Damage Control

That's sometimes what I feel like my job description should be. I'm always calculating in my head whether or not what I'm allowing the kids to destroy is worth more or less time and energy than what I'm currently doing. Like this morning, I have a time that we need to leave the house so we can make it to school...we have a routine and for the most part it goes fairly smoothly. I also have goals, if I can get a load of laundry in before we leave the house, then it's almost done by the time I get back and I'm just that much further ahead. So, while I'm running around trying to do the things I would like to get done I'm constantly assessing what the kids are doing and whether or not it's helping or hurting my objectives...like Calvin taking the swiffer, I think, great...that will keep him preoccupied without much damage for a little while. But then I look up and Mia is taking off her gloves that we just put on so she can read a book...that's not going to help. Then I look over and Calvin is now taking off his socks that I just put on...oh no, that's not going to help either. Of course these are minor...thankfully we haven't had anything major, like me walking in on Mia with every single one of the books off the bookshelf and on the floor. Ok, you're probably thinking, that's not major, but for me...an overly anal neat freak, well, that is major.

I've also learned that tasks take longer when you have toddlers. And that's ok too because they always want to help and it's a learning experience for them. So, laundry that I could normally fold quickly, I might have to refold a couple of times while they are "helping" me. But they are such sweet helpers, that I do really enjoy those times...for the most part.

Just some quirky thoughts I was thinking about this morning. Not much else is new so that's good news for us.

Piano Lessons

So, we've decided to try Mia on some piano lessons because she loves music and is such a learner...she had her first one today and it went great. I think it will be really good for her on multiple levels...right now she's just learning about the different keys and she's using both hands to make them work, which is perfect. We'll see how it goes.

Calvin is quite a hands on guy these days. He can manipulate legos pretty well, we have some of the bigger ones and he can put them together and take them apart. Today, I realized that he can also buckle the safety restraints on the booster chairs for him and Mia. And it is a favorite pastime...go figure, he buckles, I unbuckle...he then excitedly buckles again. We could do this for hours. :) I'm just glad he doesn't know how to unbuckle yet.

Spring???

We've been having this amazing weather and it's only January...it makes me think that spring has arrived, but I know it's going to cool down here real soon and that this is just a little pocket of goodness. So, we've been making the most of it and trying to do more outside activities. We took the kids to the park and yesterday we were outside blowing bubbles. Calvin thought that was great fun.

Mia also had a second round of rollerskating yesterday and did great with it. This time just Mia and Daddy went, we'll take Calvin when he gets a bit bigger. And of course we are enjoying the extra long weekend, as Monday is a holiday...yay!!

Back in the swing of things...

School started this week, yay! It makes Mia very happy because she loves school and has a great time there. This also makes Calvin happy because he gets more Mommy time.

We've been making some contact with different surgeons for Mia's redo on her blocked nostril. We have some good leads and Brad was so smart in telling me to contact these places before we drive all the way there! We've spoken with a doctor in San Diego and another in San Francisco, right now the one in San Francisco is very promising, we are just going to look at a few more options before we make our final decision.

Calvin is slowly learning his letters (his sister makes sure he gets plenty of practice...). We have an S hanging near the changing table in his room and every time he sees it, he says, "ssssssss". I love it, I love watching him grow and develop and Mia does too, she especially loves hearing him try to say words. I love to watch her interact with him, she'll say, "Calvin, can you say blue...blue..." and then she'll get really excited when he says, "boo". It's fun. The simple things in life.

Rollerskating!

We took Mia and Calvin rollerskating today. There is a class at Skateland for kids under 7. Mia loved it. Of course she really wasn't skating yet because the back wheels were locked, but she had a blast. And it was really good for her to work on her balance and it requires a huge amount of strength, so I think we will be going back. Calvin had fun too, but we agreed that he might be a little too small, maybe when he is 2 it will be a better fit for him...besides, their smallest skates were way too big on him. Anyway, here are a couple photos.