Vacation!!

We are off on our road trip to Germany...pray for our sanity!!!

Ye Olde Christmas

So, we finally got around to having Christmas today. My Dad and step mom arrived yesterday afternoon, so we got to spend last night enjoying Champagne, National Lampoons Christmas vacation, and watching my dad rewire the Christmas train in hopes that he could finally make the Nutcracker man come out of the station. He succeeded in making the door rapidly (and repeatedly) open and close- but the Nutcracker man remains in the station for the third year running- maybe we will outsmart him next year!
Anyway- like all parents, we said the "this year we will scale back...blah....blah...blah...less presents....more memories...blah...blah...." and so forth. Nothing doing. We finally got done opening at around 130 in the afternoon...but it was an amazing Christmas! About the only downfall was that Eli is sick with something akin to pneumonia so he spent Christmas clinging/draping himself across me, with no desire to open presents. He did allow us to push him around on his new tricycle.

Santa arrived!!!

If anyone has ever seen a kid more hyped up on sugar...well anyway- thanks mom and dad Conderman- we all loved the gifts!

I think our kids have spent about the last 3 days in pajamas, come to think of it, we have too!

"New Dinosaur" has attempted to eat everyone's Christmas gifts, wreaked havoc in the kitchen, left presents in the bathroom, and been blamed for all kinds of other "interesting" behavior today. He is now guarding Ava while she sleeps.
Here we are taking a break from gift opening and draping/clinging. Thanks to all for the gifts and cards- we sure miss family at Christmas! Mom- you went waaaaaayyyyy overboard and I have the proof on video for you to watch next time you visit! Merry Christmas to all...I need to go put my scarf, um, little boy to bed!

Old traditions, old city

For the second year running we went to Cambridge to see the Christmas lights. They aren't really anything spectacular, but the the cathedral and marketplace are so old and Gothic, that the few strands that the council puts up almost make the place magical. Our plan was to wrap up the Christmas shopping, ohh and ahh over the lights for a few minutes and then go to the mall to see "Bee movie".

Here we are all still happy and smiling...

Silly as it sounds, this is probably our longest running tradition...because we started it before we started dating. Back in Christmas of '99, Eric and I decided to go Christmas shopping together with the intention of helping each other shop for our current boyfriend/girlfriend. Eric hates to shop so I jokingly told him to do a tequila shot so that Christmas shopping would be fun. 8 Christmas' and 9 nine tequila shots later (one a year on "CD" day) the tradition is still going strong! Probably a good thing too...when we got to the mall, there was no record of our ticket reservations, the show had already started, Eli got lost, and Ava spilled and extra ginormous Sprite all over the floor. Kinda wished I'd had a tequila shot too...
Here is Ava with one of her little school friends on the last day before Christmas holiday. They all sang songs for the parents and got sugared up on candy. I forgot to buy gifts for Ava's teachers-rooky mistake! If anyone has a copy of "All of the little everyday things that mom's need to remember", please send it to me. I don't care how "early addition" it is:)

Those Kids!

There are days when I could make a list of the things that I don't think I would miss once my children have left the nest...

Cleaning spilled soap off of the sink and fishing the matchbox car out of the toilet for the fourth time today.
Settling the "who gets to stand in the sink and who gets to stand on the bathtub while brushing teeth debate" for the third night in a row.
Wondering how smashed banana (at least that's what I think it was) got on the inside of the Tupperware cabinet.

Interestingly enough...I can't think of any more. All that keeps coming to mind are the things that I will miss when my babies get bigger....

Watching Eli go into a "one little man party" when I come home from work. "Mommy home, yeahhhhh! So 'cited!" (Complete with jumping and a huge smile) I love that one.
Listening to Ava patiently take Eli to the bathroom first thing in the morning- I really love this one too- means I get to sleep longer!
Watching Eli's sense of humor develop- "I bonked the Bur'er King" maniacal laughter...(we are still trying to figure this one out- but he finds himself hysterical!)
Listening to Ava sing all of her Christmas carols with a British accent...because that's how they do it at school..."Froosteee the Snewmon was a jewly hoppy sewl"
Watching the kids read together and to each other.
Eli does this thing where he pretends like he is a kitty- usually when he is trying to get out of trouble. It is just so hard to punish a borderline naughty two year old who is walking around on all fours "meerowing"

