I love moments like these.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Too Many Pictures
With so many Christmas celebrations, and my camera present at each one, there is simply too much to recap. So, I'm going to share my favorite shot of each person. Yeah....that will be much easier, I'm sure.
Cooper: We got a new game called Sorry Express. It really is a great game, but be warned -- if you play with Cooper, he will kick your butt. He takes this game very seriously, and I have a whole series of shots showing the agony involved in each move that I may share later. I've never seen him get so worked up over a game.
Nick: Doesn't he look so serene, so angelic, so calm here? He was like that all during Christmas. He did the same thing at Disney World. He took it all in, and was kind of quiet, but then he's been talking non-stop about it for the past six months. I have a feeling we're going to have the daily Christmas recap until summer.
Maddie: This is what baby girl looks like once she's made peace with the idea that she doesn't get to consume those cookies or that milk. It took a while to get to this point.
Jeff: We have jumped into "girlworld" with both feet. Thank goodness there was something to assemble in girlworld. Every dad should get to build something before he puts the babies to bed, feeds them, rocks them, puts them to bed again, etc., etc.
Can I just say I'm glad Christmas is over? It's not that I don't enjoy it, but I don't enjoy being exhausted and having exhausted kids. Thank goodness we have a few days left to recover before the chaos of life takes over again. I'm kind of looking forward to getting life back to normal.
Cooper: We got a new game called Sorry Express. It really is a great game, but be warned -- if you play with Cooper, he will kick your butt. He takes this game very seriously, and I have a whole series of shots showing the agony involved in each move that I may share later. I've never seen him get so worked up over a game.
Nick: Doesn't he look so serene, so angelic, so calm here? He was like that all during Christmas. He did the same thing at Disney World. He took it all in, and was kind of quiet, but then he's been talking non-stop about it for the past six months. I have a feeling we're going to have the daily Christmas recap until summer.
Maddie: This is what baby girl looks like once she's made peace with the idea that she doesn't get to consume those cookies or that milk. It took a while to get to this point.
Jeff: We have jumped into "girlworld" with both feet. Thank goodness there was something to assemble in girlworld. Every dad should get to build something before he puts the babies to bed, feeds them, rocks them, puts them to bed again, etc., etc.
Can I just say I'm glad Christmas is over? It's not that I don't enjoy it, but I don't enjoy being exhausted and having exhausted kids. Thank goodness we have a few days left to recover before the chaos of life takes over again. I'm kind of looking forward to getting life back to normal.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Christmas Programs
In the last week, we've had two Christmas programs. Neither of them are billed as big deals, but the paparazzi doesn't know that. I've never seen so many cameras and video cameras gathered.
Cooper's program was in the gym, and we were in the back, up on the bleachers, in order to make a great Maddie escape if we needed it. So, the pictures aren't that great, but that's o.k. We were quite proud of Cooper -- especially since he opted out of the church program, and put up quite the protest that we could even attend this one at school. When it came time for him to say his line, he did so like a pro. I even saw him moving his hands once during a song. For Cooper, this is huge!
Nick's program was equally exciting. He became Mr. Shy Guy as soon as we got there and he saw the crowd, but he did go up to the front. His mouth didn't move, and he wouldn't crack a smile, but there were snacks at the end, and let's be honest...that is generally Nick's motivation.
Maddie is patiently awaiting her turn. I have a feeling she will need no prompting in a couple of years.
Cooper's program was in the gym, and we were in the back, up on the bleachers, in order to make a great Maddie escape if we needed it. So, the pictures aren't that great, but that's o.k. We were quite proud of Cooper -- especially since he opted out of the church program, and put up quite the protest that we could even attend this one at school. When it came time for him to say his line, he did so like a pro. I even saw him moving his hands once during a song. For Cooper, this is huge!
Nick's program was equally exciting. He became Mr. Shy Guy as soon as we got there and he saw the crowd, but he did go up to the front. His mouth didn't move, and he wouldn't crack a smile, but there were snacks at the end, and let's be honest...that is generally Nick's motivation.
