Dear Santa

celery slide

Daphne loves playing with the big kids!

After meeting Santa

Viola and Tyler dancing

Tyler met Santa at the mall on Friday. He was pretty shy at first but then he warmed up. When Santa asked Tyler what he wants for Christmas he said he wants "a monster truck this big" and he held his hand up above his head. He also said that he wants a bulldozer that pushes sand.

Running Shoes

We were recently at the Nike Outlet, where Michael bought new running shoes. While Michael tried on shoes, Tyler, Daphne, and I looked at the kids shoes on sale since Tyler's current sneakers are almost too small. We found some spiffy black sneakers with white trim and design. Tyler calls them his running shoes and says that he wants to go running with Daddy. He wore his new shoes to daycare this week. Tyler's teacher told us that all morning every time a parent came in to drop off their kid(s), Tyler would hold out one of his feet and wait for the parent to comment. After they told him, "Nice shoes!" or "Awesome shoes!" Tyler would tell them "They're for running" in a very matter-of-fact tone.

Velcro that!

While I love the ease of velcro, it is no match for Daphne! I can't tell you how many times a day she pulls off her bib or her shoes. Daphne likes to take off her shoes and socks and then put them in her mouth.

Play Park

Captain Tyler and Captain Calvin navigating the seas
in their "boat". Tyler told me that they caught crabs and
fish for us to eat. If only Tyler really ate seafood!

Lilith, Lourdes, and Sandie

Christopher getting his basketball fill

Look out! There is a new sheriff in town!
And she's a sweetie...

What a Diva!

Diva or temperamental 3-1/2 year old? The two are probably synonymous! Tyler’s tantrums had seemed to get better but lately he has been temperamental again. He hasn’t really been wanting to nap (even though we think he needs it) so the last few days we haven’t pushed the issue. However, the last two days Tyler has had a meltdown around 4 pm. On Friday he fell asleep while getting a consoling hug from me and then yesterday he fell asleep while crying mid-tantrum on the floor.

Tantrum-induced nap

The diva showed his demanding side yesterday when we were getting family portraits taken. Tyler was sulking because Michael and I got to sit on stools (sized for adults) with the kids on our lap. Then when the photographer broke out a cute little bench for Tyler and Daphne to do a sibling pose, Tyler refused to sit on the bench and kept whining about how he wanted to sit on a stool. The photographer kindly obliged and Michael held Daphne next to Tyler; however, I think the photos would have turned out better on the bench!

The Wanderer

Lyrics from Dion song:

They call me the wanderer

Yeah, the wanderer

I roam around, around, around

 

Daphne has gotten increasingly more brazen about exploring the house. The other day she was playing happily in her room while I put away laundry. I left for a minute to go to the bathroom and when I came back she was gone. I didn't see her nearby in the hallway or my bedroom. That fast baby had crawled all the way down the hallway, through the kitchen, and to the living room where Michael and Tyler were!

Soccer

Tyler had his last soccer class of the season last weekend. The field has been wet the past few classes, but last week they finally played in the rain towards the end of class. The kids thought the rain was great!

Practicing taking shots on goal

Taking a turn as goalie for the mustard team

Covered in mud! The photo doesn't do
justice of the mud from the knees down,
all over the hands, and by his eye.