Cooking with Grandma, and Grandad too!

When David and I were both in the worst part of our being sick - him with bronchitis and me with bronchitis and pneumonia, we received a call from Grandad and Grandma.  They decided to jump on a jet plane that day and fly down and help take care of our family for the weekend.  What a wonderful and generous surprise!  We were so thankful and grateful that they put their lives on hold like that for us.  Unfortunately it wasn't a social visit, but the kids didn't seem to notice.  They loved having Grandad and Grandma here. 

I came downstairs Sunday morning to find Dylan, Zoe and Grandma cooking eggs.  Grandad was busy setting the breakfast table.  It was such a sweet site to see the four of them all working in our kitchen.  Dylan loves to be a helper in the kitchen, and Zoe loves to do whatever Dylan is doing.  Despite being sick, I managed to capture some of my favorite moments of our weekend on camera. 

Grandma showing Zoe how to crack an egg

Grandma is showing Dylan and Zoe how to separate the yoke from the egg whites.

Grandad, Dylan and Grandma all working in the kitchen together.

Grandad and Grandma - Thank you so much for your love and devotion to us!  That weekend meant more to us than we could ever tell you. 

Binky for Buzz

I have never seen any kid so attached to his binky (pacifier) as Dylan.  Dylan has loved his binky since he was born.  He talks about Binky or Bink as he calls it as if it is one of his friends.  He looks forward to nap time and night time because he has missed Bink and Pillow.  David and I have tried to break the binky addiction several times and it has been a miserable failure.  Dylan finds such comfort in his binky and we believe it's been a large reason that we have been able to avoid many of the sleep issues with him that most parents deal with in toddlers.  Dylan has always been a great sleeper and we have had little issues with getting him to go to sleep.  But at almost 4 years of age, we do feel like it's time to kick the binky habit and ensure it doesn't interfere with teeth and speech development.  We just haven't been able to come up with a workable game plan.

After seeing Toy Story 3, Dylan keeps asking for a Buzz Lightyear.  So this week I told him that Buzz is a big boy toy and if he was ready to be a big boy and give up Binky then he could get a Buzz.  Well Dylan immediately was ready to hand over all of his binkys in return for a buzz.  So Wednesday morning before VBS at our church, Dylan gathered up all of his binkys and we placed them in an envelope to send them all off to a baby in need.  Dylan decided that he wanted to send his binkies to Baby Aidan (my friend Meg's youngest son).  So we placed the envelope in the mail box and took off for VBS.  While Dylan and William were in VBS, Meg and I along with Aidan and Zoe headed to the mall to hit the Disney Store in search of a Buzz Lightyear.  Our trip was successful! 

Once we were home from VBS, we ate lunch and it was time for nap.  The terms of the Binky for Buzz negotiation was that Dylan had to make it through nap time and sleep without a binky.  Then he'd earn his Buzz.  As long as Dylan sleeps without binky, then he can keep his Buzz.  If Dylan has to have binky back then he has to give up Buzz.  After Dylan went down from nap, I waited about 10 minutes and went into his room.  He had a binky!  I don't know where it was, but he had a stash.  He willingly handed over that binky.  I didn't go back in and check on him because I didn't want to wake him.  He successfully took a nap of about an hour and then came downstairs with a binky in hand.  Like I said, he must have had a hidden stash.  He proudly gave it to me and said "Mommy we need to send this binky to Baby Aidan."  I asked if he slept with that binky during nap and he said "Well, just a little.  But I'm ready to give up binky and get Buzz.  Can I have Buzz now?"  After a consult on the phone with Daddy, we gave Dylan his Buzz.  I have never seen Dylan so excited about a toy in his life.  Buzz has had to go everywhere Dylan goes.  We had to go to Bop and Nana's house yesterday just to show off Buzz.  Dylan has been sleeping with Buzz and no binky!

After two nights and two nap days without Bink, we're doing pretty well.  Dylan definitely is having a little trouble going to sleep.  He isn't asking for Binky, but it's taking him about 2-3 hours to finally go to sleep at night.  He's also waking up about an hour earlier.  This lack of sleep is really taking a toll on him and has definitely effected his behavior in a negative way.  But we have decided to stay on course.  I'm very proud of my big boy, Dylan, and I know he is strong enough and brave enough to go without binky.  There is a small part of me that is sad to see this chapter end with binky though.  Binky has been such a huge part of Dylan's infant and toddler years.  It's just one more indication that my baby boy is growing up and it is happening way too fast.  I am trying to treasure and hold on to each day as best as I can and I look forward to the next chapters in our lives together.

