'Tis the season

I've been trying to sum up my thoughts on Christmas and I think the best way to explain how things went this year would be "seasonally challenged." I guess last year I was too caught up w/ the tail end of my pregnancy to notice Christmas (okay I was just extremely impatient and wanted to get on with life and not be pregnant any more). But this year when we pulled out our fake Warehouse Christmas tree and our sad decorations both Dan and I went, "Humm... it just doesn't do it for me." But I'm happy to report that with the addition of a few new Christmas decorations (a Kiwi and a Pukeko) and the all important Denver Broncos santa hat on top of the tree we started to feel better.

We started a new tradition of having one very large (and very cheesey) stocking for the whole family. Dan painted our names on it w/ puff paint and we both thought it was so over the top that it was perfect.

The boys definitely got into the swing of things with all the fun new toys. Dan decided that this was the year of the dinosaurs.

We thoroughly enjoyed our bbq at Bonnie and Scott's house. They invited us last year and we had such a good time that we thought we'd make it another new tradition. Somehow the dreary overcast day didn't rain on our relaxed hangout. There's something to be said for walking to a friend's house for Christmas dinner and just chilling.

I'm not sure I'll ever get use to Christmas in the summer, but at the end of the day it's nice to have a relaxed day with the immediate family. We're trying to adopt some Kiwi traditions, but we're definitely northern hemisphere folks at heart.

Ben's books

In an attempt to organize the post Christmas chaos I tried to thin out some of the books in our living room. When I took the stack of books into Ben's room I realized that I've got a bit of project in there too... but how can I remove books from his room? Here is a list of the books I found sitting on his bedside table this afternoon.

Under the Hill, Martin Bayntor
Dinosaurs! Strange and Wonderful, Laurence Pringle
Trains, Bryon Barton
Bulgy, Rev. W. Awdry
A Kiwi Night Before Christmas, Yvonne Morrison & Deborah Hinde
Slinky Malinki's Christmas Carcker, Lynley Dodd
Thomas' Really Useful Word Book
The Dinosaur Alphabet Book, Herry Palletta & Ralph Masello
Ben the Postbear, Carol O'Holenghi
100 Things You Should Know About Insects & Spiders, Steve Parker
Creepy Crawlies, Kathie Atkinson
Please Try to Remember the First of Octember, Theo LeSeig
A Light In the Attic, Shel Silverstein
Doodledum Dancing, Meredit Costain

Bremner Bay, Wanaka

Josh, 11 months

• Has taken first steps
• Loves walking around furniture and pushing the walking toy
• Waves
• Signs for "fan"and "all done"'
• Has actually slept through the night (three times to date- 5am wake ups, but hey that's progress in our books)
• Loves eating anything and everything, has discovered that he really likes ice cream
• Claps
• Favorite game is peek-a-boo
• Enjoys swimming lessons and his happy to go under the water
• Sticks his tongue out when he concentrates, just like his dad
• Is very much on the go-go-go
• Idolizes his big brother
• Would happily sit in the plastic car for hours (okay, maybe not hours, but he sure loves the car)
• Enjoys reading books, especially ones with tractors and machines
• Loves pushing any toy with wheels
  

Thanksgiving

Celebrating an American holiday in a different country is always going to a bit weird. The grocery store was surprisingly calm, no fighting over the last of the stuffing or remaining frozen turkey. Everyone else went about their day as if nothing was going on. We ate our Thanksgiving dinner outside under sun umbrellas and marvelled at the intense heat.

Dan and I were so thankful to have the opportunity to be able to celebrate the holiday with family (my mom, his mom and my mother's cousin and his family). While we often talk about the food, we both feel that Thanksgiving is really about the family. Ben said his favorite part of the day was dessert.

Sticky Fingers

Mat Time

Ben and his friends Analise and Kyle Milar having "mat time"in our living room.

