Happy Chinese New Year!

Gong Hay Fat Choy! Happy Year of the Horse everyone!

Lego Man Shower

Big sister K was playing with Legos and making a house equipped with a shower.  She was very proud of her handiwork.

Big sister K: Mama, look at my house. Do you like it?

Me: Yes, it's very nice. Is that the shower?

Big sister K: Yes.

Me: Where's the toilet and the sink? Where do they go poopy and pee pee [referring to the Lego men she stationed in the house]?

Big sister K: There is no toilet and sink because they don't need it.  They won't have to go poopy or pee pee because they're not real!

Me: But they'll need to shower?

Big sister K: Yes.

Lol!  At least they'll be clean!

My Sweet Girl

It was just one of those mornings where the kids were getting on my nerves and the house was a complete mess.  I was trying to clean and big sister K comes over to me with a book, asking me to read to her.  I snapped at her and said, "No!  I am trying to clean the mess that you guys made!"  Without a word, she backs off.  The next thing I know, she's helping me put all her toys and papers away.  What a sweetie!  I love my little girl! (And if you're wondering, I did read to her afterwards.)

Pooh Likes Honey

Poor M has been sick with a fever and cold.  Seems like he picks up the germs from the kids (baby M had been sick), then has a hard time recovering.  He finally went to the doctor yesterday and got some antibiotics for the sinus infection.  During dinner time the other day:

Baby M: What you doing, daddy?
M: I'm putting honey in my [hot] water.
Baby M: I have water too (and picks up the cup of water he has in front of him).
M: Yes, I know you have water.
Baby M: Winnie the Pooh likes honey too!

Baby M has a few Winnie the Pooh board books, and one of them has a page that says Winnie the Pooh likes honey.  We've read it to him a few times, but he hasn't looked at it in a while.  I'm amazed at how it clicked in his brain: honey + Pooh; Pooh likes honey!

Glasses Galore!

We paid a visit to M's sister's optical store in Nyack, NY to pick out some new glasses on Saturday (long overdue after mine got bent out of shape months ago).  It was pretty treacherous driving in the massive fog on the Palisades Parkway... we could barely see past 15 feet in front of us.  Add to that typical NJ traffic, and the trip took us two and a half hours to get there.  Not fun.

The kids were a handful at the store (can't blame them for being restless after the long car ride), but managed not to break anything.  They tried on anything they could get their hands on and had a blast.  So many glasses, so little time!

Love my two posing monkeys!



December Recap

This month was a bit slower for the Y family, compared to November with all the birthdays and family gatherings.  We started December off by attending an early Christmas celebration held at big sister K's dance school.  She got to take pictures with Santa, go on a horseback ride (they had a smaller pony, but big sister K insisted on riding the bigger one... total opposite of baby M, who was too chicken to even get near the pony), and play with some farm animals at the makeshift petting zoo.

We extended our Sesame Place season passes to their "A Very Furry Christmas" event.  We tried to make the most of our season passes knowing we wouldn't be renewing them for another year (sorry baby M!), but was hard with the turbulent December weather we had.

 

The first time we went to A Very Furry Christmas, the temperature was in the 20s and we were freezing... I don't know what possessed us to go the day we did.  The second time we went, it was a beautiful mild Sunday afternoon, but that only meant every other family with kids had the same idea we did and ended up at Sesame Place.  It was so crowded and the lines so ridiculously long that we couldn't even get in to see certain shows.  Definitely not worth it.

We celebrated Christmas day at my brother-in-law's place.  Big sister K started an annual tradition by making all the family members do a conga line before opening up presents.  Despite suffering from food coma, everyone got up and went along with it... I mean, how can you say no to an adorable 5-year old?  On that note, I just googled the conga line and found out that it originated from Cuba... how appropriate!  I guess it's in her genes.

The Saturday after Christmas, we had lunch with my parents and the M family at a buffet place in Secaucus.  Afterwards, we let the kids run wild outside.  It was great seeing them play together.  Big sister K and her cousin A put together a show for us singing Christmas carols.  My nephew was so awesome with baby M, running after him and keeping a close eye on him to make sure he was okay... would totally have him babysit in a few years if they didn't live so far away.

One thing that can't be beat during the holidays is the time spent with family.  Goodbye 2013, hello 2014!

Thomas Funny

Baby M had trouble saying "Thomas and Friends" up until a few days ago, and would always say "Thomas Funny" instead.  Now it has become a running joke with M and me... whenever baby M says "Thomas and Friends," we would ask him, "Thomas funny?"  He would laugh, then respond adamantly, "No! Thomas AND FRIENDS!" with emphasis on the "and" and "friends."

Baby M's speech has improved significantly over the past few months.  He's talking a lot more now, and right where he should be for his age, so it was an easy decision for us to end his speech therapy.  Thanks to the delayed billing from the state though, I will still be paying for his sessions for the next three months!

My Mischievous Baby M

We were all hanging out in the living room when big sister K went upstairs to use the bathroom.  Baby M, being the curious fellow he is, followed her upstairs but went to his room instead.  When she was done, I told her to turn off all the lights on her way down in hopes of getting him downstairs, since he couldn't reach for the light switches himself.  Needless to say, it didn't work.  I assumed he was sitting upstairs in the dark, but after a few minutes, I heard him yell out "look at me," so I did and to my surprise, the light in his room was turned on.

This is what he did: First, he stood on a potty chair (which is used more as a toy than a potty chair) to reach for the light switch.  When that didn't work, he went to the bathroom, took the stool we have in there, and tried using that, only to find that he was still inches too short.  Then he took the garbage can in his room (fortunately, it was empty), flipped it upside down, and stood on it to reach for the light switch.  Jackpot!  He was so proud of himself (as was I) for having succeeded.  It's amazing what goes through the head of this two-year old!