The Things She Says and Does

Miranda loves Thomas the Tank Engine.  Lately she's wanted to wear a Thomas shirt every day.  It doesn't matter if it's the same shirt, although she does seem to understand the need for things to be washed.  (Thank goodness!)  Unlike her wardrobe, Miranda does get creative with her toy trains.  I never knew that the Island of Sodor had so many tall flowers!

This is Miranda dressed as a spy.  She's probably looking for pootfrints.  Yes, that's how she says it!

 There's always a need for bandages in a household with small kids.  Especially when they make up booboos just to have that neat, new Dora band aid.  Miranda found these other, er, bandages for more "serious" booboos.

Just so you know, that's not an iPod...it's myPod.

This was probably an, "Oh dear!" or perhaps an, "OH NOOO!" or possibly even an, "Oh my goodness!"

One of my favorite Miranda quotes right now occurs when she climbs up a few steps, throws out her arms, and announces:

"Ladies aaaand Children!"

And that's it!  Because the announcement was the show!

Christmas 2011 post!

Justin and LaLa share a hug on Christmas Eve at Justin's sister's house.

Pop, hanging out by Nat's Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas morning came bright and early.  There's no sleeping in for Miranda no matter what the occasion!  This picture was taken shortly after 6am.

Miranda was thrilled with more than just her new toys.  When she unwrapped each present, she excitedly said, "It's a box!"  Only a little kid could put so much enthusiasm in the little things.

Duncan got up an hour after Miranda, but only when Mommy whispered, "Santa came!"  He hopped out of bed like a shot.  He was too busy playing and checking things out to look up and smile for pictures.

Silly wolf hats from Pop and Lala.  Duncan loves them and wears one to bed fairly regularly.

Christmas morning means many things.  To a lot of parents out there it means reading directions on new toys and how to assemble them.  Note the fierce concentration.

Christmas dinner was at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Here Miranda eagerly helps her Grandma.

My dad and I shared conversation over our new cameras.  

Miranda sports her newest accessory, because who would think to put a potty seat on a potty.

Peek a boo!

More instructions and assembling.  This time for Miranda's new doll house.

A boy and his wolf.  And his wolf hat.

The big 4-0

Tomorrow is my 40th birthday.  I'm not all that excited about it, really.  I don't know.  Thirty wasn't so bad, well, because thirty just isn't so bad.  And we were in Hawaii.  This time around we'll be home.  Justin is out of work, so nothing too grandiose.  I'm mostly hoping for some cake.  Although...Miranda has been practicing for a surprise party for months.  She comes into the room, switches off the light, counts to three in a stage whisper, and yells, "Surprise!"  So, we all play along and act surprised, and she wishes the person there a happy birthday.  So really, I've been getting birthday wishes since at least November.  And when we had extra boxes around during Christmas, she produced a present!  It was very exciting.

Usually the present is just an empty box, which to Miranda, is something to be excited about!  (Boxes are very cool for the 3 and under crowd.)

Recently, however, she's started putting an actual surprise in the box.  Because an empty box is cool, but something inside the box is even better.  And the something inside this little box is pretty surprising.

"Happy Birthday, Mommy!  Here's a lizard!"

Thanksgiving...a little late

I meant to get back on here and post this after Thanksgiving, but got all wrapped up in the holidays and just let things slide.  Just before Thanksiving the kids stayed with Grandma and Grandpa.  They went to church that Sunday.  When I went out to pick them up, my mom handed me the little card (pictured on the left) that Duncan made in Sunday school.  If you can't read Duncan's handwriting, it says:

Dear Mom,

Thank you for loving me.  You made me feel better and I am so grateful.

Love, Duncan

I know he had help with spelling out the words (and it is fill in the blank!), but I think the ideas were 100 percent Duncan.  Because he is a little sweetheart.

The Turkey handprint card was made at school.  Above is a picture of the front, and on the inside:

Dear Mom + Dad, I love you.  Duncan

So yeah, I was pretty much melting into a big pile of emotional goo after getting these cards.  That little boy knows how to make his Mommy feel special.

