Pushing to Pull-Ups

The boys arrived all excited... they were wearing pull-ups.  So, what does this mean?  Every hour to hour-and-a-half the boys are given the opportunity to try the potty.  Their shoes, pants and pull-ups come off, since they must straddle the seat and watch their aim.  During one of our early attempts, Andrew suggested we use Grampa's flashlight to watch for results.  Gramma is always up for a good idea.  

Pull-ups are made similar to a diaper, in that they are designed to keep the wetness away from the child's body.  This means Gramma, being a few generations removed, can't tell if they're really wet.  Grampa, who fares better in the 21st century, went online to do some research.  He reported that the front fades when wet.  In truth, their is a faint green design that disappears as the  front turns a very pale green.  So, where are my reading glasses to search for the design.  Someone needs to come up with a hotline for grandparents.

After one of our potty stops, I put shoes back on Nathan, who told me, "These aren't my shoes."  I thought his feet looked a little bigger.  We took them off and put on his own shoes.  Next, he told me, "I"m wearing Andrew's pants.  This is silly."  I figured with the frequent restroom breaks, we would just wait until the next one to trade pants.  At the next opportunity, I switched their pants.  Both boys were agreeable to the switch.  After I finished changing their pants,  Andrew told me, "These aren't my pants."  I think perhaps Nathan inherited Andrew's old pants.  After our third potty stop, I asked if they even wanted their pants on.  They were okay without them.  Me, too.

Besides being useful for observing success in the potty, the flashlight was useful for looking for spiders.  Nathan found a spider (it was actually a dead fly) under my chair.  Gramma said she would take care of it.  Nathan was already part way under the chair and looked at me in surprise.  "Can you get under here?" he asked. I explained that I don't go under the chair, I move it.  

We didn't want to get our legs cold with no pants on.  Grampa still had his pants on.

Gramma got the boys a broom their own size.  They love to be helpful.  Of course, they both wanted to sweep at the same time.  It was interesting to see how much they've learned about negotiations. When Nathan was clearly in possession of the broom, Andrew approached him with the flashlight in hand.  He told Nathan, "Here Nathan, it's your turn for the flashlight."  At the same time, he held out his hand for the broom.  Nathan nearly fell for it.  When he realized what Andrew was up to, he told me to set the timer. The timer I used with my children died over ten years ago.  Looks like it's time to replace it.  It can be a long way back to the microwave when we're timing the swing rides in the basement.  

In the video, you can hear Andrew in the background looking for Kitty.  Kitty is usually scarce when the boys are here.  

Gramma also got the boys beads to take home, since they even sleep with them at my house.  This week, Nathan also slept with the broom.  Nathan did a pretty good job sweeping up the beads Andrew spilled on the floor.  After the boys went home, I found two beads and Kitty found two.  

The boys covet the adults' knives at the table.  Gramma had the idea that they would enjoy a knife of their own.  They loved my spreader knives and enjoyed spreading dip on crackers,

and cutting their meatballs.  Notice our leftie, above.  I always have to think twice to figure out how to demonstrate for him.

The boys ate more than ever, partially due to their knives.  Following dinner, Andrew said he still had room for dessert.  And he wanted whipping cream on his finger!

Grampa obliged the request and explaned you can't reuse your finger.  It would be like double dipping, another rule that can't be broken in the Goedken home.  Andrew, always thinking a step ahead of the adults, showed he had two hands.  Nathan used both of his pointer fingers and his thumbs.  He then said, "I have a pinkie." Grampa is not always a good influence on our boys.

A meal is never complete without dessert.

Nolan meets the twins.

 You can tell Uncle Ryan has experience.

He sure is little.

Did anyone check to see if he has all his parts?

It's nice to finally meet you, Nolan.

My what little feet you have!

I have something for you to play with.

I'm so glad you could come to see me.

It's a boys' world!

Over the River and through the Woods

The boys are very interested in Gramma's kitchen gadgets, so she bought them some of their own.  She has a huge collection.  The boys practice their kitchen skills on styrofoam peanuts.  They're not messy if they spill.

The boys are becoming more interested in Gramma's kitchen tools.  At least with all the extra soap, I have a very clean kitchen. 

