I am being accused...

I am being accused of girl-ifying Star Wars. I am only expanding the possibilities of play. Troopers can do the hokie pokie too, right? Luke had the troopers he was holding dance too. I also caught Luke singing Happy Birthday to Boba Fett while he was playing all by himself. It was cute. Then his red trooper would not fit into his gun ship, so he asked me to take off his skirt-thing. Luke said "Yeah, he's the hotness." I raised my eyebrows and said "Is he naked now?" Luke said "No, he's easy." oooo...k........ He did get a new assistant teacher today, Ms. Kayla, who is quite pretty and Luke knows it. He never said goodbye to the old teacher but this gal has got him all bubbly and happy. And he admits she is pretty and he likes her. She is the hotness he said. This is where I think the hotness comment came from and he applied it to his troopers. He also told me today that Audrey and Abby fought today and they got put into time out. I asked what they fought about and he said "knuffle bunnies." I don't think this is true but the only 2 girls he knows that fight are Trixie and Sonja in the Knuffle Bunny Too book.

Luke is really into the book "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly." I must sing/read it to he and Claire at least 2 times a day. Claire really likes to turn the pages of any book. She is also trying to stack blocks now. And she bit me yesterday on the shoulder with her 2 teeth. Ouch! She has figured out her music drum and what to push to make what noise. She figured out how to open CD cases tonight. And then got really mad when I took it away from her. She still has a yucky cold too, so is still rather clingy. Daddy and Claire played with Elmo tonight and she loves the nose honking. She keeps squeezing his noise and listening to his responses. She is trying to imitate him too. And she finally learned how to blow kisses. She makes the noise too. I also think Claire is starting to go through the separation phase. She can be happy as can be playing in a room and the minute I leave to go to the kitchen and step over the barrier, she screams to get me back.

Other things Luke has said lately

• "Mommy, you're on lock down."
  
• He hit Claire. I asked him what he did. He said "I put the kaboom on her."

We did have a nice New Years. Luke and Claire got to play with Maddison and her grandparents while we went out to dinner with Matt and Michelle. When we got back, Luke had started to call Doug "papa." I guess he now has an Ohio surrogate papa. They had a great time playing and finally all went to bed so us adults could play games and stuff until the ball dropped. Happy New Year!!

Bad dreams

Luke has had bad dreams the past 2 nights. He woke up screaming and crying twice on Friday night and once last night. Friday night he had 2 bad dreams - one was about how he wanted his Darth Vader back. I asked where it was and he said "Up on a shelf." I asked who put it there and he said "Ms. Sheila" (his teacher). Then it clicked. We have been reading Knuffle Bunny Too several times each night and the teacher takes away the knuffle bunnies from the girls b/c they fight with each other over the knuffle bunnies. She puts the bunnies on a high shelf for the day. I can't remember what the other dream was that night, but it was equally as dramatic for him but silly for me. Last night he woke up screaming at 3:30 b/c he wanted his dinner back. He ate his dinner fully and even had icecream for dessert, so I don't know where this dream came from. After I went in his room and held him, he tried to go downstairs and finish whatever dinner he was having in his dream. I caught him, calmed him down and he fell back asleep.

Meanwhile, Claire has been walking further today. She stands up on her own unassisted and just strides off. She eventually plunks down, but she's got the confidence. She also said "Dad" today. Luke has started to call us Mom and Dad vs. Mommy and Daddy. I think he got this from other kids at school. Claire just wants to do everything he is doing or play with whatever he is playing with. She gets very upset when I don't let her. However, Luke sometimes will want to play with the toys she is playing with and she does not like that at all. She is quick to move her toys away from his swiping hands.

Last night we went to Matt and Michelle's. Luke and Maddison sat down at the kitchen table to eat while we were in the dining room eating. Luke sat down, looked at Maddison and said "So Maddison, how was school today?" Just starting normal dinner conversation. It was so cute. Then they locked themselves in the pantry and threw plastic forks and plastic cups around for fun. Luke had to go potty after that. Maddison came to watch (b/c she tried going potty last time we were there after she saw Luke do it and M&M want her potty trained), and she clapped for him afterwards. Luke left the bathroom, running and yelling "wooooo-hooooo! I did it!"

And finally, Luke got to play with Andrew over the holiday. Andrew got a 1-man indoor trampoline that Luke loved. Last time we were there, Claire saw them jumping on it and must've been paying keen attention b/c today we went over there again and she crawled to the trampoline, climbed up and started jumping herself from the squat position. She was having a great time! She knew exactly what she had to do. And then Luke had his first driving lesson today. Andrew was nice enough to let Luke drive his new power wheels escalade! Andrew is a much better driver for sure and looks like a pro. Luke however was trying to get the hang of the gas pedal and didn't understand the steering wheel turning capability. I said "Luke go over there" (pointing to the right). Luke looked to the right, but did not turn the wheel. He ran over my foot at one point. I don't think I am going to be the one teaching him to drive when he is 16. He was more interested in the real radio inside the car and pushing the buttons. Yeah, that's my boy!

