CHRISTMAS 2012

One more minute.  Two more minutes?  An hour perhaps?  While doing our Christmas shopping, we have been looking for a place to purchase time.  It's so valuable and there is so little of it. The past year's changes make it seem like we had found a place to buy time since how could so many things happen in the span of a year?  

Our regular readers will know the kids went through their third year and the many milestones along with it.  We are happy to report all are potty trained, and doing great during the night.  We feel as though the struggles through potty training deserve their own historical chronicle. The kids own their potty needs now and the rewards are so stunningly sweet.  

Never do we notice how the kids are growing more as during the morning routine.  How often have pants and socks been put away for larger sizes?  Liv and Max grew about 4 inches the last year, Augie about 3.  Their growth spurt tells have cued us in on their process: hungry hungry, sleepy sleepy, achy achy. 

As with most families, the heart of our time with the kids is in the kitchen.  Although it is meant for eating, the kitchen has become a coloring place, pretend play place and depository for any art supply we don't want spilled elsewhere. The kitchen has seen the kids transition from their clip-on-the-counter high chairs to regular chairs and stools; watched as they have become the helped to the helpers.  Stirring, pouring ingredients, mixing, filling and spreading. More than a few meals have had the kids' imprint. For example, the kids helped develop this smoothie ingredient list: orange juice,apple juice, frozen berries, bananas, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, jelly, maraschino cherry juice, milk, soy milk, and 

fruit cocktail.  If you are wondering, it was excellent. 

It's amazing how many first things there are for a kid.  This year, we have had more firsts with outside activities and we are finding out what they like and how they react: 

First….

1. Trip to a zoo (Naiabi Zoo, Quad Cities)

2. Air show (Southeast Iowa Air Show) 

3. Train ride (North Pole Express, Mount Pleasant) 

4. Hod rod show (Good Guys Nationals, Des Moines)

5. Blues festival (Blues and BBQ Festival, North Liberty) 

6. Ride in a golf cart (Grandma Irene's cart - thing's fast!) 

7. Golf swing with real golf clubs

8. Campfire (it's more about marshmallows, hot dogs and stories)

9. Hayrack ride (Harvestville Farm, Donnellson, Iowa)

10. Big Christmas lights show (Keokuk, Iowa, City of Christmas) 

11. Movie at movie theatre (Cars 2) 

12. Combine ride (near Mediapolis, IA) 

13. Trampoline jump (summer surprise) 

14. Glider and tricycle self-powered rides 

There has got to be others, but that is all we can remember! 

The ability to remember events and details of those events is very strong with the kids. Olivia regularly reminds us of a shopping trip she took with Dad to O'Reilly Auto Parts, ALDI'S and KMart. And she remembers the shopping list at ALDI'S. Max has most of Burlington mapped out, as he informs us when we miss a turn to wherever we are going. August likes to remind us of detailswe have forgotten about outings or things we've seen.  It's fun to watch them re-live their recent experiences too. 

Reading has been a big deal in the house since Olivia started last year, around her 3rd birthday.  She has fully blossomed into a bibliophile of epic proportions. A decent kid's section of a small town library resides in her bed at all times. The Berenstain Bears are her favorite series, followed closely by anything Richard Scary.  She can whip through a whole Berenstain Bears book reading out loud with plenty of energy and focus to spare. Recently our nanny has been encouraging her to get through 'non-picture' books, like Peter Pan. It's hard to fool her too.  Sometimes we will intentionally skip or mispronounce a word, and she is like a spring-set trap on our mistakes.  She pounces immediately

and makes sure we are corrected. 

The boys aren't quite to the place their sister is, but their interest in books is no less and with a different taste. Their books are more likely to be superheroes, motorcycles, or vividly illustrated books, like David Catrow's or Tedd Arnold. We suspect they can read some, but don't really like to show it. Their recognition of words and understanding of letter sounds is great andwe are thankful they are into books and get so much enjoyment out of them, especially acting out the stories. To the point of 

creating their own superheroes (names, powers, etc) they truly live the book. 

Mom and Dad have been busy too, with their own three-legged stool: Kids, work, house. Dad admires Mom's limitless imagination and motivation to complete projects, and Mom admires Dad's sticktoitiveness when old-house projects pose their own unique challenges.  Here is a list of some things we've done this year: 

1. Downstairs half-bath (new toilet, wall-stencil (Kelly's own design), floor, custom sink (made from old furniture around the house) and mirror 

2. Painting (both up and downstairs hallways), Olivia's room, kitchen

3. Kitchen mini-makeover: painted all cabinets white, new hardware, new paint, caulking

4. Shed storage project (33-plastic storage bin capacity) 

5. Shop clean-out (ongoing) 

6. Ductwork sealing and insulation (made the house 100% more comfortable and lowered our heating/cooling bills!!) 

7. Lighting and ceiling fan projects: Library chandelier, hallway lights x5, boys room ceiling fan)

8. Storm windows (boys room) 

9. Fastened barn roof (wind was blowing 100+ year old tin roof off the rafters)

10. Thermostat for Mom and Dad's dressing room baseboard heater

11. 10 outside shutters hung 

12. Custom curtains and quilt for Olivia's room (Kelly's design) 

13. New entry door to house from shed (didn't do that one ourselves) 

14. Caulking and sealing every cold air draft we could find 

In between these projects, we have found time for Mom and Dad.  A great (now annual) trip to the Lake with friends, movies, sushi, two weddings and a trip to Chicago.  

We feel truly blessed, fortunate and somewhat lucky to lead the rich life we feel we have with family, marriage and our other interests. We cannot wait to find out what the next year has in store, and are constantly preparing ourselves to be ready to enjoy everything that comes our way. 

Here are some pictures from our year, we hope you enjoy them. 

We wish all of our friends and family a blessed Christmas and New Year!  See you soon!