Maddie is patiently awaiting her turn. I have a feeling she will need no prompting in a couple of years.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Favorite Ornaments
Some of the blogs I peruse have been showing off their favorite ornaments. I can do that, too!
This first one is exceptionally special. It's from one of my Sunday school students and dear friends, Christina. She passed away about six years ago, and to remember her, this angel always goes at the top of my tree. I'm afraid I get a little selfish when it comes to this one. I hang it, and I take it down, and as I'm doing it, I say a prayer for Christina's parents, Rex and Marilyn.
The next three are all pretty old ornaments. My Pawpaw and Grandma B. used to have great basement parties, and some of those were Christmas parties. Grandma and Pawpaw would make these ornaments to use as place holders and table decorations.
Somewhere in the tree, is Mrs. Clause, but she's tucked back in the branches, and I couldn't find her to take a picture.
Can you tell what this is? A gift tag tucked inside of two communion cups. Grandma is so clever.
This one came from my cousin, Kim. She gave it to Jeff and me for a wedding present. It's a little kissing Dutch couple. My Grandpa was born in Holland, and we all like the Dutch looking stuff.
This is my newest favorite. It's Santa made out of Nick's hand. He made it at Kid's Kingdom on Friday, and he's quite proud of it.
Our tree is becoming quite full, and some may think it's starting to look a bit cluttered, but I love it that way.
This first one is exceptionally special. It's from one of my Sunday school students and dear friends, Christina. She passed away about six years ago, and to remember her, this angel always goes at the top of my tree. I'm afraid I get a little selfish when it comes to this one. I hang it, and I take it down, and as I'm doing it, I say a prayer for Christina's parents, Rex and Marilyn.
The next three are all pretty old ornaments. My Pawpaw and Grandma B. used to have great basement parties, and some of those were Christmas parties. Grandma and Pawpaw would make these ornaments to use as place holders and table decorations.
Somewhere in the tree, is Mrs. Clause, but she's tucked back in the branches, and I couldn't find her to take a picture.
Can you tell what this is? A gift tag tucked inside of two communion cups. Grandma is so clever.
This one came from my cousin, Kim. She gave it to Jeff and me for a wedding present. It's a little kissing Dutch couple. My Grandpa was born in Holland, and we all like the Dutch looking stuff.
This is my newest favorite. It's Santa made out of Nick's hand. He made it at Kid's Kingdom on Friday, and he's quite proud of it.
Our tree is becoming quite full, and some may think it's starting to look a bit cluttered, but I love it that way.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Our Favorite Seven Year Old
Yesterday was Cooper's birthday. He had a plan: Come home from school, watch a couple of cartoons, take his nightly shower, have Daddy pick up McDonald's, then open presents. It was a good plan, and a good night. We even had a surprise visit from Gram and Pawpaw.
Cooper got a Scooby Doo video, a nerf game that involves throwing the ball to someone wearing a certain colored disk on their hand, and Bockugan. I'm sure that last one is not spelled right, but it makes Cooper and Nick happy. I believe this is something along the lines of Pokemon -- there is some game involved, but for now, we have no idea what that game is, and just playing with the little things makes the boys happy.
This is Nick's contribution to the festivities. We sent cupcakes to school, and we'll have a small cake at Great Times for his tiny party with a couple of friends, but Jeff thought we should have something for him on the big day. So, Nick, Maddie and I stopped by Marsh and picked out a "Happy Birthday" cookie, but Nick spotted this one and its crazy amount of icing. So we went with it.
Nick also gave Cooper his favorite stuffed dinosaur, which I'm sure he'll take back at some point, but the gesture was nice.
So, anyway, happy birthday to my big boy. It's hard to imagine that seven years have gone by so quickly!
Monday, December 8, 2008
The Little Christmas Letter That Wasn't
(or also titled "Jeff is such a weenie and won't take one for the team...")
Please remember that everything written by the kids was really written by the kids. I can't make this stuff up!!
