Thick as Thieves

Kasey shared the following exchange she had with Myla and Luke one morning last week while we were all trying to get ready:

Kasey was in our bathroom getting ready while Myla and Luke were doing something in the hallway.  Kasey walked out of the bedroom to check on them:

Luke:  Myla, somebody's coming!
Kasey:  (walks out into the hall and sees the two of them just standing at the top of the stairs with the gate closed but they had clearly been playing on the railing) Guys, this is not a play area.  You can play in my room, or Luke's room, or Myla's room, but this area at the top of the stairs is not for playing.
Myla:  I know mom!  I'm not new here.

Seriously.  My five-year-old daughter is using the line "I'm not new here." 

I Hear You Girl!

A couple of weeks ago when it was nearly 100 degrees for several straight days, Myla had clearly noticed.  One the way home from school, she made the following comment from the back seat:

Myla:  Dad, we went on a walk today at school and it.  Was.  HOT!  It was sticky.  Gooey.  DIS.  GUST.  ING!

I tried to capture in writing the funny and kind of grown-up way she put the emphasis on her words.  I love the way this girl thinks and communicates.  So fun to see the wheels turning in her mind as she grows up.

Me Too!

The kids had one of the funnier exchanges in the car on the way home from East Bank yesterday:

Myla: Dad, say that you are excited to see mommy.
Me: What? What are you talking about?
Myla: Just say you are excited to see mommy.
Me: Okay. I'm so excited to see mommy when we get home!
Myla: Luke, now you say "me too!"
Luke: You too!
Myla: No, say "me too!"
Luke: You too!
Myla: No, say "me too!"
Luke: You too!
Myla: (Now starting to giggle because Luke doesn't understand) Luke, say "me too!"
Luke: (Having no idea what is going on) You, too!

This goes back and forth close to 10 times with Luke as serious as can be repeating the same thing over and over again like a spoof of Abbott and Costello. Myla never gets frustrated and actually finds it very funny, but she is determined to get him to say "Me too!" She finally changes her tactics....
Myla: Dad, can you get Luke to say "Me too!"
Me: (I'm now laughing pretty hard too) Luke, Myla wants you to say "Me too!"
Luke: Me too!
Myla: (With great delight) Me three!
Luke: You're not three! I'm three (even though he isn't), you're five!
Myla:  (Just starts cackling with delight)

So fun to listen to these two clowns interact with one another. Kasey and I are blessed that they get along so well. I hope they stay best buddies forever and keep making each other laugh!

Star Wars Art

Myla's mania for all things Star Wars is most easily seen in her artwork.  No matter the medium--sidewalk chalk to watercolors--the subject stays pretty much the same.

Here are some examples she cranked out this morning while I was getting ready for work.  In the first, she created her own Star Wars coat of arms: a heart, with a blue, green, and red light saber in the middle.  Then she drew stars, to show me she could do that now (impressive!), a W for "Wars," and then a random design.

The next picture has an X-Wing (good-guy plane), with music notes coming out of it indicating good-guy music (dun dun dun DUUUUUUN dun, dun dun dun DUUUUUUN dun, dun dun dun duuuun).  Yoda and Luke Skywalker battle Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers at the bottom.  This one is a bit unusual in that it doesn't feature a bunned-out Princess Leia, but she probably just ran out of time.  Love this girl.

County Fair

In early July we went to the St. Joseph County Fair. We all had a fantastic time, but Luke loved it so much I'm worried he's going to run away and be a carnie. He loved the food, the spectacle, but mostly he loves the rides. Hopefully soon we'll get the pictures up of him and Myla on the froggy hop ride. 

Hot Chocolate

The kids have an Advent calendar with little boxes that they

open each morning for a little treat.  Sometimes it's a little 

trinket, but usually it's a slip of paper with a fun activity for the

day.  This particular day, the activity was "drink hot chocolate!" 

They both loved it (and mom did too!).  I especially love

Luke's reaction below.

