A Visit With Grandpa Kline

Grandpa had an overnight in Denver the day after Thanksgiving (he flies airplanes), and we had a chance to go have lunch with him in Stapleton. We chose Noodles and Co., that's always a safe bet with my girls. Kristen was sweet enough to dump a bunch of salt on her noodles; the Noodles people were kind enough to give her another bowl. Once she and Misha tasted my chicken, they ate the rest of it. Sadly, I liked it too, but I guess the mother in me figured they needed some kind of protein. While we were eating one of the workers brought each of my girls a HUGE chunk of Rice Krispie Squares. HUGE. They were thrilled. After lunch, we walked around the shopping plaza and enjoyed the sunshine and time with Grandpa.

More Curls

I bought some sponge rollers to try in Kristen's hair. She was excited to have them put in, but not quite into the leaving-them-in-for-hours part. I don't have an after shot, but her hair looked beautiful. I think next time, I'll put them in before bed and have her sleep with them in.



Amy wanted me to try them in her hair. I put them in Saturday night and she didn't seem to have any problem sleeping in them. Why, when her head is already so full of curls, would she want curlers you might wonder? Bigger curls, of course.

More from Brad and Kristen

Brad (my brother), helped Kristen put together a marble game on Sunday morning. They were both putting marbles in and racing to see whose marble would reach the bottom first. Kristen stuck one marble into her spinning wheel at the start of the course, and then another marble soon after so that both marbles ended up getting stuck in the wheel. When Brad's marble finished the course first, Kristen wasn't too happy. Brad said to her, "User error." She heard differently and retorted, "No, you're the loser!"

Kristen LOVED having Brad here. I think Brad was happy to go home.

What Song Are You?

My brother is visiting for a couple of days, and Kristen thinks he has come solely to play with her. She is sticking to him like glue. Sadly, Misha caught a cold from too many late nights and has to stay away from Brad. In an effort to keep germs away from everyone, I mentioned to Brad that there was alcohol (hand sanitizer) in the bathroom if he wanted to use it. His reply as Kristen chattered a mile a minute beside him, "I might be needing a drink...."

Brad and Kristen were talking about Primary last night. Brad asked what class she was in, and she replied that she was in Sunbeams. Most children in Sunbeams quickly learn the Primary song, "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" and like to sing it with much enthusiasm. She then asked, "What song are you?" Brad thought for a minute and then said, "I Am A Child of God."

Kindness

I presented my credit card to the Costco cashier lady last Monday only to be told that they don't take credit cards in the food court. Really? My options included going to an ATM to withdraw some cash or going through the regular checkout line to purchase my food and then come back. As I stood there with three pizzas in hand and Kristen by my side, I weighed my options. Suddenly a man a couple people in line behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a $10 bill and wished me "Happy Holidays". Wow. My heart filled with gratitude at his kindness.

It's a Surprise

Chris and I have planned a surprise for our girls in December. Amy reads my blog, so you'll have to wait until after it has happened to find out what the surprise is. They, of course, are anxious to know what we have planned. So a couple weeks ago, Chris said they could each ask one question every Saturday until it happens. I think they just might figure it out. At first they started asking silly questions that weren't getting them anywhere, but then they began to put a little more thought into their questions. Such as: Is it skiing? No. Does it have to do with winter? No. Will we enjoy it? Yes. Is it a vacation? Yes.

Chatterbox

Amy had a piano recital last weekend. As we were waiting for the program to begin, Kristen happily sat on her dad's lap and chattered away. Chris leaned over to me after a few minutes and said, "We worried for the first three years of her life because she couldn't talk right. Now we can't get her to shut up!" It is true, she talks a lot. If there is a quiet moment to fill, she'll fill it.

Snow Break

Kristen was excited to play in the snow after walking home from school. She tromped all over the front yard leaving little footprints all over, tried to start a snowman, and finally decided to take a snack break.

Wicked

Chris and I had the opportunity to see the play "Wicked" in Denver at the beginning of November. We were excited to go with our good friends, the Burnhams, and have a fun night out.

I made reservations at PF Changs--close enough to be in walking distance to the Performing Arts Center. We lucked on to the tickets as Burnham's two oldest daughters had school concert/play conflicts and were no longer able to attend with their parents. Lucky for us--and the girls were able to go another day. The play was excellent and I found it amazing how the playwright could mesh ideas with The Wizard of Oz. So many creative people in this world.

