Smile

My mom posted a picture of our family at the Christmas familiy reunion we had and this is a piece of the picture. In it Manu had a smile that was not his typical picture smile, but still seemed strangly familiar. Then I realized the pictures I had seen it in before (see the two pictures below).

more Christmas fun

On Friday we took a walk around our neighborhood to see Christmas lights
And then warmed ourselves with some nice wassail.

On Saturday we went through the Christmas story as we arranged the nativty scene. Below is Teah rearranging the scene and telling the story again. Her story went something like this. You see the star (repeat about five times). Oh baby Jesus you want present. We brought presents. (as she put all the wise men next to baby Jesus). We have presents and gold and presents. So she caught that there was a star, baby Jesus and presents. Not too bad for a two year old.

















Today we enjoyed the pumkin dessert from Janaes blog while coloring nativity pictures and ended with the Christmas devotional.

Christmas everyday

Growing up we had a advent calendar that had little pockets for each day. In each pocket my mom would put a piece of paper for a christmas activity that we were going to do that day. I don't have a calander, but I thought it would be fun to do a daily Christmas activity with Teah.

Dec 1st - put up and trim tree
Dec 2nd - make banana bread (Teah insisted on remaining in only a diaper most the day, so I never took a picture.)
Dec 3rd - take out train
Dec 4th - gather pinecones from our yard for crafts and make sugar cookies. I think the cookies were a little close together.

Thanksgiving

For thanksgiving we went out to Manu's grandparents house. We had a very nice time talking, relaxing and eating lots of dark chocolate.

The kids loved getting to spend time with there grandparents. And Zander got extra spoiled since there was always some around willing to play with or hold him. Teah was generally well behaved, although still managed to make her mark. Manu's grandmother got some toys from a friend for Teah to play with. Among the toys were bubbles and several bubble blowing items. I didn't think to take a picture, but she managed to cover their patio and patio table with a millimeter or two of bubble fluid.

I did think to get a couple of pictures from a hike we took while we were out there. Teah main interest was in climbing the rocks rather than walking on the trail. Don't know where she got that.

Teah on the rocks

















Everyone watching Teah on the rocks
Zanders Opinion
Riding in style. We got lots of comments on there method of travel and multiple requests for passage up or down the trail.

Trimming the Tree

Teah has been vary anxious to decorate the Christmas tree and tonight for family night, she got to. Of course there is a lack of ornaments on the upper portion of the tree, but since she keeps taking them off and putting them back on, I figure it (the tree) spends half of it's time undecorated any way.

PB and J

I made Teah a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich today. I guess she wanted more than a half because when I came back into the kitchen this is what I found. One day I will probably appreciate that she does everything on her own.

I can sit

The gremlins and the artist

So last week after we got home from the zoo, I could no longer find my wallet. Did it fall out of my bag, was it stolen, did I put it in some obscure place that no one would ever think to look. I don't know. So for a week now, I have not had a wallet. All the cards have been canceled and I just got a temperary license, but still don't have a way to pay for anything and consequently we have been somewhat house bound. Yesterday I was going to take the kids to the library and realized I could not find my keys. As I was looking for them, I realized I had taken off my rings (wedding and graduation) a couple of days earlier when I had put lotion on Teah and thought I should put them back on. When I went to get them they were gone too. I look everywhere and could not find rings, keys, and still no wallet. When Manu got home from work I told him I was worried that we might have gremlins. In fact I had locked my keys in the car when I was tearing it apart looking for my wallet (couldn't check the car before Manu got home because it was locked). Manu found my rings on my nightstand undersome stuff that had been displace when we were tearing the house apart looking for the wallet. So at the end of the day, no gremlins, wallets, or trips.

So today I decided we should get out. We went to the park and then Teah decided she wanted to go home and paint.
And finally, about 1 to 2 weeks before we moved out of the apartment, I got Teah some of those bathtub crayons for coloring in the tub. Before we cleaned, I took a picture of it but had forgotten to put it up.

