Merry Christmas. Every one.

Christmas morning came early. Mornings usually do where James is concerned. I was able to safely corral him in his room until just after 7, when he emerged and announced "Hi, Mommy. I going to RElax with you!" Once on the sofa with me, he said "I going to kiss you!" And he did, right after he fell on me with loving glee.  Oof!! At over 60 pounds, he's getting big.

Then his real purpose became clear; "I play Caillou on your white computer, okay? Okay" Kiss-kiss-kiss. Giggle, giggle, dancing over to my laptop.

Around 7:40, his Daddy and sister emerged, ready to start their Christmas morning. It dawned on James that Christmas was actually really and truly here. Oh the openings! The talking! The exclamations of "Oh! I love it!! Do you love it, Mommy?/Daddy?" The iPad sucked him in. Already he's managed to take off Angry Birds, a slew of apps, and mess up PhotoBooth. He also figured out the volume and screen controls before I could even think about them.

Then he played with his other toys. His Leapster spelling cards, the megaphone from Grandpa (who's going to get a voicemail of thanks, in the loud Robot voice), and his toy train washdown (carwash for trains). He was ecstatic that Percy came with it. He play acted a play date between Percy and Thomas in 3 different rooms, ending up with himself draped over his new shark bean bag chair. Oh my heart, what a happy Spirit of Christmas present. It's done me a lot of good.

This has been a year with lots of heartache in it. Things are going to be tough for a while yet. I look at our children, especially James this morning, and find some of the brightest spots of hope for the future.

Horsing Around at the Fair

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the Sonoma County Fair. We started off with our bag lunch at the picnic tables in the Kids' Area. We almost didn't leave. Big sister leaped into the sand box and prepared to burrow in for the rest of the summer.

James ran about, playing with everything. What a treat for him to run about and explore so many fun new things. He really got into horsing around:

He was so cute, galloping with his horse and making it say "Neigh! Neighhhhh!!!" But wait, here's the really adorable pic:

After melting his equine-loving Nana's heart (by making his horsie give her kisses), he galloped off into the afternoon ...

Once again, it was nice to note all the progress. In addition to play acting, James noticed the rides, especially the Ferris Wheel. He had a good time with me in the house of mirrors and liked the 2-story purple slide ride with me. He told us in no uncertain terms what he did and did not want to do. I still have to watch him, because he has no concept of boundaries -- for example, he wandered up onstage in the middle of the grape juice mustache judging contest, helped himself to a cup of juice, and completely kerflumoxed the judges by being at ease and smiling at everyone ... as he started to touch the props for the magic show that was up next -- yikes!

Good Times - Say YES!

I was looking back through photos and found one from this past December that kind of captures a mood that James gets in. He's playful, and pouring on the charm. He wants something, and he accompanies his winning charm with the phrase "Mommy. Says. YES!!!!"

Like so:


Dream on, kiddo! (but you get big points for your approach)

SOOC Saturday/Sunday: Kid in a Coffee Shop

Isn't it funny how many coffee shops have gone from bastions of college cool to family hangout? Well, for me & my generation, at least.

I was watching James explore our Sunday Peets hang out. They sell licorice barnyard animals. James likes barnyard animal songs, so we were having fun looking at the animals and making animal sounds. I am sure the barristas loved us.

Anyway, the phrase "kids in a candy shop" popped into my mind, and I thought, heck, "kid in a coffee shop" should be the updated version of that!



This is a far cry from the Folgers in a beat-up aluminum coffee pot & toast that my parents used to feast upon Sunday mornings ...
all hail His Muffiness:


The Slurping Life knows how to hold on to love. Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday/Sunday entries past & present!



  

Magic Marker Mondays: Face Painting with Frosting!

James loves finger painting. Usually too much for me to feel like I can keep up with it. I have a beaut of a photo of James, clad in a diaper, finger painting in the backyard. He is wearing the paint all over his hair, face, and body. He looks like Baby BraveHeart.

Well, I have yet to find that photo tonight. Meanwhile, here is one of James' first forays into painting with his fingers, using the frosting from his first birthday cake. His first taste of sugar and all those bad dyes.



Man, he had a blast! My mom had tied helium balloons behind his chair and he started beating them with his hands in a completely joyous session of baby smack down. Completely adorable, and he totally destroyed those balloons by coating them with frosting.






Way to go on those artistic boxing endeavours, James!

Visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Mondays.

Personal POPCORN

Remember dialing on your phone to find out the correct time?

P-O-P C-O-R-N

Now gone the way of the dinosaurs. Except if you have children (and/or neurotic pets).

No later than 5:20 am, most mornings:
  "Mommy!" *pause* "A-MOMMY!! Open Door? Peese?"
  "Mommy? Is Morning! Goo' morning! Open door!"

Except this morning. James went off at 3am and 6am.

Luckily, he took a snack and a nap after the first awakening.

Lucky he is cute.

Oh Lucky Little Man

James celebrated the end of Daylight Savings Time the way he has the past three years -- he got up 2 1/2 hours earlier than usual. I was up at 4:45AM. That kid is lucky he is cute! He inhaled a lot of food for breakfast too. He is over 40" now, and I guess we are in for another growth spurt. Yikes!

His new favourite thing is watching the Disney Sing-Along video shot at Disneyland. I like this so much better than Caillou! We watched it 3 times today. I also took him out in the back yard once the sun rose. He explored a lot and had lots to offer talking-wise: "leaf!" "Oooh! Whassat?" "kee-tee" and "I want DADDY!!!" That brought a smile to someone's face!

He loves playing with Play Dough. He and his sister shared a big activity barrel of it for almost 45 minutes this afternoon. He rolled out the dough, asking first for the roller ("Roh-er?" Pease?") and then cutting out as many purple stars as possible, before mushing it all together and starting again. Both kids also spent some time playing with their musical toys with their dad. James flipped through many books. He loves one from Switzerland, from some reason. Bern is his muse, I guess? And it has been pouring cats and dogs outside, so we love the fact that he still uses his trampoline. Go get out that energy, James! And please, have pity on your poor mother and sleep until at least 6:30 tomorrow morning!