An early birthday party

Last Saturday night we celebrated my big 3-2 a little early with Bob's family. We are headed down to southern Illinois this weekend so we won't be around. Or we might be around on my birthday and be frantically wrapping gifts and packing. Nonetheless, here we are. We had pizza and cake and afterward Grandma and Grandpa M. took Reed, Mason, and Porter on the Polar Express. The train museum in South Elgin does a great activity where they give train rides, read The Polar Express, feed them cookies and hot cocoa, and they get to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Sounds like Reed had a blast. If I get some photos from Grandma and Grandpa, I will post them soon.

Reed, very happy to get cake, and Cora, very happy to chew on a plate

Kids say the darndst things.

Reed is getting to be more of a talker every day. I marvel at all the things that he comes up with. Sometimes my heart melts, sometimes I just shake my head. I am already starting to forget them so I thought I’d just document a few.

The sweet:

Reed: “I LOOOVE this, Mommy. It is VERRRY GOOD!” (referring to dinner)

Reed: (hugs me) “We are BEST FRIENDS!”

The defiant:

Me: “Stop that right now!”
Reed: “That IS appropriate.” (referring to his actions)
Me: “No Reed, that is NOT appropriate.”

The inquisitive:

Reed: “What are those ducks doing over there?”
Me: (driving) “What ducks?”
Reed: “Over there, in the duck swimming pool.” (pond)

Reed: “Baby Jesus will share his birthday cake with me?”

The reinterpretative:

Me: “That's a pillow case.”
Reed: “That's a pillow quesadilla."

Me: “Reed, I need space.”
Reed: “I need a spaceship."

Here comes Santa Claus!

Last Saturday we had a nice lunch with Santa at Oma's assisted living facility. We enjoyed a nice lunch and then Reed, Cora, Mason, and Porter got their chance to put in their Christmas wishes to Mr. Claus himself. This was Cora's first sit down with Santa Claus and the first year that Reed really has cared about it.

No tears!

Heart to heart conversation

Santa and Reed had a nice little talk. Reed sat like a little gentleman and listened intently, studying Santa very closely. We thought Santa stumped Reed with the question of who pulls Santa's sleigh, but Reed finally came through with "reindeer!" When Santa asked what he wants for Christmas, Reed responded, "toys." No special requests, just toys. I wish every year that he will be so accommodating.

After they got off Santa's lap, they got a goody bag and a candy cane. Reed loved both. He has discovered, in his words...."Candy canes are GOOOOD! I LOOOVE candy canes!" I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised when he was asked by a relative what he wanted for Christmas from Santa and his new response was "a candy cane." Sometimes you forget the small things are big things to little people. I am hoping we can push off the want, want, want mentality for as long as possible. It really makes the holidays more enjoyable to delight in the simple pleasures.

Smiles from Cora and Grandma

A feast, a reunion, a tree, family and a feast

We had a really great Thanksgiving this year. We started with a feast and ended with a feast. What could be better?!

We spent Thanksgiving day in Elgin at Bob's parents' house and shared a fabulous meal with his parents and Oma. The next morning we hit the road for a weekend in Greenville. Friday night we ordered Mario's pizza and watched football. Mmm, Mario's.

Sara with Benson and Bryant, Me with Reed and Cora, Jen with Hadley

Saturday morning we met up with my high school girls and their kiddos. It was great but went too fast. Reed had a blast with Bryant and Benson. Hadley was as cute as every picture that I had seen. Cora liked Hadley but the active boys were a little more exciting for Ms. Hadley. From the looks of the photo it seems like Cora liked her shoes too. Hope I don't have a thief on my hands (or a shoe horse like her Aunt Andrea.) I can't wait until we get together again. Sara is expecting her third child in the Spring so we'll have another new one to meet. How exciting! (Here's how's we've changed in the last 7 months--http://erinandbob.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-fun-in-greenville.html)

Later that day we made the annual trip to Daniken Tree Farm to track down and cut down our Christmas tree. Afterwards, the Stotts came over and the kids played like crazy. Reed enjoyed having his cousins around. Sunday we got to introduce Cora to the extended Maher and Reed families at our Thanksgiving feast.

What a fun and exhausting weekend. If I come across more photos, I will post them as I get them. Wow, another year with so much to be thankful for!

Boy vs. Baby

It's a daily struggle, not between Reed and Cora but between Reed himself. Is he a big boy or is he a baby? He can't choose so he's decided to be both, not simultaneously, which ever suits him best at that particular moment. Most of the time he is happy with his 2 1/2 year old big boy life, playing with big boy toys, eating big boy food, and the like. However, there is something still so appealing about being a baby and Cora is there everyday to remind him, sitting on Mommy's lap, nursing, being cuddled.

Maybe I shouldn't indulge him while he pretends to be a baby, but they are babies for such a short amount of time. He has a lot of time to be a big boy. And if it means more cuddle time with me, I am not going to pass that up. Very shortly he will be shielding my kisses and not wishing to sit on my lap or snuggle as much.

Here is a clip of his typical baby routine when he's just looking for a little attention. Cora seems oblivious to the whole thing. It's funny that he never took a pacifier as a baby but will suck on one now because in his mind that's what babies do.

Feed Me

It may not be a turkey dinner that Cora will be eating this Thanksgiving but at least it is a little something more than just milk. We started her on rice cereal recently. Maybe she'll even score some sweet potatoes this Thanksgiving. Hold the brown sugar, butter, and marshmallows.

Halloween Festivities

One of the mom's in my playgroup threw a big Halloween playdate bash on Saturday morning. The kids had a ball dressing up. I didn't think that we would be able to round them all up for a photo but before we headed home we headed next door to the next door neighbor's house ("Grandma" Donna) for extra treats. They all filed onto her front porch, and while there was a lot of squirming and a little complaining we able to get a few group shots.

Cowgirl Lizi, Cupcake Lexi, Chickie Nina, Doctor Leo, Dragon Griffin, Mermaid Addie, Spiderman (Who is that masked boy?...Reed is checking out his muscles), Power Ranger Reed, Giraffe Benjamin

Little ballerina Cora napping with Melissa

Sunday, Halloween day, was official Trick or Treating. After naps we dressed the kids and took them over to Grandma and Grandpa Mihelich's. Reed passed out candy over there for a while and then we headed back to our neighborhood and trick or treated on our block, which is plenty for a 2 year old. Halloween wouldn't be complete without visiting his cousins, Mason and Porter, so we headed over there next. By then Cora was ready for another nap.

Cora's cold weather outfit for trick or treating, Little Miss Penguin
(Yes, this is the same penguin costume as Reed wore but notice the PINK bow)

Reed's cold weather outfit was going to be a repeat of his dragon costume from last year but at the last minute he decided that he wanted to be a Power Ranger again.