I look forward to our days cooking together.  I remember my Grandmother's kitchen best.  She lit her oven with a match.  Because she had lost her sense of smell, she once lit the stove after the gas had been left on.  It blew out the windows in her house.  She also had her sewing rocker in the kitchen.  It was her Uncle Pete's.  It had a sliding drawer under the rocker to store buttons, needles and threads.

It takes a wildness to master the whisk.  No wonder Gramma is really good at it.

It turns out, Grampa threw out all their old sleds.  Hard to believe, since he packed and moved the mending, the donations for the poor and the boxes that had never been unpacked from our last move; sixteen years before.

So we made a trip to Target.  Nathan asked where the cold room was.  I finally realized he must be thinking of Costco.  We found the sled selection and the boys agreed the green one was perfect. 

 Now, where do you put a sled with a cart full of boys? 

Nathan kept asking why Andrew was in the back of the cart.  The only response available was, "Because you are in the front of the cart."

Andrew loved the back of the cart.  We found room for a pumpkin pie, a gallon of milk and a bag of cherry M&Ms. And we still had room for Andrew.

These boys love to shop!  We couldn't find mittens to put over their gloves (for extra warmth), so Gramma improvised and bought ladies' slipper socks with sock monkeys on them.

Notice Nathan's hand in his pocket.  He has five red beads in his pocket.  He rattles them around like my father used to jingle his loose change.  He even took them with him to nap, but they kept falling our of his pocket.  I told him I put my beads under my pillow when I sleep.  He tried that and checked a few times to see that they were there.  Despite his reassurance they were still there he said he wanted to put them back in his pockets so he would know they were closer.  I love the sense of peace that comes over him as he makes all things right before he can shut his eyes and sleep. 

I knew it would be Christmas Story in real life, as we started to put our gear on for our Winterland Excursion.  Grampa assisted with one of the boys and I attempted the task with the other.  Grampa looked over to check my progress and warned, "Put the snowpants on before the boots."  Good point!  Then he asked, "Do the hats go on top or under the hoods?"  He had his attired and said he would take Nathan outside, while Andrew and I finished up.  Once Andrew was dressed, I realized Gramma had better hurry.  I grabbed a sweatshirt (not realizing I would get very warm pulling two boys on their sleds), earmuffs and real mittens.  Being older, I decided to make a final trip to the bathroom and then realized I had on sling-back shoes.  Not very appropriate for snow.  I own appopriate boots, but didn't have a lot of time to prepare my ensemble in advance.  I'm glad I remembered before I hit the slopes.

All the monkeys are ready for a sleigh ride.

Dashing through the snow.

And away we go... over the river and through the woods.  We need to redesign our sled.  The boys lack the skill of leaning to avoid being dumped by Gramma as we go around the house.  The screams behind me alert me, I've lost my passengers.

The most beautiful winter scene.

The boys enjoyexperiencing the snow up close.

Daddy reads Andrew a Buzzy Bee story.

Andrew reminds Grampa to light the fire, as we get dinner ready.  A home is perfect with a fire and children to enjoy it.

Snickers

Gramma and Nolan have a heart to heart.

My Blue-Eyed Boy!

The boys told me I could go downstairs.  They would stay up in my room.  It ddn't happen!

Chica Chica, 1 2 3!  It's a literary great.  You can tell by their faces.  Andrew took his nap with his hat on.

The boys are so helpful.  Nathan is draining the kefir from Gramma's curds.  When my children asked if they could help, I used to answer, "Only if you have to."  They would pause a second to figure out if that meant yes or no and then responded, "I have to."  I don't remember when that stopped.  I don't remmeber them doing that past twelve.

Andrew is drilling the light fixture.  His engineering potential is showing.  Of course he uses the same drill to dry my hair.  He didn't learn that from me.  I'm afraid of what my hair would look like if I took a hair dryer to it.  I think I would do better with a real drill.

