MERRY Christmas from the New Family to your family!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas Eve
MERRY Christmas Eve! A new family has to begin to make its own traditions and begin to tell its own stories and the New Family is not exempt.
The New Family decorated for the occasion. Here are the pictures.
The mantel is from the original Pheasant Run farm house which has long since been torn
down. At the time Opa worked for that organization and salvaged it from destruction. It was carried on a car rooftop to Carmi Illinois
and then transported back. Opa installed it for Heidi when she first
bought her home. A young and handsome suitor (that eventually won her
hand in marriage and authors this blog which gives him liberty to use those adjectives) gave her the ember screen that covers it. Opa later
added the electric burning logs, flip a switch and you get instant fire without the ash, soot, or smoke. Okay, nothing beats a birch fire for character and warmth, but Opa's efforts to fit the faux logs were extraordinary. And he is very much missed.
The Family bought the tree in January 2011 on discount (50% off after Christmas sale!) and stored it for a year before using it for the first time last year.
Last year, Mom bought the ornaments pictured above. She started the tradition of giving them an ornament or two every Christmas. The Parents and Opa got a little carried away buying ornaments for the New Family's first year, but all were so excited.
Opa sent away for these personalized rocking horse ornaments.
Mom bought these (for herself):
Opa bought the New Family Parents these. Perfect and true to form as each is holding a baby.
The Daddy teddy bear ornament is holding a screaming baby while the Mommy's baby is quiet and sleeping. And the Daddy looks clueless even though he has a bottle in hand.
Mom loves snowmen.
Dad likes contemporary and even though stylized reindeer were contemporary 20 years ago, he still likes the look. Opa bought the stocking holders above as gifts for the New Family in 2012 that he found at a resale shop. (He loved shopping at resales). They are nice & heavy.
The above two pictures are German made Christmas items that have adorned the mantel every year. Traditional wood carvings.
The snowmen embracing was a gift from Dad to Mom on their 1st married Christmas (2003)
Opa knowing how much Mom loves snowmen, bought these last year to represent EJ & Liesel. You may notice they are singing - a passion that Opa and Mom shared together.
The New Family decorated for the occasion. Here are the pictures.
The fireplace mantel. |
The fake tree from the Home Depot. |
The Family bought the tree in January 2011 on discount (50% off after Christmas sale!) and stored it for a year before using it for the first time last year.
Last year, Mom bought the ornaments pictured above. She started the tradition of giving them an ornament or two every Christmas. The Parents and Opa got a little carried away buying ornaments for the New Family's first year, but all were so excited.
Mom bought these (for herself):
Opa bought the New Family Parents these. Perfect and true to form as each is holding a baby.
The Daddy teddy bear ornament is holding a screaming baby while the Mommy's baby is quiet and sleeping. And the Daddy looks clueless even though he has a bottle in hand.
Mom loves snowmen.
The above two pictures are German made Christmas items that have adorned the mantel every year. Traditional wood carvings.
The snowmen embracing was a gift from Dad to Mom on their 1st married Christmas (2003)
Opa knowing how much Mom loves snowmen, bought these last year to represent EJ & Liesel. You may notice they are singing - a passion that Opa and Mom shared together.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
The Visit of the Magi
AFTER Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He
sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the
child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and
worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%202:1-12
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Mealtime
THE New Family Mom recently visited IKEA where she purchased the table and chairs for the Twins.
The Twins know to go sit in their chairs when told to do so in preparation for a meal. They respond to "Go sit down," and race to take their place at the table.
Their high chairs have been put in storage and hopefully will not be put back in service to them again.
Dad was shocked the first time he told them to go sit down and they complied. He had not taught them that intentionally. He realized that they were imitating behavior they have seen. Drawing from this, he realized how important is was to model behavior he wants them to learn. So he reconfigured the dining room to be used as a dining room and eats his meals at the table. No more dining on the couch in front of the TV or at the office desk in front of the computer (at least not in front of them).
Next lesson, saying grace before a meal.
The Twins know to go sit in their chairs when told to do so in preparation for a meal. They respond to "Go sit down," and race to take their place at the table.
Their high chairs have been put in storage and hopefully will not be put back in service to them again.
Dad was shocked the first time he told them to go sit down and they complied. He had not taught them that intentionally. He realized that they were imitating behavior they have seen. Drawing from this, he realized how important is was to model behavior he wants them to learn. So he reconfigured the dining room to be used as a dining room and eats his meals at the table. No more dining on the couch in front of the TV or at the office desk in front of the computer (at least not in front of them).
