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.

And Unto Us a Child Is Born

When a baby enters, the atmosphere in the room changes.

And all within exhale and inhale with the breath of the child.

Awareness of a majestic universe is felt through the tiny child.

And in his eyes is the depth of love only our souls can reach.

Matt and Megan meet Nolan Conry Goedken.

7 lbs. 4 oz., 20 in.

December 24, 2011

Mother and child.

Auntie Becca and Uncle Ryan love their new Christmas present.

Can you feel the love tonight?

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Dressed for his first party.

Am I having fun?

And then there were three!

Welcome to Twins' Friday.  We'll take good care of you, Nolan. 

Elvis Goedken

What a difference a year makes.  The box still reigns as a great gift, but it is now more exciting to unwrap the box.  The boys understand that so well, they tried to open some of the presents their parents were planning to give their cousins.  But they learned and felt bad when Daddy explained their cousins would be disappointed if they didn't have any presents to open.  They were so polite to ask each person opening their present, "Would you like me to help you open your present?" 

It's funny how they don't really know what a scooter is, but only need to see it has wheels to know it's a great new toy.

 

Scooter technique takes a bit of trial and error practice, but also provides a Koshy lesson in life... "We never give up!"  I do have a plaque in the office that says, "Never, never, ever give up."  I'll have to teach the boys to read it, soon.

After four boys of their own, Jim and Andrea know what a boy likes for a gift.  Nathan was so excited about getting his guitar, he almost skipped dessert, rather than put it down.  Of course, putting it down would mean Andrew might pick it up.  Mommy warned toys get put in a Time Out, if they're not shared.  To be sure this didn't happen, Nathan picked up the guitar after dessert and offered it to Andrew first.  This is a boy who sees the bottom line and knows how to get what he wants.  In this regard, he is very similar to his Auntie Becca.  His cheeks were bright red from his playing and dancing.  He may wish to follow his cousin, Danny in learning hip-hop dancing. 

Friday Field Trip to CC's

Grampa is on vacation, so it's time for a Friday Field Trip.  We hoped for snow, but since there's no sign of a White Christmas, we headed to Chuck E. Cheese.  Chuck E. Cheese is like childbirth.  After years, you forget what it's really like.  A child's mind is obviously overwhelmed by the electro-magnetic radiation upon entering.  They get a glazed look and their heads turn in slow motion; as if they've entered an alternative reality.  It doesn't matter that they only serve faux-food.  You're not there for nutrition.  You're there to see how far the senses can be stretched and loaded.

The boys could rarely focus on the actrual game they were playing.  Their heads were busy spinning exorcist style to look at the flashing lights, the dancing puppets, and the clanging sounds of excitement.

There are levers, pedals, dials and steering wheels, that future engineers find overwhelming.

But with their testosterone in evidence, they give it a try.

There are caroussels that go around a total of four times.  It doesn't matter, because there are so many other games and rides demanding their time.

There are horses to be ridden and races to be won.

Did Chuck E. Cheese pay to ride with us?

A return for another couple of spins on the caroussel, because those four rotations go quickly.

Can you believe this ferris wheel?  I'm glad there's a seat belt.  Where did I leave my shoes?

Did you see the guy behind me?

I think he eats little boys' shoes.

The driver on the bus says, "Move on back."

Time to change drivers.  I'll be the co-pilot.

I always knew I would enjoy riding a motorcycle.

I'm getting the hang of this place.

It doesn't even matter that I can't reach the pedals.

All jockeys are little guys.

I'm ready for the Arlington Race Track.

When you see him stick his head up, give him a whack.  Grampa says it's training for the mouse in his house.

They let you feed coins to the hungry machines.

Guitar Hero, here I come.  Just call me, Andrew Jagger.

Isn't he wonderful?  He's so animated.

I didn't notice it at the time, but Terry said Andrew stopped another family's game.  He didn't mean to, but he was attracted to the big red stop button lit up. It's hard to learn proper etiquette at Chuck E. Cheese.  Instead of teaching Andrew how to apologize, Terry just rushed him away from the scene of the crime.

Nathan, did enjoy using the big boy bathroom and seems to be ready to cross another one of life's bridges.

