Lauren Learns to Like the Snow

Last year, Lauren didn't like winter much at all. She refused to keep her mittens on, so her hands were always cold, she couldn't walk in the snow because she was so tiny, and pretty much, we were stuck inside all winter. This year has been a bit better in that at least she keeps her mittens on for the most part, but has still struggled to walk in the snow, preferring instead to be carried in arms or on my back. However, she discovered the joy of playing in the snow during our last storm, throwing snowballs, goofing off, and having fun, though she did eventually get cold and ask to go in. She still takes her mittens off some of the time.

Future Musicians?

The kids love music, playing it, dancing to it, singing with it. They often fight over the piano, but here is a rare moment where they are sharing and getting along.

Let it Snow

We have been getting snow this year, which has been a lot of fun for the kids (though not for Josh on Thursday when it took him close to three hours to drive home from work). We have had three decent storms already this year (one that is going on right now). The first was the perfect snowman snow, and Max and I took full advantage. Grandma saw these pictures and sent one of Max's presents along early, which is good, because the next storm brought about a foot of snow, and it is good that his new snowpants don't end mid calf like the ones he wore with the snowman. Today, we went out and did some snowshoeing.

The snow is a bit too deep for Lauren, and she can't really walk in it yet, but she doesn't take her mittens off this year, so she stays pretty warm. She loves a good sled pull, too.

The dogs are equally happy, running and playing in the snow, though they keep losing their toys. We have no more balls. I hope they sniff them out, rather than having to wait for it to melt.

I dont' want to jinx us, but it might actually be a white Christmas this year for the first time in ages. (For us)

Hunting the Perfect Tree

Why pick out a Christmas tree in the summer or on a warm fall day when you can wait for it to be bitterly cold and windy to do it?

Lessons for the day.

1. 4YOs look for different things in a tree than adults.
   
   
2. While it makes sense to buy mittens for the kids, buying some for the adults isn't a bad plan, either.



3. A cup of hot cocoa and a tree wrapper is all it takes to make a 4YO forget about the cold.



4. If you are going to put a second layer under the child's clothing, maybe you should think about doing it for yourself as well.



5. While decorating a house for Christmas in a methodical way has its pleasure, nothing can beat watching the joy that small children get out of it, even if it means you end up with blinking lights and stockings that are "out of order."
   

All that being said, Max picked out a great tree and we had a lovely time doing it, though it might have been just a little bit more lovely last weekend when it was in the 40s with no wind.

Make a Wish Trip

Make a Wish sent Max to the Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos and we were lucky enough to get to tag along. (More info about this is on his blog.) Grandma and Grampa Rich decided to join us (they booked it for themselves). We spent five nights there and it was an amazing experience, starting with the limo that picked us up at 4AM, the wonderful woman from American Airlines who greeted us at the curb at the airport, the flight attendants on the flight down there, and the resort itself. It was really the perfect trip for Max, who spent the whole time going from beach to pool to pool to beach, and it was a great trip for the whole family. Lauren once again showed that she has no fear by scaring her mother many times as she leapt into the pool (she can't swim). Josh and I relaxed for the first time in ages. The trip couldn't have been much better. We have many more pictures than I could possibly post here, but I tried to pick a few extra special ones.

SuperKids!

A friend sent the kids supercapes.Max and Lauren put them on and Max announced that he was "SuperMax, with the power not to run into things" and that Lauren was "SuperLauren, with the power to take things off!" As Lauren tends to remove every item of clothing, diaper included, that we put on her, we thought her title was pretty accurate. Max's, on the other hand, is a bit suspect.

(We are pretty sure that in the video he is saying "SuperMax, coming to give a hug!")

That's Our Girl

I think I spend my day saying things like "Lauren, get off the table! Lauren, get off the counter! Lauren, get off the chair! Lauren, sit down!" I never expected to have to say "Lauren, get off the TV!" I guess she really wants to be a Super Reader (she is watching SuperWhy, for those who do not recognize Princess Pea).

Spiderman and the Pirate

Lauren and Max loved Halloween this year. We had to bypass it altogether last year because of Max's illness, and it was Lauren's first trickortreat. Max had decided months ago that he wanted to be Spiderman. We have no idea where his Spiderman obsession came from as he has never really seen the movie, but he was adament so I broke down and allowed him to be a "character." I was too cheap to buy a good Spiderman costume and couldn't stand the cheap ones (actually, most that I saw were the worst of both worlds) so I made one. It was pretty cheesey, but he loved it. He and Lauren both looked pretty cute. Lauren loved the trickortreating thing, especially when she realized she was getting to keep the candy. She was especially thrilled about MnMs. We used them as treats for Max after his medicine (3 MnMs after he took them) and never let Lauren have them. She called them "Max Candy" and that was all she really wanted to eat.