Dear Friends and Family,
This year, I’ve decided to let Nick take over the holiday greetings. Please keep in mind that he is only four, and this is his first Christmas letter. You’ll find his comments first, but as my dad will attest, I always have to get the last word, so I’ve added a bit of my own commentary.
I like recess and play time and project time, and everything else like song time and recess time and I also like recess. (Nick started preschool this year. To say he loves it is an understatement. He comes home each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with new songs to share, projects, and updates on the latest timeouts handed down. Knock on wood…so far, Nick hasn’t experienced his own timeout, but something tells us it’s only a matter of time. Nick is our good hearted, but trouble-finding kid…he makes life around here interesting.)
Cooper is so stinky. Everyday. He also farts in my face, and I say, “Ewww”. And I hide in the bathroom when he calls for me. (Cooper has been up to more exciting stuff than just sharing his stench with the world. This year, he’s entered the realm of full time elementary education. First grade is going great – I think we’re all amazed at how much information there is to learn and share. He’s also taken up a second career of selling his teeth to the tooth fairy. That poor fairy is going to have to take out a loan soon.)
Maddie is so funny. Today she farted in the bed. (Maddie had a million changes over the last year. Looking back, last year, she was crawling around the Christmas tree, but this year, she’s in full sprint mode. I’m happy to report that she has the boys in this house wrapped around her finger – all three of them, as Daddy is the biggest pushover of them all. She’s starting to really talk, and we’ve all adapted to her own little language. The poor thing is turning out to be a girl…she plays with dolls and everything; however, when she’s done with them, she loads them up into one of the boys’ dump trucks. It’s tough being the only girl in the house.)
I know something about Mommy – Mommy is so good, I want to cuddle with her. (This Nick kid is a genius, don’t you think?)
Now something about Daddy – Daddy stinks up the whole bathroom when he poops. (This is true, but Jeff also has his good qualities.)
So that’s the Engle report as told to me by Nick. We pray that your Christmas season is a blessed one.
Not to be outdone, here is Cooper’s version. This is word for word, and I think it speaks for itself.
Dear Friends and Family,
One day Nick farted in my face and he said, “Quickly,” because he wanted me to smell his fart.
Maddie is so weird because she stinks a lot. And she has a lot of gas.
Mommy is so stinky because she looks like a skunk.
I do not like it when Daddy poops in our bathroom because he stinks a lot and I tell him, “This is our bathroom…go in a different bathroom because it is too stinky in here. Mommy would really like it if you would poop in her bathroom.”
I think Cooper is nice.
From,
Cooper
So, when you get our true Christmas letter, try not to be disappointed. I'm not sure what I'm going to come up with. I can't possibly top this.
Please remember that everything written by the kids was really written by the kids. I can't make this stuff up!!
Dear Friends and Family,
This year, I’ve decided to let Nick take over the holiday greetings. Please keep in mind that he is only four, and this is his first Christmas letter. You’ll find his comments first, but as my dad will attest, I always have to get the last word, so I’ve added a bit of my own commentary.
I like recess and play time and project time, and everything else like song time and recess time and I also like recess. (Nick started preschool this year. To say he loves it is an understatement. He comes home each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with new songs to share, projects, and updates on the latest timeouts handed down. Knock on wood…so far, Nick hasn’t experienced his own timeout, but something tells us it’s only a matter of time. Nick is our good hearted, but trouble-finding kid…he makes life around here interesting.)
Cooper is so stinky. Everyday. He also farts in my face, and I say, “Ewww”. And I hide in the bathroom when he calls for me. (Cooper has been up to more exciting stuff than just sharing his stench with the world. This year, he’s entered the realm of full time elementary education. First grade is going great – I think we’re all amazed at how much information there is to learn and share. He’s also taken up a second career of selling his teeth to the tooth fairy. That poor fairy is going to have to take out a loan soon.)