Frosty, the Snowman

On the way down, we dusted the wood on the steps.  On the way back up, we used the dirt devil to vacuum the carpet on each step.  I reflected that our quality of cleaning was very high, but unfortunately our speed was so slow we'd be swallowed up by dirt.  The boys took turns with the dirt devil.  Two steps from the top, Nathan managed to release something on the dirt devil and it came apart.  I reflexively responded, "Oh, no!"  Nathan looked anxiously into my face.  I quickly recovered and told him we'd need to get the dust pan and Grampa could fix the dirt devil.  Grampa came to the rescue and showed the boys all the parts inside the dirt devil.  We then started all over and Gramma brought out the big vacuum.

I put the boys' step stool in fromt of the buffet, so they could feel free to look at the manger scene.  Grampa found Andrew taking a close look and asked him if Baby Jesus was there, yet.  Andrew told him, "No, Gramma's got him in the drawer."  Later, I found him there and told him we're also waiting for Auntie Megan's baby.  Andrew told me, "I want to see him when he comes out of the drawer."  I paused a moment to consider how I could explain birth better, and then told him, "I do too."

The boys love the Eric Carle book From Head to Toe.  Here Andrew is demonstrating that he can kick his legs like a donkey.  Gramma can do it, too, but there are no pictures available.

Andrew intently tries to copy Frosty's act. 

And Nathan enjoys Frosty singing in his ear.  Perhaps he's being tickled by the carrot nose.

Frosty practices his piano.

Frosty has a cool hat.

Andrew told me the toilet paper was playing Follow the Leader.  I think that's the best description I've ever heard for unwinding the TP.  Andrew spends most of his day with a monkey on his back.  The monkey on Gramma's back can't be seen.

Why?

The boys stayed overninght. In the middle of the night, I heard Nathan calling for me. I moved quickly, before he would wake his brother. When I scooped him up, he told me he needed "Mousie" who sleeps with him. I checked his blankets, under his pillow and finally got on the floor to check under the bed. No Mousie! I repeated a search of all of the above, when I realized that Nathan was holding Mousie.

Nathan has entered the World of Why.  His "why?" has three or four different pitches; like a short tune.  He asks "why?" at the strangest times.  It's difficult to figure out, "Why, what?"  An answer is  usually followed by five or six more "why's?"  My parents used to get exhausted by Becky's and my "why's?"  Their response was "because" or sometimes an exasperated, "Why, why, why?"  I hated that and knew I would never use that with my children.  I don't think I ever did.  When Nathan began his series of "why's" I thought, you have no idea how patient I can be.  No more how many times it came up, I always answered the question with as much information as I could.  After two days, he actually seemed to be wearing out, listening to my long dissertations that served as answers.  I think he was having trouble remembering what the question was by the end of the answer.  It occurred to me that the persistent question might be more problematic coming from two little boys. 

Mousie learns to pluck the strings.

I was trying to get the boys upstairs for their naps.  I was carrying Nathan, the boys' monkeys, books and my ipod.  Andrew finished what he was doing and came running down the hall, yelling, "Wait for me."  When he caught up to us, he said, "Pick me up,"  I explained that my hands were full.  He checked my hands and said, "Yes, you can.  You have two hands."  It's empowering to realize your grandchildren think you have super powers.  I carried Nathan to the top of the steps and then returned for Andrew.

When our new baby comes, he's going to need some training in the swing.  How did I ever fit in here?

A monkey on your back isn't always a bad thing.

The magic happens when I hammer on the couch, while the sun is shining on it.  The fuzzies fly in the sunbeam.

If I swing the hammer at the fuzzies, they move away.  Perhaps we should be dusting with a hammer.

It's time for me to learn how to play Jingle Bells.

A Goedken Advent

Gramma says we look just like Grampa.

I think it's because we're wearing our "Grampa" shirts.

The boys are so good at entertaining themselves.  Their minds are always working.  Their creativite energy is compounded by their collaberation. 

The boys helped put the ornaments on the lower branches of the tree.  They have their favorite ornaments; the birdhouse with chimes attached, the violin (with no bow), Santa on ice skates and the ornaments with their pictures on them.  I find I enjoy my ornaments more sharing them and their stories with the boys. 

We share the story of Jesus' birth at the wooden creche Grampa made.  The boys know where Baby Jesus will be placed.  But for now, we're waiting.  We also talk about the new baby Matt and Megan will have soon.  This is a special Advent for the Goedkens.

Decorating the Christmas tree can be messy work.  Good thing Grampa has me to help.