The Joys of Christmas

I'll always remember 2008 as the year that Lucie and Ryan "got" Christmas. For the first time, they seemed to feel the magic and anticipation of Santa's arrival. They delighted in the simplest pleasures of the holidays, from pretending that their stroller was Santa's sleigh to taking the first bite of Grandma's sugar cookies to sharing in the family tradition of reading Gigi and Papa's well-worn copy of The Polar Expresson Christmas Eve. They had no expectations, and were simply delighted by everything that came their way.

Before we put Lucie and Ryan to bed Christmas Eve, they were so excited to leave out cookies and milk for Santa. When I tried to pour regular milk, they cried out in exasperation, "No, Mommy, Santa only likes chocolate milk!" A Santa we encountered out shopping one day told us this (from a safe, 10-12 foot distance) and Lucie and Ryan were not going to forget it. Their eyes lit us as we put them to bed and Papa reminded them to listen for reindeer hooves on the roof that night. What excitement!

Fortunately for us, this excitement put them right to sleep, and they were not to be heard from until late the next morning. We actually had to wake them up. Chris and I tried to enjoy this, as we figured it was likely the last Christmas we would be giving wake-up calls. If they are anything like their parents, uncles or aunt, 5 to 6 am peeks at the tree are sure to be right around the corner.

Lucie and Ryan had each made one request for their Santa gifts. Ryan wanted a new firetruck (no surprise there) and Lucie wanted a "duckie toy swimming pool". Lucie had seen something like this in a magazine and had her heart set on it. Though it may not have been the same one she saw, Santa, being the resourceful guy that he is, was able to find a toy that Lucie adored, and is actually a great game for the kids to play together.

I don't think Lucie and Ryan had any idea they'd be getting more than one present. With more gifts from family, they were stunned and delighted with their new treasures. Lucie reminded me of the little brother from "A Christmas Story" who falls asleep under the tree among his unwrapped gifts Christmas morning. By the end of festivities, she was overwhelmed by the excitement and was found walking around in a dazed, half-asleep state. What a day like no other.

Thanks so much to our parents for making the trip to spend the holidays with us this year. We were so happy to be with you, sharing in the simple pleasures of the season through two three- year-old's eyes. Though it wasn't Lucie and Ryan's "first" Christmas, I think it was their most memorable.

It's a Charlie Brown Christmas

12 simple steps to insure you end up with a tree to rival Charlie Brown's:

1. Starting in early November, describe in great detail to your kids how much fun it is to cut down your own Christmas tree (drawing upon personal childhood memories)
2. Then, once sufficiently excited, promise them that they will get to cut down their own tree this year
3. Neglect to research whether or not any Christmas tree farms actually exist in your county
4. Pick an unseasonably cold morning two weeks before Christmas (to insure most good trees are gone) and then drive 45 minutes to the last remaining tree farm within 100 miles of your house
   
5. Skimp on breakfast so everyone is very hungry once you arrive at the tree farm
6. Disappoint your children by telling them that we aren't buying the glorified shrub they have fallen in love with (see photo #1)
7. Celebrate the end of an epic search by finding a non-deformed tree of appropriate height (see photo #2)
   
8. Select tree without taking note of dramatic curve in trunk
9. Buy tree stand that requires 8" of clearance at the bottom of trunk
10. Lop off bottom third of tree so it fits into stand
11. Decorate with home-made ornaments which, at your kids insistence, can only be placed on the top-half of the tree
12. Lastly, stand back and marvel at a tree beautiful in its own right (see photo #3)
    

In our house tonight, the kids are asleep, the presents are wrapped, the wine has been opened, and Santa has come and gone so we wish a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Sidekicks

We spent yesterday at the zoo with some friends from out of town. Ryan was glued to Chris's hip or on his shoulders for most of the day. Lucie spent lots of time by my side, holding my hand as we enjoyed polar bears eating breakfast, fed a giraffe and shared animal crackers at lunch.

