I do realize I’ve abandoned this blog for months. More on this later. For now, sit back and relax….

We are fortunate to have vacation rental property in the family, and Nick and his dad just finished developing a website for it. As long as I’ve known Nick’s family, I’ve made a stop up there every summer and can be counted on to prepare a boat for the summer (or now, just entertain my kids while Nick performs the duty!) I’ve swam there in cold temps in May, perfected my water-skiing technique, enjoyed a marshmallow by the fire, watched Calvin and Janet renew their wedding vows there in ’01, received a Grandpa Harold handshake “crush” there for the first time the same year, celebrated Carol and Denny’s 50th wedding anniversary, and watched Lauren get to know the wonder that is Calvin there. Since stays are available for rental this summer, I’m enclosing the link here. Make your own summer memories.

Lauren is super-involved in Christmas preparation this year. We cut out sugar cookies with Grandma this year, and she was kind of squirrely during that process, but when I sat her down at home to decorate them with frosting and sprinkles, boom, she was there. She also had a role in cutting down the tree (both kids came along with Dad and me but wanted to sit in the car during the selection process) and trimming it (she’d unwrap ornaments out of the boxes and try to hang them, but handed them off to Dad). This was the conversation while decorating the tree: Lauren – “Elves say RRRaRRR! Reindeer say RRRaRRR! They are monsters.” She also kept asking for hooks and calling them “hookers.” Isaac is interested in pulling the lowest ornaments off the branches, so we have to watch him.

Lauren, Isaac and I went to Olbrich Gardens to see the holiday train, trees and poinsettias. Lauren sipped hot chocolate while Isaac charmed several older female volunteers, and both kids stood by the train fence, captivated by it.

During late November, Isaac learned to pull up to standing and to go up the staircase with supervision. He stands up in his crib in the mornings now and greets me with a big smile. We are working with him on using a sippy cup, and plan to get him on whole milk after his first birthday. He is eating a wide range of table food and likes everything. He babbles a lot, like “Mommomom,” and “Da-da.” He can crawl on his knees, but still prefers to Army crawl. He made me laugh a few nights ago: He really enjoys baths, and he was playing in the kitchen while I gathered up pajamas and diapers. When I turned on the bath in advance, he Army-crawled all the way into the bathroom and pulled up on the side of the tub. His nine month appointment went well; although he’s grown almost 10 inches since birth, he’s still in the 11th percentile for weight (although, it’s healthy for him).

I had to work on Lauren’s birthday, so we got up and I dressed her in a top, skirt, tights and shoes for the occasion. Then we drove to Kaye’s house, where were were tackled by kids. “Happy birthday! Open your present!” they shouted. The enthusiasm was catching! Nick and I made plans to have friends to a bouncy house for Lauren in January, so the actual day was pretty low-key. Lauren requested chocolate cake and we gave her DVDs of “Snow White and the Seven Dwaves” and “Sleeping Beauty.” She also received a purple outfit.

Needless to say, I’m proud of my three-year-old. The way she says, “HippoMISSpotamus.” The way she watches out for her brother now that he’s mobile; I taught her to say, “No-no Isaac,” and give him another toy when he’s grabbing for something bad. The great way she colors within the lines, snuggles in my lap while reading, and is preoccupied with foam sticker projects. The progress she’s made potty-training (dry during the day!) Her interest in letters and spelling. She’s interested in Disney princesses now and has inspired me to go back and watch Disney offerings with her. Good times are ahead.

Lauren had her three-year checkup and is experiencing normal growth, but the resident assistant noticed a small heart murmur. My heart literally stopped with this information, but our pediatrician (who conveniently served her residence at a heart hospital) says that up to 75% of toddlers have a heart murmur and it goes away as they grow. With Lauren’s, you can hear it as she sits, but it goes away when she lays down because the pumping of the blood evens out.

The kids had a great time at Grandma and Grandpa’s. Lauren cut out rolled sugar cookie dough with Grandma, played with the new-to-her toys hauled out of the basement, read books, banged on the piano and completed art projects. Isaac enjoyed his first Thanksgiving dinner, sucking up sweet potatoes, green beans and turkey (I’m only sorry I forgot to take a photograph). I was so busy I only helped with the pie filling (but am inspired to try my own pie crust sometime, as it was SO yummy). After Brayden arrived on Thursday, he stuck the cat comb and brush in the litterbox, giving Grandpa a laugh! We were all happy to be together.