Christmas morning!

What an exciting morning we had! Luke was still asleep at 6:45 am, so I had to wake him up. He'd be off his nap schedule if I didn't....but in the end, he never took a nap. He just played his Leapster all 2 hours. But back to the beginning. I wanted GW to capture on video Luke's expression as he came down the stairs and saw that Santa had come, but Luke did not want daddy to come downstairs before him. But Luke was very excited to see that Santa had come and eaten the cookies we left out, the reindeer ate the carrots, candy canes were put on the tree and his stocking was full. We could've stopped opening at the stocking b/c Luke got a Star Wars magazine and just wanted to read that. He could've cared less about opening presents. Claire got a cell phone, a scarf Mrs. Claus crocheted for her, and socks. She loves the cell phone and Santa recorded a message on it too for us. Just Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas! Luke also got some socks, chocolate, a Star Wars ship, a Highlights magazine, and Clone Wars mini book in his stocking. After mommy and daddy and Cayman opened their stockings, we moved on to the gifts. What a load! Claire loved the wagon Santa brought. She did not want to get out of it. Every time I tried, she pitched a fit, so we just left her there to play for 40 minutes until we finished opening and it was time to eat breakfast (cinnamon buns, which Claire loved and Luke would not try). Claire also got Elmo Live, which is too funny, a musical table, a CD, some cool books, clothes, stuffed animals, an alphabet toy and Mary Poppins DVD to share with Luke. Luke made out in the Star Wars dept. I can't name all the stuff he got, but it is a lot of ships with troopers and chicken walkers and a Hoth set. He also got a cool helicopter with landing pad and it actually flies in a circle. He got Chutes and Ladders, Hungry Hippos, Kung Fu Panda DVD as well as Jungle Book, Cars and Nemo games for his Leapster, A Diego activity book, CDs, a tool set, and a view finder that talks to you. He played played played all day. In fact he never peed until around 6:30pm. I kept asking him but he said he didn't have to go. He has been in his pretend world saying things to his troopers like "Stand by." and talking on Claire's phone to Nonno saying "Hi Nonno. No, we are not coming to your house tonight." Claire now says "Hi" when she picked up the phone and holds it to her ear. And she also walked by herself today without prompting. She was standing at her musical table and decided "Hey, Luke has a toy I want." and she just naturally walked over to him (5 feet) and just stood in front of him watching him play. Wow! Yeah Claire! She enjoys watching Elmo with us and also likes all the new ornaments we got and put on the tree. Lots of pretty sparklies. Speaking of sparkley things, Santa was very good to mommy and brought her a diamond tennis bracelet! It is a tad too long, so some of the links are being made into earrings to match! Santa also brought some sleeping bags and a tent b/c we are apparently going camping some time. Daddy got some great boots, books, DVDs, toiletry bag, tools, and nice serving utensils among several other things. We had a great Christmas and are all played out. I made a yummy crock-pot chicken dinner with carrots, mashed potatos, cranberry sauce, baked apples and wine. Claire really liked the mashed potatos, carrots and cranberry sauce. She was a mess! And after dinner Luke got to go to Andrew's house to play. He wore his new Batman PJs which he had to put on immediately after we finished opening presents. Andrew got a great trampoline too, but Luke had ripped his Diego trainers while peeing at Andrew's house so was going comando. But on the trampoline, his PJs kept falling, exposing the jewels, so Andrew lent us some underpants. Andrew gets to come over to our house tomorrow to play with Luke's new toys.
Well, I am tried. Daddy is probably gaming downstairs. Kids are asleep. I think I'll go to bed too. It was a very nice, relaxing Christmas and we hope yours was too!
All pics are posted in the Family photo album now in the Christmas 2008 Yipppeeee folder. I told G to work on the video postings, but that doesn't mean he'll do them right now.

Some Christmas '08 Pics online

Some quick pics are up in the album.

Learning the computer......

Luke: What's that long button?
Dad: That's the space button.
Luke: Ohhh, that's the space button. Does that take us to space?
Dad: No, no, that makes a different sort of space...between words.
Luke: Does it have galaxies and comets?
Dad: ........

Christmas Eve 2008

Both kids are finally in bed, so while I wait for Luke to actually fall asleep, I'll blog.
Today Luke helped me bake chocolate chip cookies. He helped me yesterday too but just after we had added the chocolate chips to the batter, Daddy (who was changing the light bulb over the sink) dropped the glass light cover and glass shattered everywhere. So, we had to throw that batter out. The batch today came out very yummy and I am sure Santa will enjoy his cookies. Luke has already enjoyed 3 cookies today.
Claire and Luke got to play a lot with each other today. Claire has gotten very good at holding toys she wants away from Luke when he tries to grab them. I think she picked this skill up from school. She is a pro at waving bye bye and now will blow kisses, although with the back of her hand instead of the front. She danced a lot today and walked more. She is super quick going up steps and very determined.
It was a rainy day today but lots of warmth and light inside. At 12 the tornado sirens went off, as usual for the Wednesday noon drill. Although based on the wind and rain, I wondered what would happen if we really did have a tornado warning on a Wednesday at noon. Would people ignore it like they do now? Anyway, I also noticed that TNT is not playing 24 hours of A Christmas Story this year. Why? It is tradition. Good thing I watched it on DVD Monday night and got my fix.
Yesterday Luke was playing his Leapfrog system in the basement and he asked GW "Daddy, can I press this long button (on the keyboard)?" GW said "That is the space bar." Luke said "Oh, it can take us to space!" So now that button on every computer takes us to space. Remember that.

