The Three Crazies

Crazy #1: JACOB

Jacob has been tons of fun -- he's at that adorable age of 20 months, when he's learning animal noises, actions to songs, how to talk, and how to be assertive -- you know that age where you wish you could just freeze time until they turn 4? He has officially stopped biting and now is just quietly intimidating to the younger crowd. For example, at the community center when he tries to climb in the little toy car while another toddler is already in it - he just sits and nonchalantly smushes them in so they can't climb out.

We recently chopped off his golden curls...I think he's still pretty cute!!

His favorite things are goldfish crackers (a man after my own heart), outdoors, crows (no longer a man after my own heart), dogs, Dora/Diego, books, anything with an on/off switch, feeding himself, buckling himself, climbing stairs himself...you get the idea.

Jacob recently stayed in our church's nursery the entire time (2 hours!), which makes church a lot more doable. He knows how to entertain himself for longer periods of time, although his definition of entertainment is different than mine. :) He has this funny picture in his head of the world according to Jacob -- his coat must be zipped, his seatbelt must not be twisted, his hands must not be dirty, and all the toys must be put away before we can go out the door.

The best part? Our tough, big-bellied boy sleeps with 4 Carebears!

Crazy #2: ROBBY

Robby has traded in some of his mellowness for hyperness. He is continually delighting us with songs he learns at preschool. In fact, he teaches the words and melodies to Erica and then they perform for anyone within earshot. It amazes me that he can teach her the melody and she can pick it up...they actually sound good! My favorite parts are when they sing the songs according to what Robby thinks the songs are saying...sometimes none of the words make sense. Of course, I still do that sometimes with songs I've sung all my life. I realize that I've been singing the words completely wrong for fiteen years.

Robby loves preschool - he rides the bus everyday with his friend. He tells me all about it and loves when Jacob and I come to visit his school. He is ahead of the game with reading and writing, but never seems to be bored. He has wonderful teachers that are aware of his needs and challenge him at his level. He will be 5 in March and I can't believe it. In some ways he'll always be my sweet little boy...although he's recently traded a little of his mellowness for a little sass.

Robby is a game-playing fanatic. Everyday when he gets off the bus, we spend an hour together (just the two of us!) playing games. Here are a few of our faves: Hisss, Clue Jr., Guess Who, Clue Jr., Sequence for Kids, & Clue Jr. I look forward to that hour everyday. Coming from a game-playing family (sometimes at reunions we forget to talk...we're so busy playing games!), it feels good to brush up on my competetive skills. Even if it means solving who ate the cake, with what drink, and at what time over and over again. :)

We just learned that Robby got into all-day kindergarten at E's school next year! (if you know anything about Seattle Public Schools, you'll understand why this is a huge relief)

Crazy #3: ERICA

Talk about growing up. Erica has budded (in a good, non-cliche sense of the word) into such a loving, happy girl. She is constantly doing things for other people and watching for the underdog. She is cheerful the vast majority of the time. She helps with Jacob without complaning. She is interested in how the world works (and what her parents are talking about...especially if we are whispering).

We ventured to the Rainforest Cafe last week...outrageously priced for the food you get...but my family hadn't been there and we needed to make a memory. A nice 5-ft frog gave balloons to all our kids. There was a 2 year old crying at a table near us because her balloon floated up to the ceiling. Erica immediately ran and gave her her balloon. That's the kind of girl she is.

Erica recently got permission to join the school choir - it's for 2nd graders and up, but they let her join anyway (she's a first grader). She has a good voice and is good at matching pitch. I watched her the first week and she was smiling the entire time. She's also involved in the "Go" club after school -- I need to learn to play Go. It's a Japanese game that is played all over the world and resembles Othello.

Erica's big news is that she (finally!) learned to put her entire head under the water while swimming!

Pardon the bedtime photoshoot --- it's been too long since I've taken any pictures!