9 days

Dan spent the last 9 days on a Leadership Outward Bound course here in New Zealand. In the last week I've learned a few key survival skills on how to manage a household and two small children on my own.

• The housework will never go away, so stop stressing about it (I still stressed about it, but on more then one night I left everything a mess and just went to bed)
• Exercise will keep you sane, be creative if you're stuck inside w/ sick children on a rainy day (I rode the bike on the wind trainer two mornings)
• Accept all social invitations, especially those that involve food or alcohol (we went to 3 birthday parties, several play dates, a coffee date and 2 dinner dates)
• Hire a babysitter to do at least on thing for you (I went to my Latin Dance class and learned that someone else really could put Josh to bed)
• Accept that things aren't going to go as planned (Ben got an ear infection and everything fell apart)
• Make a list of things that you're thankful for and spend at least several minutes every night watching your children peaceful sleep (this is probably the best way to help forgive whatever behavior they're going to throw you later in the night, i.e. Josh screaming for two straight hours)

Sweet Dreams

Why I love my children

On mornings like today, where I struggle to get out of bed, after being woken up four times during the course of the night, I have to concentrate really hard on the positives. I have to look past last night's dishes I decided to ignore earlier, I have to look past the sea of spilt cereal all over the floor that seems to migrating into the strangest places (my bed for instance). I have to take deep breaths as a screaming 9 month old climbs up my legs as I try to go pee first thing in the morning and then successfully pulls down my pants when I'm done. I have look outside and see that the sun is shining and my children are happy and healthy and that really, the housework will get done eventually... and that someday I really will get some sleep. I have to think, hey we already survived the puking tummy bug this week and the mountain of laundry that results from everyone throwing up at the same time. I look at these gorgeous smiling faces and know that all this hard work is worth it....

Ben, age 3

• Weighs almost 30lbs
• Isn't a great eater, happy to live on breakfast cereal, sausages, granola bars and smoothies
• Currently obsessed with anything and everything having to do with dinosaurs
• Enjoys singing
• Loves reading
• Is very good at building things
• Could spend hours in the sandbox happily
• Checks the mailbox 3 to 4 times a day and asks countlessly if the package lady is coming
• Asks why over and over and over and over again
• Enjoys preschool
• Likes sitting in the helping spot and making baked goods
• Has the occassional melt down and temper tantrum

Josh, 9 months

• weighs 21lbs 9 oz


• loves clapping


• crawling


• pulling himself up onto furniture


• eating anything and everything put in front of him


• still doesn't sleep well at night time


• loves singing his own songs


• enjoys the sandbox


• idolizes his big brother


• enjoys sitting underneath the high chair


• has a big toothless grin


• thinks pulling all the wipes out of the container is a lot of fun

Trials and tribulations of a passport

Josh has started the paper work process to becoming a US citizen. Let's just say that taking passport photos at 8 1/2 months is not an easy task.

Angus and Ben

We just spent the weekend in Dunedin catching up with friends. Our antenatal class had its 3rd reunion. I'm just in awe how fast time goes and how much the kids continue to grow. This photo is of Ben and his friend Angus at the Otago Farmer's Market.

Thinking outside the box

We've had a week of too much time inside. Ben came down with conjunctivious and we had to cancel all playdates, preschool and social engagements. With the weather being a bit icky we've spent far too much time at home, inside. Today Dan came up with the great idea that I could ride the bike trainer w/ the toddler seat on the back. I'm happy to report that not only did I get my workout, but Josh fell asleep! I was able to transfer him to his bed and then continue exercising. Ben was watching Shrek 2 while this was going, fyi. So thank you Dan for being able to think outside the box and help keep me sane.

This week's first

I am in constant amazement over the milestones that my children reach and soar past on a daily basis. I try to document the various events, but it's not always easy. But yesterday was a pretty important one in the land of Erin & Dan.

Ben rode the chair lift for the very first time!