Happy Birthday Manu

Manu's birthday was the 4th of Nov. And in tradition of copying Janae, I thought I would make a list of 10 things I like about Manu (I won't say top 10 because I am sure there is something/s that should be on the list, but are so frequent I take them for granted):

1. He is genuinely concerned about my happiness
2. He is a great father and only complains a little bit about Zander coating him in spit up all the time.
3. He strives for excellence in all his endeavors
4. He is good at moving heavy things
5. He can say he is sorry, even when I am being over sensitive (My marriage and family professor at BYU once said that if you are ever dating a guy who can say he is sorry, you should not let that one go. I guess he was right).
6. He laughs at my dumb jokes
7. He helps out around the house and with the kids
8. He is quick to compliment and thank me
9. He is honest (sometimes to honest - but I will take that over not honest enough)
10. If he gets home and dinner is made/started, I don't even have to ask him, he usually offers to get something started.

11. He has made dinner on his birthday grill for four days in a row -
hot dogs / hamburgers
shishkababs
Chicken
Hamburgers (we forgot we had avocado the first time, so we had to make hamburgers again so we could have them with avacodo.)

Talk about a lot of good dinners :)


Manu and Zander breaking in the grill - Happy Birthday Manu

The Destroying Angel

so I am a little behind on my blogging and still need to put up the we've moved posts and Manu's birthday post, but those will come, eventually. I just thought I would quickly put up a post of a conversation we had this evening.

Manu: said something don't really remember what
Bridget: Well maybe if we can get our destroying angel to calm down
Manu: who?
Bridget: Teah, our destroying angel
Manu: oh
Teah: I not destroying angel
Bridget: Your not? Which part aren't you: the destroying part or the angel part?
Teah: The angel part

We had to laugh

Happy Halloween

Tonight was the wards halloween party, so amid cleaning we threw the costumes on the kids and headed off. Their was a trunk or treat. It did not take long of Teah to get the concept. Find a person at a car with a bowl, hold open the bag, let them put candy in, repeat. She was definitely a fan. And we did put clothes under Zander's costume for the party. He looked super cute - the best looking Maori warrior around (and infant too).

T vs Z

These are pictures of Teah and Zander in the same outfit at the same age. It was a little baggy on Teah, not so much on Zander.

Lights Off

Today in Sacrament meeting, Teah got taken out (as usual) for screaming, kicking, etc. While she was out I left to go feed Zander. When Manu brought her back in she wanted to know where I went and took off. Instead of finding me, she found the light switches and turned off half the lights in the chapel. Yeah, everyone noticed.

Too Soon

Today I put Zander down on his stomach and went in the kitchen to make Teah a sandwich. When I can back in the living room, too my surprise, he had moved. I watched to make sure and it was true, he was scooting. His pace was in the range of an inch per minute, so not much to worry about yet, but it did make me realize that before to long I will be trying to chase down two kids going in different directions. We may just never leave the house when that time comes.

Park Day

Today was park day again and another local page was invaded by a horde of 1-3 year olds (the picture only captured about a fourth of them).

Napping

So Zander is starting to fight his naps now. He still takes them, but there is a lot more protest and he is not nearly as mobile while napping. Teah did the same thing at about 4 months. Must be the age. Oh well, at least somebody doesn't complain about taking naps (and I guess I don't complain either).

Chocolate

So yesterday I went to albertsons with the two kids. Taking them to the store always takes courage and yesterday was particularly trying. Anyway today I could not find my wallet and after much search began to worry that it might have been lost during that trip. I called the store and luckily they had the wallet. Not excited about another trip to the store, but very excited about the wallet, I told Teah I would buy here a treat if she was good while we went. So she picked out a hershey's dark chocolate bar and I let her have it in the car. I knew this was not a good idea, but I did not want the fight. So as I go to get out of the car, I look back at Teah and what is she is doing. She is taking the wrapper, which is covered with quite a bit of melted chocolate and rubbing it up her arm. I guess she just likes messes.

Making Music and Messes

So Teah has learned that she had quite a bit of mischief time while I am feeding Zander. We used to have a lock on the fridge, but she broke it and so today she found the chocolate syrup.