Evan - Day 24

Evan when he was brand new

Today and every day I'm thankful for my son, Evan, who we lost to Bacterial Meningitis five years ago today.

Of course, I thought he was beautiful.  He was my first baby!  But I was a little surprised when strangers came up to me in the store to tell me, "That is the purdiest baby!"  I couldn't help but agree.

We, just like every parent, thought every new little trick our son performed was the coolest thing ever!

Evan loved books and lap time with Mommy.

And he loved to play.  When Miss Stephanie (he called her Miss Stepanie) told me that Evan loved to play, my reaction was, "Don't they all?"  Apparently not!  Or, at least, when he played he didn't want to be disturbed and go and do something odious.  Like go outside to the playground.  Until he remembered, "Oh yeah, that's good too!"

Evan gave up naps a little earlier than I had hoped.  He really fought taking a nap after Duncan was born.  I really needed that quiet time, because Duncan wasn't the best sleeper (as a result, neither was I.)  But Justin was able to snuggle Evan and get him to sleep.

Evan wasn't sure about Duncan when he first arrived.  He was noisy and needy.

But Evan was sweet and patient...a good big brother.

 

More play time in the pool.

Having art time wasn't really Evan's favorite thing.  But I think he enjoyed his special time with his Mommy.

Self portrait

 

We love you and miss you, Evan!

Balloons - Day 23

I remember the morning of Evan's 2nd birthday party I was pretty grumpy.  I'd had an argument with Justin. I don't remember what it was about.  Probably something silly.  I went to church and was all upset.  I stopped at the grocery store to pick up a couple of things for the party.  I started off at the florist area to get some balloons.  They bumped into each other and into me as I continued shopping.  I noticed my mood had improved, and I thought to myself, "It's almost impossible to be upset when you're carrying balloons!"  I decided to get over it and go home to a good time with my little boy and our families.  And, of course, he loved his balloons.  (Somehow I didn't manage to get pictures of those balloons!)

In August of that year Evan got a green balloon at someone else's birthday party.  He chose the green one specially, and was disappointed when it flew away.  I promised him another balloon when he got his hair cut before starting school in September.  Balloons are about special occasions.  Birthdays and, um, haircuts.  Anyway, he was very pleased to get a new balloon.  I figured he'd go with his favorite color, red.  Nope.  He remembered that lost green balloon, and happily got a new green one to replace it.  There was no losing it this time.

Miranda and Duncan love balloons, too.  Who doesn't, really?  I don't know if it's the "boop, booping" the balloons make as they bump into each other.  Or maybe the mystery of how they float.  For Duncan I think part of it is popping them.  They elicit giggles and squeals of delight.  

And very happy faces.  We get them for birthdays and I even got a couple to decorate for Miranda's class Thanksgiving party last week.

We also get balloons on Evan's death anniversary.  Ever since the 2nd anniversary of Evan's death we've done a balloon release in his memory.  We typically gather with friends and family.  We write notes to Evan on the balloons, and even draw funny pictures.  Someone says a few words, and we let them go.  It's beautiful.  A lovely, colorful tribute to a sweet little boy.

Of course, I have to admit: unlike what I thought on the day of Evan's 2nd birthday party, I guess balloons don't always improve my mood.  I went today to get a couple of special balloons to release tomorrow, and almost cried.  One balloon has pictures from one of Evan's favorite shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

The other balloon, simply says, "I love you."  Tomorrow I think it will just be us.  No family or friends.  And just two balloons.  Of course, how many do we need to honor a little boy.  He would have been happy with just one.  So today I'm thankful for balloons.  They bring joy to the little ones and a feeling of being able to reach out to my lost little one.

My Inlaws - Day 22

Yes, that's right.  I'm thankful for my inlaws.  It all began before Justin and I got married.  I dated a guy a long time ago, and his mom was coldly polite.  I guess she didn't like me much.  I didn't really like her that much, either.  In fact I called her The Ice Queen.  After that  experience I told myself that I could never marry a man if I didn't like his mom.  Flash forward a few years later.  I met Justin's parents at their house and thought to myself, "Well, that was easy."  So, thanks Sally and Beau (and Sarah and Nat)!