Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, friends and family! During this time of year, I always find myself reflecting on Christmases from the past, and the events of the last year. Today was no exception. As I reread my Christmas post from last year, out of curiousity and the fogginess of my memory, I remembered how much has happened and how much the kids have changed in the last twelve months. I've recently been reminded by someone that, "The days are long, but the years are short." If I have any resolution in 2012, I think it will be to remember that and to better appreciate every moment.

In thinking about last Christmas, Abby was only two months old, and in fact, a year ago this weekend, was hospitalized with a high fever. Of course, I remember it vividly. I also remember that last Christmas, Abby was not the happiest baby. I think I (or whomever had a turn with her) spent most of last Christmas in a separate room with her, trying to comfort a crying, colicky baby. Oh, what a difference a year makes! Abby's first few months of life are a stark contrast to the spunky, smiley, playful, cuddly, and happy fourteen month old we all know now! In the past year, we've watched her roll over, crawl, sit up, and walk. Currently, she is talking in her own language, and knows exactly what she is telling us, but we have yet to figure it out. We've found that Abby is a girl who knows what she wants, and will go after it, whether it is a snack she just pulls out herself, or incessent pointing for something she sees, or simply some cuddles. Since starting to walk just before she turned one, she is after Ben all the time. She loves her big brother, while also finding him hysterical most of the time. A few other things she enjoys at the moment are taking her shoes and socks off during every car ride, being chased (this results in the cutest squealing!), and tickling us (she does this with a funny sound with her tongue, which we can only assume is her version of saying, "Tickle, tickle!").

Ben has grown up so much in the past year! Over the summer, he started to get interested in baseball and wanted to play all the time. Brant and I both spent a lot of time pitching him the ball and chasing after it while he hit "home runs". He also loved the water over the summer. On a trip to Oma's and Opa's over July 4th, Ben shocked us by strapping on a life jacket and leaping off the dock over and over into the lake with the big boys. That was not our typical reserved and cautious Ben. He did the same on our summer vacation to The Lake of the Ozarks, and also loved the pool we set up in our yard. Ben started preschool in August and seems to enjoy it. He also started going to Sunday School at church this fall. We are excited for him as he shares the things that he has been learning in both places (on the occasions he decides to share!). Currently, some of Ben's favorite things are dinosaurs, movie nights with mom and dad, art projects and science experiments, and helping Daddy with any sort of project. Some of my favorite things about Ben at the moment are that he is writing his name and Abby's name, doing more drawing, and "reading" to himself during his rest/nap time. I can't get enough of listening to him retell the stories we read together - and most of the time, with gusto!!

Brant is still working for Bader Rutter and Associates, which is in Milwaukee. I am still an Instructional Coach for Ankeny Schools, and am serving two elementary buildings this year. I think we would both strongly agree that we continue to enjoy the work we do and people with whom we work. However, nothing compares to the days at home that we spend as a family of four!

I know I say it every year, but the Christmas season also causes me to reflect more frequently on those who are not with us during the holidays. We miss my mom and dad every day and I think so often of the joy they would have radiated with their two grandchildren. It still doesn't seem fair that Ben and Abby will never truly know what wonderful people that they were. However, I also know that Mom and Dad would never want us to forget the true reason of this season - and that they are at peace together, enjoying this Christmas with more love and joy than any of us can imagine.

In conclusion, here is a wrap up of the past year...

This budding sibling relationship has been a joy to watch! Abby thinks the world of Ben and Ben is very conscious of including her and making sure she is okay. Let's hope that continues!

Abby couldn't get enough of the swing on summer days!

Ben LOVED the water this summer!

Ben started 3 year old preschool this year!

Trick-or-treating with our pumpkin and our triceratops

Helping Daddy with the "kid's" Christmas tree (or with his hair?).

We wish you all the joy of the season and the best of 2012!

Victory!

It may be possible that Ben had not eaten a green vegetable for two years. I know, what kind of parents are we anyway? As many of you can relate, when you have a child who is a finicky eater who barely eats at all, with food allergies to boot, you carefully pick your battles, right?! My theory: always offer and put it on the plate, but don't create a struggle over it.

Well, on Saturday, we experienced our first green veggie victory! You cannot imagine the excitement that resulted from this mama! Ben loves chips, so I made kale chips. I can't say I had ever eaten kale myself, but supposedly it is a super food, so I thought we'd give it a try. Here is how you make it:

1 bunch of kale
1 tbsp of olive oil
seasoning salt

Cut the kale away from the thick stems. Wash well and rip into bite size pieces. Some of my pieces were too big and didn't get crispy, so next time I will make sure I really make them bite size. Drizzle the kale with olive oil and salt to taste. Toss together. Spread on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 until edges are brown, but not burned, probably about 10 minutes.

I watched in stunned amazement as Ben devoured them, had seconds, and then had thirds. Unbelievable! Kale chips are going on the current short list of "likes" for Ben!

Halloween Weekend

Halloween at our house was quite festive! We had a lot of fun doing activities beyond Trick or Treating, although that was a lot of fun, too. Ben gets such a kick out of us having "parties", so of course, we had a Halloween party at home filled with all kinds of fun and treats.

