Prouda m'boys

Connor's teacher and I started a sticker management chart about a month ago to help him improve some silly behavior that had been making its way into the classroom and causing some disruptions. So each day his teacher sends home a note indicating whether or not he earned a sticker for the day. The deal was: when he earned 10 stickers, he would get a dinner with all his faves: hot dogs, mac n' cheese, grapes, strawberry milk and cupcakes. AND he would get to pick out a new toy. After a sluggish start, things picked up and he made good progress. Yesterday he got his 10th sticker, and therefore was rewarded with the aforementioned dinner; we are going toy shopping later today. So much we have had to learn in kindergarten, I tell ya!

Also proud of Brian. He served on his very first jury this week (a meth trial) and was rewarded with this lovely certificate. Not sure why they feel inclined to give an adult a certificate, but whatever. He is TOTALLY humoring me by posing for this picture-

While he actually enjoyed the jury experience and learned a lot about the enormity of the meth problem, that's not the real reason I'm proud of him. His bigger accomplishment is...

... he was awarded a big Associated Press Sports Editors award, which he says are like the "Oscars of Sports Writing." An explanatory story he did about some injured athlete's back surgery was named one of the top 10 explanatory stories in the country for medium-size papers. His paper has won APSE awards before, but this is his first individual award. He was pleased to be so recognized! He'll find out in April exactly where in the top 10 his story ranked. Good job Brian! Nice to be recognized for your talents.

And last, at Family Night last week Brian instituted a family sticker chart to recognize/reward kind and loving behavior between our family members. For the next 6 days, family members had to earn at least 5 stickers for kind and loving behavior, and in so doing, would receive an ice cream outing. You can see this was all Brian's doing, as he used Major League Baseball team logo stickers for the chart. Each day we would assess everyone's behavior and then he'd have each family member select a team logo. So very Brian. You'll note Lucas and I received 6 stickers while the others received 5.
Wish I would have remembered to bring the camera to our ice-cream outing! For the first time, Lucas received his own instead of having to share with mom or dad. You'll have to use your imagination on that!

Turning toward two

First things first: like my new look? I got a blog makeover, which I won on my friend's blog. Thanks again Monique! I love the facelift. Now on to my post...

I've never much believed in the terrible twos. And I never thought I could get frustrated with this face
Turns out I've changed my mind on both accounts. The countdown to Lucas's 2nd birthday is on, just a tad more than 3 months away. And like a switch has been flipped, we have started seeing WAY more , feistiness, temper, and of course, the accompanying tantrums. You know, those ear-splitting, shrieking, throw-his-body-on-the-floor tantrums. So fun.

Him being my 3rd child, you might think I'm well-versed in 2-year-old tantrums. But really, I'm not!

Connor, having autism, had very classic autism behaviors at 2. He didn't talk - not one word, didn't point, didn't gesture, didn't ask for things or make his needs known non-verbally, nothing. He was very much in his own world. At the time, I just thought he was a really easy toddler. Of course, I've learned these behaviors are not ideal. But at the time, he seemed easy (on a side note, it's amazing to think of how far he really has come since then. It's remarkable, really.) So no 2-year-old tantrums for him.

Isabel, on the other, was about as opposite from my first experience as possible. She had well over 50 words at 14 months, and could have full conversations - with a huge vocabulary - at 18 months. I sometimes feel like she sort of skipped the toddler stage and went straight to preschool behavior. Of course, that brings its own attitude; 3 can be a frustrating age, but in different ways. It's more attitude, I think. But those frustrated 2-year-old tantrums generally were not part of her repetoire.

Which brings me to Lucas. I try to avoid using words like "normal," but there is, indeed, a typical developmental pattern little ones follow, of course with some variance. And I feel like Lucas is very much a typical going-on-2 year old, and it feels really new to me! He has a bunch of words, mostly first syllables. He has a ginormous receptive language, his expressive language is still filling in some gaps. I have learned to distinguish his no's, as in he answers every question with "no." A firm, quick, irritated-sounding no really means no. On the other hand, a long, drawn-out no that ends on a higher pitch than it starts really means yes. Confusing, maybe, but I've got it down. I think, though, this communication frustration contributes a lot to the tantrums. I just don't always understand his emerging thoughts/feelings, though I try with all my might. He speaks in LOTS of gibberish, which is cute, but not always very effective.

