The New Family
Monday, June 30, 2014
Fun in the Water
DAD calls this the Water Park. What better way to spend a hot summer day?
Long post. Click to read more.
Parks
THE Family has visited many parks recently and have discovered some really nice ones.
Long post. Click to read more.
Friday, June 27, 2014
More Updates: Happy Birthday!
ON June 11th, the Twins turned two years old. Their growth and development is amazing. They are now fully sentient of their world. They see themselves as separate and unique individuals from each other and their Parents. They are using words, and some phrases. EJ, for example, surprised Dad recently by playing peekaboo with Buggy and saying as clear as you would, "I see you!" when he popped around the barrier separating him from Buggy. They follow directions (when they want to) and commands, even new ones they have not heard before.
This last deserves further exposition. Dad was accustomed to carrying EJ kicking and screaming to bed and it was an uncomfortable struggle. EJ is really, really strong. His muscle fiber is incredibly dense, so when he resists Dad, Dad has to fight hard to get him to comply with his wishes. So one day Dad was tired, it was bedtime, Dad didn't want the impending struggle, and Boy was not ready for bed. So after the bedtime routine, instead of Dad carrying Boy to bed, he put him down and said, "Let's go to bed." He expected the worst but amazed when EJ toddled on into in his bedroom. Once there Dad said, "Lay down." Amazingly, he did. Dad said, "I love you" and "goodnight." Then closed the door. And that has been part of the routine ever since.
Okay, so enough with the narrative. Look at some pictures!
This last deserves further exposition. Dad was accustomed to carrying EJ kicking and screaming to bed and it was an uncomfortable struggle. EJ is really, really strong. His muscle fiber is incredibly dense, so when he resists Dad, Dad has to fight hard to get him to comply with his wishes. So one day Dad was tired, it was bedtime, Dad didn't want the impending struggle, and Boy was not ready for bed. So after the bedtime routine, instead of Dad carrying Boy to bed, he put him down and said, "Let's go to bed." He expected the worst but amazed when EJ toddled on into in his bedroom. Once there Dad said, "Lay down." Amazingly, he did. Dad said, "I love you" and "goodnight." Then closed the door. And that has been part of the routine ever since.
Okay, so enough with the narrative. Look at some pictures!
Pasta Sauce
DAD, hoping that a relocation is imminent, decided to mess up his clean kitchen to use up the food he has in the pantry and freezer.
Typically, he would place the raw hamburger into the skillet and break it up with the silicone turner. But this is labor intensive. This time he decided to break it up with his hands while still raw. That made it much easier to brown and crumble.He was careful to wash and sanitize his hands and all contaminated surfaces before proceeding.
This is a lot of sauce but it is intended to be shared with friends that have recently helped the family out.
Typically, he would place the raw hamburger into the skillet and break it up with the silicone turner. But this is labor intensive. This time he decided to break it up with his hands while still raw. That made it much easier to brown and crumble.He was careful to wash and sanitize his hands and all contaminated surfaces before proceeding.
This is a lot of sauce but it is intended to be shared with friends that have recently helped the family out.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Three Feet Tall Club
TWO years old means a trip to see Dr. Pedia for a check up.
The Twins are the exact same height at nearly three feet tall (2' 11.75"). While this puts EJ in 75th percentile for boys, it puts Liesel in the 90th percentile. Dad takes credit for this by constantly lifting her up by her arms to help stretch her out.
Okay, that is completely ridiculous.
EJ was weighed. Dad saw the balance scale clearly indicate 27 lbs. The nurse saw 29 lbs. and recorded it as such. Since Dr. Pedia didn't make any mention of this being out of range for BMI, Dad didn't pursue a correction to the record. EJ cannot be all of 10% body fat. His shape is copious amounts of dense muscle and bone. Buggy weighed in at 25 lbs. She is well in the normal range at about 50%.
Dr. Pedia was concerned that they were not conversing in full sentences and had a narrow vocabulary. Dad is unconcerned now. They progress in step wise fashion in their development and when progress comes it comes in big steps. One day they will just start talking in sentences using words. To some degree they do this now, they just have their own invented vocabulary.
She recommended trying to start potty training Buggy. Sorry EJ, you are a boy and a lost cause for at least a year. Dad had begun to train Buggy, but has been inconsistent. He will take that up again.
On this subject, Dad notes that children seem to learn best through example. If he wants them to learn something, he has little success directing them to do it. He is much more successful in doing it himself and watching them emulate his behavior.
So, um, yeah, the same thing applies to potty training. Dad always wondered how to address such a topic in polite company. Dr. Pedia had a great term for it. She called it having an "open" house. So Dad welcomes them in to observe him to, well you know, use the potty. Later he watched a video pertinent to the subject. The advice given was to emphasize and exaggerate the important steps. Pull down your pants (lift your skirt as the case may be though Dad will not be wearing a skirt to demonstrate for Buggy). Pull down your underwear, relieve yourself, wipe as necessary, pull up your underwear, pull up your pants, wash your hands. About the only thing the video didn't address was how to teach girls to pee while standing up. An egregious oversight he is sure.
While there they demonstrated excellent climbing skills, as well as hurling-themselves-off-of-the-exam-table skills. Buggy demonstrated to her brother how to turn off the over head light, the computer, and the exam light. He, in turn, demonstrated to her how to pull open the supplies drawer and throw the contents about, how to hurl magazines off of the table, and how to pull the exam room privacy curtain down off of its hangers.
