Starting Preschool

Starting in August, Rowan will be going to a preschool/daycare three days a week. He seems excited, but he has lots (and lots and lots) of questions. Here was our conversation this morning:

Rowan: Am I going to sit on a wooden chair with a desk at school?
Me: Uh...no, Rowan, it's just play school. You don't have to sit all day.
Rowan: [appalled] But aren't they going to teach me anything?!?!
Me: Yes, you'll learn things, but you don't need to sit at a desk to learn.

**long pause**

Rowan: Do you think they'll bring in a block of ice and have us do a science investigation?
Me: [laughing] I have no idea. Where did you even hear that?
Rowan: I saw it on Sid the Science Kid on PBS Kids dot org. He draws pictures in a journal of everything he learns.
Me: We can get you a journal, if you want one.
Rowan: REALLY?!?! I do want one!

We meet with his new teacher on Friday. I'll warn her to expect lots (and lots and lots) of questions. ;-)

-Angie

Snapshots From the Cabin

Watching the boats go by.

Splashing in the cool water.

Contemplating a sand castle project.

Hauling buckets of water to wet the sand.

Practicing his casting.

How far did it go?

Fishing off the dock.

Waiting...

Being patient is hard!

Any tips, Grandpa?

Gramps offers some casting instruction.

Success!

Feeding the sunnies with Grandma...

...and Grandpa.

Silly boy!

Walking to the boat, fishing gear in tow.

First catch of the evening!

Say cheese!

"Can we keep it?"

"Hooray!"

"Just don't put it too close to me, Grandma!"

Mini golfer.

Prisoner!

Sisters.

Family.

Sweethearts.

Cousins.

New Nephews!

I must interrupt additional San Francisco posts to announce some big news! Courtney and Joel's twins were born on Friday! Charlie Marvin and Breck Thomas both weighed over 6 pounds and are doing great!

We stopped by the hospital to visit them today.

Kyle got a big kick out of the statue near the front entrance. He even came up with a catchy slogan based on this piece of art:

Children's Hospital ~ Where We Treat Children Who Are Treated Like This.

No offense to the hospital or the artist, of course. It was just too funny not to post!

Anyhoo, the main event: TWIN BOYS! Charlie Marvin is on the left, and Breck Thomas is on the right. They were soooooooo sweet and snuggly!

Kyle with little Breck Thomas.

Me with little Charlie Marvin (who weighed only a few ounces less than Rowan when he was born - CRAZY!)

Rowan couldn't see the babies this time, because they're still in the NICU for monitoring (routine for any babies born before 36 weeks). Rowan looks forward to meeting them when they come home!

Congrats Courtney and Joel! You have a beautiful family!

San Francisco ~ Part I

Kyle and I had a great time in California earlier this month! A newsletter that I write won a Gold Quill from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). I attended the IABC World Conference in San Francisco and accepted the award at the Gold Quill Gala.

Kyle and I extended the trip to have a little second honeymoon. It was the first time we've been away from Rowan for more than two nights!

Here are a few highlights:

After we settled into the hotel the first day, we ventured out to explore the city. Our hotel was just a couple of blocks from the cable car turnaround. The line to board a car was outrageously long, but we thought we needed the full San Francisco experience. (We soon learned to take the bus or walk.)

Nearly an hour later, we were off! (Do I look a bit dazed? Let's just say that a wee bit of Xanax works great for nervous flyers. Thank you, sweet family practice doc!) Anyway, up the hills we went....

...and then we stopped (often) to let riders take pictures of the city. We did not stop, however, to let any new riders board the car. If you don't board downtown or at the wharf, you're out of luck. This ride is for tourists only!

We eventually made it to Fisherman's Wharf. Kyle took this picture of me in front of Alcatraz. A sweet older lady who walked by felt that this was a bit sad...

...so she offered to take a picture of Kyle and I together. (Thank you, sweet older lady!)

We also saw the famous sea lions. They were quite adorable!


After dinner, we decided to skip the cable car and walk home. We happened upon Lombard Street, the "crookedest street" in the city.

And we got some nice pictures from the top of the hills. Kyle updated his Monster account to include San Francisco as soon as we got home. (Good luck, sweet hubby!)

More to come...

Awesome Auger

We now receive a kid's station, Qubo, that plays short infomercials between cartoons. So far, Rowan has asked for the Awesome Auger and the Perfect Brownie Pan. Hmmm...maybe it's time to tell Rowan that we don't have that station anymore? ;)

-Angie

Pigskin

Rowan and I went to the zoo with my parents and Maddox recently. It was a sunny day, but the wind was fierce. As we strolled through the outdoor displays, I couldn't help but wonder if people from warm climates would enjoy a day at the zoo in 40-degree weather.

We were there to see the new farm babies. Unfortunately, that meant walking to the farthest reaches of the zoo. Rowan and Maddox had a blast, though. They especially loved feeding the goats and climbing on the pig statues.

Inside one of the buildings, there was pig statue with a window where the pig's stomach should be. Through the window, you could see all sorts of pig products, such as spam, hot dogs and pet treats. (Kinda gross, actually.) There was even a football inside. As Rowan stared at the contents of that fake pig's stomach, I could see the wheels turning. Then grandpa asked him a question.

