It's Official

Haley is registered for kindergarten! This morning we took the school tour and headed to district office to turn in all paperwork. It sounds so cliche, but how is this possible? She was born yesterday!

Talking and Swimming and Reading, Oh My!

We are having a good start to the new year. I think 2010 will be a good one. Josh and I had a fabulous time ringing in the new year at a friend's wedding. What a great way to celebrate! We got dressed up and spent the evening eating, drinking and dancing with good friends.

Over the break we noticed a big leap for Ryan. He has kind of exploded with new words and his communication. It is so great to listen to him and decode his words. He is talking so much more and if you don't understand something Haley is very happy to translate for you.

Haley is reading more and more and is very proud when she reads certain words or phrases. She is also spelling words as she sounds them out. She asked me how to spell "Pablo" in the car the other day. I told her to give it a try and she nailed it! Who is Pablo? I don't ask questions.

This month we take a tour of her kindergarten and get her registered. How is it that she is going to be 5 next month? That just seems surreal. She has also started back up in swimming again. Today she hopped right in and put her face in right when the teacher asked her, with no hesitation. For those of you who know Haley and her relationship with the water and her face, you know that this was huge. At the end of class she declared that she likes swim class and her teacher and she is not afraid. HOORAY!

I managed to strain a muscle in my back and I have no idea how. My lower back has never felt so much pain. Thursday night and Friday I was a mess. The rest of the weekend I have been stretching and icing and drugging (nice word). I feel much better tonight but not 100%. Even though I am always working on getting healthier, I am choosing to take this as a clear sign that my body needs less to carry around. This was not fun and although it can happen to anyone of any size, I took it the way I took it. It's a good thing.

I feel I have all that matters in life. All is good. Cheers to 2010!

A Crazy December

Taking a rest in the neighbor's yard on Christmas Day.

Christmas in the Park.

A girls' trip to see "Princess and the Frog." Tiana is a new favorite! She works hard and is independent. The best kind of princess!

Haley had a holiday performance for school. It was darling, of course. She is front left.

Yuba City Christmas was a hit. It is always so fun to have the whole family together. The drink contest isn't so bad either!

Santa was very good to us! A skateboard and pads for Haley and a Rescue Pack for Ryan. I got a new gym bag and running shoes and hoodie and Josh got tickets to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The first thing Haley did after she ran down the stairs was go straight for the plate of cookies and apples we left for Santa and his reindeer. "LOOK! He ate the cookies and fed his reindeer! HE WAS HERE!!!!" Ryan rubbed his eyes and took his time coming down the stairs. He's not at the age quite yet.
The Russell family treated all of us to a couple of nights at a beach house in Santa Cruz. It has been hard with the loss of Grandpa Irv last week and this is exactly what was needed.
It was another wonderful holiday season. Parties, friends, and family. We are truly so blessed.

Sometimes I Am Reminded

Last night Haley and Ryan were in the bath playing. Ryan started to do something really goofy and Haley was cracking up. I loved watching as Ry kept doing it over and over to make his sister laugh. I saw Jason and me as kids. My brother, who is 12 months younger, used to make me laugh until my sides hurt. He made everything funny no matter where we were. I would laugh so much that it usually ended up getting him in trouble because I egged him on so much! I remember thinking that when I became a mom I would want my kids to be a year apart just like Jason and me. Of course, reality hit once we had Haley and I remember thinking- I would be pregnant now?! I just had her!!! Wow, Mom and Dad...crazy!

Watching the kids in the bath made me sad that my brother is not part of my life and really hasn't been for many years. I have no idea what being an addict is like, but I know what it is to be a sibling of an addict who calls prison home. I think of him back then and think of how much potential he had. It may be silly, but after all the ins and outs of rehab, jail, and even prison, I hold a small glimmer of hope for his future. Maybe he will get well and it will last and he can be part of our lives. I think it is interesting that Haley remembers "Uncle Dude" as she points him out in pictures, but she never asks where he is or why we don't see him. I am glad because I really don't know what to say. I have no idea what this is like for my parents.

I have very fond memories of Jason. Seeing the kids in the bath last night was just like looking back to 30 years ago. I watched them play with a smile on my face.

Here It Is

It Was Bound To Happen

I think cutting your own hair is something most of us have done. Tonight Josh was reading Haley a book in bed and found this chunk of hair by her bed. He asked her what it was and she immediately started apologizing and then crying when she had to tell me what happened. This was the same night she decided to do glitter glue in her bed and was told afterward that she could only do it on the table.

The good news is that although it was a nice chunk of hair, it was on the underside and we don't have to do any repair. It is a good sign that it happened two nights ago and we didn't notice. I think she learned her lesson. The poor thing is so sensitive and could barely tell me what happened she was crying so hard. Of course, Josh and I got back to our room and started laughing.

It's Fact

We have the cutest nieces in the world. In alphabetical order...