TV is educational.

I was walking home with the kids a couple nights ago and I asked them "How are we going to get up the driveway? It is covered with a thick sheet of ice."
Vanessa quickly responds: "Woddow"
Me:"What?"
Vanessa: more clearly "Waddle like a penguin."
So that is what we did. I thought that was so funny. I know that she learned it from an episode of Dora. But how smart to apply it to this situation. Have I mentioned lately how fluent she is. I know that all parents think their kids are geniuses. Other adults who talk to her will tell me how well she speaks. I am around other kids her age and kids older so I know she does things different. She is very smart. Many of the other kids her age use one word to get what they want like "juice." She will say "I need water, I am sooooooo thirsty" She speaks clearly and in thought out sentences. I asked her if she wanted to take a bath. Her response "Actually, I watch cartoons." When walking down the hall to her Sunday class she looks at me knowing where we are headed and said "Mommy, I will cry" I felt bad but she went right in and asked me "You come back later?" When I ask her if she is done doing something like coloring she will answer "I almost done" then she will finish up and put them away.
She loves reading books and can name all the animals in the Martin/Carle books. You know the books, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? She can tell you the animal that will be on the next page before she sees the pics. Animals like spider monkey, water buffalo, peacock, walrus. leopard. Her favorite is the Hippopotamus. She got a blue stuffed hippo from Kimber that she now carries all the time and won't let anyone else touch. When we get to the page in the book that has a picture of a blue hippo we have to say "Vanessa's Hippopotamus, Vanessa's Hippopotamus, what do you hear?" It's cute.

Xavier's Messy Meat Loaf

At school Xavier's teacher had the kids write down recipes then she sent them home laminated with their Christmas cards. So if anyone is looking for a new recipe here is Xavier's Messy Meat Loaf... "You put eggs on top of the meat. Some bacon on top of it you put red sauce in. Then you flip it over. You put ketchup adn hot sauce on. Then you cook it on a pan then eat it. Then I'm all done." I thought that was cute. And doesn't sound too bad. I asked if he wanted to make it but he said he doesn't like hot sauce. Note...I haven't ever used hot sauce.

snowwwwwww.

I guess if it is going to snow it might as well be a lot. This is the first year the kids have really played in the snow for long periods of time. So it makes it worth it to help with snow pants, coats, gloves and boots. If only they would hang them on the hooks when they come in the door. The hooks are at their shoulder height and right where they dump all their stuff on the floor. But it it doesn't bother them that they get stepped on and don't dry out then it doesn't bother me. We have the perfect hill in the lot next door. It took a few runs to make a good path. I was just glad that they could really do it all by themselves. Vanessa was anxious to go. She rode down with Eli the first time and they fell over at the bottom. I ran down to see if she was done for but all she said was "again." Xavier was first to venture off and try other places making other paths to go down. Steeper ones. Eli has probably spent the most time sledding over the past few days. One day Derek and I watched Eli out the window while he tried to climb the hill pulling his sled for about 10 minutes. When he finally got to the top he let go of his sled which went soaring back down the hill without him. One day we had frozen rain so the next day their hill was a sheet of ice. they went a lot faster and farther after that.

National Guard Party

Derek's unit was having it's annual Christmas party. I was hoping it would help get me in the Christmas Spirit. I just haven't been able to get excited about Christmas. But it seems that most people I talk to feel the same way. Anyway we headed over around 11. The kids were all excited and that is what counts. This year seemed a lot more crowded. They had games set up for the kids to play so they won tickets and got some prizes. After lunch Santa came. Eli refused to sit on his lap this year. Vanessa wasn't interested either. The kids opened their gifts and played a few more games. Derek tried taking them out to see the trucks but it was absolutely freezing.

Eli turns 4

Since we already had a party while Mima and Brian were here we just had a small thing on Eli's actual birthday. My mom brought over a gift, a nutcracker music box. He loves playing the ones at her house. I just hope he can take care of it. Shamee came over bringing him some tattoos a gummy spider, and football. We gave him Horton Hears a Who and a pair of footed pajamas which he calls squiddees. I guess on some episode of SpongeBob Squidward wears some similar pjs. We had cupcakes with the kids that were here and called it a day. My 4 favorite things about Eli. 1. He is so lovable and loves being held. 2. He notices when I get a new shampoo. He still holds onto my hair and after getting a new shampoo that has a tropical scent to it he said he liked the way it smelled and asked if they made that kind for boys. 3. He is very strong willed. If I look at it that way it is a good quality. Sometimes I think it might be more like he is stubborn. I can tell him something ten times and he will act as if I never spoke. I can look at this about him and laugh. However it is not so funny when I am trying to get him to hold still or go to bed. 4. He really makes me laugh. Especially if you watch him without him knowing. The other day I asked if I could play his DS. While I played he sat behind me holding my hair looking over my shoulder and telling me everything I needed to do even though I told him I already knew how to play. then when I would die he would take it out of my hand and offer to pass this part for me. I pretty much quit trying to ever play video games.