Determined

I really should be emptying the dishwasher and getting the house in order before we leave for the weekend but I wanted to post this before I forgot:

I decided to change our bedding before we left (see, I did do something to get the house in order!) and Gerrit was playing upstairs. He saw me in our room and decided that because the bed was cleared off, it would be a good time to get on it and play. I of course told him to give me a few minutes till I was done and then he could get on the bed. Not wanting to wait, he left the bedroom and returned a few minutes later with the footstool from his room. He put it close to the edge of the bed and was able to get up all by himself! Got to give the kid credit for his problem solving abilities!

He just finished his breakfast and put his empty plate in the sink (threw it in the sink seeing he can't actually reach it to set it down - glad we use plastic!)

Kudos

I am too lazy to get the camera and take a picture but I want to give a shout out to Peg Perego. We luckily were the recipients of a high chair from my brother's family when Gerrit was born. I was pretty excited to get it because it is a very nice high chair and in good condition. Well, I broke it just before Christmas trying to close it before a party we were having. I called and was able to get a replacement part - for a 11 year old high chair! How cool is that?? While I was paying shipping, I ordered a new seat cover too. We are back in business and good to go for a long time.

How Low Can It Go?

Yep, pretty low....my thermostat in the car read - 23 this am, on my way to work! Yikes. That is darn cold. All the schools where we live were canceled the night before but not the city schools. I guess they think those kids are tough and can handle waiting for the bus with wind chills in the -40s!!! As the day progressed we did warm up to a balmy -8. Tomorrow is suppose to be just as cold but we are to get above zero by the end of the day.

A few examples of just how cold it is here:

• I ran into Subway for dinner and all the cars in the parking lot were still running and no one was in the cars
• I went to get the laundry from the dryer to fold and a turtle neck sweater was damp, I mean stiff - it was slightly frozen!
• I got a few gallons of gas this am and just my finger was numb from touching a piece of metal on the nozzle.
• The sun was out all day, I need my sunglasses on a regular basis (unlike MI when you won't need them from Oct - April).
  

I can't complain, it is always temporary but none the less, darn cold! Heading to temps that are 80 degrees warmer tomorrow night is a welcoming thought.

Drinks or Hockey?

The best part of a hockey game...the drinks!

Just kidding! This was taken by my sister in law at the Griffin's game. I had a drink, compliments of Opah and Gerrit enjoyed the straw. He looks like a pro!

Daring Dad

Gerrit woke up from his nap not very happy. Adam thought a snack might cheer him up. Together they went into the kitchen and Gerrit did not like anything that Adam offered; he wanted a donut. Surprisingly, Gerrit has learned what the donut bag looks like (guess donuts every Sat. would teach him this!) and wanted what was left in it. Gerrit had already finished his donuts, (plain cake donuts of course) but there was one of dad's left in it - POWDERED!

I could see giving him the donut, but to let him eat it in the basement was a bit daring. I didn't say anything other than he (Adam) gets to clean it up! Gerrit went to town, and was a bit more messy that Adam had predicted:

The shop vac soon made an appearance and took care of any evidence that a powdered donut was inhaled by a 2o month old!

Devil Child

- Dumped his Goldfish crackers on the kitchen floor

-Threw his empty sippy cup across the table and knocked my drink over during dinner

-Threw 2nd sippy cup (full of water) while I was cleaning up the first spill

-While in 'time out', tore his tray off his booster chair and threw that on the ground as well as his bib (luckily there wasn't any food on the tray)

-Constantly changing the channel during the MSU bball game

-Takes the remote from Adam so he can't change the channel back

-Uses his new hockey stick to swat at things such as the lap top (thanks Uncle Jeff)

-When 1 stick is taken away, he gets the other hockey stick and starts swatting at things

-Tries to stand on top of the popcorn tin

Where did our sweet Gerrit go? I would like him back if anyone has seen him or knows how to get him back!

**this has all happened in less than 2 hours!

Welcome 2009

Its hard to believe it is 2009 already. Gonna take me a while to get use to it I think. Hard to believe another year has gone by, makes me feel old! We were blessed this past year and I am thankful for that.

We had a low key New Years' Eve this year. I didn't feel like planning anything and I don't think anyone else did either. We stopped by our friend's the Langley's for a bit. Adam wanted to show Dave his new cyclocross DVD so Gerrit and I tagged along and hung out with Pam. It was nice to catch up on the activities from the past week. We came home and put Gerrit to bed and watched a lame movie: Tropic Thunder. It had its funny parts but I think I was expecting more out of it. Adam fell asleep and I made it to the end. We were both in bed before 11 - whoo who - party animals, I know. Amazing how things change as you get older...

We woke up and saw that Santa had visited 4th St. We decided to do stockings on New Year's Day seeing we weren't around on Christmas (and I made cute stockings so I wanted to use them!). Gerrit didn't know the difference, but I did. Plus, with our fabulous gift of a vacuum, we thought if we did stockings, we at least would have some surprise. It took a whole 5 min. but it was nice none the less. I think I had hopes of a nice "holiday" breakfast as a family following stockings but that didn't happen. Adam went and took care of the ice rink/driveway and left Gerrit and I inside to play.

Evidence Santa did indeed stop by:
Gerrit opening his frige phonics:

Saving the best for last - foam balls!

We watched MSU lose and Gerrit took a nap - on the couch. I think we've started a bad habit of naps on the couch.

Gerrit sporting his 'post-nap' do - impressive....

Gerrit woke up just in time for us to head off to friends in the cities for our annual Rose Bowl party. We had tons of food for not a ton of people which is the norm with them. Gerrit took to their boys fast. I think he liked that they gave him his space and he could ease into things. The youngest is in 3rd grade and he enjoyed playing catch with Gerrit. We stayed well past Gerrit's bed time but knew he'd be sound asleep before we hit the highway. Always fun to watch football with fellow football fans...

We are now home again and I'm enjoying the fact that tomorrow is only Friday!