Our Halloween festivities started with some slime! This water and cornstarch mixture is a throwback to the solid, liquid, and gases science units in elementary school. Ben played in the "slime" for 45 minutes and told me, "I could play with this forever!" I think we'll have to do that again sometime!

Ben and I enjoyed making these black cat brownies (box brownies, York peppermint patties, candy eyes, chocolate chip ears, white decorative frosting). We also had pumpkin floats (orange sherbet and 7Up). Besides the candy from Trick or Treating, why not add litte more sugar to it?!

Nothing says Halloween like eating dinner by candlelight with black candles covered in wax rats.

No Halloween party would be complete without a little pumpkin carving.

Getting ready for Trick or Treat! It was a beautiful night and Ben had such a blast filling his pumpkin with candy! Seeing how thrilled he was made it lots of fun for Brant and I, too. Abby, our adorable pumpkin, rode along delightfully!

Happy Birthday, Abby!

It is hard to believe our sweet Abby was born a year ago today! Now, she is walking, trying to say a few words (Da da is the only audible one at this point), and shaking her head "no" to anything she considers undesirable (which ironically, is often Daddy... and being fed with a spoon). Happy birthday, darling girl! We love you to the ends of the Earth and are blessed you made us a family of 4 a year ago today.

This picture is a perfect characterization of Abby's growing personality. Why use your hands - just jump in head first!?

Favorites and Funnies

Ben's Funnies:

- Uncle Alex broke his collar bone while training for the HyVee Triathalon. When Grandma was explaining to Ben that Alex fell off his bike because a brown, furry animal ran in front of him, Ben asked, "Was it a chinchilla?"
- At dinner tonight, Ben told me that in sunday school today he learned about when Jesus was "bath-tized" in the river.
- During the later part of the summer, we had a pool set up. It was about 12 feet wide and 2.5 feet deep. Ben and Brant were playing a game that necessitated a whale. Brant asked Ben, "Am I the whale?" Ben replied, in a quite obvious tone, "Of course you are!"

- One day, Ben said, "Mommy, is there a baby in your belly again?" I replied no. Ben said, "Will there be soon?" I replied that I didn't think so. Ben said, "Well, I want 3 brothers and 3 sisters."

Ben's Favorites:
- Preschool. Ben really seems to be enjoying his two mornings a week at preschool. He recently tried to lead Brant, Abby, and I in circle time.

- Arthur stories. In Arthur's sleepover, Buster the Bunny is so scared that he says, "I thought I wet my pants." Nothing could have been funnier to Ben. We read it multiple times a day for a week and he would still laugh hysterically.

- Camping. Brant and Ben camped in the backyard a few weeks ago. Ben had been wanting to do it all summer and when the perfect late summer Friday night arrived, we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, played games in the tent, and ate popcorn.

- Jammie parties. This generally includes getting in our pajamas, popping in a Land Before Time flick checked out from the library, and eating popcorn and M&Ms. I love it too.

- Zucchini muffins. We had a lot of zucchini in the garden this year and I have approximately 7 dozen of these muffins in the deep freeze, but at the rate we are going, I'm not sure how long that will actually get us. Ben cannot get enough!

- Painting. An affinity for watercolor paints, in particular, has developed. I'm okay with this. It is much easier to clean up!

- Baseball. All summer we played baseball and I have to say, Ben's got a pretty decent swing for a three year old. He LOVED to get home runs while I chased those darn whiffle balls all over the place.

- Taking pictures. In fact, Ben took one of Abby and I that is posted above (hence, the finger in the flash!)

Abby's Funnies:

- As Abby's personality emerges more and more, we are finding that she is a girl who knows what she wants. One morning, Brant was getting Ben some juice before heading to babysitter (which took 2 minutes, at the most). Abby was in the playroom, or so Brant thought. When they went to go put Abby in the car seat, she had disappeared. Brant looked in the living room, bathroom, and dining room. She had apparently vanished. Brant worried she had fallen down the basement stairs, but she hadn't. So, doubting that she could have gotten upstairs alone, he went up to double check. Sure enough, the vanishing baby had made it all the way up the stairs and into Ben's room and was playing with his toys. It is worth noting that all toys with small pieces have been relocated to Ben's room. It is funny now. I did not find it funny then.

- For some reason, this girl loves to growl. I'm not sure how she learned to do this, but she has a deep, throaty growl and loves to hear us make the sound back.

Abby's Favorites:

- Waving, clapping, and reading "5 Little Duckings."

- Ben and anything he does, plays with, or says. She giggle and giggles at him.

- Food. After Ben being so picky from the start, this is a relief. The only thing I haven't gotten Abby to eat yet is toast with jelly. She especially loves watermelon!
- Abby loves to play on pillows and cushions. Right now, she always wants to be on the couch to flop around.

- Abby also can't get enough of throwing things out of drawers. Bibs, towels, clothes... it really doesn't matter. Now, if I could only get her to learn to love putting things back into the drawers.
- Swinging. Abby can't get enough of this when we are outside!