I really could go on for pages- but I need to go clean up the homemade marshmallow project mess that Ava (and I) made...but for the record...it still goes on my good list (despite the cornstarch hand prints that lead from my dining room to my kitchen:)

Simon

Ava was marginally good today, so we agreed to play a few games of UNO with her before bed. She won once, but then lost to Eric (as did I) the next four times. She held it together pretty well through the first few losses, but then the "itsnotfairIwannawinwaaaaa" came out. So, while Eric shot daggers at me, I explained that when Daddy's win, it is their job to tell the longest bestest dinosaur bedtime story. She cheered up and skipped upstairs with my tired husband in tow. After the "bad bad T-rex" story, Eric said night time prayers with Ava. When he was done, Ava announce that the prayer was too short. Eric explained that Ava could say her own prayer whenever she wants. So Ava began her prayer...

"Dear God, bless Mommy and Grandpa and Grandma and Grammy and Mimi and Papaw and Simon. Especially Simon. Please give him a bone...because he is such a good dog...Amen."

Amen indeed.

The village is under attack!

Here is why I should always investigate a "too quiet" Ava. By the time I intervened, a couple of hockey players and a sled full of children had already been attacked by the Jurassic invaders.
Not nice Ava...very creative though...

Poop is timeless

I pass this sign everyday on my way too and from work. 9 times out of 10 there are large garbage sacks that probably are full of the promised "free horse poo". Either way- it gives me a little giggle. And if anyone is looking for any last minute Christmas gifts for someone who has been more naughty than nice, I could probably overnight some...well...
The kids "helping" me pick up packages from the post
The annual Christmas cutout cookie "kitchen trashin" was a success as ever. Older kids=bigger mess!
Eric's "exercise in futility" as the kids and I made the yummy cookies
Elijah Von Cookie Snatcher strikes again!

Here we come full circle- back to poo. After all, is there any more fascinating topic when you are 2 or 4 years old? BTW "Everyone poops" is a great gift to buy for any parent that you are trying to "phase out" as a friend. On the other hand, I secretly get a kick out of listening to my kids discuss whether a hippo or a whale makes a bigger poop or what snake poop looks like. (orange with polka dots if you ask Ava, "big" if you ask Eli) I guess you there are some things we never really grow out of...

And the winner is....

If you haven't read my comments to the last entry- you should. They are very funny! Papaw and Mimi- we will settle up with you in Brugge- the rest of you (even my cousin who got "nuthin")- chocolates are on the way....It is Christmas after all!
I have to leave for work in a few minutes- so I will leave you with an Avaism that I think encompasses all of her remaining baby word...

"You know, I use a tennis shoe to wipe my buggers from my nose and a mackin to wipe my thingers".
-Ava
(We try to keep Ava from talking too much about her "buggers" in her nose when we are in the UK public...we got enough curious stares as it is!

Anyone up for a challenge??

So- yet another contest. I would like a caption to the following picture. There is a catch...the caption has to be a "play" on a Christmas song. I have added a few examples for your viewing pleasure. BTW- the little boy (besides Eli) is Logan- our favorite kid to borrow! They were sharing Eli's milk so very nicely. (In case anyone is keeping track- Eli is fully potty trained-Pants Wearer First Class- yeah!) Soooo, back to the contest...a box of Ely's best chocolates to the winner!

Post your title:)

"O Lego town of Bethlehem" (yes I can hear your groans from here!)

"Hark! The Heimlich Ava gives"

"Ah-va in a manger"

"Little drummer girl" or "Not so silent night"

"Wreck the halls"

I look forward to your creativity!!!