Food for Thought

Food, always a near and dear topic in our house. Ben and I continue to whip up fun food in the kitchen. Today he discovered that he quite likes licking the bowl. I'm amazed that he hasn't caught on to the secret ingredient agenda in our food, today's was spinach. He even watched me cook the spinach... amazing what a little chocolate and sugar will do for the picky eater.

And speaking of the polar opposite of a picky eater- Josh. The little guy will seriously eat anything you put in front of him. The recent addition to the list of firsts include: veggie sausage, chicken sausage, cookies, risotto, meat pie, tater tots, muffins, sand (okay that's not a food, but he did eat it).

Cheers

Life seems to be ticking away over here... sometimes the days just blur together and I look at the calendar and go, "Where has the time gone?" In the last couple of weeks we've survived a few bouts of the flu, celebrated Dan's birthday, had a bump surgically removed from Ben's face (he's fine, but did have to be put under for them to remove the damaged skin), entertained my sister and her boyfriend, been skiing...

So, cheers, to good health, birthdays and family!

Kitchen Wonders

Ben and I have been playing in the kitchen lately. I was given a copy of the cookbook "Deceptively Delicious"" by Jessica Seinfield as a birthday present from our friend Wes. Ben has taken to the book so much that we're on a mission to make as many of the recipes as possible. Today's task was french toast (with the hidden ingredient of sweet potato and flaxmeal). Everyone in the family liked the brownies (with the hidden ingredients of spinach and sweet potato). The photo above is a rare opportunity for Josh to play in the "helping spot". His eating has taken off as well- I've just discovered that he likes the Kiwi stable of roast chicken and vegs (potatoes, carrots, pumpkin and kumara). Now if only we could get Ben to eat a dinner like that! I guess the trick will be to hide it a loaf of banana bread or something like that.

My commute

The process of getting out of the house with two small children often tests my patience. The morning routine is often a give and take process of constant requests that often result in flat out bribery.

The other morning I had to take a number of deep breaths in order to keep my cool. Then I stopped, looked around and realized that yes, getting two kids in the car on a time frame can be a challenge, but look at where I live.

The above photo was taken w/ a telephoto lens from our front door.

On the way to driving Ben to preschool I had another realization, "My commute really isn't so bad." Not only do I not have any traffic lights I don't even have any stop signs between our house and his school (several yield signs, but if you time it right you don't even have to stop!).
I pulled over in downtown Wanaka to take the following photo. It's a nice reminder to me to realize that when the kids are screaming and no one will put their shoes on that really, it's not a bad life over here.

Ben tackles the magic carpet

Another successful trip to the ski hill. We rented Ben some gear and he really enjoyed his day on skis. Way to go kiddo!

Rainy Day

Josh

Return to winter

We thoroughly enjoyed our month long summer vacation in California and Colorado, but now that we're returned to winter in Wanaka we were all very excited about our chance to go skiing. Today was our first day up at Cardrona and while we still have a few hiccoups to work out we have been improving our logistical challenge on how to get up to the ski resort w/ ski gear, 2 kids and all the various other bits and pieces one needs for a day in the snow. Ben was very excited about the magic carpet. Josh thought the best part about the ski resort was eating his season pass.

Summer smiles

So many cute photos, what can I say?

A day at the beach

When the smokey California air finally started to get to us, we headed west and found ourselves on the cool, breezy beach at Bolinas.  Here are a few photos of the boys playing on the beach.  

Josh, 6 1/2 months

• Finally mastered the art of sitting
• Enjoys eating food
• Loves nursing
• Doesn't sleep long stints at night
• Thinks the best toy in the world is his big brother Ben
• Has the cutest "ahhh ahh ahh" song he sings when he wants to go to sleep
• Has triple thighs and a serious belly
• Went swimming for the first time and didn't even cry
• Rolls over almost every time he's on the floor

Unattended children

A sign found on a shop door in Idaho Springs, Colorado

Thiem Family in Boulder, Colorado

A family photo after a lovely lunch in Boulder, Colorado.