Our friend asked me if this sort of pairing, Ryan following Daddy and Lucie hanging out with me, happens often. I thought it was interesting that an outsider noticed this. It has become so frequent, it almost seems natural to us. We think it's likely a combination of factors that leads Ryan to Chris and Lucie to me. Most simply, I think our interests line up that way. To give an easy example, while Ryan would jump at the chance to accompany Chris to the hardware store, Lucie would rather hang out with me on my errand to the bookstore.

That's not to say that we don't love our mother/son and father/daughter time. It just doesn't happen as naturally, so we try hard to create opportunities for this. A few weekends ago, Ryan and I headed off on the train in one direction, while Chris and Lucie hopped a train in another direction.

I loved my day with Ryan. He's such a joy to be with, and a thoughtful, inquisitive companion. We spent the morning at a kids' museum, painting a car, building a house out of foam blocks, and hiding in tires made of pillow. It felt like such a treat to just be Ryan's mom for the day.

He had fun at the museum, though in all honesty, I think he was more impressed by this water pump across the street than any of the museum activities. He asked question after question, wanting to know how all the gears and levers worked. My attempts at explanation were mediocre at best. I told Ryan that we'll make sure to take Papa to a similar water pump close to home on his next visit for a full and detailed explanation. Ryan can't wait.

'Tis the Season

Age three, the age of endless "But why, Mommy? Why, Daddy? WHY?" is in full force this holiday season. Questions, questions and more questions, often from both kids at the same time, run on continuous repeat in our house.

Ryan's questions are often about how things work. He's fascinated by the mechanics of things. Lucie's questions are more literal. She takes everything we say or see at face value, and is quick to point out an inconsistency, or something that simply doesn't seem right. Most often, I can come up with a quick answer and we move on. But sometimes, I'm stumped, and when left to think about it, just as full of questions as my kids.

Lucie asked questions this weekend that stopped me right in my tracks. As we tromped through a Christmas tree lot on Saturday (more on that later), Lucie touched the top of her hat and asked me, "But Mommy, why is there a ball on top of my head?"

Later on Sunday, we were reading a book based on the 12 Days of Christmas song. We've read it several times, each time explaining the new concepts of partridges, golden rings and pipers. But this time, Lucie threw out a new one, asking "Mommy, what's 'true love'?" When we reached the end and all twelve days of gifts were listed, she wondered, "How does 'true love' carry everything?"

Still thinking about the powers of true love, Lucie, Ryan and I made sugar cookies together yesterday. No one held back, and by the time the cookies were in the oven, flour covered t-shirts, hair, noses, fingers and the kitchen floor.

Lucie and Ryan had polar opposite approaches to Christmas cut-out cookies. Ryan was very methodical and predictable. He took the Christmas tree cookie cutter and meticulously made tree after tree after tree, each one more carefully formed than the last. Lucie, on the other hand, was all about experimenting. She used every utensil she could find in the kitchen to make shapes, trying all kinds of approaches. No two of her cookies were the same.

And so, after lots of hard work, we've been enjoying a tray of delicious tree and assorted blob-shaped cookies. No matter the shape, they're quite yummy.

Holiday Hits (and One Miss)

Lucie and Ryan are running and jumping with holiday cheer. Well, they run and jump for just about everything these days, but especially all the Christmas books, lights, decorations and treats they've learned about and indulged in lately.

Unlike last year, Lucie and Ryan seem less afraid of Santa, and instead have lots of interest and questions about his job. Ryan, for one, is very curious about the logistics of a Santa visit. When I explained about Santa coming through the chimney, he piped up, "Mommy, why doesn't he come through the door?" And about Santa's return to the rooftop, "But, mommy, how does he climb up the chimney? Does he have a rope?" All of my lame answers about magic or not wanting to wake sleeping children don't satisfy this guy. It just doesn't make sense to his little engineer's mind in the making.

