Gift Idea

Anyone know of a good gift idea for Derek's assistant at work? We really don't know much about her interests. She is about 25, is not married and doesn't have any kids. We need something not too personal but at least semi-classy since he works at a law firm. I'd take any suggestions at this point. I would prefer NOT a gift card.

Well, let's just say that #1 she is probably going to get gifts for our kids. #2 Probably some of the attorneys in the office will get their assistant gifts in the $100 range (to put that in perspective, that would be the partners who have been working there a LONG time and who have more than triple Derek's salary). I am hoping to get something in the $20-$25 range. Something sort of like these coasters.
I know they are coasters. Is that SO dorky? Feedback please.

I like how she's clutching his shirt.

Working on our year's supply

November's goal - 14 gallons of water storage per person. Ta da!! Meet our new 55 gallon water storage barrell (complete with pump and wrench). We finally decided on a place to put it (since we won't be moving it around much once it's filled) but we need to actually put water in it. It doesn't do us much good when it's empty.

Also displayed is an emergency food supply from Costco that says it is 275 servings. Not bad for a 10 gallon bucket! I can't really say that it's "health food", but it will keep us alive in an emergency. It also has a 20 year shelf life so we don't have to rotate that very often. If we each had 3 servings a day it wouldn't meet our calorie requirements, so it's really supplemental food, but it's a start!

There is no emergency preparedness goal for December but I can't wait for January. I am glad that we are in a position to follow the prophet in this manner (not so glad that we're in an area that is prone to earthquakes where we might actually have to USE this stuff.)

*clarification* There are different food packets in the bucket - it's not like a bucket of grits. It has 55 packets (5 servings each) and you boil the stuff in water. Our menu choices: Barley Vegetable, Blueberry Pancakes, Ala King, Cacciatore, Country Noodle, Corn Chowder, Rice Lentil, Western Stew, Whey Milk, and Potato Ba-kon (which is a way of saying vegetarian bacon I think.)

Disneyland Report

Well, the first thing that all you Disneyland goers with small children should know; don't take your two year old on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride first thing. In fact, you probably would be better off not taking him on it at all. It made Ryan pretty sceptical about the whole Disneyland experience - right from the beginning.

Let's zoom in on those "happiest place on earth" sort of expressions!

Let's see, maybe flying Dumbo will fix things and restore his faith in Disneyland. Yeah, he liked that pretty well. Katie was indifferent about EVERYTHING. It looks like I'm having tons of fun on Dumbo though.

Carousel was a success. (We could have taken him to Arrowhead Mall and spent a few bucks on that one.)

We tried Toon town and that went over well. Minnie Mouse has a plate of holographic "diet" cookies on her kitchen table and he tried for a long time to get one of those. I kept badgering Derek to take pictures of Ryan on the cars and a fire engine and trolley and such, but for some reason, there are none of those on my camera.

He liked the Disneyland railroad - even the dinosaur part. He is definitely in a train stage right now. (I realise the picture is not convincing.)

Autopia was also a big hit. Derek helped him get started but Ryan steered the rest of the time. It was a wild ride. Anyone else want to guess what color car they drove? I promise they only went once.

We went over to California Adventure to catch the Aladdin show that Devin went to last year. He had really enjoyed it so we thought we'd give it a shot. Ryan loved it even though there was a scary *Jafar turns into a big fat red snake* part. In fact, we asked him afterwards which part was his favorite and he said, "the BIG snake." It was quite entertaining. The genie was cracking jokes about Jafar when he rubbed the lamp and said, "Slytherin house for sure." I got a laugh out of that one.

Ryan liked that he could fold himself in half in the chairs. *Jimmy, don't read this next part* I was nursing Katie (VERY discreetly I might add) and we were in our own row on the end when this group of people came and sat next to us. After a minute or two they actually LEFT because I was nursing. That's never happened to me before and I swear that I wasn't being all flashy about it!

Ryan DID get to see Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Max (Goofy's son who waved to him), and Santa Claus. He wasn't interested in touching or talking to any of them, but he did wave every time. We never saw Sulley walking around, but we DID go on the Monster's Inc. ride the very last thing. It was a slow-moving ride and not too loud so it was just perfect for a kid who knows the characters and all. He would wave every time we saw Sulley and Mike and Boo and Celia Welia (as we always call her). At the end of the ride was Roz and she said, "In case you didn't realize, I'm standing under the mistletoe." Ryan scooted over to the edge of the seat as far from her as possible. :)

When it was over I asked him if he liked that one and he said, "Yeah, and I wasn't even nervous!" Whew!

"What was your favorite part about Disneyland Ryan?"
"That one," he said, pointing to Monster's Inc.

Yes, it's still such a love/hate relationship.

We got in the car and took the kids over to a babysitter's house and made it back late for our dinner. The park had already closed but luckily we found a reasonable guy who knew about our group and escorted us back in so we wouldn't miss out on our meal. We sat across from a HILARIOUS couple who entertained us the whole meal. Now how's that for lucky?

Yeah, I could taste this one.