The men and boys started dinner without me, since I was occupied talking to a student.  By the time I entered the kitchen, no one was talking.  It was like a build up of static electricity.  You're afraid to touch anything or anyone; for fear of setting off the spark.  When I asked what was up, I was told the boys weren't eating.  Trying to allow them some autonomy, I asked Andrew, would you like a bite of chicken or pasta?  He replied with the cutest pout on his face, "I want dessert."  Grampa, realizing it's beter to keep your sense of humor, cut one of his bites of pasta in half and asked if he could try it.  He turned his head with a firm, "NO."  Terry cut the half in half and asked again... "NO."  Then the quarter in half... still "NO."  Meanwhile, Nathan recognized a golden opportunity. "I'll have a bite of chicken," followed by the cutest smile you can imagine.  And then, "I'll have a bite of pasta."  He had heard the word dessert and wasn't going to take any chances.  At this point, no one had mentioned whether Gramma even had any dessert.  I think the holidays have lead to Great Expectations.  Andrew figures the best is saved for last.  It just so happened I had a piece of Snicker's Cake (a cake my father made for our birthdays).  My mind raced ahead to a nightmare scene of Nathan eating his dessert in front of Andrew.  Good thing Gramma had some healthy alternative "growing foods" for Andrew to choose from to avoid that horror show.

Nolan likes to be swaddled, but when they do, he tries really hard to pull his arms out.  It's like he's testing whether they did it properly.

Doesn't he look like a baby doll?

No, I don't want to leave Gramma.

Lynch Family Snickers Cake Recipe

1 pkg. German chocolate cake mix

1 15 1/2 oz. jar Dulce caramel sauce

1 cup chocolate chips 

Make cake according to package directions.  Pour half the batter into a 13"X9" greased and floured glass cake pan.  Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove from oven and top with chocolate chips, caramel sauce and rest of batter.  Lower oven to 250 degrees and bake an additional 20 minutes.  Raise oven to 350 degrees and bake and additional 10-15 minutes.  Cool and frost with chocolate frosting later.

You could add chopped pecans with the chocolate chips, but Dad never did.



The Jenkins Arrive to Celebrate

The Jenkins family arrived and the celebrating began; our new baby, Christmas and Becky's birthday.  They got to meet Nolan, who was not so excited by their visit.  The boys on the other hand were overjoyed to see them.  We played 500 and Guesstures everynight, read many children's books and ate non-stop.

To help the boys with their nutrition we tell them it's important to eat their "growing food."  Andrew told me he's going to eat his growing food so he can drive a car.  I paused to consider that momentous occassion, in his distant future.  He went on to say, he was going to drive Gramma and Grampa to Minnesota to visit Aunt Becky and Uncle David.  I couldn't imagine any trip I would rather take and told him we'd be happy to go with him, as soon as he's ready.

Amanda's turn to hold Nolan.

Kevin's up next.

Times up.  It's Aunt Becky's turn.

Nolan is already feeling the love tonight.

Gramma has a cold and has to keep her distance.  She stays behind the camera.

The boys arrived with Christmas headbands instead of their usual hats. 

Usually, Andrew is the first to wake up in the morning.  But this morning, Daddy heard Nathan wake up and say, "Andrew, Andrew Goedken, are you awake?"  He was then!

Baby Jesus came out of the drawer shortly after Nolan did.

The boys enjoy helping in the kitchen. They're using a Cherry Chomper to take the pits out of their cherries. I apologize to their mother for any cherry juice left in their clothes. Daddy had to explain to Nathan, that once you put a knot in the balloon, you can't blow it up again.  In the video, you hear him tell Daddy he wants to catch the balloon, which is very light and large, making it difficult.  He said something similar to me, when I was pitching to him (not very well).  I think he thinks we're the problem.  Or perhaps he thinks we can make all his wishes come true, if he just explains what they are.  Oh, if that were true.

Daddy's had some experience with Play-doh.  He can make motorcycles, too.  It's nice to know a boy is never too old for play-doh.We tried making our own play-doh, but when it started to grow something, despite the cream of tartar (or perhaps I forgot it), we decided to try the commercial variety.

My snowman needs a hat, since he doesn't have a headband.

We're sure glad Amanda knows how to read.

Even the outdoor creatures would like to come inside to celebrate with us.

Grampa got us side rails for our big bed, so we won't fall out during our nap.  Nolan will be needing the crib.  Amanda needed help to get the rails down, so she could get in the bed in the evening.  When we woke up from our naps, this is the way Gramma and Grampa found us.  They were surprised our heads were at this end.

Kevin was sleeping in the basement.  He didn't rise and shine as early as the boys.  Ryan Joseph encouraged them to go down and wake him up as payback for the years Kevin couldn't wait to wake him.  He didn't suggest they go easy on him, either.

We all went to breakfast before the Jenkins left.  Daddy has his hands full.