Happy Birthday, Tollie!

With a Capital P

 

Vanessa is having a great school year. I've been blessed to go into the classroom a couple of times. This class is awesome. There are so many kind and considerate personalities. Vanessa's closest girlfriends are very opposite of her -- they love the girly stuff a lot, which makes it fun to see how they balance each other. And I'm not sure how Mrs. Stolly juggles 54 kids a day, without a teacher's aid, but she does and she does it well. With all of these cute faces, I'm amazed that there is any progress made!

Reading Grandma

"Butterfly in the sky. I can go twice as high. Take a look. It's in a book." It's reading Grandma.

Each time is as colorful as a rainbow . . .

Football Pointers

 

The football parties have been fun this season, but since tomorrow is about THE football game, we'll hang low.  We'll distract ourselves with decorating for the next season. And whatever the outcome, we'll think about how thankful we are for others who wear scarlet and gray well.

Shh!

We're thankful for quiet moments. Zane reminds himself to be quiet when Vanessa needs rest before school. Vanessa reminds us when we're being too loud for her stuffed toys to sleep.

We'll take quiet moments any way we can get 'em, even if it means a late night on the couch for Zane.

Choo-Choo!

We're thankful for Grandpa and choo-choo-s. Grandkids beg to be choo-choo-ed!

Potty Pooper

Zane has expressed an interest in the potty a number of times. I'm in no hurry though. But on Wednesday, November 14, Zane undressed and came over to me mumbling something about the potty. I asked if he wanted to try and go and he answered yes.

He scurried to the potty and pushed out a toot. I praised him and he got down. But after taking a step away, he stopped and looked back. I asked if he wanted to try again. He nodded yes. This time I lifted and placed him on the seat. I stepped back into the kitchen to get the camera, only because I thought it would be cute to document his effort, and when I returned, he was peering into the potty and saying "Ere it is. Poot!"

It took a second for me to realize the little guy really did poop in the potty! What a big boy!!! And again, so out of the box -- isn't it usually peeing in the potty that kids take to first?! Whatever or however, our little guy is determined to do it even if I'm not ready. We'll cater to his requests, but I don't expect mastery by any means.

Right now I'm just so proud of our little potty pooper!!

Date Night

Vanessa dubbed our random evening Date Night.

We are grateful for warm date nights and scootering! Anxious for the next.

Extra Mulched

Recently someone shared a statement on Facebook that went something like "Cleaning after a toddler is like raking leaves in a windstorm." Oh so true . . . I think I will forever hold onto that simile.

Vanessa worked really hard to build a big pile. "Zane . . . .!"

 

Distracting him for a moment worked. 

And raking leaves with a daddy, a kindergartner, and a toddler is like raking in a full-fledged cyclone. (Notice Vanessa's initial frustration when Daddy plops down in the pile she made.)

 

It was worth it, though, because Daddy let V & Z cover him. And that was funny.

Even with bits of leaves trailing through the house and pieces embedded in underwear, hair and between toes, I'm thankful for the joy that is discovered in letting go of the mess. I'm also thankful for how these last couple days of extra beauty and warmth will help to provide a protective covering for colder days to come.

We loved it extra mulched. 

Drama

I'm extra grateful for mornings after a deadline when we can lounge in our PJs and venture off to far away places without leaving our comfy spots on the couch or in a chair. These performances are not dreadful and stressed like times when we are racing out the door.

This week we went to Canada to fish.  Vanessa's surprised face is a result of listening to details for preparing a fish to eat. She made impressive rods and reels. Her rod and reel was bigger than the one she made for Zane. She said she catches bigger fish.

We also had gentle sword and dagger fights. I saved the maiden from the tiny monster.

And what can be more relaxing than watching a play unfold?!

Unmatched

I'm grateful Vanessa likes to do things outside the box. No manufacturer can duplicate her spunky spirit. So far she doesn't seem to feel the pressures to conform. Her strong personality questions when others force expectations on her. She stands strong behind her thoughts and ideas and she voices them with ease. I admire her confidence and I'm ever so thankful. She's unmatched, that's for sure. So it's extra fun when she discovers that someone is like-minded.

I Want

Zane is in that early stage of learning that you don't always get what you want.  Understandably a toddler doesn't know to focus on the good things when things don't go as he or she wants. We're working on that. I'm thankful for the opportunity to help him gain that understanding. I'm not always great at it, but I want to always show gratefulness for the things that truly matter. And like many, I want to practice more this month of Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful to hear Zane's I Wants even if I can't always oblige. Although he has many, here are a few. And yes, most requests are exclaimed. :)

I want boo! (blue)

I want pink!

I want geen! (green)

I want Ohohin! (Ovaltine)

I want ink! (drink)

I want Ba Ba Bee! (Fresh Beat Band)

I want Uppy Uppies! (Bubble Guppies)

I want It Eee Owhs! (Micky Mouse)

I want eese! (cheese)

I want ape! (grape)

I want kahndy! (candy)

I want wawa! (water)

I want oose! (juice)

I want oat! (outside)

I want baf! (bath)

I want ick or eat! Pease . . .  (trick or treat! Please)

I want ing. (sing)

I want ipa! (diaper)

I want bye bye! 

I want Mama!

I want Da-dee! (Daddy)

By the way, I'm not grateful for every exclaimed requests made by Vanessa and Zane when they see a TV commercial. I think that's okay. 

October Past

October flew by. We concluded the month with the activities our little ones anticipated. I believe they are  more settled now. I'm thankful for that. And I'm thankful for our talented daddy -- he didn't use templates but his designs came out symmetrical even so.

We were thankful the rain paused long enough for a picture and for a little time to walk house to house. Vanessa had no interest in putting on a complete costume again -- she was excited to wear her black snow pants. Like Megan thought it was cool to see Zane driving a big train, Daniel thought it was really cool that Zane had an Incredibles snowsuit too. :) (To be honest, Mommy was determined to repurpose every part of the costumes this year, so logos were pinned to shirts and snowsuits, making many of our things adaptable for future outfits.)

The sheriff's department handed out treats with sheriff badges. My kids were scared to walk up to the car. Maybe a good fear to have, I guess. :)

After the treat of kisses and hugs, Katelyn shared more treats from her bowl.

Happy Birthday, Joel!