And of course banging pans is part of being a child right

First Feedings

So we just started trying to feed Zander rice cereal. I will let you be the judge of what he thinks about it.

Cinderella

So I have gotten a couple of questions about the dress and the other day Teah was playing in it, so I thought I would snap a picture. There will be better ones on halloween hopefully, but this will do for now.

So Teah has become very good about apologizing these past couple of weeks. Most commonly, after a tantrum, she will come up to me and say, "I'm sorry I got angry mommy." It is very cute and sweet. In the past couple of days, we have a few such conversations that were particularly amusing.

Background: I'm packing some board games in a box and Teah is trying to grab them out to open them up. I tell her to stop or she is going to have a time out, etc. Finally I fit all but one in the box, tape it up, and let her play with the one that didn't fit. While she is playing with the pieces.

Teah: I'm sorry I grab mommy.

Me: That's okay, but are you going to start obeying mommy now?

Teah: (without a bit of hestiation) no.

(apperantly, she is still working on the definition of sorry)

Background: While I was at the relief society broadcast, Manu was watching Teah. While using the bathroom he heard some suspicious noises. He comes out and see that Teah had dumped out a box of baking soda and was flinging the baking soda all over.

Manu: Teah, what are you doing

Teah: I be naughty, maybe.

(so this one did have to do with saying sorry, but it was still funny)

Backround: Later that night Manu is trying to put on Teah's pajamas. Teah doesn't want to comply, screams and run downstairs. Manu chases her, drags her upstairs and put her clothes on.

Manu: Teah, I'm sorry I got angry, but you need to obey.

Teah: That's okay. I sorry I got angry too, that's why I run down stairs.

Need we say more

Library

Today was library day. We enjoyed books about libraries and making book marks. Zander was screaming the whole way home (he's usually not too happy for a couple of days post immunizations) and Teah was in the back saying thinks like:

Stop crying

It's okay, it's okay

I know, I know

Listen Zander, listen, do you like Ernie and Big bird. We go home and see them

and my favorite, He's just a little bit cranky

Park and Dr's

Today was park day again and we enjoyed the time spent playing with friends. Zander also had his four month appointment today - 15 lbs and 25 inches. He definitely did not like the shots and protested VERY loudly.

Cheap entertainment

Today we spent most of the day cleaning, working on Zanders halloween costume and driving around to check out potential rental homes. By the evening we decided it was time to do something fun. So we decided that after dinner we would go to McDonalds, get ice cream cones and let Teah play in the play area. Teah had a blast! Someday we won't be able to entertain her so cheaply, but we will take it while we have it.

Growing Up

Zander is almost 4 months now and growing up fast. He is learning to roll over, stand up (with lots of support), and my favorite thing of all, to laugh on queue. The staccato laughed that they have for several months is one of the best things about babies.

Long Lost Blog

So recently, I have not been keeping up with the daily blogging as much as planned, so I thought I would do a quick synopsis of the past week and a half or so.
Saturday the 6th- A nice family trip to the zoo
Monday - I went and played volleyball at the our ward building; Teah and Zander played on the stage with the other kids. Okay, well Zander slept in the carseat and then sat in the car seat while watching the kids play and getting lots of games of peek a boo from the various kids.
Tuesday - Teah got to go to one of her friends houses and play.
Wednesday - Go to the park and play for 3 1/2 hours
Thrusday - Go to the library, find out story time was cancelled, but stay and read books, do puzzles, and hang out with the other 15 or so kids who showed up for the story time.
Friday - Go to another friends house
Saturday - Clean. Through out the past week I had also made Teah a Cinderella dress for Halloween. Today I managed to destroy it while trying to make some final modifications. Apparently the fabric I used can take much heat. Put a hole in the bodice with and iron, ooops. In the evening we had friends come over while their parents get to go on a date for the first time in a long time.
Sunday - Started working on a new bodice, however I didn't have enough of the right color of fabric left, so the color scheme is going to be a little different than Cinderella's - grrrrr.
Monday - volleyball again and more or less finish the dress
Tuesday - clean (dress making has been taking over much of what should have been cleaning time. I didn't use a machine and hand sewing takes awhile, but I am all practiced up for beading stockings if necessary)

Other notes: Teah has been fairly well behaved, most of her more recent messes have be easily cleaned up with a vacuum. Today it was flour, but flour alone just isn't that bad. Although the look on her face and the speed with which she moved under the table when I came in the room were classic.

