Playing Indoors

Some of our college friends were in town for Christmas so we all went bowling. We haven't gotten together for probably five-ish years. It was a night of triple-family fun! We watched the kiddos play on the indoor playground while we waited for our turn to bowl.

Zeke was hesitant to go down the slide for a while, but he finally made it.

And then he couldn't get enough of it. We had to drag him away to go bowling, and he wasn't at all happy about it. Once he learned what bowling was, though, he was hooked. Playing one game was just not enough for him. Some of the adults took some turns, but for the most part we just let the kids go for it.

Zeke even had his very own cool bowling shoes (thanks again Melissa for 'sharing' a kids game with us!).

After bowling the kids got to go down the slide one more time (I think Zeke actually went twice, because he got out of reach before we could catch him). We pretty much carried Zeke out kicking and screaming, he was having so much fun and didn't want to leave.

Christmas Jammies

My mom has always given us kids pajamas for Christmas Eve, and she has continued this tradition with Zeke. We also always took pictures in our new jammies by the Christmas tree, so after Zeke had his bath and was dressed for bed, we headed downstairs to take a picture. Here's how it went:

'Zeke, go stand by the Christmas tree so I can take your picture.'

Zeke comes over to see the picture on the camera.
'Okay, now go sit in front of the Christmas tree.'

'Good job, now turn around. And smile!'
Zeke comes over to see the picture on the camera, then sits back down.

'Hey, look at me, not the TV!'

And then my mom wanted me to text a picture to her, so we spent the next 10 minutes trying convince Zeke to pay attention so we could get a decent picture on my phone.

And ps, if you can't tell what's on his jammies, it wasn't for lack of trying to get a good view of the jammies themselves. It's Cars - Mater and Lightning McQueen all tripped out for snow driving.

Grandparents

Grandparents are special people. I spent so much time with my Grandma while she was alive - Sunday dinners, lazy afternoons, holidays ... My earliest memories are of being with my Grandma Draper.

I am loving watching Zeke develop his own unique relationships to his Grandmas and Grandpas. Going to grandma's house is a greatly anticipated event. Zeke knows the way to Grandma's, and if it even looks like we might be going 'over the river and through the woods' (because we do!) he gets so excited.

It surprised me a bit just how early on Zeke began to show that he knew what happy things were waiting when we said 'We're going to Grandma and Grandpa's'. Things like Grandma Carlile's house always has crackers and Goodnight Moon, and Grandma Loertscher's house always has granola bars, ride-on and push-around toys, and often a Price is Right just waiting to be shared.

I don't think I would have stayed sane during Zeke's first 9 months without grandparental arms to hold and soothe him. Now that he's older, when we come to visit the order of business is quick hugs before running off to find the toys. Then snacks. Earlier this week, Zeke asked my mom for a cracker and a drink of milk in the 'McQueen cup'. He definitely knew and used of the Carlile house amenities!

One of the best parts has been watching our parents become grandparents. One family already had grandkids, the other didn't. Either way our parents were new to being grandparents to our child, and it has added a wonderful new dimension to our relationship with them.

Zeke is fortunate to have all of his grandparents living and living close by right now (plus one great-grandpa) and I hope that the good times and good memories continue for a long time.

Shred and Scatter

Lately Zeke has been going in our downstairs bathroom and closing the door for a little private time. But it's not because he's suddenly interested in using the toilet. It's because our half bath/laundry room is also part office and houses our paper shredder.

He has had great times scattering the shredded paper we haven't yet recycled. It would be a lot more fun for us if he would clean it up and put it away for next time. We have since started keeping the door closed and put a cover on the doorknob so he can't open the door. Unfortunately, paper shreds have already migrated all over the house by sticking to our socks.

Just another reason why I am so excited for spring.

A Little Respect

I feel sorry for 2009.

Practically everyone we have heard talk/write about 2009 mentions how glad they are it is over. (Like a whole lot changed in your life when the clock struck midnight...I know, I know, it's symbolic - but still.) I don't remember 2008 or 2007 being so quickly shoved out the door. Or 2006, or 2005.... Maybe we missed the memo? We don't think 2009 was so bad.

2009, I don't know why everyone was so ready to get rid of you. Maybe they are just ready for a change. Maybe people are ready to switch to more familiar 'twenty-ten' rather than the cumbersome 'two thousand nine'. Or maybe it's simply that 9 is forever the runner-up to the celebrated number 10. Regardless, we remember you fondly even while we look forward to the new year.

2010, there are some big expectations out there for you, and I trust you are up to them.

Mow the Snow

Zeke isn't a big fan of playing in the snow. He'd much rather play in the dirt. He has tried snow, but it's just not as much fun as dirt is. Generally, walking through the snow is fun, picking up the snow and trying to do something with it isn't.

However, mowing the snow is a different story. He loves his bubble mower, as you might remember from last spring. As he is cooped up inside most of the time these days, one of the first things he wanted to do when we turned him loose in the snow is get out the mower.

It's a much better lawn mower than snow blower. However, mowing the sidewalk Aaron had just shoveled worked out nicely for Zeke.

And evenutally we had to ajdust for snow tires.

After we were done mowing the snow, Aaron built a mini snowman and Zeke tried his best to destroy it even as it was being built (see him ready to attack the poor snowman's head?).

And yesterday, as Zeke was mowing melty snow on the driveway, I got a preview of what spring will be: mow the puddles and the mud. Just another day in the life of a little boy.