It is the beginning of December and we are already spent! Here's how I found B one afternoon last week...
B is three now! He brings so much life to our household. Beyond the little toy trains and little toy tracks he brings "goofy baby", tells his own jokes (knock-knock and otherwise), and loves to stir things up. He helps himself to the fridge, has definite ideas about what he wants to wear, has a very rigid backbone, and a certain joie de vive that is contagious.
We took the kids on a nature walk and found some salmon that were spawning...
B was delighted...
and R was all smiles...
There is something so cute about watching them share rocks at the beach...
Listed on B's resume under special talents is "huckin' rocks"...it's a passion for him:
It turned out to be a true nature walk because on our way back down the trail we came within one hundred feet of a black bear. It had come down to the water to catch some fish and was trying to find its way back up the mountain. We made a ton of noise and scared it away. R&B were scared too so we ended up carrying them the rest of the way back to the car! (See we are still needed!)
R was invited this year to join Gma and I on our traditional house tour where we go to check out the Christmas decorations in participating open houses. She's smiling because she's hit the big leagues!
...some of the houses even decorated their stables! Tres fancy!
We decorated our own tree as well. This year it was B's turn to place the star. He did beautifully.
R did the bulk of the decorating and I was telling our family history as we were hanging the nostalgic ornaments. Somehow the conversation took an unexpected turn and I was faced with the innocent question of a four year old, "What do a mommy and daddy have to do to get a baby once they decide to have one?" (verbatim)....I pondered this question and stumbled a bit, not sure what to say. Then I fumbled out, "Oh, um, it's something that mommies and daddies do in private called, um, reproduction" (lol)....She seemed to accept that and continued merrily hanging her ornaments. I felt a little sweaty and a little thirsty, though.
Meanwhile, B was entertaining us....
R was asking all the hard questions this weekend, though. We took the kids to the Santa Claus parade and the parade had just begun when I was faced with, "Mommy, is Santa Claus real? My friend says that he's not real. She says that he's just someone dressing up in a costume, but he's real right?" Stumbling, I replied, "He's real for anyone who believes in Santa and the magic of Christmas". She really is turning into a "big kid"! We are going to try to squeeze in at least one more "magical" Christmas!
Our nightly ritual of story time. B may be three but he still rubs his hair to put himself to sleep :)
The growth around here is palpable. Food is disappearing out of the fridge faster than we can stock it, clothes are being passed on as they become too small. B is asserting his independence as he carves out his identity and figures out where he fits in our family and in this world. It is exhausting for us, so I can imagine that it must be even more exhausting for him! Besides asking the hard questions, R is experimenting with sass and attitude. I don't think she is getting very far with it, though! Humans are such interesting creatures, especially when they are little!
