Andy heard Van talking to himself this morning. The door to Van's bedroom was closed and he heard him say, "Ok, now it's time to start my day." before he opened the door and walked out.
The best.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Happy Birthday
Today I got this birthday card. A collaborative effort between Andy and Van.
Also there is a 'making of the birthday card' video that I got to watch at 5:30 this morning, which shows the development of the message inside the card.
Also there is a 'making of the birthday card' video that I got to watch at 5:30 this morning, which shows the development of the message inside the card.
Then I went to crossfit, which is my favorite way to start the day. We worked on power cleans, and then did a tabata style interval workout with jump rope, air squats, pushups, and rowing.
After work my family promised to meet me for bowling with the kids. I hope it's fun for the boys, I had been wanting to take Finn and Van for a while.
I like birthdays, and today is turning out to be a great one. :)
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Esther's ponytail
Esther is so much fun these days. She's so focused and careful about everything she does. I loved watching her color today with a purple crayon.
She's happy, smiling and wonderful. Here are some pictures of her watching her brother play outside with a cute ponytail.
She's happy, smiling and wonderful. Here are some pictures of her watching her brother play outside with a cute ponytail.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day!
I can't wait to get home to smooch my 3 Valentines.
Meanwhile I have these flowers here at work to keep me company.
I can't wait to get home to smooch my 3 Valentines.
Meanwhile I have these flowers here at work to keep me company.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The not so good times
I always write about the good times because this blog is like a scrapbook for me, I want to be able to look back and read it and think about all the things I want to remember when Van and Esther were little.
But obviously times are not always good, and both Van and I are not always on our best behavior. Last night was a good example. I thought may be worth capturing for accuracy, just so everyone reading the blog doesn't think we operate outside reality.
I generally carry Esther from the moment I walk in the door until she goes to bed. When I walk in the door, she is usually in her high chair. If she sees me, and I turn any other direction but directly towards her, she will cry. I have to maintain eye contact while taking off my coat and putting down my things. But today I had to put her down right after I came home because I needed to be dressed nice, finished feeding her and over at my sisters house 5 minutes ago.
Van was hyper because we had just gotten home so he was running around being destructive and throwing things for no reason. And he was following me. Like a tornado throughout the house.
And Esther is crying, because I am not holding her.
We are in my closet which is covered in piles, boxes, and bags of clothes because I'm trying to clean it out. He sees a bag he used once and immediately goes to dump everything out of it.
Me: "NOOOO!"
Van: "This is my bag. I bring my things to school in it. It's mine."
Me: "You used it once, that doesn't make it yours"
Van: "It is mine."
Me: "You don't have any money, you don't have things. Everything is mine. And don't you dare dump it out."
Van: Crying and tears.
He mopes over to where Esther had been consistently crying and rerouting and trying to figure out how to get into my arms as I walk back and forth getting dressed. He lays on top of her so that she can't crawl away. She cries harder.
Me: "Stop that, she doesn't like it!"
Van: "I'm just laying on her"
Me: "Stop it!"
He finds a hanger in my closet, it is a pretty one, with silky fabric covering the arms. he hooks it on the boots I was wearing as I walk by in an attempt to drag me around but I keep walking and the hanger breaks.
He smiles.
Esther cries more.
Why is breaking things so fun for him! I grab the rest of the hanger still hanging off my boot and in a moment of weakness throw it at his head.
"Ow" he says in suprise. Then he bursts into tears. Mom's don't generally do things that hurt on purpose. He runs downstairs crying and I hear him demand to Daddy that I get a spanking.
Andy comes up to check on me.
"Did you throw a hanger and hit Van?" he said pretending to be serious but laughing a little.
I told him he deserved it under my breath.
"Don't worry, I spanked her." Andy calls down to Van.
Luckily, since we can see Svea's house from ours, we realize that she isn't even home yet so we aren't late. I lay down to nurse Esther and Andy lays down and on the other side and gives her a smooch. Then Van comes upstairs, happy again, satisfied that I have been punished, and climbs on Andy's back and we relax.
But obviously times are not always good, and both Van and I are not always on our best behavior. Last night was a good example. I thought may be worth capturing for accuracy, just so everyone reading the blog doesn't think we operate outside reality.
I generally carry Esther from the moment I walk in the door until she goes to bed. When I walk in the door, she is usually in her high chair. If she sees me, and I turn any other direction but directly towards her, she will cry. I have to maintain eye contact while taking off my coat and putting down my things. But today I had to put her down right after I came home because I needed to be dressed nice, finished feeding her and over at my sisters house 5 minutes ago.
Van was hyper because we had just gotten home so he was running around being destructive and throwing things for no reason. And he was following me. Like a tornado throughout the house.
And Esther is crying, because I am not holding her.
