Saturday, January 30, 2010

Perpetual Motion

Another fun activity we are doing this winter is gymnastics. We signed up to take lessons with our friends, the Letts', who we also took our first swimming lessons with. We are going to Perpetual Motion. Sadly, we have missed two lessons already due to a raging sinus infection my Little Chief has been fighting, but we were back into the swing of it today and he had loads of fun with his buddies!

The boys were horsing around outside the gym. I took about a dozen photos of these goofs. The poses remind me of a preschooler rap crew album cover LOL : )

This springy runway is so cool! The kids bounced down the lane, hopping up on foam mats and finishing it by jumping in to a huge pile of foam blocks. I wish I could do it!

The instructors do a nice job of challenging the kids. I hope Owen learns some body confidence from these lessons and becomes less afraid of new physical adventures- like climbing a ladder and swinging from a bar!

He flipped over the bar with some help from his teacher! I was so proud of him for trying it!

This is a great way to burn a little of that winter energy. I think we will try this activity again. It's good exercise and good fun!

Little Chief of the Water

This year we decided to take the plunge and sign up for swimming at Foss. Owen has a few friends who have been taking lessons there with stellar results, so we decided to give it a try.

We have all been so happy with the lessons and the progress so far. I am sure it was a combination of age, positive peer pressure, and the lessons, but our kid is swimming! I mean, face in the water, learning the freestyle-diving-to-the-bottom-flipping-to-float swimming!

This is our second 4 week session. We go twice a week for 8 lessons. He is so happy to go!

Troy and I still can't figure out how they get the kids to pay attention and learn. It seems like chaos in there. It's a relatively small pool set up into lanes and each lane is divided in half with lessons going on on each side. There are at least 6 classes going on at the same time and the move them quick. One class jumps out another jumps in. But, however they do it, the results are there. Those Foss folks sure figured it out.

I really like to swim and I hope that Owen will find the joy in it as well. We spend a lot of time in the water during our brief summer months so swimming lessons are more than just fun- they are for safety as well.

I'm not ready to let him swim on his own yet- he doesn't know how to take the breath and tread water, but I don't think it's too far away. This summer I will stay close to him in the water, but I have a feeling by next year I will be able to sit on the water's edge watching my little fish swim!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Introducing...Jupiter!

When you live in a house with furry friends for a number of years and then live in a house without them for a spell, you begin to miss the company and cuddles of such friends. Aside from the care, the annoyances, the training (or lack there of), and the responsibility that go into these creatures, if you're a pet person- you're a pet person and your house doesn't quite feel like a home unless you a shooing someone off of your tables and cursing them for turning your beloved couch into a scratching post.

We have been petless for awhile now and decided it was time to share the love with a new furry friend. Two weeks ago we went to the Humane Society to look for a new family member. After a careful screening, Owen decided upon this little girl and we were happy with his choice. So, after a few lines of paperwork and a slide of the debit card we loaded up our kitty and headed to Petco for a little food and litter, then onto home to settle her in.

It didn't take long to bring her out of her shell. A little flip of the feather and her and Owen became fast friends.

Owen is being a great cat owner. Every morning her feeds her breakfast and changes her water. I think she's getting used to it because she has been waking him up in the morning by attacking his toes or licking his head. She has been very tolerant of his constant attention :)

After tossing around a few names Owen settled on Jupiter and we all agreed it is a good name. She's a little beggar and already makes us a little crazy, but we like her and are happy to have her here with us!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Christmas Day 2009!!

I don't think there was ever any doubt that the Man in Red made a stop in the Yeagerhood during the wee hours of Christmas Day. I suppose you could say that there are many...benefits...to being an only Grandchild on your father's side of the family. One of the more beneficial times would, obviously, be when you get the Christmas booty received from Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Mom and Dad, and St. Nick.

Not that every gift was wrapped up for the Chief. We had four adults in the house, too! It looks like a lot (and it is), but once you remove the packaging and wrapping paper it didn't feel over the top and the Child was overjoyed at getting the four presents he asked Santa for. The rest of it was just his family spoiling him. I mean, let's face it, it's so much more fun to shop for a kid at Christmas than an adult. You get to indulge your own childhood wants under the veil of gift giving. Sweet. It was an incredible sight when it was all placed and ready to be discovered.

He awoke a full hour earlier than usual on Christmas Day. He ran into the living room and back to us with a "He was here! Santa was here!" It was a joyful sound and we were happy that he was so happy. We asked him to wait to open any gifts until he had awaken everyone else and everyone was up. So, he ran downstairs to get G'Ma and G'Pa and down the hall to get D'Arcy. As the coffee was brewing, Little Chief was passing out and unwrapping gifts and shouting "This is just what I ordered from Santa Claus!" He was terribly worried that when he saw Santa he only remembered to ask for one gift, but we assured him that Santa knew about all four.


It really was a fun morning. We opened gifts, had breakfast, played with our new toys and I even learned how to knit! We always talk about the gifts we open, but we all know that the holiday is more than that. It's the gift of family and memories and joy and celebration. Toss in a little silliness and a lot of food and you have some of the best days of all. If you only get to see each other a few times a year you have to make the most of those few days.

I admit I missed my family. I wished my niece and nephew were here to run around with Owen and that my Mom was here to mess around in my sewing room with me, but you make concessions when live far away and sometimes a phone call or video chat will have to do. It doesn't lessen the holiday, but you do feel the pull of distance and you make plans for future events and talk about Spring and Summer and days that are easier to travel by. Maybe next year we can add a few more bodies to the mix.

I hope everyone had a beautiful, fulfilling Christmas and that you were able to share it with loved ones, either in person or in spirit. I will chalk this Christmas up as a great one and I am already looking forward to next year!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Christmas Eve 2009


Christmas Eve 2009!

We were very lucky this year to have lots of good food, family, and friends celebrate with us. Aunt D'Arcy flew in from NYC, G'Ma and G'Pa flew in from Atlanta, and honorary Aunt Linda and Uncle Tony stopped by to share Christmas Eve dinner with us. We missed our Ohio relatives, but we talked lots on the phone and were able to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

The table settings may look familiar (as in last year), but this year we played dinner a bit more traditional with brined turkey, sauteed beans, scalloped corn, salad, and roasted root veggies. Delish! I think everyone had a great time, I know I did : )

Train table ala appetaizer table brings treats before and after dinner. Everyone had a chance to cozy up by the tree and chat. Perfect way to start the evening! Oh, and did I mention the crab dip...OMG.

Growing up, Christmas Eve was THE night. My mom's 7 brothers and sisters would all gather together with their spouses and children and we would have food and gifts, noise and fun. Not that Christmas Day isn't perfect- especially now that I am mom- but there is and always will be something wonderfully special about Christmas Eve. If you are ever lonely on this night or your flight has been cancelled and you can't get home, your family can't get to you or you just want to spend the evening with friends, come over and eat at our table. Talk with us, drink with us, celebrate with us. The more the merrier on one of my favorite nights of the year.