Random thoughts

Standing on top of a table--not supposed to be up there!

My babies are growing. I want to catalog some of their phrases, interests, etc.:
Rylie
-January '10 at 6 1/2 years, lost the second of her two front teeth. Looks like a vampire now.
-Newly pierced ears and doing a great job of keeping them clean. She has the date memorized (2/11) for when she gets to take her studs out and put new earrings in.
-Her friend, Eric, asked her on the bus to be his girlfriend. My little girl, wise beyond her years, told him that they were too young to be boyfriend and girlfriend and that she wanted to be friends. I was giggling like a school girl during this conversation, secretly hoping that she will always share things like this with me.
-The subsequent conversation:
Mommy: "Did he try to kiss you?"
Rylie: "Yes!"
Mommy: "What did you do?"
Rylie: "I moved over in my seat."
Mommy (giggling): "That was the right thing to do!"
-Recent school project: "The important thing about my family is that they love each other. They ride bikes. They play games. They go on trips. The important thing about my family--they love each other."
-MOST IMPORTANTLY AND WONDERFULLY--On Dec. 20, right before we left for our trip to Indiana, Rylie accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. Eric talked with her about it as they rode up to Michigan to see if she understood what she did. It was evident to him that she didn't see that there was any other way. It was an "of course!" to her. Praise the Lord that he created my daughter as a child of Zion and she will always be. Dear Legacy...

Madelyn
-She is KNOWN for wearing her shoes on the wrong feet. It doesn't bother her at all.
-Started sleeping with a nightlight (her closet light one) and calls it a "flash".
-Whenever she sees something with an M on it, she says, "Look, mommy, that's my ___. It has an M on it!" Could be a store front, could be a box of cereal.
-Got a Fancy Nancy book for her birthday and is in love. How did she live life without Fancy Nancy?

-As sweet and funny as can be until a sibling is around and then you can SEE your gears turning as to how you can still command attention.

-Starting to learn letters with Daddy. He has to bribe you with M&Ms!

Kai
-Gives the "stiff arm" as we call it to his sisters when they come after him wanting to hug him or take his toy.
-ALWAYS takes his socks off in bed.
-When he throws a fit, he has this high pitched pterodactyl scream (he's had it since being a newborn. Coined by a nurse at the pediatrician--"My, your son's cry sounds like a pterodactyl.")
-14 mos.--realized he can walk backwards.
-Tries to climb up everything! Doesn't care if he gets in trouble--he'll go right back to whatever he was climbing on and try again!
-As soon as I walk through the door in the evenings, he attacks me like a zombie. Arms out, moaning.
-LOVES to watch the trucks and construction vehicles as they build the house across the street.
-Everytime we are in the bathroom, he freaks out and wants to brush his teeth.
-"Un, un, un, un" is the sound he uses for everything! Please learn to speak soon--mommy and daddy can hear that noise in our dreams now!!!
-Beautiful smile and a great head of hair!
-Acts like he wants to climb up into the chair or couch to sit with you, but really wants to stand on the furniture and climb around.
-Everytime we are in the kitchen, he thinks food is being prepared for him and starts "un, un, uning". Even if he's just eaten.
-When someone says "ball" he automatically puts his hand my his ear as if he will throw something.
-Likes to play with phones, trucks (makes "eeeerrrrrr" noises when pushing them around) and blocks. Likes to build then knock the blocks down.
-After your nightime sippy cup of milk, when you snuggle into my shoulder and put your arms down by your belly, there's no place in the world I'd rather be. You are a beautiful and spunky little boy and I have enjoyed every day with you, Kai Kai.

More pictures from Indiana

Kai with Uncle Dave

My cousins and their hubbies

Thank you to Brandon for letting Kai borrow his Blackberry. He's obsessed with phones.

Sledding with Anna--all bundled up

Christmas in Indiana

The snowman has a mohawk

After 11 snowy hours on the road, MANY Barbie DVDs, the constant sounds of Taylor Swift coming from their new mp3s, and goldfish crackers in every crevice of the van, we made it to Indiana! We had such a great time visiting and laughing with everyone from Shelley and kids (met Marley for the first time) to last-minute-tripper Amy. Eric and Rylie took a 24 hour trip to Michigan to visit our friends there. She was able to sled for the first time with her buddy, Anna, and loved it. We had to buy her snow boots during this trip as there was enough snow for sledding and snowmen! As usual, we packed in a ridiculous amount. These trips to IN aren't restful vacations as much as they are sprints around Madison County at the pace of a treasure hunt. Highlights:

• We came crashing in on mom and her calm world. Kai slept in my bedroom with Eric and me, the girls slept in the living room on pallets. We often had to grab glass objects out of Kai's hands as he meandered throughout the house--he has quick hands!
  
• We spent Tuesday lunch with Shelley, Jackson and Marley at the McDonald's Playland. The kids had a blast and we did the best we could trying to catch up while keeping track of 5 kids under 6.


• We spent Wednesday moring with Shelley, Jackson and Marley just to get a little more in while Rylie and Eric were in Michigan.
  
• Rylie experienced her first trip down a snowy hill on a sled! Welcome to the Midwest, baby girl!


• Eric was able to spend time with his friends in Michigan and once again visit the Whitetail Museum. I think I will be asked to spread his ashes there one day.
  
• Kari and I were fortunate enough to get a last minute chance to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra on Wednesday night, courtesy of Erik.


• We hung out lots with my family including a marathon Catch Phrase and Life Stories game night after church and present opening on Christmas Eve and an fun Ugly Sweater Christmas Party the day after Christmas.


• Santa knew we were in Indiana so he brought the kids' presents to mom's house. The reindeer snacked on carrots and Santa enjoyed cookies and milk. How does he keep track of everyone's schedule? We opened presents Christmas morning at mom's house then went to Kari's for Christmas dinner.


• We discovered that Kai loves hangin' out with the guys! The first time he met Erik, he reached for him immediately and was happy as could be in his arms. The first time he met my Uncle Dave, he went running to him and spent a good part of Christmas Eve on his lap. On Christmas Day, he was so persistent in following Dale, my Aunt Francine's dad, around that it was almost embarrassing! Must be all that time he spends with his sisters--he can't wait to have guy time.


• When Amy and Kim arrived in town, we had a wonderful sisters lunch at a new Pendleton restaurant--yummy and fun! All sisters together at one time is quite rare!


• That same day, the sisters plus Rylie and Erik took Madelyn bowling for her 4th birthday. OK, it was bumper bowling for the girls but Mad and Ry both beat my score!!! I am so bad!
  
• On our way back to SC, we stopped at the Children's Museum for a fab Barbie fashion exhibit and then spent the night with Tiffany and family in Cincy. It was so great to see Tiff and Ryan and meet both Avery and Will, her two youngest babies.


• Although I was about to lose my mind by the time we arrived home after 12 hours in the car, we were thankful to arrive home safely
  

Then, a few days after we got home we had Madelyn's birthday, got Rylie's ears pierced and Rylie's second front tooth fell out. It's never calm around here!

Madelyn really got into tea parties during our visit to Indiana. It helped that mom had little porcelain tea cups and tea pots around and let Mad play with them. Therefore, we had a princess tea party for her birthday. The boys dressed as dapper gentlemen and the girls dressed as princesses. For the party, they drank pink lemonade out of Eric's grandma's tea cups and didn't break one! Such ladies!