Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Christmas Week Quotes
Having a fun week with the cousins! Today we went to the Tracey Aviary. Yesterday, we visited the Air Force Museum, and saw all the big planes. Aarons favorite color is green, so he particularly liked the 2 BIG green planes.
The kids have been having a great time playing together, with lots and lots of toys, and some fun movies.
He learned this the hard way yesterday after pulling apart two intricate Legos of Lukes, and made Luke really sad.
Timmy: "I want to donate my Star Wars!"
We made some donations today to House of Hope. Timmy said he wanted to keep his Star Wars plush toy when we arrived, but after he got such a great response from the worker collecting our family donations, telling us how much the children would love the new toys and books, he decided that he really wanted to donate more!
After I asked him what things we should buy to donate to the homeless shelter, and suggesting warm things like socks, hats, gloves....Timmy said "How 'bout we buy them a house?"
"Very good idea, but we don't quite have enough money for that in our donation budget"
"How 'bout we build them a house?"
"Also a little pricey...."
"How 'bout we build them a roof?!"
"All good things.....maybe when you are big enough, you can build some houses for some people who need them."
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sweet Lil' TT
I wanted to write this down, because I thought it was so cute. Timmy's Macha took him to the Aquarium with Aaron and Liam. Afterwards, she said he took her hand and said "Macha, thank you for taking such good care of us."
Friday, December 23, 2011
Preschool
WOW! The preschools in Germany have a regulated price and are subsidized by the state.
To put both our boys in preschool in Germany, will be only 128 Euros per month for 25 hours a week of school! 158 Euros a month for 35 hours, and 242 Euros for 45 hours of preschool!
Crazy!
I was paying $220 per month for one child to go to school for 6 hours of preschool each week last year!
Hopefully, we will find a school that is really good for that price!
To put both our boys in preschool in Germany, will be only 128 Euros per month for 25 hours a week of school! 158 Euros a month for 35 hours, and 242 Euros for 45 hours of preschool!
Crazy!
I was paying $220 per month for one child to go to school for 6 hours of preschool each week last year!
Hopefully, we will find a school that is really good for that price!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Moments of 2011
My sister scrawls funny lines from her kids every year and sends us a Word document with them all typed up. I die laughing! So this year, now that my kids can both talk, I tried to write down when they would make us laugh. Here are a few notes from this year:
January-
Aaron: "C'mon Timmy! Let's go wrestle! No - let's go wrestle NOT....sawwy, sawwy mom"
Timmy is constantly asking me:
"Should we wrestle?? Should we wrestle, mom?"
Timmy when he tried to pick up a pokey ball:
"That star is too pokey! (trying to take it) No! That star is yowd (loud)! The star is pokey NOT, it's yowd!"
Timmy singing to himself to the tune "Do you know the muffin man?"
"Do you know awiawa, awiawa, a hot dog dance..."
Timmy and Aaron like to get and give raspberries on their bellies.
Aaron will lie down and lift his shirt, "asking for it" and lie still while Timmy blows on his tummy. They'll both laugh. Then, Timmy will lie down and wait for Aaron to reciprocate, and he wants it, but he is ticklish and squirming....can hardly stand the anticipation.... before Aaron even gets near him. I have to hold Tim's arms down to let Aaron give Timmy a raspberry without getting reflex hit by Timmy. And then they do it again!
February-
At the (urgent care) Dr.'s office - there were lots of cool fish. Timmy started telling me their "names"
"A dalmation fish" (spotted)
"A Dori fish" (blue)
"A Nemo fish" (orange)
"A master Shifu fish!" - (a catfish) because it had long feelers on the sides of it's mouth like master Shifu from Kung Fu Panda.
Timmy has started giving me a play-b-play while he is watching TV. "Panda's eating!" "Pandas gonna fall down!" "He's gonna get 'im!"
