Sharing

Ashley and I are working hard to teach the boys the concept of sharing. It's not something that any of them are good at yet...or even okay at yet honestly. We are constantly taking things away because they first refuse to share, then start pulling the toy (or whatever it is) back and forth, then usually head butting and/or biting, slapping or pinching follows. Good times.

So today we are on the way home from Heather's house; the twins are in the way back (like always). Andrew got a sucker today, so he is happy. John did not get a sucker because he jumped on Heather's couch after she asked him to stop three times.
John says to me, 'Mama, I want a lick of Andrew's sucker."
"Ask him nicely and see if he will share, John" I respond.
As the words are coming out of my mouth I am kicking myself. Why did I say that? Andrew will say no, John will start sobbing and I will have to listen to him screaming the rest of the way home.
John: "Andy, can I have a taste of your sucker?"
Andy: "Yes, John" (handing the sucker over to him)
John turns the sucker around in his mouth a few times and hands it back. A couple seconds pass.
John: "Andy, lemme have another lick of your sucker."
Andy: "okay"

I am watching them in the rear view mirror in disbelief.
Me: "Well aren't you sweet Andy! How nice of you to share your sucker! What do you tell him John?"

John: "'Preciate it. 'Preciate it Andrew!"

The whole exchange was so precious. Andy sharing something he LOVES and John expressing his 'preciation. What sweet boys!

awesome dad

Giving love and discipline, fixing broken toys and hurt feelings, teaching lessons when it would be easier not to, making us all feel extra special...

building towers, rocking the baby, cleaning the kitchen...

stepping over legos and high heels on your way to bed...

Ashley, Daddy, Da-Da

You carry us all and we love you so much.

Chocolate Resolutions

For a period of probably ten years I convinced myself that I really did not like chocolate. I actually stopped eating it (for the most part) in high school because it is so fattening. I had so much to worry about back then you know since I only exercised about 20 hours a week. Anyway, I have always loved candy like skittles, nerds, twizzlers...all the sugary stuff. This season though, I let myself fall into the trap of just eating "a little chocolate" here and there. So essentially I have gone from someone who "doesn't really like chocolate" to someone has eaten every chocolate thing that I have seen in the past month. My diet has included M&M's (peanut, regular and mint), Reece's, mini Snickers, mini Milky Way, mini 3 Musketeers, cookies, cakes, Hershey's hugs and kisses, and Twix. It's absurd.

Tonight while rocking P to sleep I told myself that it has to stop. I have to get back on the "I do not really like chocolate" wagon and stay there because I am obviously incapable of doing anything in moderation.

I have never been really big on New Year's resolutions, but I am going to have 2 resolutions in 2009: stop eating everything in sight and do some work on Preemie G. (don't ask about Preemie G. I could tell you, but I would have to kill you since I do not have a patent yet).

Andy and John have a resolution too: Get potty trained. I will wait and tell them next week.

Christmas 08

Gilfillan Christmas...

It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost over. Back to the grind tomorrow. Not really, since Ashley and I are both going to be home, but back to the disciplinary grind tomorrow. Despite getting more presents than we have room for in our house, the boys behaved pretty badly today. (Not including Wyatt)

What part of celebrating the birth of Jesus (to include eating candy, opening presents and visiting family) could possibly bring out this side of our precious boys? I am still puzzled about this.

The boys got so many wonderful things from all of their grandparents, great-grandparents and uncles and aunts. Santa, Ashley and I hooked them up of course too. Maybe the problem was sensory overload.

In spite of the bickering and whining that took up a lot of the day, the boys ended on a sweet note. In bed we were saying prayers and Andrew, I mean Andy, said "Bless baby Jesus in the manger." John followed up by saying "Happy Birthday Jesus." I am glad that in the midst of all the new toys, they know the real reason for the celebration.

Zupe it

For as long as I can remember John has said "zupe" instead of "zip".

"Mama, I zupe my jammies myself."
"I gonna zupe my jacket."
"You zuping Wyatt's sweater?"

Tonight we were reading Carl's Christmas, which we have read practically every night since May. It's a picture book, but we go through the story the same way night after night. It begins with Carl bringing the baby downstairs, wrapping a present and then the dog helps the boy get dressed.

Tonight:
Me: "what's that doggie doing?"
John: "zipping his jammies"
Me: "what did you say?"
John: "zipping up those jammies."
Me: "yep, he is zuping them (my heart sinking)."
John: "Yep, zipping them."
Me: "You're right honey....zipping them."

Awww, my baby is growing up so fast. I have to zupe my lip to keep from crying.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We began our weekend before Christmas by going to see the lights at Saluda Shoals park on Friday night. The big boys got out of their car seats and sat in the front seat with us; they loved all the lights and cried when it was time to leave.



Today our Christmas festivities continued. Grandaddy Terry and GG (my dad and step-mom) came for a pre-Christmas visit. We had a wonderful day opening some gifts, hanging out, eating lunch and enjoying each other's company.

Thanks to Dad and Gail for bringing lunch and gifts; we all love you very much.

Recent Pictures...

Granny Meg gave the boys some a gingerbread making kit. We had a blast making them. Here is John working on his "cookie bread man".

Andrew with icing on his fingers.

Andrew decided to decorate himself after he finished decorating his "cookie bread man"

Look at those thighs! So sweet!