In Katie's defense, she looked just as surprised as I was about the whole thing. She just does NOT ever spit-up. Who am I? My mother?

We're going to Disneyland!!

We were invited to a dinner at California Adventure (compliments of Derek's firm) which includes 2 adult park hopper passes for this Thursday. We are making it a family outing since our kids are still free. Derek was hyping up Disneyland to Ryan this evening and told him he could drive a car and meet Mickey Mouse. At night before bed tonight Ryan said, "We're going to Disneyland and I'm going to meet Mickey Mouse and drive his car. Maybe he has an airplane." Ha! This kid is no dummy. He's planning to take Mickey for all he's worth.

The car thing reminded me that I had these pictures of Ryan driving our neighbor's Hummer. He LOVES this thing!

The Unexpected

I know you all will want to tell me that it won't last, he'll go back to his old ways soon enough. Don't bother. I don't really CARE. I'm still shocked and very pleased by the recent turn of events. I realize this sort of thing ebbs and flows, but I am at least going to be happy with yesterday and today.

Ryan has potty trained himself.

Well, at least starting on Wednesday afternoon he decided he wanted to start going potty in the toilet. He went 4 times in a row and then went to bed. Thursday he woke up and announced that he wanted to wear his "big boy underwear" (which he only has one pair) and so I let him. He went potty ALL DAY long in the toilet with only one miss. I never even suggested that he use the toilet, he would tell me every time. I'd say, "Do you want to go read some books?" and he'd reply, "After I go potty in the toilet and get a potty treat." Yes, he does get a treat every time. He's had TONS of candy the past two days, but I haven't had to clean up the floor even one time and I don't remind him AT ALL to use the potty.

We were playing outside with one of his friends on Thursday and when we were going home I asked him if he wanted a snack. He said, "After we go to the store and buy me some big boy underwear." Yes sir! We hopped right in the car and bought him the ones he chose, Thomas the Tank Engine and some boxer briefs.

Too good to last? Maybe. So what!? I'm still impressed with him - so there! I wouldn't mind at all if he decided he wanted to wear diapers again. He's still pretty young to be potty trained anyway, but the past few days have shown me that he CAN be potty trained. whew!

The new BANNED MOVIE list

Ryan has never been a full-length movie fan. And then, he discovered Monsters Inc. Just about a week and a half ago he actually sat through it, and now he asks to watch it all of the time. The first week was no problem as he found it quite hilarious. Unfortunately, after Thanksgiving weekend when cousin Matt told Ryan there was a monster outside, Monsters Inc. is the first of our movies on the "banned movie" list.

Not sure exactly what got into this kids mind, but now he's scared to death of monsters. He always thinks there is a monster in his room. Multiple times each day I tell him that monsters are not real, he'll never ever see one because they are just pretend and in the movie. He will say, "they scare the boy in the movie" and then I explain that it was just pretend. "Even in the movie Sulley protects Boo and keeps her safe. They are so nice and funny monsters." Then I try a new one, "Monsters don't like music. You can turn on your music or sing if you get nervous." Hmm.. I've got to be sending mixed signals here, "Monsters don't exist, but this is how you get rid of them." sheesh! I think of Jana giving Matt a flashlight to scare away monsters or other moms giving "monster spray."

Yesterday when he asked to watch it, I put on Toy Story instead. In Toy Story I can't think of any scary parts. After about 2 minutes Ryan says, "I don't like this movie." Darn!

Right before the monster thing he would tell me that he was scared of his room because he "didn't want a guy to come in his room." Now, I have NO idea where he got this idea. We do NOT watch television so he couldn't have picked that up from anything on TV and he has only ever watched 4 movies in his life. 2 Baby Songs, one of the Baby Einstein videos, and Monsters Inc., but Monsters Inc was AFTER he was talking about a guy coming in his room. I must say, I'd rather he be scared of monsters than some "bad guy" getting him. I really don't like this part of parenting. I hate the idea of him being scared.

Each time he says he's scared I tell him we can say a prayer and Jesus and angels will keep him safe and protect him. So, last night Derek prayed for him to be safe, and then Ryan asked me to say a prayer too. I prayed that angels would protect him and then he interrupted me and said, "and Sulley." Darn it if I didn't pray that Sulley would keep him safe too. Anything to get his mind off of the scary things and focus on good things. *sigh*

This too shall pass...

Katie's "well" check-up

Katie had her 9 month well-baby check up today. She weighed in at 15 lbs 13 oz (8%) and was 27.5 inches long (50%). Head circumference was 17.5 inches (also 50%). She has officially outgrown her infant carseat, but it doesn't really matter since we've had her in a convertible one for about 2 months now.

She has a double ear infection (not surprised) and we're being referred to a pediatric orthopedic doctor since her feet turn in a little more than usual. I guess I did notice that one, but figured it would correct when she started walking. The doctor said she was at an age where stranger anxiety might crop up. I'll start keeping my eye out for that one. (*heavy sarcasm*)

Four years down, an eternity to go...

Heck, if you put it that way, we'll always be newlyweds.

Happy Anniversary Derek.