Advent calendars have been one of the biggest favorites this season. I have fond memories of mine as a child (especially those filled with chocolate), and thought Lucie and Ryan would enjoy their own this year. They love their calendars, and get so excited to open a door each day and discover what lies inside. I did make the mistake of buying the calendars on December 6th, which meant opening six doors at once to get caught up. Now every day since, Ryan and Lucie have not understood why they only get to open one door each day. Surely that's not as fun! It's definitely a lesson in self control, and I keep having to remind them that advent calendar doors, like vitamins, come only one at a time.

Sadly, we have had one Christmas activity that didn't go over so well. Thinking Ryan and Lucie might enjoy it, we taped the 1960's Christmas classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I think we both had much rosier memories of this cartoon than reality, and we should have watched it again before showing it to our kids. We forgot all about the Abominable Snow Monster (not a hit) and the teasing between reindeers (too much for these little guys). Lucie was also very concerned about Rudolph's parents and didn't understand why he had to leave them when he still seemed like a baby. I felt bad for introducing something they just weren't ready for. From now on, we'll stick to Sesame Street and Wonder Pets, though even Cookie Monster has been known to scare Lucie at times.

More holiday adventures to come...

The "Loved Ones" Tour

These days, Ryan and Lucie sleep with a ton of stuffed animal friends or "loved ones" in their cribs. They used to be satisfied with just Bunny and Ducky. But now those furry friends have all sorts of companions, from Dino to Monk Jr. to Michaels (a.k.a. Mother Ducky) to baby aliens. It's quite a zoo.

When we packed for our recent trip to visit family, there was much consternation at the thought of only being able to bring the usual travel mates of Bunny, Ducky, and special blankies. Why couldn't back-up Ducky make the trip? And elephant's mother and father? They've never been on a plane! After much begging and pleading, two additional pals were each allowed in the bags. That is two per child, until Lucie threw herself on the floor screaming, just minutes before we left for the airport, in support of one more animal that just had to make the trip. Needless to say, Dino got quickly stuffed in the bag as we headed out the door. That Lucie and her powers of persuasion.

Once we were at Gigi and Papa's, Lucie and Ryan loved showing all their additional buddies to family and friends. However, Lucie soon got jealous that Ryan had brought his back-up Bunny and alien, while she had left her back-up Ducky and matching alien at home in exchange for two other friends. How unjust! When Chris called to check in (L, R & I traveled a few days early), a tearful request was made, "Daddy, can you PLEASE bring back-up Ducky and alien? PLEASE??"

So, not only did Lucie and Ryan have tons of fun on our trip, so did the eleven additional stow-aways (7 for Lucie and 4 for Ryan). They got to meet family and friends, hang out with cousin Tate and his stuffed entourage, including another Ducky friend, and meet all sorts of other favorite loved ones that live at grandparents' houses. What lucky ducks (and dinos, cats, aliens, etc.).

What were we all thankful for this holiday? Memorable times with family and friends, Uncle AJ's old hot wheels and Playmobil collection, fall leaves and rakes, endless games of hide-and-seek, our healthy, energetic and loveable kids and nephew, and last but not least, expandable suitcases.

Bath Night

The world according to Ryan and Lucie revolves around whether or not they'll have a bath that night. We've never been ambitious enough to get baths going every night, and instead have settled for an every other night schedule, or every three nights when we're feeling really wiped out. Since they know there's a schedule, Ryan, and sometimes Lucie, will often turn to us randomly during the day and ask, "Mommy, iz it baff nite?" He likes to know what to expect.

"Baff nite" and non-bath night both have special treats that accompany them. On bath nights, the bath, of course, is a big treat. They love bath time and happily splash around, practicing their back float and covering every inch of bathroom floor space with water. It's a well-loved ritual. But the extra special part about bath night is that they get to use a different kind of toothpaste (actually a flouride rinse) instead of the usual night of brushing. They're something about dipping their toothbrushes in this rinse that gives them such glee. They love it so much, that bath night has now been renamed "dippers night", or "dippas night!" in Ryan speak.

