Superman & Pea Pod

This Halloween came in 3 iterations: a party at Harry and Jack Henry's house last weekend, Trick-or-Treating at daycare, and Trick-or-Treating with our friends Siena, Elliot and Avery. Pictures are uploaded on Flickr (link to the right).

We went with non-creative costumes. But really, Jack is just SUCH a Superman, isn't he?! And we have loved when other kids are in Pea Pod costumes, so Ryker didn't get a vote.

The festivities last night were especially fun, at least for the grown-ups. We took the kids out in our friend's neighborhood and then had pizza and beer while the kids all played together. The one time I peeked downstairs to check on them I saw Jack and Siena in some sort of wheelbarrow position (Jack was on the ground face-down and Siena was picking his legs up) - then she tipped him over so he did a somersault. It looked scary - in the "that might end up in a spinal cord injury" kind of way, but Jack was giggling so I guess it was okay.

Later in the night Jack looked dreamily up at Siena, who was on the couch with Ryker and me, and said quietly "Can I marry you?" So it must have been fun for him too.

Rallies with Children

Last night Chuck and I proved our loyalty to the Democratic party and the candidates on the ballot this year. We packed up the kids and headed to the Minneapolis Convention Center for a rally featuring Bill Clinton.

I'm quite sure we had the youngest little Democrat there in Ryker, and Jack didn't have many playmates either. They were both the HIT of the night as we wandered through the crowds. I had Ryker in a front-pack, facing out, with a bib draped over the front that says "Yes We Can". Jack was in his Team Obama shirt.

And here is why I love rallies - we met a woman and her 19 year old daughter in the stairwell of the parking ramp on our way in. They got in line much faster than we did, and as we were marching down the line trying to find the end of it, they pretended that they were holding spots for us and let us cut in front of them. They were SO nice. We spent the whole night with them. The daughter played games with Jack to keep him busy and both of them took turns holding Ryker. They were great. They knew one of the photographers too so we think we're going to get some cool pictures.

It was an inspiring night and gave me chills to hear Walter Mondale, Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar, Keith Ellison and Bill Clinton speaking about my children's future. Having them there with us was amazing, not for them really, but for Chuck and me. I kept thinking about rallies I had been to as a kid that I have never forgotten, and about the Wellstone Memorial 6 years ago.

We just kept telling Jack that it was a very special treat - right up there with Popsicles and getting to watch TV while eating dinner - to get to be in the same room with these people. We kept telling him how these were very smart and very good people and that not every little boy gets to hear these people talk to them. And while he was disappointed that Barack Obama wasn't there, and also disappointed to find out that Mayor R.T. Rybak was NOT the president, I think he had a decent time.

I hope we have helped Jack understand the importance of the political process, of being aware of what's going on. I hope we have let him know that it's okay to be passionate about something and to put yourself out there. And I look forward to telling him on Wednesday morning that our country made a good, and very brave, choice.

Introducing...

...Duff Duff.

He's a giant and he's in Jackson's clothes hamper right now. I asked what they do together and Jack said "he asks if he can use my tools to fix my bed and I say 'yes you may.'"

Oh wait - Duff Duff apparently has changed while I'm writing this blog.

Now Duff Duff is a computer fixerman and he's a very small giant. And he's apparently all done fixing my computer for me.

I'll keep you all posted.

Well-Baby

We had Ryker's 4 month-old Well-Baby exam today.

Summary of results:

-his cold is NOT an ear infection

-lungs sound good

-good motorskill development

-good verbal development

Oh, and also...

-he's HUGE.

How big is he?

He's SO BIG that they want to see him in another month just to re-measure his head to determine whether he's just REALLY REALLY big or FREAKISHLY big. Chuck tried to explain that his family is known for their large heads. But to be safe, we're going to check in a month.

Nonetheless, I was really proud of my smiley, squishy, freakishly big baby.

Supervision

We're a little lax with the supervision right now. Case in point:

This morning I put Ryker in the swing but didn't turn it on and didn't buckle him in. (Does any story end well that starts with that sort of line?) I heard Jack out there talking to Ryker and thought everything was fine until I heard a sort of grunting sound.

Me: "Jack - what are you doing out there?"
Jack: "Just helping Baby Ryker sit up."
Me: "Oh, okay."

Then I realized that no, that wasn't okay and so I sprinted out there. I found Jackson holding Ryker in a sitting position, only Ryker was on the floor under the swing and the swing was resting on Ryker's back, like Jack had just slid him out of the swing and onto the floor. I tried to stay calm and praise Jack for how well he was holding his brother, while at the same time picking Chuck's jaw up off the floor as he re-entered the house from the garage and saw this scene. Then I tried to explain to Jack that he really needs Momma or Daddy to help if he's planning to move Ryker anywhere.

Poor baby.

Maybe it's time to cave in to my brother's request that our house be outfitted with cameras so we can each monitor what the others are doing.

Family Portraits

Here are a few of the family portraits we had taken (thanks to Beth and Christi!). There are more on the Flickr site - see the link on the right.

Parenting Decathalon

I've often thought that there should be Parenting Olympics - some way for moms and dads to show off the useless skills they have acquired in a competitive, winner-takes-all type of atmosphere. Some suggestions for events:

1. Seat Belt - how fast you can get the seat belt to stop being locked in place so you can actually strap your child in without losing your mind because you're late for a meeting.
2. Driving Flexibility - how safely and quickly can you drive with just your right hand because your left hand is in the backseat holding the hand of your child, which you just closed in the window (and you're late for a meeting).
3. Baby Changing - how quickly can you change a diaper (deductions taken if you get peed on).
4. Computer Apparatus - how quickly and accurately can you type account information into the computer while standing and bouncing your baby who won't stop crying.
5. Balance - can you stand still and not fall over when your preschooler runs full steam into you to give you a hug (extra points if you are wearing heels).
6. Backwards - how quickly can you complete the following tasks backwards: shoe tieing, zipper advancement or retreat, buttoning all coat buttons.
7. Retrieval - how quickly can you retrieve foreign objects from your preschooler's nose (deductions taken if any harm is done to the child in the process of extraction).
8. Sherpa - how much weight can you carry to the car (strong-man style - we would just keep putting bags onto your shoulders and children into your arms until you can't make it to the car anymore).
9. Catch (items) - how many items can you catch when your preschooler is throwing them during a tantrum
10. Catch (babies) - how fast can you catch your baby from precarious falls such as: dropping due to preschooler being "all done" holding them, baby launching themselves off of pillow that was propping them up, baby lunging backwards while in Bumbo, mom tripping over dog while walking with baby in the dark.

I have a decided advantage right now. You all better get training soon. Prize for the winner - a big fat hug and some messy kid-kisses.