The Santa Express

I am sad to report that our train-loving, Adeline did not join us on this year's Santa Express Ride.  It was hard to leave her behind, knowing she would enjoy it more than anyone.  However, the fever and puking left us no choice.  Alex stayed behind with the Belle and the rest of us, including Grammy and Papa, headed to the Strasburg Railroad.  We were joined by friends which helped fill the void. The girls enjoyed time with friends and Santa! 

Oh Christmas Tree

We looked long and hard for a tree farm that sold cut-your-own trees tall enough for our family room.  For the past five years, we have cut our trees at a local farm and ended up with some very natural (no shearing is done at this farm) and pretty trees.  The last couple years, the trees have appeared diseased and last year's tree confirmed my suspicsion.  Every needle or at least 80% of them were on my floor before exiting my house.  It was unbelievable and I vowed to never go back.  Fires plagues my brain during the holidays.

(Last year's disaster!)

Our search was futile and we ended up buying a tree from a farm that ships them in from Western Pennsylvania.  There was no cutting involved but the girls settled for a walk around the farm which involved a visit with the horses.  Adeline has true love of horses and desperately wanted to believe that this horse was Lady; her therapy horse that got old and was moved to a new farm.  This horse was very affectionate with the Belle.

Here is our first experience with the perfectly sheared Christmas tree. I think I like it!

And That Makes 41!

Earlier in the month, Alex and I celebrated our back to back birthdays.  The girls get very excited about our birthdays.  They were even more excited when I told them I was going to put 41 candles on daddy's cake.  Good thing they were there to help Alex put out his fire.




My candles were placed on Daddy's leftover cake and were much less threatening. . .

Merry Christmas

Remembering Adeline's homecoming, five years ago, on Christmas day.

We are so lucky to have three healthy and happy girls.  The best gifts in life are free!

Adeline Sings

Adeline found her voice this year.  She used to talk with a volume just over a whisper.  She is louder now.  She can even yell.  It isn't like typical kids but it is huge improvement.  I don't know what changed or how it happened but everyone who interacts with her is enjoying it.

With a stronger and louder voice, comes singing.  It has been fun watching the singer in Adeline emerge.  Adeline and Lila enjoy rousing duets from time to time.  Here they are singing one of their favorite holiday songs.  The pink cookie dough on their noses is a little shout out to Rudolf.

A Kindergarten Update

Sending Lila Grace to Kindergarten was not an easy decision.  With it came many emotions that stem from her early start in life subsequent predicted outcome.  Obviously, we decided to send her and are happy we did so.  Even though we know in our heads that it is pretend Kindergarten, she is repeating next year regardless, it has been a roller coaster experience.

Lila is the youngest child in the school and happens to be in an unusually old class.  In fact, there are students who will turn SEVEN before the school year ends.  That makes Lila 1.5 years younger!  The reality is, when comparing her to some of her peers, it is an apple and orange situation.  What a difference a year makes. . .   That certainly rings true for our girl this year.

After getting over the age difference, we had to remind ourselves that we expected Lila to fall at the bottom of her class even though we hoped she would fall in the middle.  Falling near the bottom is where she would be chronologically and with her history, it seemed that it was inevitable.  Initially, our assumptions seemed to be right on.  Many kids entered into the school year reading, and if not, they could identify their letters and letter sounds.  When Lila entered, she knew most of her uppercase letters but was only 50% on her lower case and could only identify five letter sounds when asked.  I am in the classroom working in centers on a weekly basis and got to observe how these differences play out.  One of the major differences was her task speed.  She never seemed to complete an assignment during the allotted time.  Another way in which she stood out is that she just seemed overwhelmed and lost.

Alex and I waited for a month and then called her teacher for a conference.  She explained that Lila was doing everything she needed to be doing and didn't warrant learning support services.  She also assured us that Lila was happy and not as stressed as we thought.  What she did confirm was that Lila was a bit lost and required directions multiple times.  We were encouraged to wait until conferences to see how my little girl would shake out.

During Lila's November conference, we were given evidence of progress.  However, there seemed to be some gaps and inconsistencies.  Those gaps seem to work themselves out or turn into learning differences by the end of Kindergarten.  Her teacher told us she would "know" by January.  She also mentioned that the month between November and December is huge.  I kind of brushed that one off because how much progress could a child make in 30 days?  We left the conference without good news or bad news.  There was a host of red flags and we were given the infamous, "Wait and see."  If I had a dollar for every time. . .