I wrote down this story Timmy made up today word for word:
"Daddy says, 'I want a Cars and Toy Story Bandaid, Timmy.'
Timmy says, 'OK - you need 5 smiley faces.'
And Daddy gets 5 smiley faces, and Timmy gives him 5 Bandaids and daddy says, 'Thank you, Timmy!'"
Then the story continues...
"'Daddy says, 'Can I have a Bandaid Timmy?'
Yeah, you gonna have a Bandaid
You get 5 smiley faces, OK Dad? OK?
And dad says, 'OK'
You get a Bandaid!"
Timmy keeps asking me for a Bandaid on his "fumbs", which is what he calls all of his fingers. He even asked me for one on his neck today!
After an particularly and incredibly ornery and whiny morning, Timmy ended the day with this sweet little moment. I had put him to bed and I heard this little voice politely ask "Will you snuggle me, Mom?" How could I say "no" to that? We snuggle for a minute, then when I think he's asleep I hear "Can I have some milk mom? "No, but you can have some water." "Yeah. I'd like some water." I get it for him and then he quietly goes to sleep. Such a difference from the morning!
Today I got a "Hey Mommy! Guess what!"
"What?"
"I LOVE YOU!"
One morning I gave Scott a hug.
Timmy says "Guess what?!"
Scott answered "What"
"Daddy loves Mommy!"
"Yep!" I say and I give Scott a kiss.
Timmy yells "NO! Mommy is mine! No kissing!"
I gave Timmy a waterproof band aid on his finger that was clear. "Is that cool?!" I said, hoping that he wouldn't ask for a Toy Story band aid that I knew would fall off after 5 minutes.
"A window band aid!" he said excitedly.
"Oh good!" I thought "he thinks it's cool!"
About 3 minutes later, Tim says "I take it off! I try a Toy Story band aid and a Cars band aid! We can buy a more special band aid. Yellow, red, yellow, red."
Darn.
March-
Aaron pointed to the Priesthood passing the sacrament excitedly yesterday and said "Dada! Dada, mamma! dada! It seemed to me that he was saying "Look at all the daddies, mommy! Daddies!"
Timmy says a lot lately "Should we play, mom? or "Should we watch a show, mom?" as his way of asking. (Obviously, this is copying the way I ask him to do things)
Scott showed the boys part of Star Wars for the first time last night and they were HYPER after. Aaron was running back and forth as fast as he could and Timmy was pretending to fight with a light saber. Scott was elated!
April-
Timmy "bonded" with Anna today. They were enjoying running around together and Anna (our adult friend) was super excited to tickle Timmy's face. He was soaking up the attention!
Aaron's phrases
"I 'unt dass, mama!" (I want that, mom!)
"I 'unt mehr, mom!" (I want more, mom!)
"Na, na, na, na, na" (no, no, no, no, no)
Nil = Milk
ooo = spoon
I 'unt ooo = I want a spoon
May -
Aaron has learned to LOVE the Plasma cars! He scoots around and around in a circle on the sidewalk in front of the apartment. He also LOVES to push the doll stroller around, slide on the slides, and JUMP off anything that is a few inches tall.
Aaron has a little demanding voice, that he likes to use when he really wants something. We find it super-amusing, and darling to see him use it, with his little two year old body and face, getting red in the face and stomping his feet. He'll say "I 'unt RIGHT NOW!" while he shakes from the intensity of it all.
Scott raised Timmy's chair so he could eat more comfortably on a BIG chair. Timmy said "Thank you Daddy! You are a good helper! You are a good boy! Mmmm (kissing)"
Timmy was making fish motions with his hands. I said "Are you a shark?" He said "No, I'm a fishy"
"And what do you eat little fishy? Oranges?"
"No - I eat, I eat, PENGUINS! Little tiny penguins"
Scott's rinsing Timmy's back in the tub.
"Now my nudder back!"
"Your other back? You mean.....your front?"
"Yeah! My front!"
