The Best Kids in the World

Quick update on the latest antics and accomplishments of the two best kids in the world.

1. On the drive home, while stopped at a red light, Liam started making letter sounds. tttt iiii rrrr ssss. Then he said, "Twist. Mommy I just read that sign." I looked around and saw a sign that read "TIRES". I said, "Good job, Liam. It says tires and you did a very good job sounding it out." He's finally trying to read stuff by sounding it out and then putting the sounds together. This is a big accomplishment considering that before Christmas he 'hated' reading. I'm on the look out for comic books for early readers because he loves comic books.

2. Brianna was finally moved to the pre-school room at day care at the beginning of February. Unfortunately, Greg went on a business trip the first week of Feb and then I went on a business trip the next week. Brianna had many set backs in the potty area. One day she had four accidents. Because of this they were thinking about moving her back to the toddler room. Over the holiday weekend, she did perfectly at home. Going potty by herself and also going poop by herself. She's a darn good wiper too. This week there have been no accidents at 'school' and things are really (finally) looking up in the potty department.

3. Now that Brianna is potty trained, I've told her she can start doing gymnastics. She's very excited.

4. Liam cleaned his room this weekend all by himself and is 'enjoying' doing chores for an allowance. I know it won't last but I'm enjoying his joy of working for $3 a week. And he's quite the little saver. He's got a nice little stash of money that he's saving for something "really big".

5. Yesterday, the kids were asking why it was so light out on the way home. I said it's because winter is almost over. Liam immediately got excited and started talking about how that means it's going to be summer and we'll get to go to Kansas City and we'll see Kolby (and Brianna said, "And baby Jaxon") and we'll swim and mom, I want to do the big jump and the plunge and when are we going to do more swim lessons. As he took a breath, Brianna started . . I want to swim with baby Jaxon . . I like to swim . . I love my baby Jaxon . . where's baby Jaxon . . why he not here . . I want a baby . . I want to marry Liam and smooch him. It was one of those conversations where I just listen because I can't get a word in edgewise. I was also thankful it didn't turn into a screaming match (as sometimes happens) with them yelling at each other "No, I talking to mommy, no talking" "I was talking first. I'm not done talking to mommy. It's my turn." You get the idea. So while it was hard to keep up with all that was being said without taking a breath, it was pleasant.

6. It's that time of year, where I start freaking out about whether to put Liam in a private school. We tried to get into a charter school, but they use a lottery system and Liam is number 71 on the waiting list. Now I'm looking at Catholic schools, which I'm having an internal debate about. I just really want Liam to have art, music, computer, and P.E. classes which you can't get in public school anymore (at least in CA). I've also serious thought about moving to a state with a better education system, but I haven't talked to Greg about that and it's not a serious option considering we can't get jobs that pay as well and that we like as much as what we have here. It's so stressful. Maybe if I felt like I could supplement his public education, but I don't think I can. Urg!

7. We got an organizational system from IKEA for Brianna's room and it looks great. I need to take pictures and post them.

8. I love catching the kids say thank you and your welcome to each other when they don't know we're around. All that drilling I've done is paying off.

9. Brianna was a holy terror the first day after Greg got home from his trip and then she did the same thing when I got back from my trip. She was making us pay for leaving her. One day Greg had enough and put her to bed without dinner. The next day was much better, but man are those hell days hard. It completely exhausts you both physically and mentally. Luckily those days are few and far between anymore. Before Christmas she was that way all the time and I constantly felt like a bad mom because I just didn't want to be around her. We've turned the corner and now the two of us have a lot of fun together. Yes, miracles do happen.

10. Not entirely kid related, but since coming home from Christmas vacation my life seems to be running so smoothly. Things appear to be balanced and I'm not letting stress get to me as much or as often. This means that I'm also enjoying my family much more and I'm more fun to be around (although you'd have to ask Greg to be sure on that last part).

Looks like 2010 is going to be a fabulous year!