Crazy how we coordinated our outfits without any prior planning.

Like Michael Jackson

Let me preface this post by saying that my older girls love Michael Jackson's music; they also listen to spoofs of his videos, especially those by Weird Al. So, the other day I was warming myself by the fire. Kristen came to stand by me and started patting my legs. I inquired as to the reason for this weird behavior and she replied that she was making me fat. "What?!" and no thank you anyway. She replied, "Just like Michael Jackson." Again, "What?" Her response, "You know, I'm fat. I'm fat. I'm really really fat." Sung to the tune of I'm Bad. Weird Al might be proud. Michael, not so much.

More fun with Kristen

So, Kristen has had some issues with Henry from preschool and his smell. I had talked to her about not making people feel bad with her nose-plugging. She was so pleased with herself last week when she said, "Henry didn't smell very good, and I didn't even plug my nose!" Woohoo.

On Halloween night, Amy and Misha had a friend over watching tv and Kristen had been tucked in bed. She was having a hard time staying in bed and going to sleep knowing they were still up AND watching a movie. After repeated "go get in bed!" moments, she finally came out of her room and said, "If you will clap for me, then I can go to sleep." Without missing a beat (because you know on the inside you are laughing), Chris and I started clapping. Ten seconds later, "Now go get in bed." "Ok, Mommy. Now I can sleep." And that was that. Chris and I just looked at each other, shook our heads, and said, "Well, that was a new one."

There aren't many threats that get Kristen moving faster than starting the parental count: 1.......2....... (that and hot sauce). Kristen barely makes it past one before she jumps up all panicky and does whatever she is supposed to do. Not sure why it works so well with her, but I am grateful.

Today at lunch, I asked Kristen what she was going to have. Her reply, "Hmmmm, I think I will order......" Seriously, order?

Snow Day and Cookies

A lot of snow fell in our town, so much that the school district thought it expedient to cancel school! Crazy that school was canceled because of the snow but the snow hill behind our house was packed with students who somehow found their way there. Regardless, it WAS a cold and windy and snow-filled day. My older girls were among the sledders (they didn't want to take Kristen and have to "babysit" her on the hill).

I was grateful to have picked up Anne of Green Gables from the library and happily introduced my daughters to one of my favorite shows. They've been hearing quotes from Anne all their lives, I was hoping they would recognize them. Misha picked up on one of my favorites when Anne was making up a story for Marilla about her broach that was lost. "It slipped....." So funny when she says it now. I always say to them when they ask "What are you doing?" and they can obviously see what I am doing, "Fishing for lake trout." So when Anne said that in the movie, I thought for sure they would recognize it. I said, "I say that to you all the time!" They looked at me with blank expressions. "Whatever," I muttered.

Amy made cookies all by herself. I gave a little direction in the combining and measuring of ingredients, but she made them from start to finish. Not like last time when they begged to make cookies, and I ended up finishing their double batch!



I just stuck the cookies in the freezer today, they kind of lost their appeal what with all the Halloween candy around here and all!

Halloween

Apparently it is Blogger that is messing up my pictures. Don't know why.

I was pretty lame when it came to Halloween pictures this year: I forgot to take them! Oh, I got a few, but not many. Because of the snow day, Kristen's Halloween Party at school was missed. She was invited to come Friday afternoon to participate in the costume parade at the school and to get some treats from her teachers.

The administration of the school dressed up as Peter Pan characters with the principal dressed as Capt. Hook. I love how they get involved.

Amy chose to only wear part of her costume.



Misha's teacher only let them put on costumes right before the parade, thus she didn't get her face done up in mime makeup.

This is what she looked like with her makeup.



The girls were excited to go to Trunk or Treat at the church on Saturday evening with their friends Lexi and Morgan. The group this year was sooooo small, that we were all done within twenty minutes. It was still light and parents decided that now would be a good time to go trick or treating through the neighborhood (Amy was okay with that because she didn't want to wear her big heavy jacket and it was still warm enough that she didn't have to!)

Chris went with the girls and the neighbors--Mike, Kathy, Lexi and Morgan. They were all pretty pooped after being out for an hour and a half and even though Chris offered to drive them to some of their friends' houses, they declined. Kristen changed her costume from Barbie Mariposa to a cowgirl for the evening. Sadly no picture.

The visitors to our house were probably under 50 in number, but the most that we have ever had.