I'm finally getting around to posting about Thanksgiving, so my holiday's got a little flipped in the blogosphere.
My apologies.
We had a great Thanksgiving at my parents. We have done turkey dinner with my mom's family for as long as I can remember. Now it's fun to pass the tradition on to the next generation.
The cousins had a great time together. These two boys just went from one game to the next and one creative activity to the next. "We should all be so lucky as to have children who entertain themselves as well Briggs and Gehrig!" (please read in a very Eastern European Jewish accent).
There were gingerbread houses for the kids to make. Nana always likes to have a craft for the kids. Here's Natalee with her gingerbread Chalet!
Lots of family to love.
Yes. We did hoist our child up on the roof. But how else are you supposed to get the ball down?
There are always family group shots to be taken in front of the orange tree.
And a little goofing around.
We did eventually eat our gingerbread houses...
The next day we went to the Exploratorium in San Fransisco. It was the best place for Ty because he could touch everything and push every button he saw.
...and he did.
I love this one of Briggs. He is concentrating on following his stream of consciousness. Very Zen.
All of that button pushing made the kids a little tired by the time we made it to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The cold wind finally woke up the brothers, though.
I can't forget the special Luigi bed Nana made for Ty. He was very excited.
Monday, December 14, 2009
What Came First? Santa or the Bird?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Long Post, But Lots of Traditions
This past weekend was our traditional weekend we spend with Brian's family celebrating Christmas. As I've mentioned before, Brian's mom is like Mrs. Claus, so her house is always a treat for the kids to see at Christmas. There are all kinds of holiday surprises and decorations that fill the house, as well as the noisy sound of cousins playing together.I love seeing the kids run around together like a mob of bandits. They are all really close in age and just have a blast. They were a little bummed out this year because the rain poured down all day Saturday. We usually have a BBQ, swim in the hot tub and then spend the evening looking at the spectacular lights in the neighborhood.
However, the rain didn't slow us down. Grandpa just heated the jacuzzi a little bit more and the kids still spent a good part of the afternoon swimming. Ashlynn and Caleb even got brave and managed to sneak a little dip in the regular pool ( I know, we are not very responsible parents for letting them swim in December...in the rain!) But the kids had such a great time.
When it was time to see the lights, we just piled the kids all in one van, old school style (read: no seat belts...) and enjoyed the lights from the car instead of walking around bundled up.
After dinner, Grandma had gotten authentic Nativity scene costumes for the kids, so they treated us to a reenactment of Luke 2. Some of the highlights:
*"Ashlynn. You have to play Mary. Your the only girl. You are always going to have to play Mary."
"Okay! Fine!....But I am not marrying Ty!!!"
*Davis chose not to be forced into a wise man costume. Understandable for a 3 year old. But I was shocked when I saw Ty walk downstairs in full Shepard regalia, complete with a keffiyeh on his head! Then I stopped being shocked when I saw that Grandma had provided him with the proper tools to the trade- he had a shepherd's crook. That's right folk. A Stick.
*The only baby in the family is 11 months old, but he wasn't about to sit still while we wrapped him in swaddling clothes. So a doll filled the important roll. I was a little disturbed, as a mother, when I saw my 8 year old daughter with a doll shoved up her robe to appear authentic. I quickly got over that shock, though when the narrator read, "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son..." and my daughter dropped the doll right out of the bottom of her robe, having the poor innocent land right at her feet.
Thanks for keepin' it real, Ash.
A little bonus for the weekend was being able to see Brian's dad put in as the new Bishop of their ward. It was a complete coincidence that the entire family was able to be present for this occasion (albeit a bit obvious to the rest of the ward when the whole Rober clan marched into P2!)
Thanks for a great weekend, Rober family.
Christmas 2007
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Joy
Christmas is a joyful time of year.
Right?
Sometimes it has to be sought after.
Earnestly.
Example:
Ty decided that he didn't feel like using the toilet. So Mom and Dad spent days changing his pants and doing laundry. We even had to make a run home in the middle of church. We are talking 6+ times a day. And I'm not just talking wet undies (if you catch my drift...)
Obviously very frustrated with this, we tried everything. Half hour time outs in his bedroom for every accident. Providing him with Astro blaster guns so he wouldn't be scared in the bathroom. Accompaniying him every time he went to keep him company. Pep talks. Sticker charts. Nothing seemed to be working.
So we threatened diapers. He wasn't happy about it, but we told him if he was going to act like a baby, he was going to have to wear diapers like a baby.
When I fianlly had to pull the diaper out and put it on him, he was spitting mad. I'm not exactly sure how I got it on him, because he certainly didn't hold still for it. And then, like a sixteen year old girl he yelled:
"Ashlynn and Briggs are going to think I'm FAT!"
Well, the diaper didn't even work. Everytime I turned around, he would take it off and he continued to pee and poop all over the place.
Finally I had an epiphany. When we were trying to get him to go to nursery and preschool (yes. everything is difficult with Ty) we used video games to bribe him and they worked like a charm. But they had to be used in the right way.
You see, we've been taking away the video games and computer when he had accidents. I don't think he's played anything for weeks. But I remembered that with nursery and preschool we offered him a video game session at the end of the day if he went to nursery or school with out throwing tantrums.
So yesterday we told him he could play a half hour of Wii at night if he had no accidents all day.
Obviously Mario Kart was the right motivator, because he went all day completely dry.
Oh Joy...
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Techno un-cool
Why is my banner so small!
I get so frustrated with the look of my blog. Can you tell? I love going to peoples blogs and being greeted by some beautiful banners. I've tried creating my own, tried using free ones (note current cutest blog on the block free banner) and I can't bring myself to pay for a special design, cause, let's face it, I'm not going for any awards.
The least I could do is have the chintzy banner that I have stretch the width of my page. But my technological evolution is not that advanced.
Brooke, how did you get your banner so wide?
At least my hips are wide...
Friday, December 4, 2009
Knotts Berry Farm
When things get exciting around here is when things get busy. And when things get busy is when I don't post as much. Which is a shame because then the exciting stuff doesn't get documented. So...
Knotts Berry Farm!
We met up with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Mark and Aunt Lisa and Kamden. The kids always have a good time here because it's not too crowded and the kiddie section is great.
Ty talked about this ride for weeks.
Getting tricked by Uncle Mark
Brothers, deciding if they are up to a challenge. A...
SOCCER CHALLENGE!
The kids adore their cousin.
The next day, we went to a spot right by LAX where the kids could lay on the grass and watch the planes fly right over their heads.
They'd all lay on the ground looking up. Then...
They'd all flip over, laughing and watching it fly away.