Some have the ethic to leave a place in better condition than what they encountered while there. The New Family Parents have the aspiration to leave a place in 85% of the original condition they found it.
For those of you with toddler twins; you know Dad is bragging.
The Twins are the exact same height at nearly three feet tall (2' 11.75"). While this puts EJ in 75th percentile for boys, it puts Liesel in the 90th percentile. Dad takes credit for this by constantly lifting her up by her arms to help stretch her out.
Okay, that is completely ridiculous.
EJ was weighed. Dad saw the balance scale clearly indicate 27 lbs. The nurse saw 29 lbs. and recorded it as such. Since Dr. Pedia didn't make any mention of this being out of range for BMI, Dad didn't pursue a correction to the record. EJ cannot be all of 10% body fat. His shape is copious amounts of dense muscle and bone. Buggy weighed in at 25 lbs. She is well in the normal range at about 50%.
Dr. Pedia was concerned that they were not conversing in full sentences and had a narrow vocabulary. Dad is unconcerned now. They progress in step wise fashion in their development and when progress comes it comes in big steps. One day they will just start talking in sentences using words. To some degree they do this now, they just have their own invented vocabulary.
She recommended trying to start potty training Buggy. Sorry EJ, you are a boy and a lost cause for at least a year. Dad had begun to train Buggy, but has been inconsistent. He will take that up again.
On this subject, Dad notes that children seem to learn best through example. If he wants them to learn something, he has little success directing them to do it. He is much more successful in doing it himself and watching them emulate his behavior.
So, um, yeah, the same thing applies to potty training. Dad always wondered how to address such a topic in polite company. Dr. Pedia had a great term for it. She called it having an "open" house. So Dad welcomes them in to observe him to, well you know, use the potty. Later he watched a video pertinent to the subject. The advice given was to emphasize and exaggerate the important steps. Pull down your pants (lift your skirt as the case may be though Dad will not be wearing a skirt to demonstrate for Buggy). Pull down your underwear, relieve yourself, wipe as necessary, pull up your underwear, pull up your pants, wash your hands. About the only thing the video didn't address was how to teach girls to pee while standing up. An egregious oversight he is sure.
While there they demonstrated excellent climbing skills, as well as hurling-themselves-off-of-the-exam-table skills. Buggy demonstrated to her brother how to turn off the over head light, the computer, and the exam light. He, in turn, demonstrated to her how to pull open the supplies drawer and throw the contents about, how to hurl magazines off of the table, and how to pull the exam room privacy curtain down off of its hangers.
Some have the ethic to leave a place in better condition than what they encountered while there. The New Family Parents have the aspiration to leave a place in 85% of the original condition they found it.
For those of you with toddler twins; you know Dad is bragging.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Sir-kul
MOM bought these Magna Doodles for the Twins some time ago and Dad has patiently tried to teach Buggy to draw a circle to too little success. Though she has been deliberate in her attempts, nothing has come close to this.
Last Saturday night, up late because of the late setting sun, she was allowed some additional play time outside her bedroom. She settled herself on the couch between Mom and Dad with the tablet and began repeating "sir-kul" over and over. She would draw and then erase her product. Curious, Mom looked at the screen and excitedly alerted Dad.
The extraneous squiggles were added while Dad tried to photograph her with her accomplishment.
Her normal use of the doodle board is to scribble in an uncontrolled manner. This occasion was remarkable because of the intensity of the effort she put into the task, and her unhappiness with the result causing her to erase previous iterations and try again.
Dad is pretty excited that she has taken it upon herself to work hard at perfecting her sir-kul.
Her next shape should be something more challenging. Dad is thinking double helix.
Last Saturday night, up late because of the late setting sun, she was allowed some additional play time outside her bedroom. She settled herself on the couch between Mom and Dad with the tablet and began repeating "sir-kul" over and over. She would draw and then erase her product. Curious, Mom looked at the screen and excitedly alerted Dad.
The extraneous squiggles were added while Dad tried to photograph her with her accomplishment.
Her normal use of the doodle board is to scribble in an uncontrolled manner. This occasion was remarkable because of the intensity of the effort she put into the task, and her unhappiness with the result causing her to erase previous iterations and try again.
Dad is pretty excited that she has taken it upon herself to work hard at perfecting her sir-kul.
Her next shape should be something more challenging. Dad is thinking double helix.
Happiest Father's Day
BUGGY sat in Dad's lap for selfies. What could make for a better Father's Day gift?
Friday, June 13, 2014
"We Need a House"
THE New Family needs a house. Both Mom and Dad have said as much. The condo unit is too small with two little but growing quickly kids. Recently they took a road trip to Grand Rapids Michigan to look at homes. The drive was three hours one way, which is significant because hitherto Buggy has not been able to travel in the car for extended periods. Her inability to tolerate being restrained in a car seat caused Dad to cancel Christmas travel plans in 2013.
She did well for the trip there, but she was not tired. Being out of her element, she was excited by all of the new stuff and never napped. So on the way home she became cranky making the last hour of the trip miserable for everybody.
She did well for the trip there, but she was not tired. Being out of her element, she was excited by all of the new stuff and never napped. So on the way home she became cranky making the last hour of the trip miserable for everybody.
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| I-80/94 in Indiana |
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