Crunchin' the Numbers

Veronica insisted on finishing my Sudoku puzzle today.

Wordful Wednesday

V:

• I think I mentioned before that she has told me, "When I was a baby, I had a drink in your tummy and then played with Thomas. I always assumed she was talking about when I was pregnant, as she is fascinated with when she was "in my tummy." However this week she wanted me to play dolls with her. She decided her baby needed a drink, so she tucked her in her shirt to feed her - like she sees her friends' mommies do with their new babies.
• "Thomas, I'm going to college one day."
• "It's gonna be cool... or something."
• She really enjoys helping out - getting the table ready, pouring cereal, loading the dishwasher. Quite the Mommy's helper... when she wants to!
• As we were getting to go in a store, she said, "Maybe they will have a wash-sha-chine we can ride in." (I believe she was talking about a grocery cart.)

T:

• Captain Camerica = Captain America
• "The q says 'kwuh'. Kwuh, kwuh, duck." (I think he meant quack.)
• "I don't like you..."
• ... 10 minutes later: "You are the coziest Mommy in the world. I love you, Mommy."
• While Veronica was giving a concert the other night, Thomas was writing up tickets for Judson. When he handed them to him, he would say, "compliments of your friendly neighborhood Spiderman..."
• He wears his Spiderman costume A LOT. When he's ready to take it off, he often says, "I don't want to be Spiderman anymore. I just want to be Thomas."

Both:

• In Costco the other day... V: What's your problem, T? T: (loudly) MY HOUSE IS TOOOOO NOISY. What's your problem, Sissy? V: (whispered) my house is too quiet. (repeated many times)
• Both are very interested in reading. They make up stories and read books to each other. They move their fingers along the words and tell us what they say (or, what they think they say).

Wordful Wednesday

V:

• Overheard at naptime: "Thomas, do you know who is the Light of the World? Jesus is the Light of the World!"
• Singing A LOT lately - especially with the microphone. When she can't think up a song or make up her own words, she improvises with "tawn."
• When reading a book to herself or her babies, she often throws in phrases like, "she said."

T:

• "I need my wurman." (wristband) He takes them off, knocks his bare wrists on the ground, puts them back on and says, "See, now it doesn't hurt!"
• While crying: "I'm just sad. I don't want to be sad. I want to be happy."
• Picks one word and sings it to the tune of Jingle Bells, or Frosty the Snowman.
• Thomas was writing up tickets to a show. When handing them to Judson, Thomas would say, "Compliments of your friendly neighborhood Spiderman."

Both:

• Continually telling me what they can do now that they are "big."

Conversation overheard:

T: Do you want to play Christmas?

V: How do you do that?

T: You play with the baby Jesus. (refers to the Fisher Price Nativity set)

V: I want to be the Mommy & Daddy taking care of Jesus.

T: OK, I'll be the reindeer...

Wordful Wednesday


V:

• I'm an angel. I'm not an angel, I'm Veronica.
• Are you happy Thomas? Are you happy now Thomas?
• This is my honky-honky. (pronounced hoan-key, points to nose)

T:

• I want to be a Polar Bear when I grow up.
• When I'm a Mommy, I'll play with ribbon.

Wordful Wednesday

V:

• The kids are a little frightened of the abominable snowman in Rudolph. They wanted to watch it this morning while I was taking a shower, but I told her it was something Mommy or Daddy had to watch with them so we could hold them. Veronica's response, "We can watch it, and I can hold onto Thomas like this." She stretched her arm up and around like he was right next to her.

T:

• On the way down to North Vernon this past weekend, Thomas started whispering, "Shhh... The coach is coming!" Judson reminded me that was from Rudolph - which we'd only just shown them that morning!

Both:

They've been taking care of each other. For example, this morning they wanted to watch Rudolph, but they are a little frightened of the abominable snowmonster (ABOVE).

Today Veronica really scraped herself on a chair at the State House while we lunched with Daddy. She had some pretty sad and painful tears. Thomas tore a piece of his bun off and handed to her. "Here, Sissy. This will make you feel better."

Post Party Paradigm

Today has given us a variety of coincidences to make their extra-thoughful gifts even more exciting. (Disclaimer: We don't always watch this much TV. Mommy & Daddy were exhausted, so we used the TV as a tool to rest.)

• We awoke to watch Sid the Science Kid. Sid was learning how to use a magnifying glass, so we broke out the magnifying glasses Uncle Thad and Aunt Paula gave them so they could learn along side Sid. I texted Uncle Thad to let him know. Thad was just made aware earlier this morning while listening to NPR.


• We played with our new Memory games (Spiderman & Princess themed) from Madeline & Julia. Then, while the games were still out we watched Caillou play Memory!


• Veronica pulled out the mittens Aunt Peggy made for her (and Thomas), specifically to play in the snow. We awoke to snow for this first time this season.

All the gifts we received yesterday were SO thoughtful. It is amazing how much those we love care for us and are interested in the interests of our children. We are so blessed.

Wordful Wednesday

V:

• Rolling paper = wrapping paper - guess because it comes in a roll!
• "I'm a girl; you're a girl; Grandma's a girl... Thomas is a boy; Daddy's a boy; and Pa is a boy!" Says each with a grin. So proud to be a part of the fairer sex!
• "Ma- sha- sheen." machine? We think it's the carts at Meijer that have cars with a Dora DVD player in them.
• Loves to help. She is such a Mommy at heart. "I'm a Mommy just like you." Grandma said that she took them to the bathroom at church last weekend and Veronica so wanted to help Thomas. "I'll hold him on the potty." She got some toilet paper for him too.
• At nap time I hear the yelling through the window to the neighbors, "Richard and Paula, we're sleeping again!"

T:

• "We're (or "not" at times) sitting in a circle!" The update at every meal as to if we fill the table (circle or oval) all the way around.
• "Panana" = banana.
• Grandma took them to the park the other day. They were swinging in ellipses on the tire swing. He asked to get off. The explanation: "It makes my neck kiwi."
• Overheard talking to himself in the backseat:"That was a lot of fun. For more fun go to pbskids.org." Hmm....
• Has to bless "Spiderman and Superman" at every prayer now. In my head, I see them as our troops.

Both:

• Fruit Lips = Fruit Loops ( Treat we eat on weekends when Daddy's home for breakfast)
• Conversation heard upon waking... T: I have two Spiderman books in my bed. V: When I'm a boy, I'll have FIVE Spiderman books in my bed.
• They are amazingly good at following the rules of English. They've both said "mine's" for a long time, just as you would say, "This is Veronica's." The new word is "dooze"... in place of does.
• Song being sung quietly loudly from the nursery now at nap time: "I've got underwear. I play the guitar!"
• They've been including Julianne and David a lot... After the Nov 9 visit to the cemetery, Veronica said, "I want Julianne and David to catch up with us." On the way to church one day, Thomas said the same thing. Thomas shows me things and says, "This one is for Sissy, this one is for Julianne and David, and this one is for Thomas.