Thanksgiving surprise

Finally I don't have to keep a secret anymore!

Andy flew to PA with Van to surprise his family for Thanksgiving. Hopefully I'll have some pictures from them soon, but for now, here is Esther on Thanksgiving in her fancy sweater. 

Mom, Esther and I ate leftovers all day.  :)

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are celebrating 1 day early because my dad has to leave for work on Thanksgiving.

This year I am thankful for so many things. But one thing I am especially thankful for is my husband. Without him this enchanted life I am living would not be possible. He is this wonderful, positive,  passionate, loyal, kind, thoughtful presence in my life. We make an excellent team, our strengths complement each other and together we create a loving family.

Here are 10 reasons I am thankful for Andy.

10. He starts my car and cleans it off on snowy days
9. He can find my phone when it is lost
8. He can find my keys when they are lost
7. He can find anything of mine, that I have lost
6. He is an excellent father
5. He is a brilliant cook
4. He sang Katy Perry's "Roar" in the living room the other day. Made my day.
3. He can fix or build all things in our house.
2. He is so handsome.
1. He loves my favorite football team, the Steelers.


Happy Thanksgiving!

Store helpers

Esther helping Andy at Lowes

Van helping me at Carrs. We're buying Gummy Bears for his school. He's also holding his back scratcher.

It's funny because when we were leaving for the house I said…

Me: "Awww Man"

Van: "What is it?"

Me: "Oh the door to your side is locked. I hate that" (it's on the opposite side to the driver's side, so I have to walk back around the car to unlock it)

Van: "Wait here mom!"

Van runs into the house. He comes back a few minutes later with this back scratcher. He uses it to open the door handle and the door opens. (because while he was inside, I had unlocked it.) 

Van: "Look, it worked!"

So now when we go into Carrs

Van: "We have to bring this mom. In case anyone needs our help."

Me: "Okay"

Van: "If someone needs our help, we have to help them."

Me: "Okay"

I think it reminds him of a slim jim, and even though he doesn't remember how one would work, he has this idea that long skinny things will help get doors unlocked. We've had our share of cab drivers getting my car open with a slim jim. 

11/24/2013

We recently put a password on Andy's iPad so that if Van wants to watch a movie he has to watch it on the big TV, so we can monitor his shows more closely. Even though Netflix has a 'Just for kids' section, they are not all great.

Andy: "What are you doing Van?"
Van: "Trying to watch a movie on your iPad, but it's not working."
Andy: "That's because it's disabled."
Van: "Can you get the able out of it?"

***

Recently I've been into handstands. I feel like they are something I should be able to do. I've been practicing a lot.

Van: "What are you doing?"
Me: "A handstand."
Van: "You do those a lot."
Me: "Yeah, I like them. Watch, this is a headstand, because my head is what is on the ground. (demonstrate). And this is a handstand, because my hands are down (demonstrate)."
Van looks at me upside-down, with my hair reaching down to the floor.
Van: "It looks more like a hairstand."

***

"I can't sleep, it's too dark, too lonely, too scratchy, too pokey. I can't sleep."
 - Van

***

"This is my favorite song."
 - Van about every recent pop hit he hears on the radio.

"This was my favorite song when I was a baby."
 - Van about 'Moves like Jagger'. A pop song that came out in 2011.

Bedtime routine

Andy has always been great at instituting a bedtime routine. While I would always read Van a story before bed, Andy was responsible for adding the more practical elements: going pody, then brushing teeth, then reading (or telling) two stories. It's a great routine.

But as Van has gotten older and a little harder to talk into things, Andy has tweaked the routine just slightly. First, they have a 'pee race', whoever can run upstairs and pee the fastest is the winner. Then they have a 'who can take longer' competition. Andy changes his clothes while Van brushes his teeth and whoever takes the longest wins. I can hear Van upstairs cackling with glee as he wins each of the nightly competitions. He even consoles Andy who feigns disappointment. "It's ok Daddy, you just have to move a little faster."

So great.

Heading to the store

Esther is all dressed up and ready to accompany me to the store.

Coat change before heading out the door, the flowers are cute but a bit snug.

My favorite errand running helpers.

Van and Esther 8 month comparison

Here they are in Steeler attire at 8 months. They're actually about 2 weeks apart in age here, Van's just shy of 8 months and Esther is almost 8.5 months.

And here is the back up material

The pair in real time, looking very serious

Esther smothered with love

So much love

Finn and his favorite baby (of many. Finn loves babies)

Sweet happy girl

Party Girls

Esther and I at Courtney's babyshower. We're party animals.

11/5/2013

The latest news,
On Wednesday October 30th, Zamzam had her baby! Her name is Marlies 7 lbs 1 oz, 19.5 inches long.

Then on Thursday Van dressed up as a construction worker, a triceratops and spiderman for various times of the day for Halloween. We went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. The walk was dark and rainy and took about 1.5 hours. All the neighbors said they hadn't had trick-or-treaters in over 10 years.
But we had fun and got plenty of candy. Next year they will be ready for us.
(Esther was a ladybug, she came along trick or treating, but stayed inside my coat.)

On Saturday Dad and I gave Van a haircut, he looks so handsome.
This isn't a great picture, but you can kind of see his hair. He fell asleep while waiting for dinner on Sunday.

Here is Esther eating spaghetti with mom, since Zamzam had her baby, mom has been watching Esther.

Esther is a great eater and very strong. She can pull herself into a standing position already (while holding on to something).

Here she is with her cousin Elin.