July-
After kissing Scott with a beard, Timmy exclaimed "Ewwww!!! It's Sparky!!"
While Timmy and Scott were wrestling Timmy said "You have a rope in your nose!"
"A hair?"
"Yeah, that's right! A hair!"
Oct-
I was speaking to Timmy in an English Accent while we were in Windsor, Canada one day:
"Here we are at the Queen Elizabeth Gardens!"
Timmy "No! Auf English!"
(That is what he frequently says when I speak to him in German)
Aaron says "No Hanks!" a lot (No thanks)
and "Nough yegh!" (Not yet)...which he says instead of saying No Thank you.
Nov -
Timmy was in his first Primary Program at church today. When I said this morning "Timmy! Are you excited for your Primary Program today?!"
He responded immediately by saying "I can be a missionary now, by being an example of Christ, and by telling people about the Book of Mormon!" (his part)
Whoa! He is ready!
Dec-
Aaron likes to say
"OK! Just a minute!"
"C'mon Mom!" (and pulls my arm!)
"Help me Mom!" (and pulls my arm!)
"I wuv you!"
"Mom - I go downstairs!"
"I need 'a go da basement and pay wiff my choo-choos!"
He likes to talk really loud, but when I remind him he can speak in his "quiet voice" really well.
January-
Aaron: "C'mon Timmy! Let's go wrestle! No - let's go wrestle NOT....sawwy, sawwy mom"
Timmy is constantly asking me:
"Should we wrestle?? Should we wrestle, mom?"
Timmy when he tried to pick up a pokey ball:
"That star is too pokey! (trying to take it) No! That star is yowd (loud)! The star is pokey NOT, it's yowd!"
Timmy singing to himself to the tune "Do you know the muffin man?"
"Do you know awiawa, awiawa, a hot dog dance..."
Timmy and Aaron like to get and give raspberries on their bellies.
Aaron will lie down and lift his shirt, "asking for it" and lie still while Timmy blows on his tummy. They'll both laugh. Then, Timmy will lie down and wait for Aaron to reciprocate, and he wants it, but he is ticklish and squirming....can hardly stand the anticipation.... before Aaron even gets near him. I have to hold Tim's arms down to let Aaron give Timmy a raspberry without getting reflex hit by Timmy. And then they do it again!
February-
At the (urgent care) Dr.'s office - there were lots of cool fish. Timmy started telling me their "names"
"A dalmation fish" (spotted)
"A Dori fish" (blue)
"A Nemo fish" (orange)
"A master Shifu fish!" - (a catfish) because it had long feelers on the sides of it's mouth like master Shifu from Kung Fu Panda.
Timmy has started giving me a play-b-play while he is watching TV. "Panda's eating!" "Pandas gonna fall down!" "He's gonna get 'im!"
I wrote down this story Timmy made up today word for word:
"Daddy says, 'I want a Cars and Toy Story Bandaid, Timmy.'
Timmy says, 'OK - you need 5 smiley faces.'
And Daddy gets 5 smiley faces, and Timmy gives him 5 Bandaids and daddy says, 'Thank you, Timmy!'"
Then the story continues...
"'Daddy says, 'Can I have a Bandaid Timmy?'
Yeah, you gonna have a Bandaid
You get 5 smiley faces, OK Dad? OK?
And dad says, 'OK'
You get a Bandaid!"
Timmy keeps asking me for a Bandaid on his "fumbs", which is what he calls all of his fingers. He even asked me for one on his neck today!
After an particularly and incredibly ornery and whiny morning, Timmy ended the day with this sweet little moment. I had put him to bed and I heard this little voice politely ask "Will you snuggle me, Mom?" How could I say "no" to that? We snuggle for a minute, then when I think he's asleep I hear "Can I have some milk mom? "No, but you can have some water." "Yeah. I'd like some water." I get it for him and then he quietly goes to sleep. Such a difference from the morning!
