More from Thanksgiving

I love the pix of Matt pulling the stickers from the grass off of my pants. It reminds me of a pix when we were dating and going to junior/senior at Bryan and Matt bent down to fix my shoes at one point for me. I'm glad I have the pix of that somewhere; otherwise the sweet moment would have faded from my memory!

Pix from Thanksgiving

The pix of Simon eating in his cute, 'hand me down' pajamas makes me laugh! He was calling the waffle a 'boat,'; we have began giving him waffles in shapes b/c he thinks they are so much more fun that way!

The two outside pix were taken at WBC following the holiday dinner. The weather was wonderful. I am realizing how much I love 70 degree weather. As I write this, it is snowing and sleeting outside and I can't help but wonder was it really 79 degrees only yesterday?

232nd Post

This is my 232nd post. Hmmm...

In January, it will be two years since I joined forces with Blogger.

We have begun making Simon take his naps in his pack n' play. Less freedom at naptime is a good thing for him. There were two days this past week, before I began putting him in his pack n play, that he stayed in bed for 3 hours during nap, but didn't sleep. He just played -- not with toys or books, but with his pillow, jumping on the mattress, and opening and reopening the ends of his bed (futon.)

The pix of him in the hat and with a red nose is right after FRIDAY NIGHT'S FOOTBALL GAME. Matt took him to a home game at the school where we used to teach. i was able to come after half-time (I took Nancy out to dinner to give her a break from mommyhood --Nancy lives just down the street from where we used to teach.) When Nancy and I got to the game, Simon and his friend Chloe had broken out of their shells and were just dancing with the band! Chloe's dad is the band director, and we were all sitting right at the bottom of the band. Simon and Chloe faced the band and just jumped, danced, and head-banged everytime the band played! And they would actually do the cheer motions with the cheerleaders, too! Oh, it was the cutest thing and I was SO SAD that our camera was in the van. It was cold, though, so we left before the game was over, though we heard that THEY WON! That is the only time I have ever been to a game where they won.

The pix of Simon and two other toddlers was taken on Friday with his friends Hudson and Lorena. We had gone to a park earlier that day and then they came over to eat lunch with Simon, too. When Simon woke up on Saturday, one of the first things he said as he walked around the house was, "Rena?" (Lorena.) It's fun that Simon is beginning to have regular playmates and playdates.

Simon is becoming so articulate and verbal; it is so precious and sweet to hear him say the commonest of phrases. Sometimes I am surprised at how diverse his vocabulary is. He might see a picture of something in a books, and he'll say the name of it and I will think, "When did he learn that word?"

Informal Hilltop Reunion

We were able to host an informal Hilltop reunion on Saturday. Those camp memories are some of our fondest memories, ever! Especially the years we were able to share them with family (Scott and Sarah and even Simon in utero)

Um, these pix are from the absolutely most funniest, craziest, outrageous, and, of course, competitive game of PIG that I have ever seen. Adding to the humor is the fact that they are using Simon's goal, which may be 5 feet tall, and Simon's miniature basketball.

Also present that evening: (Kara, Courtney, Heather, Mandy, Scott, Brooke, Amanda, Amanda's Michael, Chase, Ryan, Nick, Michael, Matt, Amy)

At one point we watched the old school camp dvd from 2004 and Matt even unveiled secret, unedited, never seen before footage...mostly of Chase and his sleepwalking escapade that are now forever burned on a dvd with the music "Eye of the Tiger."

My Little Chef

These were taken last Friday. Simon went into the pantry and pulled out an apron because he saw me wearing one. I let him wear one, but I didn't let him help me cook since he had a cold!

I just put him down for a nap and went to check back with him a few minutes later. I don't know if he was imagining, daydreaming, hallucinating, or just talking, but ... he was staring up at the ceiling and saying, "Sky...pony, my pony....Sammy...Train, My train." Hmmm...

He rode a train at the mall yesterday with my parents. Hearing my mom's description of the afternoon, they were acting like tourists, getting the car stroller that you pay for at the mall, riding the train, and taking pictures like that was the greatest thing since...well, since he rode the pony with Scott the weekend before :) Yep, he is still talking about those two events quite vividly and with MUCH enjoyment.

Simon in Moccasins

The Moccassins are from Arizona (or maybe New Mexico?) and were a gift to Simon from Ashley and Matt :) Simon enjoys were different shoes; he can tell when they are special shoes.

