2010. You were all about monumental change and magical moments in our everyday. You watched our little family grow bigger and closer and older. You were full of surprise and anticipation. You gathered new friends and old. You gave us fresh air and sweet sounds and exploration. You were {logistically} complicated and emotional and brilliant.
You focused on reorg and routine {and in doing so achieved great things}. You heard us pray for others and sing for ourselves and laugh out loud. You watched us dance. You ran ahead, slowed down and then rushed to the finish. You were completely awesome and totally exhausting. We love you, but we look forward to 2011. To simplify.
One day Buby got the urge to build something from scratch. I found him excitedly rummaging through my craft closet for wood and glue. He said he wanted to make a house for his animals, particularly the horse.
I didn't have what he needed, so the next day on our way back from somewhere My Sweets pulled into a Michael's parking lot {love that store!} and Buby and I hopped out. Two minutes later we were back in the car with two small bags of cut wood. I had no idea what Buby intended to do with them.
At home he asked for assistance building a "strong foundation." My Sweets secured the floor and two sides with wood glue and clamps and told Buby to wait until it was dry. Meanwhile, he raided my craft bin again and came down with Popsicle sticks, red and white paint, buttons {I think leftover from our '09 ornament project}, mini bulbs, and glittery pipe cleaners.
The next two nights Buby came home from school and went straight to work on his house, adding little touches here and there while Bleu colored and I cooked. As soon as he was finished he stood up said, "Yup. It's perfect."
Speaking of holiday concerts, Bleu Bird made herself right at home in Buby's class. She had a blast during the reception, explored the science area for a while and held her own in an unauthorized game of chase. She's so ready for preschool next Fall.
12.21.10
That's my boy in the back row with his Santa hat on. The "West" classroom performed a little concert for the families this year, and it happened to fall on my birthday. What a gift to see Buby and his schoolmates all together and singing their hearts out. Buby even had two solo reading parts {about Thanksgiving and Christmas}.
For some reason me and video cameras don't mix, so I can't give you a sample. This time my memory card was {unexpectedly} full, so I spent the concert taping/deleting/taping/deleting. I got bits and pieces for My Sweets to see, but most of it was out of focus. Maybe in the Spring I'll get it right.
Buby and Grace after the holiday concert on 12.21.10.
I cannot believe I'm using the words "kiss" and "Buby" in the same sentence. But here goes. The evidence as presented to me:
December 19th {two Sundays ago}. Buby and Bleu are having a play date at our good friend Allison's house while My Sweets takes me and Ollie out for birthday lunch. Buby and Grace build a fort downstairs. Grace tells Bleu she can't come in the fort. Five year olds IN! Two year olds OUT! At some point Buby leans in and kisses Grace on the cheek. She kisses him right back, on the lips. Buby falls over. Or backwards. I can't remember the exact wording. He is obviously surprised, according to Grace. She is giddy.
Grace keeps it secret for a whole week until she sees her Omi on the Cape. Then it spills out. Omi tells Allison. Allison tells Jon. Grace tells Jon and eventually Allison. Allison tells me. I tell Tom. In private. Buby tells me last night {one day later} while I'm kissing him on the cheek and asking leading questions about kissing people on cheeks. Heehee. I still do not let Buby know that we already know. He's officially blushing, and I change the subject to spare him. No official confirmation on whether the lip kiss was successful or not. I guess that part remains mystery.
Grace tells her daddy, "Gavin wants to marry me, but I already married you when I was three." Matter of fact, like it's crossed off her to-do list.
Buby tells me, "I love Grace."
My thoughts. Our little boy's best friend is a girl. A girl who knows princes and fairy tales and happily ever afters. They've been friends a VERY. LONG. TIME. I know Buby feels sentimental about Grace, but he doesn't usually think of her as a girl. They met as babies, before those things mattered, and several of his close friends are female. If I had to guess... he didn't think much of initiating a cheek kiss. That's sooo Buby. Grace is important to him, and he wanted to show her that. We cheek kiss all day long here. But I am betting Grace's lip plant was a game changer in his mind. That threw him off. That's what Mommy and Daddy do. That's why he squirmed and blushed at first mention of Grace's name after it happened.
Last Spring Allison and I joked that the kids might kiss one day... many years out... since Grace would want to choreograph something as monumental as a first kiss. That's just her style. We laughed that she'd handpick Buby for the job because he's so sensitive and sweet and obliging. A safe, predictable option... and he'd never turn her down.
So. Here at home we also give kisses of the imaginary fruit-flavored variety. I started it when Buby was little. All day long someone is throwing or catching them from across the room. I think I'll encourage THAT more going forward.
But seriously, I'm writing this down because someday my kindergartner will no longer be a kindergartner and might appreciate knowing when and with whom he shared this precious milestone. I wish I remembered my first kiss. I really do.