Luke also sang Jingle Bells to us last night several times. He was excited today b/c he got to open number 24 on the house. The elves left him another piece of chocolate and he knows Santa is on his way! We went to church tonight at 5:30. I got Luke to wear a nice sweater, but only by telling him he could change into his PJs at Maddison's house after church. We sat near Maddison at church so they played quietly together. Until Luke had to go potty at the end, right before the procession. He ran out in front of me and instead of running to the back of the church, he ran to the front and did a little dance up there and I had to drag him away until he decided to go to the back of the church and out the door to the bathroom. While in the bathroom, Luke locked me out of the stall and said "Just one minute mommy. You stay out there." He went all by himself. Which reminds me, he went big poop this morning without me and wiped all by himself too. So he can do it by himself! Claire was great during church and awake the whole time. Both of them looked so cute. Claire had on her new dress with the faux fur coat and beret hat with red shoes. Luke did take communion too. His first. Although after he got his bread and dipped it, it was in his mouth all of 3 seconds before he pulled it out and gave it to me saying 'Mommy, you eat it."

After church we went to Matt and Michelle's house and ate tons of appetizers as dinner and a little after 8 drove home. On the way home we talked about how Santa is on his way. Luke kept looking at the sky trying to find him. A few times he said he saw him. Then he said he wanted Santa to see his footie pajamas. So I told him when we got home, we'd write him a note so Santa would be sure to peek in at him and see his footie pajamas (dinosaur themed). So once we got home, we hung our stockings, got cookies, milk and carrots (for the reindeer) out, tracked Santa on NORAD, noted how few presents were under the tree b/c Santa was bringing the rest, and wrote Santa a note. Luke told me what to write so here it is:

Dear Santa,
Thank you.
I am wearing my footie pajamas.
(picture of Darth Vader)
Love,
Luke

I can't wait for the morning!!! I am so looking forward to them seeing if Santa came and opening their presents! I'll blog more tomorrow and post pics/video.

Claire is on the move

Claire took some steps by herself today without holding on to anything. It was between furniture but she did it! This weekend she just got bolder all around. She has also been talking up a storm. And she now waves bye-bye, said "all-done" to me after she finished nursing, will give you high-five, and likes to put the balls in the top of the tower to watch them roll down. She took a bath tonight with Luke and it was too cute. He was making her laugh and laugh. We got some good video. She has a ticklish butt too. Her favorite part of the bath was watching Luke splash around and dump water out of a cup. Then Luke broke into song - The Hokey Pokey - and started swishing all around. He was being very silly and making himself laugh.

Luke has also been saying some interesting things.

• He sat down next to me yesterday and said "Mommy, I am going to read a book and then we'll have snack. Sound like a plan?"
• More "Stop that this instant"
• We got home from church and I made lunch. We sat down at the table. Luke clears his throat and says "Mommy, did you have a good day at school today?" I said "I didn't go to school. We went to church." Luke clears his throat again and says "Actually, mommy, did you have a good day at church today?"
• Luke barges in a room with a closed door and boldly says "What's going on in here?!"
  

We went to the library yesterday and got some good books. I placed an order for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, so I hope that gets returned soon so we can read it. In the meantime I checked out all the other books by that author. I also got the library to find the Lunch Bunch books for me on inter-library loan. I think and hope Luke will like those. They were the hot item when I was in elementary school. After the library Luke and I went to the grocery store. Luke insisted on carrying the apple juice all the way to the car by himself. It was not in a bag. He struggled with it and thought we had made it. Unfortunately, it was only an SUV that looked like daddy's car. My car was still a few spots down. Luke was a little exasperated and said "Mommy, where is your car?! It is far away. Don't do this again." But he did make it all by himself with the apple juice. He also helped me around the house this week and kept saying "Mommy, I am being a good helper."

On the not so helpful side, Luke loves the Christmas Village I set up. He has been playing with it gently. Only today he walks up to me in the kitchen and says "Mommy, can you put his shoe back on?" I said whose shoe" He said "The boy in the Christmas Village." Oh no...I walk over to my village. Out of 5 kids mechanically circling the snowman, the middle boy is now just a stump of a leg with a shoe circling with the other kids. The body is lying in the snow nearby. I don't have a Christmas hospital or a hot glue gun, so he might succumb to the elements. Luke is banned from touching the set and got a long time out.