Maddie is so funny. Today she farted in the bed. (Maddie had a million changes over the last year. Looking back, last year, she was crawling around the Christmas tree, but this year, she’s in full sprint mode. I’m happy to report that she has the boys in this house wrapped around her finger – all three of them, as Daddy is the biggest pushover of them all. She’s starting to really talk, and we’ve all adapted to her own little language. The poor thing is turning out to be a girl…she plays with dolls and everything; however, when she’s done with them, she loads them up into one of the boys’ dump trucks. It’s tough being the only girl in the house.)
I know something about Mommy – Mommy is so good, I want to cuddle with her. (This Nick kid is a genius, don’t you think?)
Now something about Daddy – Daddy stinks up the whole bathroom when he poops. (This is true, but Jeff also has his good qualities.)
So that’s the Engle report as told to me by Nick. We pray that your Christmas season is a blessed one.
Not to be outdone, here is Cooper’s version. This is word for word, and I think it speaks for itself.
Dear Friends and Family,
One day Nick farted in my face and he said, “Quickly,” because he wanted me to smell his fart.
Maddie is so weird because she stinks a lot. And she has a lot of gas.
Mommy is so stinky because she looks like a skunk.
I do not like it when Daddy poops in our bathroom because he stinks a lot and I tell him, “This is our bathroom…go in a different bathroom because it is too stinky in here. Mommy would really like it if you would poop in her bathroom.”
I think Cooper is nice.
From,
Cooper
So, when you get our true Christmas letter, try not to be disappointed. I'm not sure what I'm going to come up with. I can't possibly top this.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Movie Night
This is one of my favorites, and I've brainwashed my boys to love it, too. My parenting job is done.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Well, Poop.
Anyone see anything wrong with our tree?
Russ, we checked every bulb didn't we?
Oh, woo. Look at the time. I gotta get to bed. I still gotta brush my teeth, feed the hog, still got some homework to do, still got those bills to pay, wash the car...
Russ, we checked every bulb didn't we?
Oh, woo. Look at the time. I gotta get to bed. I still gotta brush my teeth, feed the hog, still got some homework to do, still got those bills to pay, wash the car...
Monday, December 1, 2008
Family, Family Everywhere
The last couple of weekends have been filled with family. The weekend before last, my uncle Hal and Aunt Grace came from Chicago, along with my cousins, Dawn and Lynn, with Dawn's family, her husband, Mark, and their sons, Brad and David.
Nellie was nice enough to have us all over to her house after church on Sunday, and the kids had a blast playing.
This is all the kids...getting them all together was nearly impossible.
Nick shared a phone call with Aunt Ethel.
Grandma B. got some much needed snuggle time with her newest great-grandson.
We couldn't keep Maddie away from Luke.
He didn't mind, until she decided to use his little head as a drum.
Moving on to Thanksgiving.
The boys helped with the prep work -- they are great carrot peelers.
This is Jeff "violating a turkey". We're so sad...he was in the kitchen, and I was online looking up the procedure. What did we do before the internet?
Dad and Luke got some bonding in.
Uncle Jeff pestered Brayden.
This is my favorite, though. I only know one man with bigger "paws" than my dad, and yet, they're very gentle with grandkids.
All in all, I'd say we're off to a good start for the holiday season.
Nellie was nice enough to have us all over to her house after church on Sunday, and the kids had a blast playing.
This is all the kids...getting them all together was nearly impossible.
Nick shared a phone call with Aunt Ethel.
Grandma B. got some much needed snuggle time with her newest great-grandson.
We couldn't keep Maddie away from Luke.
He didn't mind, until she decided to use his little head as a drum.
Moving on to Thanksgiving.
The boys helped with the prep work -- they are great carrot peelers.
This is Jeff "violating a turkey". We're so sad...he was in the kitchen, and I was online looking up the procedure. What did we do before the internet?
Dad and Luke got some bonding in.
Uncle Jeff pestered Brayden.
This is my favorite, though. I only know one man with bigger "paws" than my dad, and yet, they're very gentle with grandkids.
All in all, I'd say we're off to a good start for the holiday season.
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