Christmas 2013 at home

Who's the last one up on Christmas morning?

BUT, to be fair, who is the one who went in the top bunk with Roman when he woke up crying in the middle of Christmas morning/night to soothe him? Dad. And stayed there (and Roman slept soundly thereafter...or until 6 am).

Patiently waiting....but asking "when can we open the presents" about 5 billion times. Do I exaggerate? Only by adding 4,999,999,875 to the real number. (Did I get that right? I don't work in the billions very often)

It's a hoedown.

Or Zo down.

Thanks to Liz and Kevin.

What parent doesn't want a mini accordion for their kid (Roman, actuallly)?!

Or a horse riding Darth Vader?

By the way, Darth is for the big kid in the house, although Roman is suddenly taking an interest in all things Star Wars. He watched the movie (epidsode 4, the first one released) just last week with his Dad. Not sure there will be many surprises since a) he knows Luke and Leia are twins and b) he quotes "Luke I am your Father". But I think it meant a lot to Mike that you watched it with him. Zoe started to do so, but it was 'too loud' (just the way Dad has to watch it) and wasn't too interested. She came into the bedroom with me and chatted while I worked on the computer. When the cantina scene came up and the music played our ears perked up. For the longest time this was Dad's ringtone, so we both thought his phone was ringing. but when it dawned on me this was from the actual movie playing in the living room I told Zoe to go check it out. I know I always liked  that part, and that music was somehow compelling when I was a kid.

So there.

Zoe and her Rapunzel, much requested this season (along with a bunch of other things) and gifted to her by Grandma Candy. We'd seen this at Costco several times this year (along with Darth, above) and Zoe had her heart set on it (again, among may other things).  The other long awaited item was the horse, also in the picture. Since she got the doll to go on it, she could finally have the horse.  Roman was heavy on the Legos and Playmobil sets this year. He's a constructor.

Christmas Vacation Shenanigans (or: I couldn't think of a title)

Viewed in a magazine: "She's beautiful"

(snip, snip for her notebook journal)

Viewed on a digital kiosk at the mall ".....Mom, Mom...LOOK!" 

Source (any a very interesting site to poke around, lots of incredibly beautiful photos and illustrations by talented artists...)

Known in our house as the 'Pepsi Girl'.

Last week Zoe decided to write her a letter (as much as a 5 year old can). I think I planted the seed thinking that maybe we could figure out a way to write a note to Ms. Sofia Vergara (aka "Pepsi Girl") sometime. Sometime to the 5 year olds is typically RIGHT NOW. As I was cleaning up I found some leftover Christmas cards and blank envelopes. Zoe took a blank envelope and disappeared.  She came back with a sealed envelope (I did see strips of yellow paper at some point, likely part of the interior). She asked me to write on it. She didn't know how to tell me to address it and put a stamp on it, but she understood the concept by pointing and saying it in another way. Since we're several days out from that conversation I don't remember what she said, but I do find it amazing that we're at that level of conversing. And she's learned so much (Roman is no slouch either!). I don't know that she was happy with my hand drawn stamp, but after I wrote "To Pepsi Girl" she took it back and decorated it.

I confirmed that those are shoulders. ;)

So now, I need to figure out what to do. Zoe's pretty determined to get this in the mail. Yet I wonder about the mysterious contents, likely mysterious even when they are opened ;).

Christmas Eve 2013

Zoe's contribution to the meal: Fresh raspberries stuffed with blueberries.

Let's play with our phones.

Or our kindles.

Or our whatevers.

Cousin Audrey's first Christmas!

Don't forget Lucy!

Zoe got her doll, which she calls an American Girl doll (and we won't correct her on that one). Mom's not ready to go there. But this made her very happy. From G & G B.

Cute! Cute!

Two tutu wearing girls.

It gets no easier to take pictures...This is the best I could do of the three of you.

And Legos. Star Wars Legos at that. Roman and Dad were right at it. Roman has an intense ability to concentrate on tasks like this. It's funny because normally we're asking him to do something a million times. With this kind of thing he's quiet, he's calm and he's focused. And I'm always amazed at his abilities. Your Dad isn't so surprised, but I am!

Proud Mama

This morning Roman and Zoe asked if they could go downstairs. Sure. Until Christmas this isn't something they'd want to do themselves, but this year Santa left their presents down there, so apparently the reward of going someplace kind of scary outweighs the scariness.  What did Santa bring? An art easel for Zoe and a foosball table for Roman.

So down they went, and I was getting things done around the house and Mike was reading one of his new books. It's awfully quiet I thought. For a few minutes. Then I went to check on them. They were fine, as expected, and Zoe had created this masterpiece on her easel.

WOW. I was blown away.

I had her explain to me what she wrote in this video.

I enjoyed it immensely (as you can tell). 

Little did I know that we have horse riding (horsridn) and too much shopping (zopin) in our future (nevermind zckol in our present and a food fit in our past).

1. Not BOOK

2. Tor Gort

3. LiPZiCK

4. CAoidr

Ah, the important things (and places?) in life.

A new feature: Word Puzzles

More of Zoe's word creations. Take a guess.

