This my last post of 2013. Yea for a great year! And Hoorah for 2014!
Posts below:
This general kid one
A Sampling (kid art)
The Tetons (Kyle's trip, Alison's post)
Strike a Pose (professional photos of our house just for the record and since its never that clean)
Maggie Moosky
I know the current generation of kids faces an uphill challenge because of all the media (content and quantity) they are exposed to. And we really do put limits on things. But this girl. Geez. If I set my phone down for 1 second I know where to find it. She mostly likes to look at pictures and watch videos (of herself). But she's also been known to call people, set numerous alarms for ungodly hours of the morning, delete things on my calendar. She could care less about the few kid apps I have. Except for the "Oh Donny" (Old MacDonald) one and the "Bus" (Wheels on the Bus) one. These interactive songs can play in various languages (which she knows how to switch) so its basically educational, right?
Just some serious cuteness going on here. In some boots I was trying on. I can't pull off the over-the-knee look but it works on her.
Other Maggie-things I need to remember:
- Her participation during song time - have I mentioned this before? - its like she's changing the radio station. Maggie, what song should we sing? Itsy. The Itsy bisy spi--- No, no no. Ummmmm, O Donny. [and on and on and on]
- One of the "songs of the year" would have to be "He's Got the Whole World in his Hands" - now she calls it Whole Worl(d) but it was initially just Han(d)s but really more "Haaaaah!!!" We have some priceless videos of her singing this one that I'll try to get up.
- She surprised us recently with her previously hidden ability to count. Girl can get up to 14 and we're pretty sure she picked it up on her own (bad parents, 3rd kiddo). She usually forgets 10. She loooooves nine. It was sort of her first number. For months she would count like this (especially if she thought she was playing hide-and-go-seek with the big kids): eight, niiiiiiine, wadoh, neenee, niiiiiiine, wadoh, neenee (and remember, everything is yelled)
- I'm not sure what to call this - but I don't remember our other two doing it. If she's doing something with you, she will purposefully do it incorrectly at first (but acknowledging it by saying noooooo as she does it) then doing it right. So, putting the block here...noooooooo, here!!!!!!! It's what she does with blocks, puzzles, light switches, shoes. It's cute. It's exhausting.
- Favorite words of ours of hers (that we hope she never learns how to say correctly): happyroni (peperoni), ponyhair (ponytail), bunnybun (belly button)
- Also, I love hearing her talk about some of our people: Emmy-Boone (stands for the entire Foshea family), but she also has a special relationship with Taytee (Katie).; Phristal (could be a combo of Phil and Christal, but is really just Christal). Still talks about Carlos and his baby-sage (baby massage) whenever we rub her back or she sees a small silver car. Love hearing this little one's voice and thoughts come out - especially now that we understand most of them! Oh, and Danny is candy - don't mess that one up.
- She is the narrator of our lives. Everything is an announcement of what is perfectly obvious or generally known: Owen a school. Mommy potty. Beppa ouside. Daddy poopoo yuck. (In all fairness she says this about everyone and their poop).
- Has added some new friends (taking after her sister) to her entourage - baby + botty (blankie) + ello (other) bottie + doggie + bear + baby mini...Her tent is very full.
Becca Boosky
Her many special friends - Puppy, Rose Princess Bear, Turtle...all tucked in to Butterfly Blankie to watch a show.
This really deserves a post of its own, but here it is. Rebecca spent time last year sitting with Kyle in the deer blind - training season. But this year she got to be with him when he actually shot a deer (which was the goal)! She has gone with him twice this season and to hear them both talk about it you would think there is NO better way to have Father/Daughter time.
She's pretty funny talking about it - talking about how she got to touch the heart with doctor gloves on. I think it may freak some of her little girlfriends at school out. :) This past time they "got skunked" (which means they didn't get one, not that they got sprayed by a skunk) but she had a great attitude about it and Kyle says it was some of the best time they've spent together, ever. An hour and a half in the blind all cuddled up together for warmth, no iPhone games, just talking. Sweetness.
Other Rebecca things I need to remember:
- In addition to her art creations she is really into doing 'speriments which usually involve putting strange things in water, outside (maybe in water) or in the freezer - she knows my aversion and usually starts out by telling me don't worry, it's not messy (which almost certainly means that it will be).
- One morning when asked if I could put her hair up she informed me: No, I looove it down. I like to move it out of my face like this [dramatic swiping of hair from face]. I'll admit I am a hair fiddler (twisting the bag, repositioning the annoying bangs) but she did NOT learn this move from me, it's way too advanced.
- Oh my goodness speaking of movies (we were with Maggie) - a few months ago when she was spending extended time with Bee (was it when we were in San Francisco?) she and Bee filmed a cooking show...still working on getting the video up. Remind me? Thanks!
- When talking about what she wanted to be when she grew up one day I made a comment about having to be only one thing (necessarily) and she was thrilled! She gasped: you mean I can be an artist AND a chef?!?
- Back during football season I took O & R to the Homecoming pep rally at Owen's School (one of the fun things about it being K-12). It was a lot to take in and I wasn't sure how they felt about it overall, but afterwards they told me they liked it. At one point when the cheerleaders were doing some of their big gravity-defying moves Rebeca whispered to herself: They're beautiful. And they fly..... And we've officially drunk the water, folks!