Grandpa: Rowan, do you know why a football is called a pigskin?
Rowan: Sure do. It's cause they RIP THE SKIN [makes ripping motion with his arms] right off the pig and put it on the football! That's how they make it.

My dad and I burst out laughing.

Then, this morning, Rowan went on and on to Kyle about how people turn pigs' ears into dog treats. "And Daddy, the pigs are like, 'Hey, I can't hear anything! Where are my ears?!'"

I was worried that he might be a little freaked out by the pig statue, but he had no trouble eating babyback ribs tonight!

Here are a few pictures from our day:

-Angie

A 3-Year-Old's Take on Life

Rowan was hiding under a laundry basket in our spare bedroom this morning, having a conversation with himself. When Kyle happened upon him, they had this amusing exchange.

Kyle: What are you doing?
Rowan: I'm in my cage with my children.
Kyle: Oh yeah?
Rowan: Yep.
Kyle: What are your children's names?
Rowan: Not, Dot, Sot and Toot.
Kyle: Toot?
Rowan: Toot's the boy.
Kyle: Huh. Do your children have a mom?
Rowan: Yeah. Her name's Hot. She's my wife.

Based on this conversation, I surmised the following about Rowan's view of children, gender and marriage:

• Kids trap you in a cage.
• Boys toot.
• Wives are hot.

Can anyone argue with that?

-Angie

Worrywart

My kid thinks a lot. Maybe too much. On the plus side, he’s bright and considerate. On the downside, he worries about strange and distant possibilities. Below are a few of our recent conversations.

Sunday Around 9:30 a.m.
As I’m finishing up breakfast on Sunday morning, I send Rowan to wake up Kyle. (I sleep in on Saturdays, and Kyle sleeps in on Sundays.) When Kyle finally comes downstairs, he’s laughing about the conversation he’s just had with Rowan.

Rowan: Mom made breakfast, but I want you to stay up here and play with me.
Kyle: But then my breakfast will get cold.
Rowan: I have an idea! I can get your breakfast and bring it up here. I’ll hold the plate really really still. And I'll walk very slowly and hold the railing. I promise I won’t fall down the steps like I do in my imagination.

Today Around 9 a.m.
We’re rushing out the door, and then Rowan asks me a strange question.

Rowan: Our doors are kinda small, right? [Looking around the house]
Me: What? [Grabbing our bags and pans of muffins for ECFE]
Rowan: Our doors are kinda small.
Me: Uh… I think they’re just regular doors. [Still rushing]
Rowan: I know, but they’re small for MONSTERS, right?
Me: Oh…[Stopping] Yeah…totally too small for monsters.
Rowan: Like a monster can’t even get into our house because the doors are so small.
Me: Yup, our doors are too small and our house is WAY too strong for that. Plus, I’ve never ever seen a monster around here. (A previous attempt to say that there is no such thing as monsters only caused more obsession.)
Rowan: That's what I was thinking.

Simple answers don't seem to work for this kid! And now he's started asking me what happens to people’s bodies when they die. “How do they drink milk?” “Why can’t they just keep their body all the time?” “Who do we know that’s really old?”

The more they know, the harder it gets!

-Angie

Love, Rowan Style

Time to return to blogland!

Since it's the season of love, I give you Rowan's take on Valentine's Day (now known as "Heart Day" in the public schools, I'm told):

Wishing you lots of love AND candy this week,
-Angie

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2005

The Truth About Motherhood

The following conversation took place while Rowan was on the toilet. It seems like our most enlightening moments occur in the bathroom. Go figure.

Me: Rowan, please don't kick your pants off! I shouldn't have to keep putting them back on you all the time.
Rowan: Yes you should. You're a mommy.
Me: That doesn't mean that I have to do everything for you.
Rowan: Uh huh. You have to take care of me and Daddy.
Me: Then who takes care of me?
Rowan: Um...[thinks about it...laughs]...I don't know. Maybe I can help you sometimes after I get bigger.
Me: Thanks.
Rowan: I yuv you, Mommy.
Me: I love you too, sweets.

I told this story to Kyle, and he immediately started laughing. Then he asked, "Is that funny or not?"

What do you think?

-Angie

'Tis The Season!

Poor Thanksgiving. As soon as that turkey passes our lips, we're on to the next thing. It's too bad, really. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Great food, loving family, and NO STRESS!

Oh well. We're officially moving on! (If you can't beat 'em...)

Our house is now full of Christmas cheer! I'm not sure how to cope with Rowan's crazy energy. Every time he sees the tree, he asks me when ("seriously WHEN") Santa is coming to our house. I'm hoping that a daily chocolate from the Advent calendar convinces him that patience is rewarded. (I've given up on convincing him that patience is its own reward.)

Rowan had a blast decorating the tree. Christmas traditions are so much more special now that he's mature enough to participate!

Of course, he still has some maturing to do. He tried to convince me that cousin Avery taught him to do this, but I know better. I informed both kiddos that this picture will be on my Christmas card in about 12 years.

Avery was just one member of our Christmas decorating crew. Courtney, Jason, Grandma Connie, Grandpa Kevin and Scott all stopped by. After decorating, we enjoyed creamy chicken and potato soup for dinner and flourless chocolate torte for dessert. Mmmm.

And then we sipped wine while ooohing and aaahing at the beautiful tree. It was a lovely afternoon!