1. WDObR Ƨun Ƨain

2. APL LAtH

3. BAKCit

4. BAtH | TAOBA

5. ƧRCKL
Note from Mom: at some point Z decided a "|" was need between words. Mostly gone, but note in number #4

Pre-K visit

On Halloween, Zoe's pre-k class had a "stay and play" in the afternoon. Dad was able to make it to that one, but Mom didn't.  Yesterday, the last day before the 2 week holiday break, both Roman and Zoe had a "stay and play" and Mom got to participate.  Since Dad had been to Zoe's class, he went to Roman's and Mom got Zoe's class.  Grandma B joined too since it was uncertain if Dad would have work obligation that day.  I was looking forward to it. I had stayed with R&Z one time in preschool last year too and it was really interesting to see what it was they did when they went there. 

Zoe showed me many learning stations, including the writing one. She picked her notebook (the yellow one!) and showed me some of her drawings. This one was a flag eating a carrot.  I didn't get a closeup of it, but it did look like a flag eating a carrot. 

We also read a book, dug in some moon sand, heard a story and Zoe had a special snack: graham cracker decorated with frosting and colorful cereal. MMM sugar.

I noticed a wall of family pictures, with a note from each child about it.

Here is Zoe's.

Me and my brother and my dad and my mom. I like to go on vacations and I like to go to the Mall of America with them, and the last thing is that I like to go to IKEA with them. We like to go camping, and we like to hang out together. Well, the thing is, I just like to have fun with them. Sometimes we like to go swimming.

Loved it :)
Although we went camping ONE time for ONE night about 2 years ago.
Nailed it on the IKEA though ;)

She Writes, She Spells

At parent teacher conferences, Zoe's teacher suggested she start 'kid writing', that is sounding out words and writing them down. There's a little reluctance at home (just tell me how to spell it!), but she's been coming home with pages like these.

1. tABL
2. KiDr GdiN
3. FiN Gor NeiL      (Love)
4. MiN A SoDA
5. Pro DaiL

1.That's where we eat.
2. That's where R & Z will be next year.
3. Not a clue, unless these are the things Zoe likes to paint. I bet that's it.
4. This is where we live :)
5. Hmmm. Anyone?

Ms Audrey

Just posted on Facebook that it's probably good I had kids later in life...takes the opportunity of having babies off the table a little faster (usually, right Grandma Jane?!).

The kids and I went to tag along for a bit when Grandma Jane was babysitting 2 month old cousin Audrey. I tell you, there is nothing better than cuddling a sleeping baby.
Or just looking at an awake baby:

A little Grandma love.

We saw Audrey, Andy and Laura on Thanksgiving too.

This is when Zoe had her first chance of having Audrey on her lap.

The twins were both so excited. And Zoe showed her love.

:)

Santa 2013

The Spelling Bee

And Mom fails.
You both are doing amazingly well with the pre-reading and beginning to read behavior. I'm sometimes surprised, but I guess once it starts to happen, the ball really gets rolling. After teacher conferences I realize we could probably "up" how we challenge you. You're at the point where you can probably start attempting to read more than I thought possible. We also work on numbers on the highway, and that works pretty well. Her teacher noted "Zoe counts to 100!" and said "that's what we look for our kindergartners to do". Okay, enough bragging.
And it made me realize once again that you have had so many people on your side.  A lot of big people trying to help you out. You are loved (or as Victoria Williams sang "you are loved, you are loved you are really, really loved")

selfie.

One of the things Zoe's teacher suggested was that we start having her do 'kid writing' which means having her sound out words and write them out herself. She often asks how to spell words and up to the suggestion that she try it herself I went ahead right away and spelled words for here. But the sounding out is all part of learning. She's a bit reluctant, although given the right situation she'll just go ahead and do it. Sometimes we all work that way I suppose.
The other night we were sitting around and she asked me how to spell a word. I had to have her repeat it several times. Still stunned.
Dist.
Dust?
No. DIst.
This?
No. DIIIst.
Just?
No. DIIIst.
Say it again.
Dist.
Puzzled mom look. What does it mean? Say something with that word in it.
Mumbling...something about a computer.
Ah...DESK?
No.
At this point I'm thinking about the subtlety of sound and how there are certain sounds that cultures make that other cultures can't even distinguish from each other. Got to have the ear for it. Zoe, I'm stumped. Roman! What's Zoe saying?
Dist.
Ugh. Then it occurs to me that this is a word that Zoe knows, but it's her own version of the word. Her classmate Blink for example. She swore that was his name (complete with an exaggerated blink to make the point), but it's actually Blake. I keep hearing about a Menard too (as in save big money at Menards), but I suspect that's not quite right (although at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if it is). She still calls him Blink. She likes that better. I do too. :)
Back to our conversation.
So, Zoe, is it something like "it's just and you and I sitting here"?
No. It's dist me and you.
Okay then.

Riverview theater

Out for an adventure.

At the Riverview in south Minneapolis.

This is roughly in the neighborhood I lived until I was 11. Or I should say this is one of the theaters we would have gone to (in addition to Southtown, the Highland, the Nile and...probably others).

Retro-looking lounge.

Reasonably priced popcorn (yum! says Roman, yuck! says Zoe).

We will go back. 

It's a one screen theater, with an upgraded projector, new-ish seats and inexpensive ticket prices. What is not to like?

We saw Despicable Me 2 there and really enjoyed it.

Even though Roman dropped the tub of popcorn 5 minutes after sitting down and had to go to the potty 3 or 4 times in the course of the movie (sharing that lemonade still made it difficult for the little boy to hold it together until the end). Ah well.

Pre-K school photos!

We bought the disc.

those of you that want prints, we'll have them :)

The Birds.