Lately the treat on non-bath nights has been Daddy's puppet show. It started out as a regular puppet show, but once one tossed puppet got accidently stuck on the ceiling fan, it's now become a game of throwing puppets on the fan and sending up puppet friends to rescue their buddies. This game is talked about all day long -- R & L adore it. They love to get right in on the action, laughing hysterically as Ryan the Rhino or Cherie the Cheetah get stuck once again on that fan. Watching these two giggle so intensely is the most incredible thing. I soon start laughing uncontrollably, and am amazed by the pleasure a handful of puppets can bring.

Though bath night and non-bath night are loved, the true favorite in our house is the night when a bath happens during the day (most often due to an art project gone head-to-toe). On these days, they get all the benefits of both nights -- "dippas" and puppet show. Oh, how exciting life the life of a three year old can be!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Year 3 Stats

Medical science confirmed what Megan and I have known for a month — Lucie and Ryan are growing, thriving 3 year olds. For the uninitiated, watermelon skewers are a new favorite in our house.

The move to the new house meant finding another pediatrician. Fortunately, we got several positive recommendations for the clinic down the street. As parents of preemies, we're not new to doctor's visits, but we still made the cardinal sin of scheduling a wellness visit on a Monday afternoon. After a lengthy wait, we made it through the appointment with flying colors. And picking a prize from the toy chest was enough to win over L & R despite their first shot in over a year.

	Height (Percentile)	Weight (Percentile)
Lucie	38 inches (75th)	29.5 lbs (25th)
Ryan	38.5 inches (75th)	31.5 lbs (50th)

Then and Now

It's no surprise that we have an encore appearance of the fireman and ballerina this Halloween. Ryan and Lucie found their callings, and they're not parting with them, no matter how many wizard, kitten, cowboy or hula dancer costumes come their way. Although Lucie did surprise us when she chose to wear her veterinarian jacket to a neighbor's costume party last weekend. We'll see what happens on Halloween night.

At our twins club fall party, we happened to come home with a few photos that were almost identical to shots we took last year. It's fun to see how far Ryan the Fireman and Lucie the Ballerina have come.

Ryan's costume fits him perfectly this year, with no need to roll up sleeves or pant legs like last year. Judging by the fabric on the knee patches, this costume has had its fair share of trips through the washing machine. The original black helmet is long gone, left at a park last winter and never seen again. It its place is a much loved helmet given to Ryan from Uncle Greg and Jessica last Christmas. This fireman suit has to be the best $15 ever spent on Ryan.

Due to over-wear, Lucie's costume from last year (pictured in the train photo before it got dirty at lunch) didn't make it. However, her newest tutu is getting just as much love and attention in its place.

Happy Halloween!

"It be Fun!"

Lucie and Ryan started their first drop-off class a few weeks ago. I think -- no, I take that back -- I know I was more nervous than they were. When I started prepping them weeks before, I didn't know what to expect. Would they like the idea? How many tears would I see on the first day? There was no need to worry. They were so excited. As if to reassure me, Ryan said, "Mommy, you going to drop us off, go home, then come back in ONE hour -- okay? It be fun!"

He's right. It's very fun. Once I saw how easily they said good-bye to me on the first day, I knew they'd be fine. They spent an hour and fifteen minutes doing art projects and acting out stories with a teacher they adore while I had some free time. Glorious! I guess the butterflies in my stomach were not necessary.

Since then, they look forward to their class every week. When I pick them up, they each have three or four art projects waiting for me, as well as stories about the songs they sang or books they read. Originally, there were two boys in the class and four girls. But, it seems the boy has had a tougher time being away from his mom. So, now there are four girls and Ryan. Ryan doesn't mind. When they had a choice of making key chains or bracelets last week, he was thrilled to have all the key chain supplies to himself.