Today I got a "Hey Mommy! Guess what!"
"What?"
"I LOVE YOU!"
One morning I gave Scott a hug.
Timmy says "Guess what?!"
Scott answered "What"
"Daddy loves Mommy!"
"Yep!" I say and I give Scott a kiss.
Timmy yells "NO! Mommy is mine! No kissing!"
I gave Timmy a waterproof band aid on his finger that was clear. "Is that cool?!" I said, hoping that he wouldn't ask for a Toy Story band aid that I knew would fall off after 5 minutes.
"A window band aid!" he said excitedly.
"Oh good!" I thought "he thinks it's cool!"
About 3 minutes later, Tim says "I take it off! I try a Toy Story band aid and a Cars band aid! We can buy a more special band aid. Yellow, red, yellow, red."
Darn.
March-
Aaron pointed to the Priesthood passing the sacrament excitedly yesterday and said "Dada! Dada, mamma! dada! It seemed to me that he was saying "Look at all the daddies, mommy! Daddies!"
Timmy says a lot lately "Should we play, mom? or "Should we watch a show, mom?" as his way of asking. (Obviously, this is copying the way I ask him to do things)
Scott showed the boys part of Star Wars for the first time last night and they were HYPER after. Aaron was running back and forth as fast as he could and Timmy was pretending to fight with a light saber. Scott was elated!
April-
Timmy "bonded" with Anna today. They were enjoying running around together and Anna (our adult friend) was super excited to tickle Timmy's face. He was soaking up the attention!
Aaron's phrases
"I 'unt dass, mama!" (I want that, mom!)
"I 'unt mehr, mom!" (I want more, mom!)
"Na, na, na, na, na" (no, no, no, no, no)
Nil = Milk
ooo = spoon
I 'unt ooo = I want a spoon
May -
Aaron has learned to LOVE the Plasma cars! He scoots around and around in a circle on the sidewalk in front of the apartment. He also LOVES to push the doll stroller around, slide on the slides, and JUMP off anything that is a few inches tall.
Aaron has a little demanding voice, that he likes to use when he really wants something. We find it super-amusing, and darling to see him use it, with his little two year old body and face, getting red in the face and stomping his feet. He'll say "I 'unt RIGHT NOW!" while he shakes from the intensity of it all.
Scott raised Timmy's chair so he could eat more comfortably on a BIG chair. Timmy said "Thank you Daddy! You are a good helper! You are a good boy! Mmmm (kissing)"
Timmy was making fish motions with his hands. I said "Are you a shark?" He said "No, I'm a fishy"
"And what do you eat little fishy? Oranges?"
"No - I eat, I eat, PENGUINS! Little tiny penguins"
Scott's rinsing Timmy's back in the tub.
"Now my nudder back!"
"Your other back? You mean.....your front?"
"Yeah! My front!"
July-
After kissing Scott with a beard, Timmy exclaimed "Ewwww!!! It's Sparky!!"
While Timmy and Scott were wrestling Timmy said "You have a rope in your nose!"
"A hair?"
"Yeah, that's right! A hair!"
Oct-
I was speaking to Timmy in an English Accent while we were in Windsor, Canada one day:
"Here we are at the Queen Elizabeth Gardens!"
Timmy "No! Auf English!"
(That is what he frequently says when I speak to him in German)
Aaron says "No Hanks!" a lot (No thanks)
and "Nough yegh!" (Not yet)...which he says instead of saying No Thank you.
Nov -
Timmy was in his first Primary Program at church today. When I said this morning "Timmy! Are you excited for your Primary Program today?!"
He responded immediately by saying "I can be a missionary now, by being an example of Christ, and by telling people about the Book of Mormon!" (his part)
Whoa! He is ready!
Dec-
Aaron likes to say
"OK! Just a minute!"
"C'mon Mom!" (and pulls my arm!)
"Help me Mom!" (and pulls my arm!)