Dylan opening his Buzz Lightyear

Dylan with Buzz and Zoe - Everyone is so proud of Dylan!

Pirate's Cove

Dylan has been having an exciting week!  He is attending a one week camp experience called Pirate's Cove from 9-12 at our church, Lake Forest.  Dylan loves going to church, and as we all know he has a big love of all things pirates.  So how great is it to combine his passion for pirates while doing something that will help build his soul and character! 

Dylan has his friend, William, (my friend Meg's son) attending Pirate's Cove with him.  Dylan has been excited to have William come and the boys are so cute walking in together.  Each kid has received a special Pirate's Cove t- shirt to wear.  Dylan, being the smallest kid in his class, is swallowed by his shirt, but it doesn't seem to phase him.

Each day the kids are learning Bible age appropriate stories and building character.  Yesterday Dylan came home telling me about a game they played about Peter and the angels.  While I didn't quite understand the game as he described, it was obvious that he had spent some time that day learning about the life of Peter from the Bible.  I asked Dylan to tell me what he knew about Peter.  I wasn't expecting him to tell me much, but I was quite surprised by his answers.  He told me that Peter was a fisherman and that he saw angels.  He told me that a mean man put Peter in jail, but he escaped.  And he also told me that Jesus loved Peter.  I was quite taken aback at my little son, the sponge. 

Peter is perhaps one of my favorite people in the Bible.  It's no wonder St Peter's Basillica was my favorite place we visited in Europe.  There's so much I can relate to in Peter with his passion.  Jesus gave this fisherman, Simon, the name Peter.  Peter in Greek is petra which means rock.  Peter is the rock that Jesus built his church upon.  He was a great leader among the 12 disciples and I have learned much from his leadership.  Peter was put in prison by King Herod.  The night before Peter was to go on trial the next day, he was asleep in his cell bound in chains, and an angel gave Peter his clothes and sandals and told him to follow him.  Miraculously Peter followed his angel right out of the prison.  While this is the story that Dylan learned, my favorite story about Peter is how Peter boasted that he would never deny Jesus and yet he did three times.  It's one of my favorite stories because it shows me how fallable we all are and how pride can get the best of us.  I know if I would have been in Peter's shoes, I would have regretfully done the same thing.  While I try to live my life each day as Christ-like as I can, I fail in some way every day and often I fail in the ways I would least expect to just as Peter did. But despite all of this, the love of Christ transcends all understanding and that's great for Peter and me.  So we can put our passion to great use and show God's love to others and live out our part in God's story in the way He would have us to do so.  Yes, there is a lot my little guy can learn about character, leadership, pride and love while he learns about Simon Peter. 

While I knew he'd have a great time at camp, I'm grateful that he is learning some important stories and lessons from the Bible that will help us build strong character and a solid foundation in our little boy. 

Sweet Big Brother

Zoe is always showing Dylan how much she loves him.  She'll bring him his favorite toy if he is crying.  She always wants to shower him with hugs and kisses.  If she gets a snack or treat, then she always asks to get one for DD too.  When Zoe wakes up in the morning or wakes up from nap, Dylan is the first person she wants to see.  We know Dylan loves his little sister, but he isn't always as expressive with showing it.  But last night we saw Dylan expressing his love and care for his little sister in a way that made our hearts melt.

Zoe was having a really hard time going to sleep last night.  She continuously kept crying out and as long as David or I was in the room, she was fine.  This isn't abnormal behavior for Zoe.  So after we knew she was safe, had a clean diaper, had her babies with her, etc, we were going to let her cry it out for 5-10 minutes.  So Zoe was screaming and crying out and suddenly she got very quiet.  This is not normal and concerned us.  David went to check on her to find Dylan in her room reading her a book.  Dylan had heard her crying and so he got out of his bed, left his room and went in Zoe's room and sat on the floor and was reading books to her while she was lying in her crib.  David asked Dylan what he was doing and he said "Zoe was crying so I came in to read to her."  David told him that was sweet but that Mommy and Daddy would take care of Zoe.  Dylan then told David "Mommy and Daddy aren't feeling good so I'm taking care of Zoe."  It just made our hearts melt that Dylan was showing such love and concern for his sister and for us.  Our household hasn't been doing too well as David and I both have had bronchitis and I've had walking pneumonia.  It's been very apparent to everyone including Dylan how sick we have been. 