Reports came home a month later and were a culmination to that 30 day window the teacher had talked about.  I should note that I did observe quantifiable gains in Lila during that window.  All the sudden she knew her lowercase letters and most letter sounds.  She started to read some words but I was afraid to declare her as an emerging reader.  I waited for the report card with dread.  By the time it arrived, Lila was reading easy reader books, rhyming fantastically well, and identifying all letters with about 95% accuracy.  But I was still sweating bullets when I pulled out the report card.

Much to my surprise, my girl is rocking and rolling in Kindergarten.  She received pluses in almost every category!  She was tested in letter recognition and sounds and she made unbelievable progress compared to a month earlier.  Her speed is still slow and handwriting still very immature but the girl is hanging with her peers.  While we haven't had an official conference with her teacher, she has mentioned to me that Lila is doing really well.

I still can't believe it.  Lila reads books!  She can sound words out like a champ and is tackling her new word ring which contains a progression of the dolch sight words.  I am so very proud of this girl.  She doesn't love school and isn't driven to keep up with her peers but somehow she is doing it.  She is absolutely amazing!  What a difference a month makes!

The Official Santa Visit

Each year, the girls look forward to visiting the guy in the red suit.  They thoughtfully compile their lists and hand them over to me so I can solidify them on paper with identifying pictures.  The pictures really help with my soft talking girls.  Santa never seems to hear them.

This year was another one of those sweet Christmas moments.  My girls were dressed in their pretty dresses with lists in hand.  When we arrived at the mall, Santa was without a line.  Thus, every girl was given lots of time and attention.  Each girl carefully went over their lists but that was not before a Santa Q&A.

Santa asked the girls if they had anything they would like to tell them and Savannah and Lila took this as an opportunity to get some of their Santa questions answered.  Sitting next to Santa was his big red pack and Savannah politely asked Santa, "How do you get your sack to grow so that it fits all of the toys?"  Santa responded with a story about sprinkling water which left my girls wide-eyed.  Lila followed up Savannah's question with, "How do you go up chimneys?"  I thought that was a very appropriate question/observation for my five year old.  Santa explained that he twinkles his nose before he shoots up the chimneys.  Needless to say, my girls felt that they had entered into a new level of their relationship with Santa.  They felt that he had TOLD his secrets.

Here are some pictures of the girls asking their questions, sharing their lists and loving Mr. Claus.  

 We got a nice picture too!

Just for the record, the following are the girls' lists.

The Magic. . .

I go back and forth on the "Magic" of Christmas.  I feel that I get roped into deeper and deeper fallacies each year.  Santa becomes more powerful and is likened to God in his ability.  I have a problem with that.  The Elf on the Shelf is the latest craze and now that little guy has powerful and magical abilities too.  It isn't that I fault anyone for participating in these rituals, they just don't feel right to me.  I have always told my kids that there is no such thing as magic and now I feel myself frantically backpedaling with my 8 year old and muddying the waters with the, "Santa is an exception."  I am not one for the gray area; things are black and white if I have anything to say about it.  One of my friends likes to remind me that the magic is special and believing in it as a child is right of passage.  I don't fully agree as I can't ever remember believing in it.   I was one of those unfortunate (maybe fortunate?) souls who was told the truth from a much older friend at a young age.

Regardless of what I think, we play the part (minimally) and our kids are fully immersed in the magic of the season.  An example of this was when Lila pulled Santa out of the corner for a very sweet and loving dance.  She was conversing with him the entire time.  Maybe the magic isn't all bad. . .

Turkeys and More

There were many events surrounding this year's Thanksgiving.  First, Adeline had her annual Thanksgiving celebration at school.  This year, it was a more mature event where the children acted out the Pilgrim's voyage and feast.  Miss Lois went through the story of the Pilgrims and paused to ask many questions.  Each question was answered by Miss Adeline.  There were a few answers that only she knew and, to my amazement, she gave those answers in a loud enough voice for all the students and parents to hear.  Such progress in the volume department.  Here is a picture of Adeline and her classmates boarding and traveling on the Mayflower.