Arachnophobia is forever

I thought I had finally kicked my fear of spiders. Before I moved to England I would run screaming in the opposite direction if I saw a spider. I would avoid the scene of the spider spotting until Eric came home and "cleared the area". Now that I live in England (where there are actually more spiders than rain), I have actually learned to kill the small spiders all by my big self and to at least stifle my screams when the big ones come along.
Today it was one of the little one's, dangling from the upstairs ceiling, that invaded my territory. After eyeballing it from a safe distance, I decided it was small enough to kill. I got a softball sized mitt of toilet paper, assumed my battle stance, the Wyatt Earp music started playing, and I went in for the kill...the spider back flipped, rebounded off the wall, countering with a clever "spider into my hair" move. Screaming commenced. By the time my two startled children reached the top of the stairs, I was frantically stripping off clothes while shaking my hair, screaming like a little girl all the while. In between screams and shakes, I explained that a spider had gotten on me and I was trying to find him. Both kids ran into the bathroom to grab their own weapons, er, toilet paper. They immediately set to work, hunting for "dat 'pider who tried to get mommy". "Don't worry mommy, we will find that spider and flush him in the potty. You just go in your room and calm down", said my four-year-old. My sweet little ones are still upstairs, hot in pursuit of that rogue spider. I almost feel a little sorry for the guy once they find him. Almost.

Christmas Season Is The Best

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!Merry Christmas to all from the Conderman household!!! Ness and I just wanted to wish all a very happy holiday season. Christmas has always been one of the best times of year, but this year it is even better. Having Ava REALLY get into the spirit of Xmas for the 1st time is one of the neatest things about being a Daddy. Eli will get into later I'm sure, but for now I am so loving Ava's interest in the Holiday. She is both into the Santa stories and Christmas songs as well as trying to understand the true meaning of the holiday. It is very cool!

In addition to the season, there are two other things going on in the house worthy of note. Above you can see Ava posing in front of our Christmas town (thanks Grammy). But she is also sitting on her newest friend - the piano. We have actually started piano lessons and she shows remarkable interest and ability for a 4 year old. Progress on this will continue but if you know anything about me then you would know how exciting this is for me!
But more importantly, Eli has accomplished something soooooooooooooo awesome!!!! In less than a week, he has transformed himself into Potty Trained Expert 3rd Class. We can leave the house for hours without worrying about mistakes, and the protective coverings have come off all of the furniture. Way to go Eli!

Again, Merry Christmas to all and to all a happy holiday!

kid "isms"

Sorry- Grandparents...again I have no pictures. (The battries in my camry are dead!) After listening to my kids talk to each other today, I decided to write down a few words and phrases so that I wouldn't forget them as the kids grow up.

*Ava doesn't have many baby words left, but she does still ask for a "tennis shoe" to blow her nose. (instead of a tissue if you need a little help with this one...)

*The kids argue over the computer upstairs- Eli calls it a "pooter" and Ava calls it a "Pin Uter"...again, I can't bear to correct either of them.

Ava covers her ears, not her eyes, when she is afraid.

Eli still pines for Ava when she is at school..."Where dat Ah va go? Ah va at schoooo!? C'mon mommy (taking my hand)- yets go get dat Ah va!"

Ava classifies many people as "good bad". "C was a good bad at school today mommy- he was good during painting time, but climbed up on top of the climbing structure- so he was a little bad too!" Me- "were you good bad today?" Ava- Well.....yeah, I followed C on top of the climbing structure so I was a little bad too." Gotta appreciate the honesty...

When Eli throws a fit, he scans the area for potential injuries, gingerly lays himself down on the floor in my direct line of vision, and proceeds to thrash, roll over, howl and spin in circles. If the area is dangerously littered with toys, he tuck jumps around like a furious baby kangaroo until he trips over one of the toys and falls. This usually buys him a nap.

I promise to try really hard if I can maybe if time allows to put pictures of the kids and our "Christmas house" up tomorrow!

Growing up a little too fast...

When Eric arrived at preschool to pick Ava up- he noticed her sitting next to a little boy named A. They were giggling and kissing each other on the cheek. Ava ran up to her daddy and exclaimed, "I love A. and A. loves me!" When she got home she repeated the same sentiment to me and then sighed, "I'm so 'cited about Christmas AND my boyfriend A.!" Words cannot even begin to describe how 'cited I am...ugh.
Eli has now been re-upgraded to pants wearer second class with a possible promotion to first class tomorrow- in other words- he is doing so well with potty training! It is so amazing how much easier potty training is going this time around...perhaps experience as parents does count for a little...or the little man realized that Ava and her new beau were giving us enough gray hairs and decided to throw us a bone!