Pirates Say Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Visiting Grandma & Grampa Mazgelis

We had a chance to go to NH and visit with my folks one day last weekend as well. The kids always have fun with Grandma & Grandpa, and they enjoy seeing the kids when we come to visit. I got a great photo of Lauren at the dinner table, even if she didn't eat any of her dinner. (She liked the cookies though!) Grandpa loves to play with the kids, and we can see by the smile on Max's face that he loves to play with Grandpa. It was a nice visit, and we're glad we got one more in before Grandma & Grandpa head south for the winter.

Back at Great Brook

We took another walk over at Great Brook State Park last weekend. The dogs had a great time running and swimming. Cisco can really move over the rough terrain without ever slowing down, and Diamond spends most of her time standing in the water wishing someone would throw a stick for her. Max explored waterfalls, climbed rocks, had snacks, and did some dancing. Lauren hung with Mom for the most part, and I made my best effort to capture something wonderful with my camera. I got a couple good shots of Max, and maybe some foliage shots will turn up in another posting.

Picking pumpkins

Last weekend Max and Lauren and their friend (the other) Max went to a Parley Farms to choose pumpkins for Halloween. I hear the kids had a great time there, and as you can see they picked out some real beauties!

A day at the park

Two weekends ago we visited with Dorothy's folks up in Auburn, ME and spent some time burning off energy at a local playground. Max had a great time climbing on everything, and he and I played a little basketball together too. Lauren did a little bit of climbing but really seemed to enjoy the slides the most. I thought the picture of her hair sticking up from all the static electricity was pretty funny too.

Things I Learned Today

1. You need a lot more wind to fly a kite than I realized.






2. Gusty wind is really bad for kite flying.






3. A kite flying trip where the kite only gets off the ground every once in a while is still considered really cool if you are 4 years old.






4. 2 year olds would rather chase and tackle the kite than try to fly it.






5. 4 year olds think that grabbing the tail of a kite and pulling it to the ground is almost as cool as flying it.






6. Dogs and kite flying can mix, as long as the dog is Diamond.






7. I shouldn't try to run the length of a football field with Lauren on my back.






8. Kids love to watch their mom run the length of a football field (no Lauren) with a kite flying behind her.






9. I am out of shape.






10. Don't let your kids play in the paint on the soccer field without making sure it is dry. Definitely don't allow headstands.

Huzzah!

This weekend we took the kids to their first renaissance faire! Dorothy and I have been to a number of faires in California and one in New York, but this was our first time at King Richard's Faire in Carver Massachusetts. Max and Lauren had a hard time focusing on any one thing but they still had a great time with what they did see. We got to see a wild animal show and the first jousting tournament of the day, as well as go on a self-powered ship ride a giant maze with a slide. (What else could a child as for?)

Dorothy and I both went in full garb again this year. We recently bought a pirate costume for Lauren for Halloween, which worked out wonderfully for her at the faire. My goodness she looked adorable! Max had some baggy pants and a pirate belt with leather pouches hanging from it just like his daddy. (I will have to make him a nice shirt for faire before next year.) Unfortunately I didn't get many good photos of the kids in the faire itself, but they really hammed it up on the stage outside the front gate on the way out.

Charactures

These charactures were done back in December of last year but never got posted to the family blog. The children's hospital put on a Christmas party for all the "regulars" and the artists were on hand as part of the event. At the time Max was really immunosurppessed and couldn't much leave the house, so his hair really did look that long for lack of a good, or at least recent, hair cutting. It's kind of appropriate though since he did look like one of the young Beatles.

Apple picking

This Sunday we brought the kids apple picking here in Westford. They each had fun carrying the bags and filling them them with apples. Max did a lot of picking, usually with a little guidance to what trees looked better than others. Even lauren did some picking, often when riding in the carrier since it was easier for her to each the branches then. We took two hay-rides behind the tractor and did plenty of running around.

Lauren's Birthday Party

Well, it was a small one, but Lauren had her first birthday party today. We had a few people over, including Uncle Peter, Aunt Tracey, and Lauren's cousins, and Grandma and Grampa Mazgelis. Lauren enjoyed everything about the day, especially the cake, which Max helped decorate.

Lauren's 2nd birthday

On Lauren's birthday we had a little family celebration with cupcakes and a couple presents. (We would have the "birthday party" that following weekend.) Big brother Max helped Lauren open the paper and untie the bow on the big book she got. He also helped her "read" it the first couple times right there at the table. The book, BTW, became an instant favorite for Lauren.

The apple tent

This year we attended the Common Grounds Fair put on by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. In the kid's area there was an apple tent with all kinds of fun things to do. They had taste tests (Lauren's favorite), science experiments, and old-fashioned food-making demonstrations. Lauren ate and ran around; her two favorite things to do. Max played with the balance-beam scales that were laid out to weigh the kid's favorite apples in terms of fava beans. (His apple weighed the same as 37 fava beans, and its circumference was about 11 fava in length.) (OK, I did the science, Max just played with the scale.) They also had fun with the apple press making apple cider, though it looks like Mom did most of the work.