Next lesson, saying grace before a meal.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
18 Month Checkup
THE Twins went in for their 18 month checkup on 12/17.
They both measured 33" in length. Dad remeasured when they came home and measured them both at 31 3/4". He believes his measurement to be more precise. He had them stand up barefoot against the wall and carefully placed a pencil mark even with the crown on their head. The lay-down-and measure-from-head-to-toe method is error prone.
At 33", a full inch and a quarter longer than Dad's measurement, she is in the 83rd percentile and he in the 66th. According to growth charts available on the web, he is actually between 25 and 50% while she is between 50 and 75%.
He weighs in at 23 lbs. 5 oz. (38%).
She weighs in at exactly 21 lbs. (28%).
Dr. Pedia asked a littany of questions about their development. Embarassingly most of the answers were "no."
"Do they use between 7 and 20 words?"
"No."
"Do they climb stairs?"
"Um, we don't let them."
"Do they use utensils?"
"Well she holds a spork and stabs food with it. But mostly she picks food up with her hand and puts it into her mouth."
But the New Family Parents were largely unconcerned. Dad knows that anytime he makes a declarative sentence about the Twins, they take it as a cue to prove him wrong. Sure enough they are now doing all of those things.
Except climb stairs. Those are still off limits. But they climb everything else.
At their 24 month visit, should Dad encounter any question about their development to which the answer would be "no," he will instead reply, "(S)he will by this afternoon!"
They both measured 33" in length. Dad remeasured when they came home and measured them both at 31 3/4". He believes his measurement to be more precise. He had them stand up barefoot against the wall and carefully placed a pencil mark even with the crown on their head. The lay-down-and measure-from-head-to-toe method is error prone.
At 33", a full inch and a quarter longer than Dad's measurement, she is in the 83rd percentile and he in the 66th. According to growth charts available on the web, he is actually between 25 and 50% while she is between 50 and 75%.
He weighs in at 23 lbs. 5 oz. (38%).
She weighs in at exactly 21 lbs. (28%).
Dr. Pedia asked a littany of questions about their development. Embarassingly most of the answers were "no."
"Do they use between 7 and 20 words?"
"No."
"Do they climb stairs?"
"Um, we don't let them."
"Do they use utensils?"
"Well she holds a spork and stabs food with it. But mostly she picks food up with her hand and puts it into her mouth."
But the New Family Parents were largely unconcerned. Dad knows that anytime he makes a declarative sentence about the Twins, they take it as a cue to prove him wrong. Sure enough they are now doing all of those things.
Except climb stairs. Those are still off limits. But they climb everything else.
At their 24 month visit, should Dad encounter any question about their development to which the answer would be "no," he will instead reply, "(S)he will by this afternoon!"
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Rockin to the Music
DAD had the TV on recently to occupy the Twins for a while so he could accomplish some chores. The show played a song with a rhythmic beat and the Twins broke out in adorableness.
EJ Photos
MOM has been requesting more photos of her son to be posted on the blog. The problem was that for a while EJ had a rash around his mouth that really stood out in photos and Dad didn't want to share those photos with the world. But the rash is finally clearing up. So per Mom's request:
Don't be fooled by their apparent adorability above. They were competing to occupy the play kitchen sink. Shortly after this photo was taken she was pushed to the floor.
Don't be fooled by their apparent adorability above. They were competing to occupy the play kitchen sink. Shortly after this photo was taken she was pushed to the floor.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Miss Fixit
Dad's Discovery
DAD discovered Mom has been teaching Buggy to kiss.
On the lips.
He discovered this when, after having recently changed Buggy's diaper, he stuck his face into hers to engage in some play and she puckered up and planted one on his lips.
Parenting is not for the squeamish.
On the lips.
He discovered this when, after having recently changed Buggy's diaper, he stuck his face into hers to engage in some play and she puckered up and planted one on his lips.
Parenting is not for the squeamish.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Update: Chef's Toques
GRANDMA saw these hats and thought they were too cute to pass up. They are a little big, but Dad will find a away to make them fit and get pictures up.
Dad aspires to the day when the Family can all cook together in a large kitchen.
Buggy likes to wear hats, EJ not so much. But he tolerated it long enough for Dad to capture a few pictures.
Dad aspires to the day when the Family can all cook together in a large kitchen.
Buggy likes to wear hats, EJ not so much. But he tolerated it long enough for Dad to capture a few pictures.
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