"I wuv you!"
"Mom - I go downstairs!"
"I need 'a go da basement and pay wiff my choo-choos!"
He likes to talk really loud, but when I remind him he can speak in his "quiet voice" really well.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Little Ninja
Today, I decided to forgo any more packing for the afternoon, and take the boys to Extreme Bounce. We were the only people in the whole place for an hour! So, you can well imagine 2 little boys in a bounce house playland, with 7 different inflatable slides and houses to play in...all to themselves. They were in heaven!
Aaron would come over and say "Help me, Mom!" grab my hand and pull with all his might to get me to to help him on the big slide. He can do everything except get up initially on the bouncer and needed me to open a space for him to climb next to a wall that was taller than him. He can climb the 15 ft walls with stairs, weave himself over and under all the obstacles, and slide off the exits that are just a few inches shorter than he is! We love Aaron! He is such a spunky kid!
After 2 hours, I started asking, "should we head home? Are you tired?"
"NO!!!" and off they run to climb up another wall, turn around and yell loudly "Set, GO!" as they slide down backwards at 10 mph. I got to play with them, slide and bounce, and read my book too, for about an hour.
They kept it up for 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES! And would have gone longer, except that we went to the Little Ninjas class next door right then. Timmy got to wear a real Tai Kwon Do outfit, that had pictures of "Little Ninjas" on the back, and a white belt and all. The teachers took his class through some drills and they talked about "Control." The class was for 3-4 year olds, and had 5 other kids that looked like Timmy replicas. Totally cool. He felt really comfortable.
It also seemed good for him because they had him practicing kicking and punching with both his right and left hands and legs (something he still needs to learn).
I found a note today where I scrawled his words when he was just 2 years old:
yay-yay (his special blanket) piwow (pillow)
nee-nup (clean up) yaytet (blanket)
nanitashun (imagination) yight (light)
sun (fun) meen (dream)
cacaca (crocodile) nanas (pajamas)
efeffa (elephant) sussel (puzzle)
nitent (pretend)
nana (banana)
He can say them all perfectly now, of course, and is growing up to be such a great kid. He is such a good boy, and so affectionate and kind. We sure love Timmy!
Aaron would come over and say "Help me, Mom!" grab my hand and pull with all his might to get me to to help him on the big slide. He can do everything except get up initially on the bouncer and needed me to open a space for him to climb next to a wall that was taller than him. He can climb the 15 ft walls with stairs, weave himself over and under all the obstacles, and slide off the exits that are just a few inches shorter than he is! We love Aaron! He is such a spunky kid!
After 2 hours, I started asking, "should we head home? Are you tired?"
"NO!!!" and off they run to climb up another wall, turn around and yell loudly "Set, GO!" as they slide down backwards at 10 mph. I got to play with them, slide and bounce, and read my book too, for about an hour.
They kept it up for 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES! And would have gone longer, except that we went to the Little Ninjas class next door right then. Timmy got to wear a real Tai Kwon Do outfit, that had pictures of "Little Ninjas" on the back, and a white belt and all. The teachers took his class through some drills and they talked about "Control." The class was for 3-4 year olds, and had 5 other kids that looked like Timmy replicas. Totally cool. He felt really comfortable.
It also seemed good for him because they had him practicing kicking and punching with both his right and left hands and legs (something he still needs to learn).
I found a note today where I scrawled his words when he was just 2 years old:
yay-yay (his special blanket) piwow (pillow)
nee-nup (clean up) yaytet (blanket)
nanitashun (imagination) yight (light)
sun (fun) meen (dream)
cacaca (crocodile) nanas (pajamas)
efeffa (elephant) sussel (puzzle)
nitent (pretend)
nana (banana)
He can say them all perfectly now, of course, and is growing up to be such a great kid. He is such a good boy, and so affectionate and kind. We sure love Timmy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIMMY!!