Ollie Bear. 8 weeks old. 12 lbs, 2 oz {50th %tile}. 22 3/4 inches long {75th %tile}. Pure joy.
"To the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world."
~ unknown
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Head to toe Bills. What do you think? Is he a fan?
12.25.10Finally Buby got his snow. His first sledding adventure of the season happened over an old compost pile in my dad's back yard, and he couldn't have been happier.
Cousins Parker, Spencer and Buby.
Our trip "home" was short this year, but it was sweet. Worth every snowy mile. We arrived in town Friday evening just in time for Great Aunt Mary's annual Christmas Eve gathering. Her holiday house is always warm and festive. I pigged out on everything in sight and introduced Ollie Bear to the family.
We caught up with her and Uncle Bill, Grandpa J., Debbie and Jayson, Karen, Steve, Ronan and baby Riley, the Grygiels, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Mike, Sidney, Lily and Mason. {Sadly, several key people were missing, including: Crystal, Jason, Ryan and Jessica, Aunt Pat and Uncle Pete, Aunt Judy and Uncle Jim, Jennifer, Bill, Billy, and baby Brooke.}
Saturday morning we slept in a tiny bit, exchanged gifts with Grandma DJ, drove to my brother-in-law's house for round 2, and then to my parents' house for round 3. All tradition. We were there from 1 p.m. on and topped off the evening with my mom's insanely delicious cherry, peach and apple crumb pies. Yum. Her desserts rock my world.
Sunday we returned to my mom's for lunch with my brother Mark and his family... and then back to Grandma DJ's for her annual day-after shindig with the usual suspects plus Debbie, Frank, Reagan, Harper, Tom G. We really missed Sarah and Jamie and ate way too many of Mel's chocolate-dipped marshmallow sticks.
Later I packed and My Sweets loaded, and we stood in awe of each other. I tell you we are slowly mastering the road tripping experience. Monday morning we put new tires on the car, met Grandpa J. for lunch, and headed south through some beautifully enormous snowflakes. The drive was just five hours {a record}, and all kiddos traveled well. When we pulled in front of our house around 8 p.m. we were greeted by five-foot-tall snowbanks.
The photos below are random and incomplete {I'm missing the first night}, but here's a snapshot of Christmas weekend 2010.
Cousins Lily and Bleu playing dolls; Ollie in the same Christmas jumper Buby wore five years ago; the turtle blankie is a Grandma DJ original; our magician loves his new costume {thanks, Debbie!}. 
Ginormous muffins are no match for our Bleu; nephew Mason always gives me this suspicious stare. He hasn't quite warmed up to us yet. 
Grandpa J. and his youngest; my niece Sidney shares a moment with her Gr. Grygiel; cousin Reagan adorable in her new specs; my bro and dad.
My Sweets in Buby's bow tie; Dad elated as the kids open; cousin Harper's angel face.
Ollie rests in Grandma DJ's arms; Buby in Christmas jams; Bleu licks her first candy cane.
Every time my mom holds Ollie Bear he smiles. Like a boy in love.
My niece Gracie, nephews Spence and Parker and older brother Mark.
Bleu puts on her silly; Parker hides under the dining table during a game of chase.
And happy 2 months to Oliver Henri.
These genius birthday cards courtesy of three-year-old nieces Sid + Lily. They made me so happy to open. Thank you, girls.
We are driving to Family Land as I type. Should be to Great Aunt Mary's by 4:30. Just in time to party. We are psyched. Merry Christmas!
I cannot even describe my level of exhaustion right now. I pulled an all-nighter {packing and wrapping}, and I look it. Oh do I look it. To add salt to the wound I just asked Buby how old I am now {birthday was on Tuesday}, and he said 43. Actually I'm 34.
Yesterday we celebrated Christmas at home just the five of us. It was pretty wonderful. We were supposed to start our road trip immediately after opening gifts but decided instead to let the kiddos enjoy the day at home in their jams. They spent hours reveling in Santa's bounty, and I bought myself a teeny bit more time... to pack and wrap. Ha.
Happy holidays, everyone.
p.s. There is SNOW here. Buby is currently plotting all the ways he'll play in it.
p.s.s. How amazing is technology that I took the above photo 30 seconds ago and I'm posting it now? From the CAR!
p.s.s.s. You can't see him, but Ollie Bear totally coordinates today in red and brown. And, so far, hasn't POOPED through.
Just spend 5 minutes with my Bleu Bird. She's crazy funny. A little crazy. A lot funny.
Bleu adores these wooden pull toys. Who knew! One would assume she is too old.
Before Thanksgiving my parents took in an elephant, zebra, giraffe and frog from my Aunt Carol. {She was moving and needed to downsize her toy inventory.} The idea was to keep them at my parents' house, but Bleu was so immediately smitten that my dad insisted she take her new pals home with her.
She has played with them nonstop ever since. That's over a month. Nonstop.