I'm so proud of Ryan and Lucie for jumping right into the class so effortlessly. I wonder if it's easier because they have each other, or if they're both simply just ready for this level of independence. Either way, we all embrace it.

Three Moms + Six Kids = Homeschool Preschool

With our recent move and the outrageous cost of preschool tuition for two, we decided to hold off on a formal preschool program this fall, and instead find other opportunities for Ryan and Lucie to be around other kids. Our weeks now tend to be a mixture of free time, and short, structured activities like tumbling and art classes. The most exciting new addition to our schedule has been a morning we call "Homeschool Preschool".

Two fabulous and creative women in our twins playgroup came up with the idea of getting together once a week for a preschool program organized by the moms. I was thrilled to be included. Not only is it tons of fun to plan and run, but it's a great way for Ryan and Lucie to interact more closely with other kids their age and receive direction from someone other than their mother. And, best of all, the two moms I'm working with are incredibly talented at engaging the kids. I often feel like we are a part of a professional program with the energy and enthusiasm they bring to the morning.

Each week we have a theme, letter of the week, and circle time. We mix in breaks for free play and snack, as well as other structured activities like songs, stories, crafts, and movement. Some of Ryan and Lucie's favorite activities so far have included making a spiderweb, parachute games, decorating the outline of their body, and two recurring favorites, snack and "sitting on towels" (mats used for circle time).

As we're entering into our sixth week of this program, I can tell my kids are enjoying it. They talk about "Miss Elayne", "Miss Jessica", and their fellow preschoolers throughout the week. When we met our playgroup at the park last week, they excitedly pointed out their preschool buddies, and talked Jessica's ear off about all their latest happenings. This is unusual for them, as they tended to be more reserved and shy during our playgroups over the past two years. It's great to watch the transformation.

(This last photo cracks me up. For some funny reason, every time we have the kids sit at the table, the boys sit on one side and the girls sit on the other. We've never asked them to do that, it just happens that way, over and over again.)

More Adventures

Each day I feel thankful to have two curious, imaginative, fun-loving three-year-olds to explore the world with. Our recent trip to visit family was no exception. Traveling with Lucie and Ryan is so much more fun than I ever expected. They are thrilled by the smallest details -- an orange shuttle bus at the airport, a lollipop to help an upset stomach on the plane, or a chance to play a silly game of "go through the window!" to get in Grandpa's truck once we landed.

Though we live far away, it's so important to us that Ryan and Lucie are close to their extended family. R & L are thrilled to reunite with beloved grandparents, uncles (and uncles' girlfriends), Aunt Rach and cousin Tate. They now recognize and warm up to their relatives instantly. With each visit, I see their relationships with family grow stronger, to the point now where they talk about their relatives constantly, even when they're far away.

I was particularly proud of Lucie this trip. Like so many kids (and adults), she can sometimes be tentative and unsure in situations she's not familiar with. At her Grandma and Grandpa's house, she wasn't very comfortable splashing around in the hot tub on the first days of our trip, and only stayed in for a short time. But after a few nights of giving it a try, she could not wait to jump in the hot tub for "night swimming!" (really, more like late afternoon/evening swimming) with Ryan and her Grandpa.

When we visited the beach later in the week, Lucie was confronted with one of her least favorite creatures -- seagulls. After a day of running for cover whenever a seagull showed up, Gigi encouraged Lucie not to be frightened, and even to shoo them away when they got too close. The next thing we knew, she was running around the sand, shovel in hand, warding the seagulls off. And, after that, she'd happily run around with them, without the slightest hesitation. She developed a soft spot for a seagull with a hurt leg, gently encouraging it to get along its way when it came too close for her comfort.

Ryan impressed me this trip with how sweet and caring he was with cousin Tate. From showing him how to use the potty to collecting pumpkins with Papa, Ryan made sure Tate was always in on the action. This did mean that nap time and bed time were crazy, with the three of them bouncing off the walls together. They must have spent an entire hour jumping, making up crazy songs, and throwing loved ones out of their cribs each and every bedtime. And, they were up at the crack of dawn, ready to greet the day with play, play, and more play.

