Merry Christmas

Well, it's the afternoon before the Eve and all is quiet. Don't know how, but both kids are napping. Musta been the driveway shoveling experience that did them in. Last night we got somewhere between 6 and 8 inches. All four of us were out there over two hours trying to get to the concrete. And another 8 inches or so is expected. Goodness.

Galen shoveled, Liam scooted, and Boris chased after another dog after being released by Liam. All in a morning's fun. The kids did have a blast. Galen was having a great time right up untill I unloaded a shovel on him - he's not so fond of snow down the back of the neck. Imagine that!

Christmas will be tomorrow, I hope we make it through the Eve. Galen is getting worked up to a frenzy, Liam, well, he's just along for the ride. May we all have a safe holiday and make great family memories.

Excuse my laziness

Another month has gone by. No, I don't think I've missed any major developments. Maybe. Galen's reading is improving, though he often fights it, he'd much rather be read to. He sometimes enjoys word flash cards, hat's helping with the easy vocabulary. He sometimes looks through his dictionaries and atlases. These pictorial books connect an item/thing with the word.

Liam is still struggling to talk. Little by little he adds new sounds. For the past week or so he enjoys walking up, looking at what's going on, and asking "doing?" It's his way of asking what we are doing, so cute. When asked his name, he will respond. And sometimes even will respond back with his age. Though he will pass doing either when in a group setting such as the Little Gym.

Liam is the more physical of the two. He loves to run up and tackle, or jump in the lap. Both are dangerous for a male, the private nether regions seem to be his preferred target to land of crash into. Some days I think seriously about investing in a cup.

Observations of a social experiment

As explained in the last post, Liam has graduated from a crib to a toddler bed. And we eliminated the stairway gate. Some of the things we have learned.
1) Liam, alone in the room, usually goes to bed without roaming around.
2) Liam, when placed into bed the same time as Galen, will play.
3) The roaming starts again at about 5:30 AM, it used to be 6.
4) There are occasional night time raids by the restless children.
5) It is nice to be able to kiss a sleeping Liam - that was impossible in a crib.
7) Flow control for the kids is easier than flow control for Boris.
8) The room looks bigger.

Social Experimentation

Today was a day of change. Barricades were tore down, furniture rearranged, and a bed replaced. Since we moved in the three primary levels have been guarded by a gate. We appreciated the flow control and protection it provided. Well, today it is gone. All animals, kids, and adults have free passage from one level to the next. Just in case we do have some portable gates laying around. If nothing else they'll help prevent Boris from pillaging the kids play room.

More monumental is Liam's bed change. We took out the crib and replaced with a toddler bed. He often stretches out in Galen's bed and says "night night." Well, tonight we'll see how he goes night night in a bed without borders. Some of their bookcases were also moved about. That seemed to be more exciting than the new bed.

Chaos, it's never ending. So why do just pile on more?

The difference between hell and heaven

Last night, and the night before, and the night before, Galen ate his dinner, mostly, without too much fussing. What a glorious way to end the evening.

Prior to this, for the past month or so, at dinner he complained, resisted, and generally distressed my well being. Galen pushed the envelope for our acceptable dinner behavior. The easy way to get a pleasant dinner experience is to serve pizza or spaghetti, but that ain't gonna happen.

I have really enjoyed these past few evenings. Hope I haven't jinxed it all...

The end of summer

Tuesday Galen returns to City Montessori for another year of preschool. Shanna's already returned, at least to school, and is off to Massachusetts for the week. And Liam? He and I only have a visit to the GMC dealership for some warranty work. Galen needs to be back in preschool, Shanna needs to finish her degree, and Liam needs time to blossom. The end of summer brings to end of unscripted days and the return of schedules. Drats.

Transistions

Once again we are entering the unknown. Not so much me, well a little, but Shanna. Yesterday she tendered her resignation, today was her last day at the employer that drew us to Minnesota. It's been a good two years, but time and opportunities now draw her to another employer. No, we aren't moving, at least not this year, there will be chances for that in the future. Her travel will probably be about the same, and she's still trudging through school. As with any job change there are pluses and minuses. Of course we hope that the pluses outweigh the minuses, we'll know in a few months. But for now, there is nervous excitement in the air.

Congratulations Shanna. We are behind you.