Later in the week, I volunteered in Savannah's classroom during her Thanksgiving celebration.  Our local school district has a "no outside food," policy which makes feasting a little difficult.  Instead, students traveled to different stations throughout the second grade classrooms.  My station happened to be corn husk dolls which we made out of raffia.  Let me tell you, if you are ever asked to help students make these dolls, say, "NO."  It was very labor intensive with about five knots for each doll.  After tying all of those knots for about 35 five second grade girls, I was tied up in a knot!  Regardless, the girls walked away very proud of their new found friend.

Adeline came along with me this day and was running out of patience by the time I decided to break away from tying to take a picture. 

The next day we were off to DC to celebrate Thanksgiving with good friends.  Our Thanksgiving was bliss.  There was no stress, great food and lots of down time with friends and family.

Instead of frantically preparing food all day, Heather and I got up and ran a 5 mile Turkey Trot.  The men took the kids to the water front to feed ducks which means we all got some sun and 65 degree weather in us before heading back inside.

We didn't start dealing with food until 1:00!  Low stress, was the name of the game.  We all put together a few dishes and viola, we had ourselves a meal!  This man cooks a mean bird. . .

The most remarkable event of holiday was my girls' growing affection for Kate's dog, Monte.  My girls do not like dogs whatsoever.  Sometimes Lila can warm up to dogs but Savannah is always fearful.  Adeline's fear is more than fear and falls under her sensory umbrella.  Have I mentioned that she is scared of her own cat?

Magically, Monte has moved into all three girls' hearts.  Savannah and Lila couldn't get enough of the big dog who was just as content to ignore the world under the kitchen table.  Miss Adeline was the last to turn but before we left, she was a Monte fan too!  Why can't all dogs by like Monte; calm, sedate, and loveable?

Before heading home, we took in a Christmas light show and carnival with Kate's family.  The girls had a great time.  It was a Ferris Wheel First for our family when we were given the opportunity to all ride together.  It ended up being one of those special moments where I want to freeze time and reflect on my amazing family.  Oh why can't we freeze time?! 

Eventually, we had to pack it up and head home.  The goodbyes were awful.  The little girls cried such deep sobs when realizing that they wouldn't see their Baby Kate for what seemed like a very long time.  As we pulled out of the parking lot with crying girls, I smiled.  I knew we had done something right for my girls to love Kate so deeply. 

Our family continues to grow with good friends!

Wow!

I feel the urge to never post again so I can always come back and see the previous post right at the top of my blog.  Reality tells me that the posts must go on!  That is, if I want to remember things in chronological order. 

Before I get too serious about documenting holidays and all their happenings, I feel inclined to share a tidbit about People Magazine.  While trying to get the Christmas tree settled into the corner of our family room, Adeline picked up this People and gave it a good look. 

Adeline:  Hey this looks like my daddy.  Is this you dad?
Lila:  Where?  Let me see.  Is that Daddy?
Savannah:  It does look like Daddy.  Who is it?

Happy 29th Birthday, QTE!

 Dear QTE,

Well, another year has passed, and another birthday is here staring us in the face.  As a child, birthdays are all about presents and cake and fun.  At some point as we progress through life, however, birthdays become more focused on celebrating the wonderful qualities of the individual rather than showering them with gifts (which is still fun, though).  I think you and I can safely say we have reached the latter stage.  So, I guess it’s a good thing you have so many wonderful qualities we can celebrate today, on your 29^th (and then some.!.!) birthday. 

• You are an impressive woman – You are smart, confident, funny, attractive, and healthy.  I am proud to have you by my side as we travel through life.
• You are the best mother my girls could have – This statement is true for so many reasons I won’t be able to do it justice here.  In short, you live for them, and they live for you in return.  You are their constant advocate in every aspect of life, and I know that there is no other woman in the world that will make them better people in the end than you will.
• You are the friend to whom I always turn – I know I’m not always the most talkative guy around, but when I have a something exciting or distressing on my mind, you are the person with whom I need to share it with.
• You are still the wife I always wanted – After 10 (almost 11!) years of marriage, I think any couple would be lying if they said they hadn’t had their share of ups and downs.  With all the stuff life has thrown at us over the past 5 years or so, I know we have.  But one thing remains the same at the root of it all.  I love you.  That will never change.  No matter what life brings. 

Here’s celebrating you, QTE.  I’m lucky to call you my wife.  Happy Birthday.  I hope you have a great one!

Love,

Alex