Hamsters

My mom got the boys Zhu Zhu pets and some of their accessories for Christmas. This was a tough one because Keith had figured out that they are sold on the pink aisle of Target and was worried about giving them girly toys.

Sorry, but you would just have to know Keith and how he grew up with two brothers and a hunter/fisher dad. Keith was president of his club in college and had to deal with Spring Sing his senior year and his parents never even knew that he was involved. He thought his dad would have said, "I'm not paying good money for you to dance around on stage like a fruit."

We'll never know, and I'll get back to the point.

My mom chose well on their gifts and David and Drew love their pet hamsters. Keith and I agree that they are good toys for them. David's rodent has a car to drive. Drew is a sucker for battery operated animals. They're cute.

We've been playing with them lots and a couple of days ago we went to the library and David found this book.

He has never enjoyed a book so much. We read it four times at bedtime the day we got it. The book is about a fat kid who goes away to camp, turns into a hamster and comes home in shape. It's an absolute riot. I keep trying to point out that this boy's problems came from too much pop and candy and I keep explaining that's why Sprite is only for very special occasions. David just wants to get to the part where the boy turns into a hamster.

All of it makes me giggle: The mechanical pets that don't have an "off" switch and make squealy noises. (Keith is convinced that they are made by people overseas who hate us.) The reading over and over of the book with the theme of combating obesity. David shrugging with a funny grin on his face and saying, "I don't know why, but I just love it. Can I have a flashlight to look at the book for awhile longer?"

Come to think of it I have been spending a lot of time laughing. I feel really blessed.

His dream came true.

This is what Drew got for Christmas.


To say he was overjoyed to receive it is the understatment of '09.

On the way home from my parents house, David leaned over, looked at Drew and said, "Well Drew, I guess you got your Christmas wish." Drew quietly replied "Yes," as he stared lovingly into the cow's cartoonish eyes.

David got his wish list answered too. But his Transformers, Hi-Ho Cherry-O game and airplane Geo Trax, couldn't fit in his lap.

While I am on the subject, I can't stand Transformers. David loves them (although he would never, ever watch the cartoons let alone movies) but I can't think of a more annoying toy (and you just saw the video of the cow, so that is saying a lot.) I don't Transform. Period. I don't have the patience to twist them from army tank back to robot. And maybe it's because David has abnormally large hands but he can't seem to get them how he wants them. It seems like every time we are getting ready to leave the house Keith is fooling with these little pieces of plastic. I finally asked Keith if he minded messing with them. He said it was like doing a puzzle. He enjoys it. More and more I feel like I am living in Boy World and my only jobs are to find the missing dart from the gun or to get scrambled eggs on the table in the morning before everyone gets cranky.

And no, I don't want a daughter. I kinda love it.

Feliz Navidad

Every year right before December 20th, I wonder why we chose to get married five days before Christmas. As I was trudging through the mall carrying two very large toys and one teeny striped sack with hot pink tissue paper (yeah, you know which store I am talking about) I couldn't help but wish we had gotten married in the summer. But then I remember that my sister got married the previous July, and I was teaching, so Christmas break seemed like the logical choice back then. After all, Keith and I already had Scout out of wedlock and we were trying to share canine custody, so it made since to not wait until the following summer. Oh, and we were madly in love.
Anyway, our first Christmas together was in Cancun, Mexico. And it felt very, very weird to be so far away from our families. Sure, there were people singing and the sun was shining but it wasn't the same. I remember feeling very guilty because Keith was my new family, but I missed my mom, dad, sister and brother. I wondered if I would feel a little bereft every Christmas, even if I were in Oklahoma.
My worry was unnecessary. Each year we get to see our families, but we have our own traditions. Christmas morning is all ours. We are happy together. When all is said and done, I don't even mind that our anniversary blurs with Christmas and that on our date tonight we may pick up one last toy for Drew since the boys will be at my parents' house.
I adore Keith. I love our life together. Marrying him six years ago was the best decision I ever made.
Yesterday, after watching Christmas Dora, Drew came up and said, "Feliz Navidad." That phrase will always hold special meaning for me. It reminds me of a wonderful honeymoon and Keith. I'm still madly in love with him.