And, she likes peanut butter and she likes butter. She has decided they are best combined and has started asking us for 2 butter sandwiches. It took us awhile to figure out at first.

And there you have it!

Labor Day

So our plan for labor day was to head to a local park, hang out and have hamburgers. So before nap time we went to Walmart to pick up a mini grill so we could cook the burgers on something. Teah ended up throwing up in the Walmart parking lot, so that put an end to our plans and it became a stay home day instead.

Stitch Moments
Now you would think that sick girls would be sleepy and would take their naps. However, a little while after we put Teah down, we heard her yelling for us to come down stairs. Manu went up there are the bathroom was in the process of flooding. Earlier in the day she had gotten into the Eucerin cream (very very thick lotion) and had coated her legs and gotten it all over her clothes. Her clothes were in the sink to get cleaned. During nap time she got into the the toothpaste and got it all over her hands. She decided to wash her hands. The clothes in the sink plugged the drain water started pouring out until the floor. At which point Teah panicked and instead of turning the water off, started calling for us (and the room was not locked at this time). As I am writing Modays blog on Tuesday, I knew that there was something other than her throwing up that I was going to put in the blog. I asked what funny had happenned yesterday that I might want to put in the blog Manu and he couldn't figure out what it would be. Then when I remembered Manu said, "Oh yeah." Followed by, "That was not funny."

Two things can be learned from this:
1. If you forget about your child flooding the bathroom the day after it happens, your child gets into trouble way too often.
2. Never move into an apartment / home that has a bathroom attached to a young childs room. It will be an endless source of mischief, even if practically empty.

Since I don't have a picture of the throwing up, lotion, flooding, or toothpaste, I thought I would just put one up of the kids looking cute.

Clean up Clean up Everybody everywhere . . .

Today was clean the house day. Between the kids, dinner and tutoring, I have been pretty busy lately (hence the late and absent blogs). However, the blogs aren't the only thing to suffer with the busy schedule. The house also needed some serious cleaning. On Friday I managed to get the bathrooms cleaner, and today was for everything else. After breakfast, Manu and Teah were in charge of picking up the livingroom and I went upstairs to start the 8 loads of laundry that desperately need to be done. Before long, Manu was upstairs whining that Teah wasn't helping. I laughed and sent him back down.

Date night

Today was a nice day. We walked to the park in the morning. We went to our good friends house in the afternoon. And my visiting teacher, with the daughter, Emmy, took our kids for the night and Manu and I got to go on a date. It was the first date we have been on since we lost Christy as a babysitter. We got desert and then went and played air hockey at the rec center. It was a lot of fun.

Park Day and Library

On Wednesday we had the relief society park day. Teah ran around the park and played for over 3 hours. Thursday we went to the library, which went significantly better than the week before. I reversed the lock on her door, so I now can lock her into her room at nap time. I feel kinda of mean doing, but she is so much happier now that she is napping again. And most days I don't even have to lock the door because she knows if she comes out she I will lock it. So she just stays in on her own and naps. She has even been good enough now to start earning prizes from her chart, including a dollar store princess jewelry set. And yes, she is in Zander's swing.

Home Again

Today we mostly just stayed at home. I got some work books from the dollar store and Teah and I have been doing them together. I also got out the play dough and cookie cutters for Teah to enjoy. Christy made the play dough for Teah and so when ever she gets to play with it she says, "Say thank you to Christy."

Western Playland

Today I checked online and discovered that Manu and I could get into western playland for a buck and Teah would be free. There would be a dollar charge per ride, however, not for the train or carousal, two of Teah's favorites. In the end we had a good time for very little money.