The Night Before Christmas

Ian is really into fighter jets these days. It all began with Tim showing videos to Ian of "what Matt does" on youtube. Ian climbs into Tim's lap and says, "fighter plane Daddy, fighter plane." This morning as I was putting Ian's shoes on to go to the store he says, "Mommy, I want to buy fighter plane at Harris Teeter. Balloon and fighter plane. " So off we went to Harris Teeter and looked and looked down the aisles for a fighter plane but alas we could not find one. I told Ian that Trader Joes might have them though.

These days are filled with many questions, "What?", Why?", and "How turn on Mommy?" Those are Ian's three favorite things to ask these days. The four and a half hour trip (which turned into a six hour trip...not quite sure why though) to Sewickley for Christmas provided ample time for Ian to ask away. Pointing to a cement truck he asks:

Ian: "What?"
Me: "Well Ian, that is a cement truck."
Ian: "Why?"
Me: "Well Ian, it turns around and mixes dry cement and water together and then out comes gooey cement that is used for sidewalks and such."
Ian: "Why?"
Me: "So we can have sidewalks to walk on."
Ian: "Why?"
Me: "Well because."
Ian: "Why?"

You get the picture. Usually I know how to respond. I mean, what is so hard about explaining the entire world and how everything works to a two year old? Anyone can do it right?

Ian: (pointing to an electrical tower): "What?"
Me: "That is an electrical tower."
Ian: "Why?"
Me: "So we can talk on the phone and plug things in."
Ian: "How turn on Mommy?"
Me: "Well Ian I really don't know."
Ian: "Why?"
Me: " I am sure there has to be a BIG switch somewhere that turns on all of the electrical towers, but then again maybe not."
Ian: "Why?"
Me: " Tim, a little help? "

We arrived in Sewickley safe and sound and Ian maybe a little bit smarter or maybe just ruminating over a bunch of our made up answers about how things work. Sewickley was constantly covered in snow ( it snowed every day we were there) and it was just so perfect for Christmas. We ate a ton of yummy food including the best popovers ever, got to visit family in Ohio, and also met Cate's fiance Mark.

We sat down each evening to read The Night Before Christmas. Ian has the entire poem memorized and it is so fun to have him complete the sentences. My favorite is when he yells out, "KERCHIEF...CAP...NAP!"

Tim and I even got away for a night and went to downtown Pittsburgh for some great food and a much needed night's sleep.

Ian has us all wrapped around his finger. He even had Uncle Pete feeding him cookies. Emma was all smiles and continues to amaze us with her joyful spirit.

Merry Christmas

why we didn't send a christmas card this year...

Great Wolf Lodge

A few weeks ago to get in the Christmas spirit we went to Great Wolf Lodge with my sister Emily, sister Sally and her kids Cate and Will. I think some of the words used when texting my mom while I was there were madness, insane, overwhelming. We are lucky not to have lost any kids. Ian on the other hand can't stop talking about the wa-wa park. Everything is geared toward children... decorated trees, snow falls in the lobby each evening after a show and pajama story time, and all there is to eat is chicken fingers, french fries and ice cream. It is every child's dream. I couldn't really take many pictures of the water park as I was trying to avoid getting Emma soaked while making sure Ian wasn't drowning. It was quite an experience to say the least. I think if I ever return I am definitely making Tim join me.

O Christmas Tree

Tim and Ian went to Fragers Hardware this year to "cut down" our Christmas tree. One of these days we will get out to a real tree farm and cut down our own. Ian wanted to help carry the tree, put it on its stand, string it with lights, and decorate it with ornaments. In short, he wanted to do EVERYTHING on his own. Emma on the other hand was no help at all.

The Christmas tree, now out on the curb, was the highlight of December. Ian played with the tree every day. He would throw all of his toys in the tree including lego pieces, a tape measure, and my favorite a flashlight. We found many lost treasures as we were taking the Christmas tree down this past week.

Ian is so completely attached to me at the moment and while at times it can get a bit annoying, I am trying to savor these moments and choose to laugh instead of get totally upset. But how can a two year old be attached to you while he is running around and being the crazy two year old that he is, you may ask? Well, just a few examples...He still makes me carry him up and down the stairs. I still have to sit in bed with him until he falls asleep. He holds my hand while falling asleep. He gets really upset unless I sit in the back seat with him and Emma on long car trips. He cries if I go upstairs while he is downstairs and vice versa. I could go on and on...

However, like I said, I choose to laugh. Ian really is hysterical and makes me laugh every day.

Just this morning as I am trying to teach Ian his ABC's...

Me: A is for...
Ian: Apple
Me: B is for...
Ian: Pizza box.

Either he has a pizza box confused with bananas or his mind is elsewhere.

And right after that when I mentioned we were going to church tonight, Ian said, "No church mommy, let's go to Harris Teeter."

Ian and Emma are so adorable together and while the below photos may be a bit much, I am adding them for all the grandparents and great-grandparents. It is funny to see how Emma is starting to annoy Ian. She will grab at his hair and even try to take things from him. Watch out Ian, here she comes!

WOW! So it is already New Year's Eve and I still haven't posted about Thanksgiving yet. That should tell you somewhat about our life these days. It is always Go, Go, Go. I think we stop to sleep for a few hours at night and then it is go, go, go again. I have learned over the past few days, as I have been battling the stomach flu, that there is no rest for mothers. Life goes on, even when you are sick.

We spent Thanksgiving with my family in Pennsylvania. Ian, Emma and I went up early and spent the week with my sisters and Ian and Emma's cousins Cate and Will. The four kids got along great and had a blast playing. The i-pad definitely won the day though and we got suckered into letting the kids watch Wallace and Gromit more than once.

We were at my Uncle Dave and Aunt Courtney's house for the actual day of Thanksgiving. Dave is an amazing cook and cooked not one, but two turkeys. One in a deep fryer, which Ian found fascinating when he stopped riding the scouter in the rain long enough to watch it, and one in the oven. Emma got to meet the rest of the Reimold clan and was passed around the entire week.

It is too hard to take pictures AND watch two kids these days. I am so thankful for family that have awesome cameras and take great pictures. My sister Abigail chronicled the entire week. Thank goodness!

Over Thanksgiving break we went to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. This place is incredible and every child's dream. There is a water area, a make believe grocery store, shoe store, hospital, basically everything including an indoor carousel. We spent several hours here and hopefully will be able to go back again.

Ian and Will operating a "digger"

Emma checking everything out

Emma Photo Shoot

Just some pictures of Emma to start the day.