Snow the Elf

If you have a preschooler, you should consider running out and buying this guy. He's the "Elf on the Shelf." It's a big deal around here, and a cute idea. There's a book that goes with it. You read the book, which describes the rules (no touching the elf, you can talk to him but he can't talk to you, you have to give him a name, etc.). Ethan named him "Snow." Every night he flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa on how everyone in the house behaved that day. Every morning he reappears in the house somewhere and the kids are supposed to search to find him. Ethan loves looking for him every morning. Since Ethan is more practical than whimsical, he was a little skeptical at first, trying to convince us that pretend elves can't talk or walk. We explained that he could fly, so then Ethan was freaked out and concerned that the scary elf would fly into his room at night. We promised his room is off limits. It's a little pricey at $30, but if you are more creative and have more energy than I, you could easily make one. I think it may be a fun tradition for our family.

Over the river and through the woods

Bronx, NY: 12:15 am, Saturday, November 17, 2007 The longer I'm a parent the more respect and admiration I have for my own parents. I have countless memories of fun road trips with my family; of my mother playing endless car games with us and singing kids' songs for hours on end, of my dad napping after lunch and all of us having to promise not to tell him how fast mom actually drove while he was asleep, of rotating who got to sit on the cooler that was placed between the two front seats of the conversion van (we were so very safety conscious back then). And all the while I was blissfully unaware that my mother was probably thinking, "Oh, please, all of you...when you fall asleep and leave me alone?" Jason and I survived almost 2000 miles and over 30 hours in the car with our two little ones and lived to tell about it. Jason took the whole week off (hooray!) and we drove from Durham to Carmel, NY, where Jason's parents live, stayed for 36 hours, then went on to Boston to visit family, friends, and our old stomping grounds. We were there for 48 hours before we headed back to NY to spend the rest of the week eating, which is what you do at my in-laws'. We worked off some of the added weight by playing with their new Wii (very fun). The kids were actually great in the car, and during the week. Colin is an angel, and Ethan was a remarkably good sport about the whole thing, though he did have to stop to use the bathroom every 45 minutes. We are so glad we went and wouldn't have missed it for anything. Still and all, it's kind of exhausting and I think next time we might fly. Ethan was reunited with Geo the train, part of the Fisher Price GeoTrax train set that Grammy and Papa own. He was so happy. I can't believe I didn't get a picture. Six months ago, if you asked Ethan who his best friend was, he would answer, "Geo." We started our Boston trip with a visit with Carter's family. It was so great to see them and the boys picked right back up where they left off last June. We wish they would come practice radiology in NC. On Monday we went to the re-done Children's Museum with Ashley and the boys. They had a great time. This is my attempt to get them to move away from the museum towards the cars. I convinced them to be a train. Toby was the engine, Ethan was the milk train, and Ben was the caboose, by default. How cute are these boys?? I learned quite a bit about Ethan on this trip by hanging out with him and his cousins. For example, on Thanksgiving Day we were talking to the boys about what they were thankful for. Toby said his family. Ben said Ethan. (Such a sweetie.) Ethan said, "Not sharing." That's what he's thankful for. I'm thinking his love of his younger brother may change somewhat when Colin gets big enough to commandeer toys. We'll deal with that later. Another time, after watching Toby and Ben argue about something or other, Ethan told me, "When people hit me, I say, 'Don't hit me. That's not nice!'" "That's great!" I said, mentally patting myself on the back for my excellent parenting skills. "Yeah," he continued, "And then I get my shooter, and I shoot all the mean people!" Great. Conflict resolution 101. How do all boys know about guns? We've never talked about them or played with toy guns in our house. I'm not opposed to it...I grew up playing with all kinds of toys guns (and even real guns when I was a teenager visiting cousins in Idaho). He's just never shown interest. Until now, obviously. Monday we went to dinner with Jason's MGH fellow residents and their families. On Tuesday we went to Wilson farm (eggnog, caramel apples, kettle corn...yum!), Lexington, Concord, and visited the Old North Bridge, where Ethan happily threw things in the river, even though it was beyond freezing, and we were reminded why we moved south. We went to JP to our old place, then Jason dropped Ethan and me off at the subway station and we rode the train all the way to just south of our Stoneham place. It was the best $2.00 I've ever spent. Ethan was in heaven the whole trip. It was fun for me to reminisce since I was able to relive the commute I did for years. I'm getting old, though. I remember when the T only cost 75 cents to ride. Sad. Tuesday night Todd was off in NYC interviewing, and Jason and I left Ashley with all 4 boys and headed off to our favorite restaurant, Oleana. It was SO good, but I still feel guilty about having Ashley watch all the kids by herself. She even made it seem like it was no big deal. We owe her big time! After dinner we caravaned to NY to get the kids back to Grammy and Papa. Grammy with Colin. The boys getting ready for dinner in the hats Ashley helped them make. Ann and Randy graciously hosted a houseful of guests the whole week with all the mess and noise that accompany small children, then fixed an amazing turkey dinner on top of that. We are so spoiled. Thank you!! Riding Toby's "motorcycle" on the trail by Grammy and Papa's. Thankfully it warmed up midway through the week. Okay, this is from this week. Proof that we made it home safe and sound with smiles still on our faces.

