November 14, 2011

Lots to catch up on:

So it's been almost a month and it's now high time to catch up on the kids' stories.

Halloween has come and gone. It was a blast for Liam. We started the day by going to Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls to take pictures with the kids. Liam was magician and Annabelle was a bunny. So adorable. They ran around and played with pumpkins, and then when we got to the goats, they found sporadic leaves on the ground and fed them to the goat. Liam absolutely loved this. He had a blast. I think his favorite part was feeding the goats. He has an endearing love for animals. We got home, had dinner and then went out trick-or-treating. This was the first year that he was really into it with great enthusiasm. He would run from the sidewalk up to the neighbor's door, ring the doorbell and then say, "Trick-or-Treat!" excitedly. We went to about 10 houses or so and then we came back around to go home. Liam was pretty bummed. While we were out, he kept asking us if he could "have some sugar." He's very to the point and really just calls it what it is. We thought this was really funny. We did let him have a few pieces of candy. In fact, I told him he could have 3 before bed. I gave him three smarties and he thought it was the coolest thing in the world. He had a few other pieces in the following days, and it was a real treat for him. He can't wait for next year I'm sure.

One night, Phillip showed the kids how to ride on his back. Annabelle took to it quickly, while Liam stayed back and scoped out the endeavor before agreeing to it. When he did, he loved it. After a couple rides and the kids squawking over who's turn it was, they both rode at the same time.

Let's see, what else....the kids have a new favorite breakfast food. I told Liam we were moving away for the everyday oatmeal and PBJs. He was a little bummed, but then he found the Phy House Magnificent Egg Scramble! It's scrambled eggs with chopped spinach, diced tomatoes, chunks of cheese and diced ham. We easily go through half a dozen eggs at breakfast when I make this. They love it, and they are eating two veggies with breakfast. I couldn't ask for more. The funny thing is, Liam won't eat it without the ham. If I put everything else it and make it sound like it's the new 'Milk and Honey' of 2011, he still refuses. Usually it becomes a struggle with a lot of coercion to get him to eat. We manage though.

Oh, a funny thing he's started is asking a long stream of questions about everything. Things like, "What is that? Where did you get it? What is it doing? What do you do with it? Why is it doing that? Do you like it? Can I have it?" And it goes on and one. Phillip and I joked about it and now Liam jokes to. When he sees something or asks a question, he goes down the long stream of them with a smirk. He's funny. He says, "I was teasing you." about things too. It really caught Phillip off guard one morning and they both had a good laugh.

The park. Let me tell you how much the kids love the park. You mention the word and they know all about it. One day, we were walking there with the kids in the double stroller and Annabelle started fussing as we turned the corner. Liam, sitting next to her, leaned his head over on hers and wrapped his arm around her and patted her tummy. He gently said, "It's okay, we going to park. You can get out." Annabelle calmed down to just a whimper. It was the dearest interaction I've seen the two of them have. I don't think I could have asked for a better big brother for Annabelle. He's my favorite little boy. I tell him this all the time and he responds with, "You're my favorite little Mommy."