Simon has been sick since noon last Friday. He gave it to me and I am so thankful he can share.

Speaking of being thankful, since today is November 1st, I feel that I can begin listening to Christmas music now!

David and Goliath Part I

The graffiti adds something, I think, although it is a bit of an anachronism.

David and Goliath II

Why pay for cable or dish when you can get this for free?

David and Goliath Part III

I am wondering what people might have thought about the message on the back of our van as we drove home last night: THE DEATH OF GOLIATH. That isn't your typical shoe-polish message. Ah well, it will be on there today, too, and probably for a few days more until we get around to cleaning it.

Fall Festival

Dark Guitar

Simon's Daddy plays guitar and Simon wanders around room with mini-guitar strapped to himself. I apologize for the dark footage ... should have turned on the light or opened the windows while filming ...

Chuck E. Cheese

Simon 'dancing' at Chuck. E. Cheese. I don't think we can call Simon shy, and I guess we need to work on respecting others' personal space.

How Great...Is God

Our Little Drummer Boy



He is singing, in case you cannot decipher, "How Great is our God." I know I videotaped it vertically, but it was soooo cute I thought that you wouldn't mind a sore neck.

First Video Post

Well, I know this first video post will make some long distance grandparents very happy.

Cutey Patootie in Bear Pajamas

Simon is doing much better with the bed transition. So far, he has been in his big boy bed for 4 nights and 3 naps. The last two nights have needed ZERO prevention methods with the paintstick. We have been so happy to see his adjustment in this area. The naps are becoming increasingly easier, with yesterday only needed 3 separate meetings with the rod. It's so cute to hear him say, "wod."

When I went in there yesterday morning, which was after his first night of no breaking of rules, he was sitting on his bed, cross-legged and said, "Down, please," when I turned on the lights. Precious.

Well, today I hope to go over to a friends house who has 5 children and just kind of help out for a bit while the 5 kiddos + Simon play. It's a good excuse to hang out with someone, anyway... :)

Unchanging

A Dry and Weary Land

Matt just finished making a dvd for Kellie of pictures, music, and scripture that she will show in groups as she prepares to leave next fall. These are a few of my favorite snapshots.

Kellie and I 'joke' about how one semester of rooming together in college has reaped such great benefits in so much as friendship, accountability, and shared vision.

More Pix of New Room

Simon's room has evolved to taking on more of an eclectic cowboy/star/transportation theme. Kind of random. We're just going to leave the fun fitted sheet on his bed with cowboys and cattle instead of dealing with making a bed...We're more comfortable, anyway, with him just sleeping with his blanky. I know he is big enough not to get 'lost' in sheets and a comforter, but...I think we'll wait on that...



There is an adorable pix of Simon and his cousin Alex on his bedside table. Hard to believe that Simon has a bedside table!




Today's nap only took an hour as opposed to yesterday's 3 hours to fall asleep!!! We're hoping Simon realizes that getting out of bed hurts and that he chooses to stay in his bed for self-preservation reasons!





I love the pix of Matt and SImon in their red shirts and (almost) matching pajama pants!

THE BIG CHANGE

What were we thinking? Now I know why some friends postpone the inevitable crib-bed transition. So, far, Simon has slept 2 nights and one nap in his 'big boy' bed. The nighttime events have required less than 5 interactions with our 'rod,' but naptime yesterday...that blessed 2.5 to 3.5 hour respite...probably had around 17 interactions with a paint stir stick. He went to nap at 2, didn't fall asleep until 5 and we let him sleep til 6:45 since early that day he had had a low fever.

At 2.30 in the morning, I thought I heard something. I thought correctly. I went in to Simon's room and he was standing at the edge of his bed saying "mommy?" I picked him up, ready to inforce our rule and consequence, but I noted his breathing was that of someone sleeping. I looked at him and he was sleeping! Creepy. I hope we don't have a sleep-walker or sleep-stander... Maybe he just fell asleep when he was picked up and held. I think he was out of the bed rescuing 'stoopy.'


Aww...He is saying, "Fuffin?" and wandering around the kitchen. We had muffins last week and he really liked them. Sorry, buddy, it is oatmeal again today!

Simon

Guess what Simon is doing in the third picture? Actually, don't guess, but those who have kept him probably know what he is doing! :)