Timmy turned 4 today! We can't believe it's been 4 years since he was born.
He was excited this year about his birthday. He really "gets" the it's-your-special-day idea now. So, even though we are moving and have lots to do, on Friday I decided I was going to go for it, and do the party thing. I'm glad we did, because Timmy was so happy, and felt so special.
Here are some photos of his day and party:
Sunyoung took photos for us, which was fantastic, because at the end of the party, I only had 2 videos and 1 picture on my camera!
He was so thrilled about his cake and birthday cupcakes, that got upset when all the kids started eating "his" cake. Uh-oh. :)
After a lite dinner, cake and ice cream, we tried to do a little lantern walk outside. The lanterns were so pretty, but it was cold and snowy. So, we huddled by the door and Lisa told us the story of Sankt Martin (the patron Saint who shared his cloak with a poor man who had none) and about the lantern symbolizing hope, and treating others as we would treat Christ.
Thank you for all the cards and gifts! Timmy LOVED the stickers the Vocanas sent, and shared them with all his friends. Everyone was requesting "I want an Elmo one." "I want a Cookie Monster one!" And he loved reading his cards, and the shirt Macha and Papa Tim sent. He also got a Cars game, two star wars figurines, some M&Ms, and dinosaur sponges in capsules. He is in heaven!
Timmy had a great time, and felt really special for his birthday. Thanks to all his friends and family for remembering him and for celebrating with us!
He was excited this year about his birthday. He really "gets" the it's-your-special-day idea now. So, even though we are moving and have lots to do, on Friday I decided I was going to go for it, and do the party thing. I'm glad we did, because Timmy was so happy, and felt so special.
Here are some photos of his day and party:
We had some dressups for the kids. Timmy's favorite is this Mortal Combat outfit WITH an Incredibles mask. :)
Our sweet friend, Lisa, sang some welcome songs for the kids, and made a darling little bunt cake for Timmy, a special Germany family recipe.
Aaron was spider man, and liked the "obstacle course."
Our friends, the Brashers helped set up food and hang the sign up HIGH. Thank you!!
Singing Happy Birthday to Timmy.
I've never seen him so happy! We got a good reaction from him when he found out that all these friends came just to wish him a happy birthday. He was beaming.
After a lite dinner, cake and ice cream, we tried to do a little lantern walk outside. The lanterns were so pretty, but it was cold and snowy. So, we huddled by the door and Lisa told us the story of Sankt Martin (the patron Saint who shared his cloak with a poor man who had none) and about the lantern symbolizing hope, and treating others as we would treat Christ.
Thank you for all the cards and gifts! Timmy LOVED the stickers the Vocanas sent, and shared them with all his friends. Everyone was requesting "I want an Elmo one." "I want a Cookie Monster one!" And he loved reading his cards, and the shirt Macha and Papa Tim sent. He also got a Cars game, two star wars figurines, some M&Ms, and dinosaur sponges in capsules. He is in heaven!
Timmy had a great time, and felt really special for his birthday. Thanks to all his friends and family for remembering him and for celebrating with us!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Craigslist
So - after having a little scare on Saturday with a Craigslister...being a little pushy and wanting free stuff, and better price, and...well....freaking me out, I'm a little hesitant about it now. At least now I know - meet people in the parking lot, not at your house!
Then I hear from 2 different people "Did you hear about the guy killing people in Ohio from Craigslist ads?"
and "I heard about some guy in Detroit who was using Craigslist to kill people!"
Uh - SCARY Anyway, at least now I have homes for all our extra furniture!
We are close....close....and will be happy when all this chaos of a house is boxed up!
Then I hear from 2 different people "Did you hear about the guy killing people in Ohio from Craigslist ads?"
and "I heard about some guy in Detroit who was using Craigslist to kill people!"
Uh - SCARY Anyway, at least now I have homes for all our extra furniture!
We are close....close....and will be happy when all this chaos of a house is boxed up!
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