Ultimately, it is just so interesting to have 3 children, who have given me the experience of 3 different developmental communication abilities. It really is so fun to watch them each develop in their own way. And I have so learned -and continue to learn - that each age really does brings wonderful things, as well as challenges.

A mixed-up list

Connor often describes his days as "mixed up," as in "I was a little bit bad, but mostly good." Thus, here is my mixed-up list today, as it can't always be all happy.

1. I am HAPPY that Brian took the day off on Wednesday to work on our taxes, thus affording me an afternoon to wander and do as I pleased; I just don't do that very often. I headed to Boulder, which always makes me HAPPY. I drove up Boulder Canyon a ways, and spent some quiet time sitting next to a mountain stream. Quiet, contemplative thinking time is delicious to me. I also shopped the afternoon away. I am HAPPY with my new candle from Bath and Body Works, Pineapple Orchid. The scent is heavenly, and the pale pink color is divine.
I could have bought just about everything in Ann Taylor Loft. I did get a super cute shirt, but...
...I am SAD that this lovely number didn't fit me perfectly. This season's orchid color is stunning. I might have to get it anyway; why oh why didn't this one come in petite? I can often get away with regular shirts, but this one didn't hit me quite right. Darn shortness.

2. I am HAPPY that Cadbury Creme Eggs are back in stores...
...but SAD that my new Weight Watchers regimen doesn't allow much room for them. Do you think it counts as points if I just lick one?

3. I am HAPPY that I started jogging again, and have gone 3 or 4 times each week for the past 4 weeks. I haven't been regular with my jogging since before having Lucas. Jogging is therapy for me; the physical and emotional rewards are many. A few problems areas have already tightened up a tad, and my first week on WW dropped me 3 pounds. Nothing sad 'bout that.

4. I am SAD that the economy continues to worsen. It has hit hard a number of friends and family, and dealt a big blow to my little hometown yesterday. I don't hold out a lot of hope that the stimulus plan is going to magically turn things around, I think time unfortunately is going to be one of the biggest factors here. And Brian's company is suspending dental insurance for a year, grrrr...

...but I am HAPPY we have a job.

5. I am HAPPY that Danny Gokey and Alexis Grace advanced to the top 12 on American Idol, but...

... I am SAD that Anoop didn't. I love Anoop. I *might* have a slight crush on him.

6. I am HAPPY that I had a fun dinner with some good friends last evening, whom I hadn't seen in a while, but...

... I am SAD that the chips and salsa did me in. As in I had a moment of weakness. But I will press on.

7. I am SAD that Isabel's dance teacher is moving away and is only teaching Isabel's class for 2 more weeks. Miss Belinda is fabulous, very spunky and energetic and makes dance class a most fun place for little girls to be. She and Isabel get along famously, but...

... I am HAPPY that the new teacher has an amazing background and has taught dance all over the world. And we are getting her at a rec-center price! From our little class newsletter, "Ms. Phan (pronounced Fawn) has taught jazz, tap, hip-hop and ballet in London and Paris for the World Dance Conference, and was the top selected choreographer to teach in Korea at Euro Disney. Ms. Phan has been all over the U.S. and has directed, performed and choreographed hundreds of shows. She is the daughter of the fabulous Ms. Kit Andree, and has studied with teachers and Broadway stars such as Luigi, Bob Fosse and Thommie Walsh (2-time Tony Award Winner).

Impressive background, but I really hope she is as fun, because that's my main concern for a 3-year-old.

Have a HAPPY weekend!

Paying it Forward

Pay It Forward .....

So, here's how it works: the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Please submit in an e-mail or on the comment, your address, if I don't have it already. Remember that only the first 3 comments will receive a gift from me, so be quick!

Have fun!

