Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Then one 'froggy' Christmas Eve
I was talking to my friend Beth yesterday and she mentioned how big the boys were getting — especially Charlie.
He's got two teeth, has fine-tuned his crawling skills and seems to be trying to pull himself up. I told Beth that this rapid development was making me downright sad.
She said she has the same issue with her "baby" Anna. Beth has stopped trying to correct her mispronunciations because they're so darn cute and sweet and young and wonderful.
It made me start thinking about a couple of cute things Will has done lately that I never want to forget:
--Despite being reminded many, many times, he still refers to "fog" as "frog." As in, "Boy Mommy, it sure is froggy out today! We can't even get to daycare I bet!"
--This Christmas, Will asked Santa for a "rainbow camouflage" sled. I ask you, have you ever heard a better description for Tie-Dye?
--Charlie started wailing in the car and Will said, "He gets SO embarrassing in the car!" Not the right word but I appreciated his sentiment.
--After being a swimming class dropout about a year ago, Will decided that he's ready to try again ... then he said maybe not ... then he said he was again. Well, we have to wait for the next enrollment anyway so I figured I'd see where he stood at that point. Then, a few weeks ago, completely out of the blue, he says, "Mommy! When am I going to start swimming lessons? I've been asking you for WEEKS!"
--As the time-out numbers have steadily rose, we've been trying to reward good behavior with verbal praise. However, every time we say, "Will, you are such a good helper!" he responds. "Yes. I know." His complete lack of/awareness of humility is charming now (but we all know it won't stay charming much longer). By the way, if anyone knows how to describe humility to a four-year-old, please advise.
He's got two teeth, has fine-tuned his crawling skills and seems to be trying to pull himself up. I told Beth that this rapid development was making me downright sad.
She said she has the same issue with her "baby" Anna. Beth has stopped trying to correct her mispronunciations because they're so darn cute and sweet and young and wonderful.
It made me start thinking about a couple of cute things Will has done lately that I never want to forget:
--Despite being reminded many, many times, he still refers to "fog" as "frog." As in, "Boy Mommy, it sure is froggy out today! We can't even get to daycare I bet!"
--This Christmas, Will asked Santa for a "rainbow camouflage" sled. I ask you, have you ever heard a better description for Tie-Dye?
--Charlie started wailing in the car and Will said, "He gets SO embarrassing in the car!" Not the right word but I appreciated his sentiment.
--After being a swimming class dropout about a year ago, Will decided that he's ready to try again ... then he said maybe not ... then he said he was again. Well, we have to wait for the next enrollment anyway so I figured I'd see where he stood at that point. Then, a few weeks ago, completely out of the blue, he says, "Mommy! When am I going to start swimming lessons? I've been asking you for WEEKS!"
--As the time-out numbers have steadily rose, we've been trying to reward good behavior with verbal praise. However, every time we say, "Will, you are such a good helper!" he responds. "Yes. I know." His complete lack of/awareness of humility is charming now (but we all know it won't stay charming much longer). By the way, if anyone knows how to describe humility to a four-year-old, please advise.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
'Gingerbread' house
On a recent Sunday it was so cold outside that we kept the boys in the house all day. While Jana was at church and her RCIA program, Will suggested that we build a gingerbread house. Great idea! Jana deemed that graham crackers would work just as well as gingerbread cookies, and she was right.
John and I built a frame for the house, and he and Will adhered the graham cracker cladding with frosting. The frosting, that is, that didn't go directly into Will's mouth. Will ran out of steam, leaving John to do the majority of the decorating. It's going to be tough to re-sell that house, but if you're looking at comparables this one stacks up pretty darn well. Nice job guys!
John and I built a frame for the house, and he and Will adhered the graham cracker cladding with frosting. The frosting, that is, that didn't go directly into Will's mouth. Will ran out of steam, leaving John to do the majority of the decorating. It's going to be tough to re-sell that house, but if you're looking at comparables this one stacks up pretty darn well. Nice job guys!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
It's been quite a morning at the Tappa household. Will had a great night's sleep -- he didn't wake up until 7! -- then came downstairs to discover all the Christmas goodies. We took more videos than photos, and unfortunately Blogger isn't cooperating with uploading those videos right now, but here's a few shots from the action.And yes, since I know you were wondering, that's a SpongeBob SquarePants pinata.
Merry Christmas!
We want cake!
A few weeks ago my folks came over to watch the boys and celebrate my 33rd birthday. Also, Will's friend Mason came over for a few hours (his brother was having his eighth birthday party at the nearby bowling alley; when his mom asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he said "for Mason to not be at my party.") It was nice to have to extra pairs of lungs to help me blow out the candle.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Lazy Saturday
We didn't do a ton on Saturday. Will, John and I went to Waupaca in the morning for recycling, pastries, and Christmas shopping. Later John and Jana went shopping in Stevens Point and I played with the boys at home. Especially fun was popping the wrapping bubbles from Amazon-shipped packages.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Not a creature was stirring ... except Will Tappa
A few weeks ago, after a particularly trying morning of frantically trying to get everyone fed and dressed for sub-zero weather, I came into work and slumped into my chair, head in my hands.
A co-worker came by with a request and said, "So, what do you want for Christmas this year?"
I had a one-word answer: PEACE
Then this morning, I woke up to the alarm on my watch. Usually I've been awake for at least an hour by the time it goes off.
Everything was still in our house. Scott opened one eye and gave me a blissful smile as he remembered that he didn't have to go into the office this morning.
It was just so quiet. And then ... Will came into the bathroom.
"I'm telling you this because I don't know if you noticed, but I got up early and I already had my breakfast."
Wow. I started to respond but he cut me off.
"I did scrape my leg a little at the table, but it was just a scratch, see, and it already looks like it's healing."
Amazing... Again, I was cut off.
"So, I didn't eat that much for my breakfast and I will be wanting lunch today before my nap."
That's fine. Just tell Daddy ... Once again, he stopped me.
"OK. So, I'll be downstairs. If you need anything, just ask."
Oh. Wow. Thank you, Santa.
A co-worker came by with a request and said, "So, what do you want for Christmas this year?"
I had a one-word answer: PEACE
Then this morning, I woke up to the alarm on my watch. Usually I've been awake for at least an hour by the time it goes off.
Everything was still in our house. Scott opened one eye and gave me a blissful smile as he remembered that he didn't have to go into the office this morning.
It was just so quiet. And then ... Will came into the bathroom.
"I'm telling you this because I don't know if you noticed, but I got up early and I already had my breakfast."
Wow. I started to respond but he cut me off.
"I did scrape my leg a little at the table, but it was just a scratch, see, and it already looks like it's healing."
Amazing... Again, I was cut off.
"So, I didn't eat that much for my breakfast and I will be wanting lunch today before my nap."
That's fine. Just tell Daddy ... Once again, he stopped me.
"OK. So, I'll be downstairs. If you need anything, just ask."
Oh. Wow. Thank you, Santa.
Erin and Tyler
My cousin Erin and her boyfriend Tyler stopped by Friday on their way back from Eau Claire, where they had just finished their first semester finals. What a nice treat!
They played with the boys, brought nice Christmas gifts, then watched as Will and I had a 30-minute Battle Royale in the living room. They leave with the rest of the Flanagans on Christmas Day for a tour of Italy, should be great for them!
They played with the boys, brought nice Christmas gifts, then watched as Will and I had a 30-minute Battle Royale in the living room. They leave with the rest of the Flanagans on Christmas Day for a tour of Italy, should be great for them!
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