thank you, Klepkos, for such a great gift. We're glad you chose caterpillars over the ant farm! Those very hungry caterpillars turned into beautiful butterflies.

Yours truly,
the live insect lady (TLIL)

Our Two Sons

Calahan (3 1/2)

Our baby has turned into an outgoing, potty-trained and booster-seat riding little man. He talks in complex sentences, dresses himself and loves to opens doors for girls.

Calahan is independent, social, bright and imaginative. He loves to learn, giggle and is a natural negotiator. He loves to help me in the kitchen and Chris in the yard. Cal is tender-hearted, affectionate and polite. He is my little snuggler and loves to climb in bed next to me in the early morning.

Cal is very much an oldest child -- he has perfectionist tendencies, enjoys bossing others around (including me) and may not always be right, but he's never in doubt! He enjoys preschool three mornings a week and would go every day if he could.

Age three is my favorite age so far. Cal is constantly cracking me up with his commentary on what's going on around him and his imagination. He loves music and has a cute singing voice. I love hearing him belt Jingle Bells and Dominick the Donkey, complete with all the "heys!"

Crewe (2 1/2)

Crewe is loving being the baby of the family. In fact, he generally loves life -- he is constantly smiling and finding a reason to laugh. He entertains himself - sometimes for hours at a time - and exudes a contagious feeling of happiness and goodwill wherever he goes.

Crewe loves to rough-house with Chris and Calahan. He enjoys playing with Cal and older children. He loves music, laughing and doing activities with his hands. His expressive eyes will make anyone's heart melt.

Little "W" (after his great-grandpa) also enjoys food more than anyone else I currently know or have ever met. Crewe is usually the first to start eating and the last to finish. He is the healthiest eater of us all and begs for bananas, tomatoes and asparagus. I guess that's what happens when you are allergic to milk, eggs, soy and nuts! He calls digestive enzymes "candy."

Crewe has been remarkably healthy since we implemented the advice of Dr. Tennant, an innovative medical doctor in Dallas. In fact, a few weeks ago he came down with his first bug in 9 months. What normally would have been a 7-10 day sickness involving a trip to the ER at Phoenix Children's complete with an IV and meds was handled at home without any meds. Crewe was completely back to normal within 48 hours. He has sure come a long way.

Crewe still has his trach and doesn't seem bothered by it at all. He lifts his chin when we need to suction it and agreeably (usually) lets us change the ties each day. His speech is really starting to come along. He is turning into a genuine talker, adding new vocabulary words all of the time.

Therapy is also still a major part of Crewe's life. He has physical therapy twice a week, occupational and speech therapy once a week and a developmental specialist visit weekly. We are blessed to have such outstanding therapists. Watching his motor skills progress is truly exciting.

And there you have it, our boy update!

6 Things that Make Me Smile

1. Cal's commentary.

Here's a recent sampling:

• "Mom, I want to go to the moon. I need a really, really tall ladder."
• "Hey, those cookies need a lot more snow (sugar)."
• "Look, Mom, I'm a blast-off man." (wearing his safety goggles from Lowe's and his Bob the Builder hat).
  

2. Crewe eating corn on the cob.
We seriously have to limit his corn consumption. He asks for it constantly!

3. Notes from my hubby.
Like this one that appeared recently on the cord of my flat iron:
Let me just admit it now -- if our house ever burns down, it's my fault. I have a problem remembering to always shut off small electronic appliances. This is the reason that almost every appliance we own has an auto-shut off. Well, my hair iron doesn't have an auto-shut off so it gets to wear cool jewelery like this "unplug me" tag.

4. Kelly working with Crewe.
Notice who's wearing the bib in this shot. Learn by example, right?

5. High Temperatures below 100.
Finally, we're out of hibernation season and enjoying life outside again.

6. Primary Children.
My new church job is being the chorister for the primary kids in our ward. I feel a bit intimidated never having served in primary before (or in music for that matter). Sunday was my first time in my new assignment and the kids put me totally at ease with their smiles, enthusiasm and sense of humor. I think I'm going to like it.

The Announcer and Trapeze Artist

There is one Sunday per year when I feel like the odds are pretty attractive for our kids behaving well during Sacrament Meeting -- the Sunday of the Primary Program (kids aged 4-12 do the whole meeting). Today was that lucky Sunday.

If you count having an announcer and trapeze artist as part of the program, well, our kids behaved just perfectly. Calahan (still in nursery until January) took it upon himself to {loudly} announce the name of each primary child he knew as the child approached the podium to do the assigned part. "There'ssssss Bennett!" The giggles from some in the congregation only provided further encouragement for his announcing.

Meanwhile, Crewe was enthralled with the darling family behind us and spent most of the meeting standing on the pew with his back to us, facing the family and playing with the dad. While exchanging smiles and giggles, Crewe lost his balance and took a dive face first over the back of the pew. His form was actually quite remarkable. Fortunately, the dad of the family is an athlete with quick reflexes and caught Crewe before he smashed into the ground. Crewe sat up afterwords with a look that said "that went exactly how I had hoped" and made himself comfortable on Mike's lap.

Maybe next year?

Cruisin' Crewe

Crewe has been cruising around the furniture for sometime, but has not been interested -- at all -- in giving up the security of having something to lean on. His physical therapist showed up a few weeks ago with this rear facing walker and he's loving it. He's becoming a bit of a speed demon in it. Hopefully he'll be walking independently very soon. We are thrilled to finally see him moving on his feet!

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

From the random category, today's thumbs up, thumbs down post:

• Crocs. Until recently, these plastic shoes got a major thumbs down in my book. When I came across this crocodile printed pair, we decided to give crocs a chance. They now get a big thumbs up from me. Cal can get these on and off himself, they don't make his feet stink and you just rinse them off when they get dirty.
  
• Lowe's Build & Grow Activities. These get two thumbs up. You can't beat this perfect father/son bonding time on Saturday mornings at your local Lowe's store. The projects are fun and free!
  
• Car troubles. My car started riding really rough during our June road trip and despite several visits to the dealer, they couldn't "find" the problem. Turns out it needed a new transmission (major thumbs down). Fortunately, we had purchased the extended warranty and it covered most of the cost (thumbs up).
• Danielle. Crewe's nurse who we adopted as part of our family is no longer with us (thumbs down). Danielle is sharing her talents with newborns at a local hospital (thumbs up).
• Overcast Mornings. These rare mornings are definitely thumbs up. The boys can play before it gets into the triple digits. This often means they end up playing in their jammies, but we'll take these mornings any day!
• Preschool. My baby Cal starts preschool in a couple of weeks. He will love the social interaction and challenge (thumbs up). I'll miss my little buddy (thumbs down).

Addicted

His name is Crewe and he's addicted to Costco rotisserie chicken. It's bad. He wants it for breakfast. He wants it for lunch. He wants it for dinner.

Fortunately for Crewe, his older brother recognizes his addiction and advocates for him. Like earlier this week in a conversation with me.

Cal: Mom, we really need to go to Costco.
Me: Why?
Cal: Crewe needs more chicken. Don't worry, mom, I'll feed it to him.

I want that piece.
I'm opening really big so that I don't miss a morsel.
I'm biting down really hard to make sure I get every piece.