Hunters, underwear, and my great idea

Keith just came home with a Wii hunting game that he got with gift cards. He has told the boys that they can be his "spotters" while he hunts. David is thrilled by the gun. Drew is excited because the game box has animals on it. I am wondering when one of them will come back to my room sobbing once they figure out that Daddy is killing animals. Oh well, I am getting some peace now.

Keith is fully dressed while playing, but the boys are in their standard uniform. Only underwear. I think it's way too cold for them to strip as soon as they hit the door, but they insist on it. The only good part is that we are potty training Drew and it makes it much easier. So far, his accidents are rare, but I am trying to remember the best way to deal with soggy underpants. If I leave them in the laundry room I run the risk of forgetting about them and more dirty clothes get thrown on top making a rank smelling sandwich. I wish I could just put a pad in Drew's underwear so I could simply throw it away. But I worry about the repercussions of putting feminine hygiene products on my two year old son. If only they made something disposable that mimicked underwear. I think I'll petition Pampers. I would name them something catchy like Pull-Ups. Do you think others would buy them?

S.O.S.

We need a dancing cow. The one my mom ordered has not been delivered. Keith just bought one on EBay and then realized that it has to be shipped from Hong Kong. This is the only thing Drew has asked for and we must get something bovine that bee bops for Christmas morn. We keep asking him if there is anything else he wants. All he says is, "Um, a dancing elephant! Hmm... a dancing lion!" Stop with the dancing animals Drew, we don't know where you are coming up with this.
I'll admit it. For Drew's first Christmas he just got one toy from us. We weren't going to buy more baby toys when we had too many to begin with. Last year Drew didn't really know what was going on either, so the boys got a lot of sharing toys. But this year... David has several items that are pretty reasonable that he really wants and we want to have things for Drew under the tree too. It doesn't help that we have lots of toys for a boy under the age of four as well. But we want some special things that are just for Drew. Any ideas?

My Merry Gentleman

I was always one of the shortest kids in my class. David can thank his dad for his height. But I think he may have inherited my love of being the center of attention. That's my boy.

Christmas quotes

I have to write these down so I'll remember.

Drew yearns for a dancing cow for Christmas. At one point he changed it to a dancing sheep for like two seconds, but then said, "no, no, I want a dancing cow." Ask him how the cow should dance. It's hilarious. I have no idea why he wants this. Thank goodness my mom found something on the Internet for Christmas morning. My dad was going to have to rent a costume.

David asked us what Santa brought naughty boys. When I told him sticks, he said, "Oh, I see, so they can play swords."
"No David, really small sticks that aren't any fun."

David told us yesterday that he had found out something very sad. "There was a king that wanted to kill that little baby Jesus!" He was so solemn recounting that part of the story, and so bewildered that any one would want to hurt a baby.

Drew and David keep telling each other that the other one is put on the naughty list. Drew acts like he is upset about being on the list and then says, "Nah, I not naughty," and laughs. He's right, he's mainly good. For a two year old. Except when he sneaks out of the double jogging stroller in Victoria's Secret. I guess he was trying to army crawl away, because I just kept barreling forward and ran over him. He was completely trapped under the stroller while David sat calmly inside. I don't think the gal working there knew quite what to do with us. Drew was completely unharmed.

Good things are happening around our house

Drew went to Bible class on Sunday and did fine! I am so thankful to teachers who are loving and patient with him and who don't make me feel crazy when I explain how bad his separation anxiety has gotten. I want Drew to go happily so badly. I feel strongly that kids can't learn anything when they are scared and upset (and consequently their moms have trouble concentrating as well.) Thanks to everyone who has helped and been encouraging to Drew and to me. It means a lot. I congratulated myself on being laid back when the kids hung ornaments on the tree. I mean, who really cares if they are spaced evenly? And if there is a toy soldier and a ballerina smashed together like some PG-13 version of the Nutcracker, does it really matter? What I am having trouble with though, is ALL of the presents David is wrapping and putting under the tree. It doesn't bother me that most of the presents are for Daddy. What bothers me is that every time I try to put the birthday gift sacks and wadded up wrapping paper away, he keeps dragging it back under the tree. I told him Santa wouldn't have room to put his presents under the tree. This panicked Drew. David just ignored me and went on stuffing a baby toy into a plastic bag.