Potty training updates

So for anyone who needs a play by play on how Potty Training Boot Camp is going...
Eli has held the rank of "Pantsless Bezerker" for the last two days and has done very well. This morning I decided to upgrade him to "Underpants wearer second class". By 0830 he was on double secret probation and by 0900 he was demoted back down to "Pantsless Bezerker". Yesterday he decided to escape while I was taking the trash out. An elderly couple and my car washing neighbor both got an eyeful as Eli streaked through the yard and nearly cleared the sidewalk before I caught up to him. My one victory is that Eli has decided that it is better to pee sitting down- so less mopping for me -Yeah! More updates to come...

Potty training and Metro mashing

Interesting title, huh? Today I took my spunky little daughter on a trip to London while Eric stayed home to embark on day 1 of Potty Training Boot Camp (PTBC). Kate and her 6 week old daughter came along for our "girls only" day to the big city. Even though Thanksgiving is not celebrated here (for obvious reasons) the spirit of Black Friday has drifted across the pond to descend on us here in the UK. In other words, it was BUSY and CROWDED as all get out! We decided to visit Harrods dept store to get a piece of chocolate (the only thing we could afford!) and check out the window display. From the time we hit the door, the four of us were "herded" through the store by clerks and other shoppers. One guy actually stepped completely over my stroller in his hurry to get to the perfume section. It was commercialism at it's finest! I thought we were going to have to low crawl out of that zoo. We made our way back to the metro to find that one third of the UK's population was also trying to board the Picadilly line to the theatre district as well. We finally caught the third train after I hauled the stroller over my head, threw a couple of elbows, and prayed that Ava and Kate were right behind me. I have never in my life been forced to take up such a small amount of space. Kate was on her tiptoes trying to shield her infant, I was gripping my stroller and what I hoped was Ava's hand, my face planted into Kate's purse and my knees bent to keep me from toppling over from the 600+ pounds of people pressed against my backside. I hear Ava's little voice piping up, "Mama, what's that smell like? It smells tooty!" About the time that the conductor announced, "This is the direct line to Cockfosters!" I completely lost it. My face was pushed completely into Kate's purse by this time and I was sweating in places I have never sweat before. I couldn't stop laughing. By the time "Cockfosters" was announced for the third time, Kate and I were howling. A couple of teenagers caught the giggles with us when the "elephant" that was behind me toppled over my rear end and knocked my head into the side of the train. Needless to say, we were more than happy to exit that train!
Eric had excellent luck with the PTBC venture with Eli. Unfortunately, Eli feels it necessary to pee standing up. Eli is short. Anyone visiting in the near future might want to use the upstairs bathroom...anyway- more updates later on the little guy's progress! He will be all mine tomorrow for PTBC day 2 while Eric and Ava visit the Dino park.