It was such a nice act to see our big boy Dylan looking out for his little sister, Zoe.  I hope that he will always look out for her.

Hungy Hungry Hippos

Dylan has become a fan of playing games.  He is still learning how to play most of them as well as the concept of taking turns.  In Dylan's world, the normal game rules do not always apply, but he can make up rules as we go along.  So while we may be playing "Don't Break the Ice" we may not be playing it the traditional way.  Dylan would much prefer to just take his hammer and break the ice as soon as he can instead of seeing the ice getting broken as something one doesn't want to happen. 

Most recently Dylan's favorite game has become Hungry Hungry Hippos and this one he does really well at following the instructions most of the time.  He has been asking me to play it several times a day and I can't resist.  Hungry Hungry Hippos was one of my favorite childhood games and I remember asking my mom to play with me a dozen times a day.  I loved the times when we would play it together - just mom and me.  So playing with Dylan takes me back to those fond memories while also allowing me to create fond memories that hopefully one day he will look back on when he has a son or daughter saying "Daddy, will you play Hungry Hungry Hippos with me?" 

So if you will excuse me, I've just been summoned by "Mommy, will you play Hungry Hungry Hippos with me?"  So I must go.  I can tell you that I know this much...Dylan will win.  He can play the game very well and is pretty competitive by nature.  If he doesn't look like he's going to win we're working on the "Please don't hold Mommy's hippo down so your hippo can eat all the marbles" concept.  I don't think we'll resolve this one tonight.

The Many Faces of Zoe

Zoe is definitely coming more and more into to her own personality and more and more into the "2s".  She is clearly a girly girl who likes to wear cute shoes and always wants a bow in her hair.  She can hang with any boys, but doesn't really like to get too dirty.  She'll let you know her favorite color is green, but she is also very partial to pink.  Her favorite toys are anything with dolls, her doll house, dress up, and her play kitchen.  Coloring, reading and dancing are still amongst Zoe's favorite activities.  She has a huge heart and lots of compassion.  She likes to give hugs and cuddle, but only when she wants to.  Zoe knows what she wants and will have an all out fit if she doesn't get it.  Her temperament and determination can be overwhelming at times, but she has a smooth, soft side that balances it all out.  She knows how to work you by batting those big blue eyes and giving you her best sheepish grin showing off that gorgeous dimple.  Zoe can make herself cry on demand with huge crocodile tears streaming down her face.  I've never seen anyone cry on demand like this in my entire life.  My girl is truly one in a million and we work together to learn how to handle all this "big" personality in this "little" body. 

One unresistable trait of Zoe is how expressive she is with her face.  If you want to know what Zoe is thinking or how she is feeling, you simply just need to look at her face as it will tell you everything. We get so many comments on the many faces of Zoe.

"Are you talking to me?  I don't think so!"

"Mommy, I'm not going to stand in this chair.  Really!  Not me!"

This is Zoe's happy, playful face.  She loves to play soccer ball.

Zoe loves her some "cake cake."  But notice the face as she sees us watching her.  Also notice the hands strategically placed as to keep "mess" off of them.

This is Zoe's "I'm innocent" face.  Notice how she shows just the glimpse of that adorable dimple. 

This is Zoe's "I hear you, but I'm ignoring you face."  Notice the smirk.

This is Zoe's "something is on my nerves" face.  Renoir was pressing his luck with Zoe as she was trying to play the guitar.

This is her fake smile for the camera pose.  It looks like she has something in her mouth, but she doesn't. 

This is her face while she is laughing.  We're playing one of our favorite games where we make faces at each other.

This is Zoe's look of frustration before she starts screaming or squealing.  Wubbzy isn't doing what she wants him to do.

This is the look Zoe gives you when you tell her she is pretty.  Big blue eyes, sheepish grin, and full on dimple.