We went to the outdoor Christmas pageant that the boys' ranch does on Sunday evening. It was good to show the kids an example of what Christmas really means and the reason we celebrate it. Drew loved the camel, sorry this isn't a great picture. Keith and I want to return every year. After all, if we can drag David and Drew to do the obligatory Santa lapsit, then we can definitely do this. It touched my heart to see the boys that live on the ranch outside, acting out scenes from Jesus' life. Their sneakers stuck out of their shepherds robes, and it was really cold, but someone has taught them about love and sacrifice. I hope that I can teach my boys, that have never known any hardship, to be as strong in their faith.

Look out Hasbro

On Tuesday, Drew (who is very happy to run errands with me twice a week rather than go to school) and I went to Toys R' Us to pick up a few games for David's Christmas presents. Buoyed by the fact that the kids had played CandyLand Castle for ten minutes together over the weekend, and armed with the knowledge that after rebates each game would be $2.99, I was excited to pick up Chutes and Ladders, Cooties and HiHo Cherry-O. Unfortunately, no one at Toys R' Us shared my enthusiasm. I don't think any of the employees were even aware of the ad/rebate/existence of such games. I spent twenty minutes going back and forth from customer service to various employees trying to get help. No easy task with a two year old in the cart who would rather have been playing with toys instead of looking at ones for his brother. Get this- they hadn't even heard of Chutes and Ladders! I finally got all three and just need to wrap them and send in my rebate form.
The things that makes me laugh is there is one game that my boys never ever seem to tire of. I am trying to think of how to patent and market it. So Toys R' Us can be unhelpful when selling it. Here are the directions in case your kids want to play.
Pillow Pile
Recommended for one to four players.

1) First player yells "Pillow Pile."

2) The other player starts running and frantically grabbing all cushions, throw pillows, etc. to put into a big pile.
3) At some point amidst the running all players must strip down to their underwear. If you happen to be wearing a diaper, you must shout, "UNDERWEAR!" until your mom comes running and puts a pair of Diegos on you.
4) Jump into, roll around in, and bury yourself in all of the household's pillows.
5) Quit after about thirty minutes and reluctantly drag everything back to its correct spot.

*One last thing, Keith and I do not participate in this game. Because it would be super weird if we were running through the house in our underwear and jumping off of things.

My wittle T-t-t-two year old

We went to Keith's parent's house last Wednesday, got up early Friday morning to go to a brunch in KC with my relatives and after that went to Keith's brother's house. After all the excitement and seeing so many people that he loves, Drew's stutter became much more pronounced. Probably due in part to tiredness, it was the worst it's ever been on Sunday. If you see Drew, he will probably have something vitally important to tell you. And he is always getting interrupted by someone or he isn't understood either because of his deep voice or because he tries to talk with a pacifier in his mouth. Also, he is putting together pretty complicated sentences and his brain is faster than his mouth right now. It was so important that he tell people about the American Elk he saw at the zoo a few weeks ago. He wanted his "people" to know that it was rubbing its antlers on the fence. But he just gets so excited that he can't get it to come out right. This morning, when all was calm before the day began, he looked at me and asked, "Mommy, will Santa Claus bring you presents?" Keith and I are really working to get down on his level and show him that we have all the time in the world to listen to his thoughts. I tried to explain it to David, but all he said was, "Well, mom, I actually don't have time for his stuff." Nice.
While I am on the subject of two year olds, unless you have one, or maybe have a kid slightly older, you aren't allowed an opinion on them. Yup, I said it. They are a breed all their own. So, don't make a comment along the lines of, "When we have kids, we just believe in being firm." Yes, I know it looks like I gave in and let Drew have his way about holding a cup without a lid. But you didn't see the Battle of the Wearing a Jacket that I won or the fact that I had to trick him into sitting in a high chair once we got to the restaurant. All I can say to people without kids who give The Look whenever we are around is that I hope that they soon have a two year old all their own. The kind that likes to strip down naked and chant Poo Poo Diaper Face Mommy right when it is time to take his brother to school.