Edinbourgh

So, as anyone who faithfully reads this blog knows, I am far better at "showing " than "telling"! I hope you enjoy the show...with a little bit of tell thrown in!
Here my darling children are, pretending to be "Bobbies" (policemen) in a guard shack in Edinburgh castle. I have to admit, just being able to say that sentence, is a bit of a dream come true!
If you look hard enough you can find a cow in any European city...don't ask me why...but you can.
On the first full day of our little holiday, we took a three and a half hour walking tour of the city. It was so much fun, and it was free! Our kids held up remarkably well considering all the miles we walked and the fact that we only had a "one seater" stroller. (Ava walked her little legs off!) Everyone was incredible nice about us bringing our kids along and even helped us drag the stroller up and down the stairs or held Ava's hand. This was a VERY kind to kids city! Above is a picture of two of the loves of my life, standing at the top of the observation tower at the illusion "tourist trap". Inside was a table that had the city projected onto it with mirrors. You could watch the people walk around and the cars drive up and down the narrow roads. Ava got to "pick people up" with a note card and build bridges for cars to drive over. We had to leave when she started "smashing" the little tourists at the castle.
Here is the statue of Grayfrier's Bobby, a dog who loved his master so much that he sat for 14 years by his grave after he died. Eli wanted to "kiss da doddy".
J.K. Rowling's wrote her Harry Potter books in this very coffee house...and it is now serving draught beers...mkay...
Yes! That is haggis on Eric's plate. No! I did not try any!
Here we mostly are (Eli was asleep in the stroller behind the mad monk) after our ghost tour. Again, our children were the only ones attending, but no one minded. Everyone seemed to think it was hysterical every time Ava would giggle at jokes she couldn't possibly have gotten. The mad monk (who also played a skeleton and deranged maid ghost) would jump out and scare us periodically during our ghost tour. The whole thing was very tongue and cheek, however; he usually jumped out at the wrong times, ran the wrong way, chased the wrong tour group, etc. Ava found the whole thing very amusing as did Eric and I. Eli slept.
Only look quickly- this might be our Christmas card.
Told ya I'd see a dude in a skirt!
I didn't know that a giant robot would one up him by sliding in and dancing a Scottish jig to the tune of the bagpipes. And this was all before 11am.
Edinburgh Castle- very pretty, not easy to push a stroller up!
I will leave you with a picture of the city. Notice the hills? Yes- we did get our exercise, and our fantastic vacation! The kids only took a handful of falls each and they were not too scared about the Edinburgh dungeon. However, probably about the time a scary ghost swooped down on us during the haunted boat ride, I heard the final nail being pounded into my mother of the year award. Fortunately...we have that therapy fund:)
On the way home, our happy little 4-year-old chatterbox treated us to her "Eli is a stinkerpants song" and informative explanations on life. "If I was a fire man I would put on my fire hat, whizzle my whizzle, and the fire would go back into the ground. Then all the people could run away and be safe!" Yeah...that sounds about right!

We made it....

We all arrived home safe and sound, though perhaps a little frazzled, from our trip to Edinburgh. We had an amazing time. Castles were explored, Haggis was tasted, the kids made it through a 3 and a half hour walking tour, and we are all still on speaking terms! I will post more stories and pictures tomorrow or the next day.
When we arrived home, I had a message from my mother that my very dear step-grandfather, Gene, had passed away on Saturday. He died peacefully, surrounded by family. My Grammy and Papaw Gene have such a romantic love story. The two of them had been "high school" sweethearts. Gene went to fight in WWII and eventually married and had a son. My Grammy married my Grandfather and had and raised four children. Four or five years ago my Grammy and Grandpa Gene's paths crossed again. Both had been widowed some years ago, and, in the golden years of their lives, rekindled their relationship. At their wedding, we all thought they looked like two teenagers in love, and so, so happy. They had three years and three days together as man and wife before Gene went to heaven. So, my Grammy is very heavy in my heart today, and I would ask for your prayers for my family as we remember our "Papaw Gene stories" and accept his "move" from earth into heaven.

My little birthday girl!

Well, it had been a long week of birthday parties, work meetings (and other extra job stuff), opening MASS quantities of presents, and making questionable looking birthday cakes! And early tomorrow we leave for Scotland for a 4 day weekend. If I only see Edinburgh castle and a dude in a skirt, I mean kilt, then that is fine. This little vacation is all about the R&R. Of course, I say that, but on Monday when I post again, there will probably be pictures of us packing activities into every minute of our day...I was raised in the McDaniel House of Getting All the Bang for Your Buck While on Vacation!
Seeing the smile on this precious little girl's face made all of the planning, organizing, food making, goody bag shopping, and other chaos of the week worth it!

My big four year old! My, where does the time go?

There Are No More Babies In This House

Well, this is the week that every year will be one of the most crazy hectic of the year - our two babies have their birthdays. Wait a moment ... did I say "babies"? One of the truths that I really have espoused lately is that there are no more babies in the house. We have one Pre-schooler and one Toddler.
Today is the day of Ava's magnificently fun-filled birthday party, and I am sure that Ness will have a nice entry detailing it up tonight or tomorrow. But I just wanted to vocalize a Daddy's pride swelling at his kids growing up. For example ...