Christmas in Chicago, 2012

Every year we try to take a trip to a city for Christmas, usually Chicago.  This year we spent the morning at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.  It was our first trip there, and we were very impressed.  They had a great exhibit of Christmas trees from around the world, and a special Charlie Brown exhibit!  And the surprising hit of the trip was the German U-boat they have there.  We'll definitely be going back.

We followed that with a trip to visit Santa at Bloomingdale's on Michigan Avenue.  This is the third year that we've managed to find the big guy there, and he was worth the long wait in line.  Here the kids get their first glimpse:

Talking to the man himself!  Myla asked for real kitchen tools, and a Clarice lunch box.  Luke asked for race cars.  They very accurately reported that they'd been good that year.

That was fun!

Tree Decorating

Halloween 2012 Slide Show

A Cupcake Baker and Joey Votto

For Halloween this year, Myla was a cupcake baker and Luke went as Joey Votto.  Myla's outfit was inspired by the contestants on Cupcake Wars, which was one of her favorite shows at the time.  She was also excited about the fact that I told her we could make cupcakes to go with her costume.  Luke was still a little young this year to have much say in his costume, so we picked Joey Votto because 1) we had most of the stuff already, 2) the Reds were having a good season so we were in the spirit, and 3) he looked really cute with eye black.  See for yourself!

The Halloween festivities included a trip to Zoo Boo and our usual trick-or-treat outing with friends in the Johnson's neighborhood (sadly the last one, as they've now moved!).  This was the first year that Myla seemed like a big kid, running from house to house with her friends the Smokers, and generally acting crazy and having a great time.  It was so much fun to see.

I've pulled a few of my favorite pictures here; check back Monday for a full slide show.

Leaves

 

Patches 2012

A highlight of every October is the local pumpkin patch scene.  Besides being fun, the patches provide lots of great photo opportunities.  Here are some pictures from our 2012 trips.

Florida Vacation: Slide Show

Florida Vacation

Last October, we met Nana, Pop, and the Fishes in Destin, Florida for a much-needed vacation.  It was Luke's first trip to a beach, and Myla's first since she was one year old.  The kids loved every minute of it (with the exception of the plane ride, which led to an eventful car ride from the airport to our hotel).  They played in the sand for hours, walked in the water, lounged in the sun, and had a great time with their extended family.  We can't wait to do it again--Myla still talks about Florida as if it's a magical place.  And for our week of relaxation and perfect weather, it was.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the trip.  Tomorrow I'll post a slide show with a lot more.

Dumb Question

Today's earlier post (below) includes a picture of Luke in his astronaut pajamas, which made me think of a funny story.  A couple of months ago, I was getting Luke dressed for bed and asked him if he wanted to wear his astronaut PJs.  He looked at me as if I was crazy and said, "No, I'm not going into space!"  So sorry Luke, I don't know what I was thinking!

(The humor in this story was in his incredulous tone, which doesn't translate well here . . . but I've recorded it as a reminder to myself.)  :)

Wackadoos

These pictures are from last September.  The kids had a long morning of playing in their PJs and being silly.  My favorite are the last two--Luke decided he wanted to put a bunch of Myla's barrettes in his hair at once. Myla and I got in on the action and we tried to see how many we could get in there.  He was so proud of his fancy 'do!

Luke's 2nd Birthday Slide Show

Luke's 2nd birthday did not go unobserved on this blog . . . I posted about it here, here, and here.  But I never got around to posting the slide show of all the celebrations.  There's lots to see--rainbow pancakes, a bouncy house, bowling with the family, and a pirate party!  Click below for a glimpse of all the fun.

Hesston Steam Museum 2012

The Hesston Steam Museum has become a summertime favorite in our family.  It's a little homage to steam train engines, and the highlight is the opportunity to ride in steam trains ranging from full-size to teeny.  They take you on rides back through the woods, over bridges, through tunnels--it's a great time and a hidden gem.  Here are some pics from our 2012 trip.