I am not a morning person

But when these are the faces greeting you, how cranky can you be?

Photobooth Fun

We went over the mall for a little while this afternoon. Ethan wanted to do the photobooth after playing at the Play Space. Doesn't Colin look thrilled?

Three-year old logic

I wish I had a tape recorder for all my conversations with Ethan. Here are a few recent ones: Ethan (trying to figure out how to avoid bedtime): Mom, who's the boss tonight: Mom, Dad, or Ethan? Me (after the slightest pause): Mom and Dad are the boss together. Ethan: Well, when you're done, can I have a turn? A few days later (mad at me for some order or another I'd given): "Mom, I'm taking your boss away...for good." Last night, right before bathtime: Ethan: Do I have to wash my hair tonight? Me: Yes, honey, you do. Ethan: But it didn't touch the ground today! In addition to tackling concepts of authority and personal hygiene, he is trying to figure out how money works. Not so easy to explain in a world where mom just uses plastic to buy everything, including to get money out of the ATM. Today, during a "Dora Saves the Mermaids" commercial break: Ethan: Mom, can I buy that? Me: You don't have any money. Ethan: Well, I can go to the bank and get lots of money. Me: You don't have a bank card. Ethan: You're right, mom, you're right. I'll get a bank card. That's a good idea. I'm giving him about 48 hours to ponder how to get his hands on his own bank card before he brings it up again. I was going to explain how Daddy works to get money, and that's how we buy things, but I couldn't think of a good way to explain why Daddy shares his money with Mommy and not with him. One last story...like many boys his age, Ethan is obsessed with trains. He has been getting quite a few of them lately as incentives for potty training and staying in his bed all night. He sleeps with the Thomas catalog and brings it in to my bed in the morning so we can review it together. First he wanted the street cleaner/garbage truck set. Got it. Then he wanted the Chinese Dragon train. Got it. Both have arrived in the mail and absolutely made his day. For the last 3 weeks he has desperately wanted the recycling train, and thinks it will arrive any day, despite our attempts to explain how this program works. He's even taken it to a higher authority. Every night (for the past 3 weeks), after he finishes praying for all the "Thank yous", he finishes with: "...and we're a little sad the recycling train didn't come today, and we hope it will come tomorrow." If he can keep up such a combination of faith and persistence in his life, he'll be in good shape.

The Story of My Life

A rare shot:

Cute boys. Clean clothes. Clean faces. Smiling, even.

And it's out of focus. I need a new camera. Or a new photographer. If only I could have Rebecca over once a week...

Smiley

Sleeps all night, smiles all morning, and has to be held all afternoon and evening.

It could be worse.

P.S. His onesie says "Made in Massachusetts". I think it's so funny.

Halloween

Ethan had such a great time this year. It was the first year he really understood what it was all about, and he's decided it's the best holiday ever. We let him pick out his costume to avoid trauma over getting dressed. He chose Diego and loved it. On Halloween night he only made it to about 5 houses before he was done, but still got plenty of candy. Since he was dressed and begging to leave at 5:15, we finished very early. We spent the rest of the night on the front steps watching the other trick-or-treaters. Ethan would hand out the candy and yell, "Happy Halloween!" to everyone who went by. So cute. The celebration started Saturday night with the ward Halloween party. Diego wasn't feeling so hot.

And the lion cub slept through most of it, though he did open his eyes long enough for me to snap a photo.

Tuesday he had a parade at preschool. He was so excited.

Here he is ready to hit the neighborhood. I love the hip-hop look he's sporting with his low-riding pants.

Jason and Ethan carved pumpkins together. Ethan cried when we had to throw this away the other day, but I just couldn't take the mold anymore. Ethan's going to be so much fun to have around this holiday season. We leave a week from Friday for NY and Boston, and he can't stop talking about how excited he is to see Grammy, Papa, Geo, Toby, and Carter. We can't wait!