- Basically had our friend Nathan convinced that Star Wars (Ep 4) was a comedy because all she talked about what how funny it was when one of the Storm Troopers gets shot and falls off a bridge. The first time we watched it she was silent the entire time and burst out laughing when that happened.
- Is perhaps a bigger (for zealous) Aggie fan than even her brother. Wears her Aggie dress (gift from Carlos from Buc'Ees as often as I'll let her. Brings up her fan-hood at inappropriate and frequent times especially if she knows we're talking to a Longhorn.
- Still isn't a huge fan of being completely dressed during the day but now has a thing for footie jammies again (thanks to Bailey hand-me-downs). We went from sleeping in undies only to all-zipped up. And while she still has a special place in her heart for her Aggie dress, there is a new favorite - it's blue and sparkly and has a ruffle was bought for her 2 years ago for Christmas and she didn't like it but now its basically a shirt and its her favorite. I insist she wears it with leggings/pants. Oh, the whims of a girl.
- Major princess phase. Probably enough said.
Owen
Owen's kindergarten program is a half day each day (8-12) but he is enrolled in an optional "afternoon class" 2 days a week that focuses on reading and writing - but really it was all about types of stories - fables, poems, nursery rhymes, etc. At the end of their semester they put on a little performance for the parents where they had memorized and acted out some of their favorite stories - it was really cute and I got the whole thing on video but its too long to post. Owen's part was that of the Lion in "The Lion and the Mouse" (which was already a book we really like). They all did a great job and I'm continually amazed at their ability to memorize stuff...We got a video of him reciting Luke 2:4-14 at Christmas that I'll treasure forever.
Deer hunting with daddy
Chess playing with me. He's having a hard time with the mommy-doesn't-totally-stink factor from our having taken the class and doesn't like that he doesn't always win anymore. We're working cultivating a good attitude even when loosing (inevitably) happens. I am really enjoying having this to do with him and hopes he'll forgive me for actually learning how to play (and win some) so we can do this for years.
Our certificates
He's eligible for chess club now but we're going to have him wait until the fall because the time is pretty inconvenient given his noon dismissal (he would be the only kindergartener).
Other Owen stuff I want to remember:
- The Lego obsession continues. Now it is combined with Star Wars (we've now done episodes 4, 5, 6 and half of 1). He remembered seeing some of the big Star Wars sets put together at the Lego store when we were there one time. He was disappointed to learn that the Millennium Falcon is almost $200 and the Death Star is $400. CRAZY! He knows those aren't in his future unless he saves his allowance for a LONG LONG time. He has a picture of both of them that he has in his room that he just looks at a lot. When one of our carpool buddies mentioned that her older brother has the Death Star he replied (excitedly, not jealous at all): I have a PICTURE of that one!!!
- The end of an era - Kyle and I can't spell out secret-ish things around the kids anymore because unless its really long or in spanish Owen will figure it out. I think we're going to start speaking in pig-latin, because he's taking spanish too so its only a matter of time.
- Is quick to point out when the "handwriting" on a package isn't up to snuff.
- When talking about a gift for a friend he said: He's six. He's big like me. He can handle a book with no words.
- Both he and Rebecca got a lot of free education primarily in the area of college football from the 5th and 7th grade boys (brothers) that we pick up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They're both really sweet to him and have tried to teach him things. But they are Longhorns. So that means there is all sorts of friendly (and sometimes not-quite-friendly-enough-thanks-to-Rebecca) sports banter in the backseat that is only partly based on actual games, players, or stats. A lot of it is stuff like: well, the longhorns can't go down the toilet but the aggies can!!! (you can't put the longhorn hand signal in an "o" made by your other hand, but you can stick your thumb/aggie gig'em down it.) Brilliant stuff.
Other
Kyle
had some time off work back in November (?) and Owen asked if we could
do another "Mezger Family Fun Day." I love that he initiated it! First
we went to one of those trampoline places but that was sort of a mess
because O & R could do one area and M could do another and we wanted
to be together and K & I could only be in one of the areas actually
jumping. We didn't stay long. But first they got to ride this super
lame tea cup ride. Then we went to paint pottery because they like that.
O & M each did an ornament. I wanted R to do one too but she had
her own creative desires and decided on a unicorn. I've already glued
his horn back on once. I did an ornament in her place.
The
girls helping me bake something. There was a lot of this in November
and December. I try to always let them help me but honestly its hard
because they make it hard. Sometimes I sneak something in while they're
sleeping just so I can get it done quickly!
Enjoying one of our treats it looks like.
And a few fun ones of Carlos that I found.
On the pedicab.
Playing some sort of game (I don't recognize it) with the kids.
Carlos' way of playing is a lot more physical than mine, maybe Kyle's too. This photo is evidence. He would also walk with a 2 kids laying on the ground each holding on to ankle, and other kids holding on to their feet. It was his way of training for ski season legs.
I think we have a video of that or maybe its of the "Carlos Monster" coming out form his room to scare the kids. Either way I'm having video-upload troubles (all our files are too big) and hopefully I'll figure something out because we've actually been better recently about taking them. And we have some PRICELESS ones of Maggie in particular so stay tuned.
Fun to end the year with this one - courtesy of E & H's parents after they took the 4 on a walk down to Shoal Creek for some early-winter exploring.
