5 for 5

It's official. Adelyn is bordering on ridiculous for how many teeth she has lost. She's only been 5 for about 3 months and she has already lost her fifth tooth. She doesn't have any friends at school who have lost any teeth, as in she's the only one and she's lost five. I swear we brush her teeth, really we do.
Luckily it doesn't seem to bother her and she's already intimately familiar with the tooth fairy (who did still visit even though Daddy was having a sleepover in Addy's room). The scariest part is that I don't see an end in sight in the near future. She has two more teeth that could go at any minute!

Snow-cersize

Each day in Winthrop we tried to get the kids outside so they could enjoy the snow, but more importantly so they could burn off some energy. They went on walks, went sledding, helped shovel, climbed snow hills, watched deer, made snow angels, found icicles and climbed through snow tunnels. You would think of all of that activity would have successfully tired them out every day, but it honestly didn't seem to tire anyone out but us! I think I fell asleep every night by 8:30...getting old is tiring!

Weekend in Winthrop

Last weekend we were lucky enough to spend 3 nights in Winthrop with Chuck & Robin. It was a wonderful winter getaway. We got several inches of snow while we were there and had a real "winter" experience. Highlights included going cross-country skiing by ourselves (twice!), getting Addy on skis without any tears, playing and sledding in the snow, seeing deer every day, and of course watching the Seahawks game (without kids!)
We had a great time and so did the kids. Addy said a few times, "I wish we lived in Winthrop, we never get any snow like this where we live." I also said several times, "I can't believe I grew up in this kind of weather, everything about it seems so much more difficult now." Which is so true. I have completely forgotten how much work it is to bundle kids up before you go outside and then the effort it takes to get them unbundled when you come back in. And the wetness and mess of coming in and out from snow.  So. Much. Work.  To all of my friends in family in the midwest, you truly amaze me. It is so much harder dealing with snow and cold weather and I believe you are all better (and crazier!) people for it. And I don't actually miss it, at all.
Thank you Chuck & Robin for a wonderful weekend and for spoiling us!

I Went Pee in the Tub

On bath nights Brian often tries to get both kids in the tub together. Tonight Addy was being especially difficult so Cameron was almost done by the time she got in. As Brian was rinsing him off before he got out, Cameron started to pee right into the tub. Addy didn't notice (even though she was in the tub at the time) and when Cameron got out he exclaimed "I went pee in the tub!" Addy started to laugh because she thought he was joking (which he often does) and she said "no you didn't." He responded, "yes I did. I went pee in the tub." 

They continued back and forth this way a few more times and Brian and I just couldn't stop laughing and we didn't know what to do. Addy then said to us, "he didn't go pee because then I would be in it."

We just smiled and Cameron said one last time, "I did. I did pee."

Oh well, I'm certain it wasn't the first time Addy was in a pee-bath and I'm sure it won't be the last. 

Comments from Cameron

Cameron had some hilarious comments the other night. The entire encounter was less than 10 seconds he was talking so fast & was so excited about all of the statements he was making.

On the changing table he says in rapid-fire order, "Mommy has boobs. Daddy doesn't have boobs. Daddy has chest. Mommy has boobs, Daddy has chest. Mommy has boobs. I don't talk like that."

This was especially funny because it was a culmination of several different conversations over the previous few days. Brian had been explaining to him that "Daddy didn't have boobs" even though Cameron was insistent that he did. That's where the explanation of "Daddy has a chest" comes from. Then whenever he would see me he would make a comment about boobs so I told him that we didn't talk like that. I think it's amazing to see how his brain works and he connects all of these things together and then is so matter of fact about it like he's known it forever.

His other statement lately has been about diaper creme and vaseline. He says, "Diaper creme goes on my butt. I don't eat it. I only eat food. I don't eat diaper creme. Vaseline goes on my mouth, I don't eat it. I do it myself." This again is the combination of several different conversations, but clearly he's got it all figured out!

Kindergarten Readiness

It’s a new year and with that Adelyn has transitioned into a new room at school, the “kindergarten readiness” room which is for all kids entering kindergarten this year. She is so excited because it was really a big deal that she didn’t get to go to this room last year. She came home on the first day so excited about the new room that she could hardly get the words out fast enough. What I was able to gather is the following:

• The new room has a dress up area with new additions including a TV they made out of a cardboard box that includes pictures of shows, like Thomas the Train or Frozen. It even has a remote control (also out of cardboard).
• There is a new reading station area with new books she is very excited about but she can't remember any of the names.
• She gets to do new art projects in this room but she can't share the specifics on what art projects.
• They are working on learning more “all about them” including new posters explaining all of their favorite things and why they are a star
• She isn't sure if they still do show and tell in the new room but hopes they do, but thinks they might not because she doesn't think real kindergartners do show and tell.

I must say I am struck by how quickly Addy seems to be growing up. The other night we were reading books and she read (or has memorized) almost every single word of “Where Oh Where is Huggle Buggle Bear” She really does point to each word and follows the sentences. I can’t believe how smart my little girl is and it sure feels like she is "kindergarten ready" already. 

The Negoitator

My son is a natural negotiator and a fierce one at that. I am truly worried about what is to come because he has found my weaknesses and is using it to his advantage. I am not usually a pushover but there is something about his technique that wins me over every time. I think it's that his requests are just so ridiculous and he always has this silly smile that I feel I have no choice but to oblige.
I am usually the one to put him to bed and the negotiation starts as soon as we get upstairs he “negotiates” how bright the lights are in his room. Since they are on a dimmer switch he loves to tell me they are too bright- we then often go back and forth on what is “not too bright”. He then protests which pajamas I pick out so I now I let him choose, but lately he’s tried changing his mind after I already have them on him as a stalling technique. Once we are ready to pick out books he insists on giving hugs and kisses to Addy and Daddy first. His newest trick involves only giving them a hug or kiss, but not both to then just insist 10 minutes later that he “didn’t give Daddy a kissy” so we must go back downstairs to give them. Once he has picked out all of his books and we’ve read them he always insists on “one more” no matter how many books we initially read. The most common tactic involves his sippy of water. If I already have his water ready he will insist on getting ice in his water, if I already have ice in his water he will insist on 2 ice cubes, no matter what I prepare he negotiates something different. He also insists on coming with me to the kitchen to get it. Brian is usually in the kitchen at this time and Cameron just has this huge smile on his face showing that he knows he “won” and got his way. We then finally settle in to say our prayers and cuddle and even the cuddling becomes a negotiation. He no longer just wants to go in the crib, he wants to cuddle for as long as possible (he knows I can't resist a good cuddle). The other night he successfully got an extra trip downstairs for ice and an extra trip for “huggies." On the way back upstairs I said to Cameron “who’s in charge here Cameron?” and without missing a beat he said “I am” with a huge smile on his face.

Unfortunately I think he's right.

Wonder Woman Adelyn

And not to be outdone by her little brother, here are the best clips from Adelyn's performance (and what I had the patience to edit and copy).

Cameron's Christmas Pageant- aka "Hi Daddy"

Here is the best of the best of Cameron's performance. Brian was certainly the parent of honor and I just could not stop laughing.