Quick Story #1 - Eli walks around these days counting from 1-14. I don't know why he stops at 14, but really I don't care either. It's still neat. Also, a few days ago I was talking on the phone with Papaw and Eli REALLY wanted a drink. He couldn't get my attention with "BA-BA PLEASE!!!". So he tugged at me and said (and I quote) "May I Have A Ba-Ba Pllllleeeeeaaaassssseeeeeeeeeee". And so he did ... quickly too.


Quick Story #2 - As most of our faithful readers know, Ava loves to put together puzzles. After last night I do believe she is ready for 100 piece puzzles. The above puzzle is a 63 piece puzzle (Thank you Grammy). Less than 20 minutes - very little help from mom and dad. She is so amazing to me. She has this ability to concentrate for long periods of time, and she always has to finish a task (and usually by herself). She asks us for jobs around the house she can do to help. (So far she has 5 regular jobs). She makes her own bed well every day and sometimes Eli's too. And she answers yes/no sentences sometimes in Japanese as well as says "Konnichi wa" to me every morning. These things may not be out of the ordinary for a 4 year but still I watch her growing up with amazement. And lastly, don't think for a moment that I don't realize who in this family is primarily responsible for Eli's rapid development in speech development lately. It isn't me who talks to Eli unendingly.

Sorry so wordy. Stay tuned for a better, more concise, and definitely more witty entry concerning Ava's party from Ness.

Birthday Boys

On Nov 8, 2005 our beautiful, smart, energetic, sweet baby boy was born at 4am. 20 minutes later I called my amazing baby brother to let him know first that he has a nephew that shares his birthday. So, Happy Birthday to "my" two boys!

Already a charmer at 2 weeks old!

My dashing little man on his second birthday!

Bonus picture: Ava gives Eli a birthday piggy back ride! I am not really sure if she actually had a choice in the matter...but she is being a good sport anyway!

A Tale of Two Elmos

No matter how good your motherly intentions of treating both kids equally are...well, the proof is in the pudding...er....cake...
Ava's cake that I made for her 2nd birthday party (3 days after giving birth to Eli).
Eli's 2nd birthday cake. He thought it was a bunny.

Only Uno kid on the potty at a time

Our brilliant little girl has learned how to play Uno...and she kicks some major tail too! We played 3 games today and she won 2 (really won, not "we helped her" win). I so would have won, but I couldn't ever remember to say Uno! I think, in another year or two, we may have a seriously good Euchre player...she is a Conderman after all!
Eli is actually posing the baby doll and telling her to say "Teese"! (I did have to crop the picture because little man disrobed from the waist down right before I took the picture! The boy loves to be naked!) Shortly before taking this shot, Eli had run to the bathroom claiming he needed to pee. We have not done potty training boot camp yet but I always encourage his interest in these matters. While he was in the bathroom (alone), Ava decided she needed to go to the bathroom too. From the dinner table we heard this conversation...

Ava: Eli, you are only pretending to potty so you need to get down and let me go.

Eli: NOOO!

Ava: Eli, get down!

Eli: IS MA POTTY!

And that was the way it was...

Now when the kids argue ( which is about 99.873% of the time) I smile a little on the inside knowing that my son can and will hold his own. We did warn Ava that the day would come...

Happy Halloween!

Here is why it took us until the day of Halloween to actually do pumpkins! Every evening that I was not working we would have very good intentions of launching the pumpkin carving scheme. We would clean up dinner, walk into the living room, and this....
Eric headed up the gutting, deseeding, disgusting aspect of the pumpkin project...
Here I carved Ava's large pumpkin on the right, and Eric carved Eli's on the left. I will send a box of chocolates to the first person to correctly identify both...I will give you a hint: Eric's is not a skinny cat jumping over a princess crown, and mine is not a molar parachuting while fireworks go off...
The little fairy princess poses with the, um, jack-o-lanterns.
Eli the wonder chicken takes a little nap while he waits for trick-or-treating to begin. We took the kids onto base to trick-or-treat. At the first house we stopped at, Ava stood at the door yelling, "TRICK-OR-TREAT!" until the startled inhabitants opened the door. Ava marched inside, took off her coat and shoes, announced, "I'm a fairy princess" and sat down on their floor. After that we had to go over the "rules of engagement" for trick-or-treating!