Catching Up

It has been a fun, busy few weeks. The first snow of the season to start with. . . on 11/22/10 Then Thanksgiving # 1. . . on 11/25/10 Then Thanksgiving # 2. . . on 11/26/10 Then Dad's Birthday celebration on 11/27/10 And lastly a day to recoup and relax on 11/28/10

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The snow was a blast to play in with the kids and Joey.

The preparation to get the kids bundled up and outside is a work out!

I was seriously sweating by the time we walked outside.

Kathryn cried the entire time she was in her snowsuit, in the house because she could not move at all. She kept saying, "Stuck, Stuck!" Which sounds a lot like, "Guck, Guck!"

Once outside there were lots of grins and giggles. She's seen snow before but not in Seattle.

Thankgiving Day.

Pulling the kids to the park to get some hill sledding in. We may never have snow on Thanksgiving Day again, in our life time, it was very fun memory making.

One minor incident that is funny in an odd way while we were at the park.

Paul was pulling the sled, with both kids in it, like pictured below. I was walking along side of him. We stopped at the hill we were going to sled next and looked back in the sled, only to find Kathryn was not there!

She had slipped out of the sled some 20 feet back and we didn't hear a thing! She was on her back, kicking her legs, flapping her arms, yelling, "Daddddddyyyy, Dadddddyyyyy!!" Not crying, but obviously stuck like turtle upside down on its shell. So funny, but it made my heart sink when I looked to the sled and saw her not there and for an instant didn't know where she was. Once I laid eyes on her I had to laugh a little!

We also sent Kathryn down a small hill on a solo sledding trip and the sled had a mind of its own that particular time and went off the path, dumping Kathryn in the snow head/face first! She's a good sport though. A face full of snow and she says, "Again!"

Thanksgiving Dinner at the O'Neill's.

Fabulous dinner, outstanding smoked turkey and lots of laughs.

Me, Kels and Kerri

Grandad and his biggest fan

Umm, yea.

That's mashed potato's in her hair.

Thanksgiving # 2 at Paul's sister's home.

Ryan & Kimberly

A year apart in age, they play so well togetherKennedy side Grandkids

Ryan, 3

Kimberly, 4

Kathryn, 1

Ruby, 8

Downtown Snohomish, awaiting Santa! It was a long day for her.

Her first 2010 Santa sighting with have to be another day

And dessert after the Santa sighting.

Kathryn getting a bit of ice cream from her Papa.

And lastly. . . A big Happy Birthday wish to my Dad. It was a treat to spend some time with you Dad, day before your birthday. The kids adore you and talk about you all the time. We love you!

Goodness

Time for a top 5 favorite things

Since we are in the season of thankfulness - these are things I am thankful for For Ryan

1. Imagination - A 3 year old has an imagination is never ending. It's so much fun to see what he'll come up with next
2. Helpful - If he's in the mood, he can be a tremendous help in whatever task is at hand. Now if he's thinking he's not in the mood . . . . well you know how that goes
3. Inquisitive - The other day, out of extreme frustration I said sh*t. The conversation was as follows: Why sh*t Mommy? Did you say sh*t Mommy? Hmmm, sh*t. Why sh*t Mommy? Nothing like being called on an error in verbal judgment! It did lighten the mood however.
4. Compassion - Ryan's got it. Choosing to use it with his sister, especially when she is within arms reach of something he deems his. Momentarily forgetting she's just one and assuming she is going to steal it forever. "Noooooooooo Kaff-rinnnnn!!!" I hear that a lot.

5. Observation - I'm pretty sure his keen eye about things and amazing memory is going to come back around when I least want it to. For Kathryn

1. Toddle - She totally toddles with her walk and I love it!
2. Reckless abandon - As with most toddlers the 'that might hurt if I do that' filter is not there. She fell into a tub full of water, after she had just gotten out, got dried, jammies on, and was ready for bed. Ryan was still in the tub, she reached for a toy and oopsies, reached to far. Swan dive, fully clothed, tub style. I was right there, but a few seconds too slow to stop the momentum. The look on Ryan's face was priceless!
3. Verbal skills - Her cute little voice saying, "Hi Mommy" or "Hi Daddy" melts my heart each time.
4. Snuggles - The amount of time I get snuggled is limited to about 5 seconds prior to sleeping. The amount of time she'll snuggle anything plush is unending. She's taken a liking to a little puppy, she calls puppy. And a big plush Snoopy, she calls poopy. Teeheehee

5. Sociability - Kathryn has recently started to wave to strangers at the market, YMCA or wherever we are. It's entertaining to watch people's response. Usually prompts a smile and in these days where everyone is in a hurry, smiling is good.

Swim Lesson, Session 2

Much Much Better!

Ryan and I went to the pool about 20 minutes early, played a bit and then I told him I would be over on the other side of the pool if he needed anything.

This time there were 5 kids in class, instead of just one other boy.

I think he followed the other kids example and joined right in.

I hit the lap lanes and peeked over every so often, to find that he was participating, cooperating and smiling.

Phew.

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I am not really sure what this is. . I did not take it.

Self portrait, gone wrong maybe?

It cracks me up!

Love the look on Kathryn's face.

I have no new pictures of Ryan.

So here is one from two years ago, today!

:-)

15 Month Check & Swim Lessons

Kathryn got an all clear at her 15 month check up. Two shots. I think that bothered Ryan more than Kathryn. He asked about it repeatedly before and after. Her stats: Height: 31 in. = 70% Weight: 24-9 = 75% I'm rather surprised about her height percentile. She looks on the short side to me.

`

She's got her drool going on - AGAIN. Never have I seen a child so drooly. I am going to burn bibs when we are done with them.

Running amok in the office. And Ryan in the background flirting with Amy. Hey Amy!

And. . . . Swim School (As Ryan calls it) Didn't go very smoothly for the first time. On a scale of 1-10. 10 being Ryan did fantastic, we are looking at oh about a 1.5. Ryan refused to do anything the instructor asked. He would repeatedly look at me, so I left the swim area thinking maybe he'd do better with out me. I could see him crying from my vantage point - that was so hard to watch! By the end of the session he would sit on the very top step and kick his legs. . so maybe a teensy bit of progress. A before shot: And a mid-session shot It's a 6 week course. Stay tuned for an update after Session # 2 I didn't get many pictures. The lifeguard told me it was ok, if I only took them of Ryan. If any other kids were in the photo, I would have to get the parents permission. Well she was no where to be found, so I kept my camera off for the most part. This was my view from upstairs, where I retreated hoping he would pay more attention to the instructor.

One Great Halloween and One GRUMPY Giraffe

Even though she was a grumpy giraffe, she sure made a cute one.

And, in all fairness to her. . . she did as well or better than she had too considering she was placed unwillingly into the costume. She had a hard time walking, I think the bulk of the head threw her off a tad. Ryan thought being a frog was pretty cool and did an appropriate amount of ribbitting.

Any Mom of two kids this age can relate to this photo.

If and when I get a good one of the two together, there is rejoicing!

I had so much fun Trick or Treating with Ryan.

After Kathryn went to bed and we said good-bye to Korryn and Kelsey, who had come over to join in our festivities, Ryan and I went out on our own.

He was in awe of the big kids going door to door in such a rush. Seemed so thankful for people opening the door to him and telling him he looked cute & then giving him candy. By door # 3 he had figured out that he has to wait until they open the door to say, "Trick or Treat!" Most homes got a thank you - and then a quick turn around for Ryan to say, "Just one more house, Mommy, just one more!" He said that every time.

Looking forward to Christmas. Enjoying the holidays with a 3 year old is way more fun than I ever thought it would be.