Happy Valentine's Day

Friday morning the kids went to a Valentine's Day Tea Party with a bunch of friends. I made cherry chip cupcakes with chocolate whipped cream and sprinkles. Yum. Chocolate whipped cream is my new favorite cupcake topping, it's so fluffy and not as sweet as frosting. You just whip up a pint of whipping cream with 1/2 cup cocoa and 2/3 cup powdered sugar (thanks Elizabeth for the tip!).

The kids had a great time with lots of little friends, pink and red decorations, an abundance of sweets and a Valentine exchange. I am not so loving Lucas's new fake smile (he says cheese and makes a funny smile):





And Friday afternoon was a party in Connor's classroom. More treats!
Connor and Kyle, thick as thieves. Love the girl train behind them!

For breakfast today we had pink heart French toasts:


The people who hold my heart. NOT a good picture but the other ones I snapped were worse.

Tonight is a movie/pizza party. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

A Scary Morning

My day got off to a scary start when I got a phone call bright and early that my brother and sister-in-law's (Nate and Alli) apartment was burning up. Nate and Alli live outside of Minneapolis. Nate had already gone to work and Alli was getting ready for work when the alarms went off. She got outside and watched the huge fire burn through the roof of her apartment, collapsing it. She got a hold of my brother and he was able to get to Alli quickly. The fire started on the third floor (the floor they live on) just three units down from theirs. They didn't know for hours if their apartment had burned and if their stuff was destroyed. When they were finally let in they discovered they narrowly escaped a total disaster and their stuff is fine, but the roof is destroyed and they are homeless for at least tonight, if not longer. SO SCARY!

We were all super concerned all morning, and now are expressing gratitude that they are OK. Alli was interviewed on WCCO today, if any of you are interested here is the link to the story with her interview. However, their stuff is fine, which is not how it was reported. The story/video is called "3 apartments destroyed in St. Anthony fire" and you can WATCH IT HERE.

The day has continued to be crazy with Valentine's parties, more on that later.

Valentine's Part 1

I don't have a lot of Valentine's decor, but thought I'd share what I do have.

I love these dessert plates. We had some divine berry cobbler on them last night, and they'll be used several times more this week:

I bought a chipboard read-to-finish Valentine's scrapbook, cut out the L, O, V and E, covered them with luscious papers and made them into a banner with coordinating papers and cardstocks. I turned the chipboard pages into hearts, covered them with paper, and hung them from my dining room light.

These little cuties were part of the Valentine's package I won on Monique's blog (thanks again!). I love them both! Her mom made that darling little cupcake pillow:

I filled my little apothecary jar with sparkly red hearts and pink balls. The hearts were actually little ornaments, I probably should cut off the silver threads:

And, again, my Valentine's wreath. I know I already posted about it, but I think it also needed to live with the other V-Day decs. For those of you who asked, I bought them at Target. They had a larger version with just one heart that I wanted, but waited too long and it was gone. So I bought three of the smaller hearts and strung them together.

Brian and I went on our Valentine's date on Friday, as he has to work this Saturday. Are you braving the crowds on Feb. 14? Being a Saturday, I'm sure it's going to be CRAZY! We went to dinner and then saw "He's Just Not That Into You." Overall, I thought it was OK. I liked some of the story lines, didn't like some others. I did love Ginnifer Goodwin, and I want her hair! She was also in "Walk the Line," one of my all-time favorite movies.

The kiddos are going to a Valentine's Day tea party on Friday, followed by Connor's school party. And we'll do something fun on Saturday as a family. More Valentine's stuff to come later in the week.

I'm so glad when daddy comes home

This is the standard scene when Brian comes home from work. I had to capture it all: the joy! the noise! the reports (Connor getting stickers for good behavior, Connor finding a ladybug and naming it Spotty Orangey Ladybug Grassy)! the unabashed excitement (esp. Lucas!). We are ALL glad when daddy comes home. :)

Love Letter

The other morning while I was getting ready, Connor told me he had a surprise for me. Totally on his own, he had written a letter to me:
("Dear Mom, Connor is writing so mom can have the letter. I love mom")

On the back it was signed "Love, Connor"

He can be the sweetest boy ever.