Parties 2 and 3

Lucie and Ryan loved telling everyone that they were having "FREEEE!" parties for their birthday. (No, not free parties, but three parties. The "th" sound is a tough one for these guys.) After a celebration at home on their actual birthday, the next two parties were at grandparents' houses on a recent trip to visit family.

First, at their Grandma and Grandpa's house, Ryan and Lucie enjoyed presents and their own cakes, each decorated with all their favorite things. Ryan's digger cake was a hit, both for his love of construction vehicles, and his newly discovered soft spot for blue frosting. Lucie dug in with the same gusto, licking off every last drop of ice cream from her ballerina's tutu. Yum.

The next weekend at Gigi and Papa's, celebrations included October birthdays for cousin Tate (2 years old) and Uncle AJ (the big 2-5). The little guys helped Gigi make an entire plate of cupcakes, which they polished off (or should I say licked the frosting off?) in no time.

Horses in the City?

We discovered a small horse ranch not far from our house. Discovered is probably too strong a word since we're not exactly the Swiss Family Robinson here in the middle of suburbia. But there it was, and after a few drive-by visits in the car, Megan, Lucie, and Ryan trekked to the ranch a few weeks ago. Now all the horses have very creative names like "brownie", "blackie", and "burro".

An while it may be too early to tell if L & R have lost their fear of large animals, if you can pee in front of a horse, can you really be afraid of one?

Birthday Party (1 of 3)

I suppose it's fitting that our three year-olds should have 3 parties. Number 1 was at home on their actual birthday. As far as Lucie and Ryan are concerned, the most important part of any birthday is what kind of cake you have. And they like ice cream cake. However, they were very clear on wanting their "own cakes". Luckily neither one of them noticed that their "own cakes" were actually one cake cut in half...

After cake, it was time to open presents. Actually Ryan stopped opening once he discovered that Gigi and Papa got him a remote control recycling truck. It's just his speed and even matched his shirt.

Meanwhile Lucie wasted no time in hosting her first tea party. The set from Rachel, Jason, and Tate was put to good use as some of her favorite people joined her for a party.

Finally, in one of those moments that reaffirms Lucie is her mother's daughter, Lucie makes a birthday wish.

Boys Weekend

While Megan and Lucie were dancing the night away at the wedding, Ryan and I took advantage with a boys weekend. Ryan is easy to please and I figured we would spend the day shopping at the hardware store and doing a little yaadwork. But once I told him we were only dropping off mommy and Lucie at the train station, his disappointment was palpable. Fortunately, Megan remembered seeing signs for a petting zoo at the San Juan Capistrano station on a previous trip. A quick search and we found Zoomars which sounded like the perfect destination for us.

It was a great day — combining two of Ryan's favorite things: trains and animals. After a short train ride filled with games and snacks, we said goodbye to Megan and Lucie and hopped off. After finding our way to the zoo, our first stop was the bunny and guinea pig pen. Megan has lingering guinea pig issues left over from a childhood incident, so it was a good thing she wasn't here :>

After that, he rode the small train where there was little competition for the coveted "engine" seat.

Then it was on to the goats and sheep. Ryan (and Lucie for that matter) isn't real comfortable around animals that are bigger than him. But he did like the little goats who came to sit with him in the shade.

To my surprise, Ryan wanted to ride the ponies. Even greater surprise, Ryan picked the biggest "pony", actually a sizable horse named "Chex". Here he is strapped in and enjoying his brief turn as a cowboy.

It took Ryan all of 5 minutes to fall asleep on the train ride home. We spent the rest of the afternoon rehashing our morning and making Ryan's favorite food — macaroni and cheese. We mixed in the corn and chicken that I like and ended up with a meal that is still talked about to this day.