We are in my closet which is covered in piles, boxes, and bags of clothes because I'm trying to clean it out. He sees a bag he used once and immediately goes to dump everything out of it.
Me: "NOOOO!"
Van: "This is my bag. I bring my things to school in it. It's mine."
Me: "You used it once, that doesn't make it yours"
Van: "It is mine."
Me: "You don't have any money, you don't have things. Everything is mine. And don't you dare dump it out."
Van: Crying and tears.
He mopes over to where Esther had been consistently crying and rerouting and trying to figure out how to get into my arms as I walk back and forth getting dressed. He lays on top of her so that she can't crawl away. She cries harder.
Me: "Stop that, she doesn't like it!"
Van: "I'm just laying on her"
Me: "Stop it!"
He finds a hanger in my closet, it is a pretty one, with silky fabric covering the arms. he hooks it on the boots I was wearing as I walk by in an attempt to drag me around but I keep walking and the hanger breaks.
He smiles.
Esther cries more.
Why is breaking things so fun for him! I grab the rest of the hanger still hanging off my boot and in a moment of weakness throw it at his head.
"Ow" he says in suprise. Then he bursts into tears. Mom's don't generally do things that hurt on purpose. He runs downstairs crying and I hear him demand to Daddy that I get a spanking.
Andy comes up to check on me.
"Did you throw a hanger and hit Van?" he said pretending to be serious but laughing a little.
I told him he deserved it under my breath.
"Don't worry, I spanked her." Andy calls down to Van.
Luckily, since we can see Svea's house from ours, we realize that she isn't even home yet so we aren't late. I lay down to nurse Esther and Andy lays down and on the other side and gives her a smooch. Then Van comes upstairs, happy again, satisfied that I have been punished, and climbs on Andy's back and we relax.
Valentines
Van's Valentines for pre-school.
I made them.
It was set up so he could help (he was supposed to do the watercolor), but when the time came, he was too busy playing with Finn. So I made them and I had fun doing it. Mom gave us the great idea.
Anyway, I'm sure he'll be able to help eat them!
I made them.
It was set up so he could help (he was supposed to do the watercolor), but when the time came, he was too busy playing with Finn. So I made them and I had fun doing it. Mom gave us the great idea.
Anyway, I'm sure he'll be able to help eat them!
Also I got to drop him off at pre-school today which I have only done 1 or 2 other times. When I did it before he didn't really know anyone in his class yet. It was so fun seeing him talking to the other kids in the class, getting excited about his show and tell (he brought a flashlight and an orange airplane), and joining in the activities (they were playing with shaving cream on the desk).
He seemed really tall for his class (and exceptionally handsome); he also looked sharp in his new haircut (Andy and I collaborated on it a few days ago).
Anyway, he was cute and it looked like he was having fun.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Van the man
"Mom, I'm saving this for you. I'm saving this crepe bite for you."
Van jumps up from eating his breakfast and runs over to grab a ziploc bag out of a drawer.
"I don't want to hurt your feelings so I'm saving you this crepe. Will you zip this?"
He holds out the ziploc bag now containing a half eaten crepe.
"Ok, tomorrow when you get hungry you can open the fridge and eat this. It will be in the fridge on top of the beans."
I love this kid.
***
Last night Van selected his books for story time. One was a flip book, it has three rows along the top that each contain the entire alphabet. Then three rows on the bottom that contain different 3 letter words. You can pick a word on the bottom and then spell it using the rows on the top.
Van picks a word and I spell it, but after two, he says, "hey I could do that."
Then he picks words and goes through the alphabet picking out the right letters.
It's a tedious process but I love that he's interested in doing it. He spelled 5 different words. He recognized the letter s. We talk about what different words start with different letters. We rhyme words.
I am so proud.
Van jumps up from eating his breakfast and runs over to grab a ziploc bag out of a drawer.
"I don't want to hurt your feelings so I'm saving you this crepe. Will you zip this?"
He holds out the ziploc bag now containing a half eaten crepe.
"Ok, tomorrow when you get hungry you can open the fridge and eat this. It will be in the fridge on top of the beans."
I love this kid.
***
Last night Van selected his books for story time. One was a flip book, it has three rows along the top that each contain the entire alphabet. Then three rows on the bottom that contain different 3 letter words. You can pick a word on the bottom and then spell it using the rows on the top.
Van picks a word and I spell it, but after two, he says, "hey I could do that."
Then he picks words and goes through the alphabet picking out the right letters.
It's a tedious process but I love that he's interested in doing it. He spelled 5 different words. He recognized the letter s. We talk about what different words start with different letters. We rhyme words.
I am so proud.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Trampoline
What to do outside now that we have cold weather again but no snow? A trampoline party.
He's calling for me to stop taking pictures and come be the trampoline monster.
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