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we attended a memorial service for my aunt Laura, who passed away from liver and colon cancer. She’d had a heart attack several years ago that changed her dramatically. I had had a chance to visit her the previous Thursday and her speech was limited. I stepped into the parlor and noticed Mardi Gras beads strung everywhere. The room was bright with flowers and photographs of all stages of Laura’s life surrounded the urn of ashes. “Wow,” said Nick, “How did they find all this stuff on such short notice?”

“Actually,” I said, “It was already all at her house.”

It was true. Aunt Laura had attended many Mardi Gras in New Orleans. She was still a nurse in summer 2005, so she even assisted at the Hurricane Katrina sites. She adored Lauren and insisted on holding her, even when Lauren needed to take naps. She made me a birthday cake for my 30th birthday. In her best times, she was a colorful person.

My uncle took the podium. After a sweet speech from my aunt, he handed out masks and had us parade around the room to Southern music. In keeping with the theme, jambalaya was served afterwards. It was thoughful and well-planned, and people said, “I actually had fun.”

I worked hard to get my youngest brother there. When my grandmother saw him, for the first time in years, she cried. After all the arrangements for babysitters, convincing my dad my brother needed to go, and getting him out there…it was worth it all.

Two cute little boys, both with big hearts and imaginations, were born one day apart in 2007, and Sam and Austin both turned three this October. Sam is Kim and Jeff’s little boy, and Austin is one of Lauren’s daycare friends. On Friday we celebrated with Sam at Bouncy Town and had cake and pizza at his house while the kids played. On Saturday, Austin’s parents hosted a costume birthday party. “All he said he wanted was his friends to get together,” his mom Teresa said. Austin dressed as Ironman (I have to learn all these boy things in time for Isaac, because really, I have no idea) and Lauren got another day’s use of the Cinderella costume. What good times!

For Halloween this year, we found an old blue princess dress handed down from Lauren’s cousins and thought it would work as Cinderella. Bonus – one pair of gold ballet flat “glass slippers” for $2 at the Half-Pint Resale. Isaac’s Pooh was also found at HPR and we were set. Lauren talked about Halloween for two weeks beforehand, like it was Christmas. She said, “If Isaac is Winnie the Pooh, you should be Piglet, Mom,” so many times that I did order Piglet ears. She came up with one or two other ideas as well. Her friend Andra was going as Princess Aurora. Nick and I arranged a chili supper in the driveway; 50s temperatures were expected.

We met Lauren’s friend Owen and his parents in the street and the two kids trick-or-treated together, running from house to house screaming. Lauren and I had practiced the trick-or-treat transaction in the basement, but there was no need to worry: she boomed out “Trick or Treat” at every house. (I was a shy trick-or-treater, even as an older kid, so this amazed me.) When the kids were tired of walking, we had chili, hot chocolate, apple cider and pulled pork sandwiches with the neighbors, Andra and Owen. I know in upcoming years, families will want to start their own traditions, but in the meantime, it was great to catch up. The kids chased each other in the yard and rode bikes as the adults warmed themselves by the fire.

Next year, Lauren says she wants to be Bucky Badger. Warm choice.

Oh, Isaac. Now that Mom is working crazy hours for two different jobs, she’s not blogging as much. And when she does blog, it’s about something Lauren does! Here are some things I’m loving about you right now:

* Lauren, going up to strangers and when they ask about her brother, she thumps her chest and says, “He’s MY Isaac.” (OK, so that was about Lauren…)
* Your babbling in the morning, and when I come and get you, you’re on your stomach facing me and always with a bright smile.
* I can see your dad’s wacky sense of humor in you already. You laugh at the strangest things!
* You giggle with your sister and sometimes tickle on the floor! I hope it’s the beginning of a good friendship.
* You growl and complain in your high chair for your solid food if it’s not fast enough. After the solids are gone, you complain there’s not more. I honestly think you’d eat all the baby food in the pantry if you could.
* You are teething a full six months earlier than your sister, and although you are fussier, it’s cute.
* You love reaching for the lambs on your crib mobile, exactly like your sister did at your age!

Love ya.

Nick and I have been looking for programs for Lauren now that she’s approaching that magical age of three, where she’s eligible for things. Our family club has a tumbling group for toddlers, Twinklestars. I debated the price, asked friends if they’d ever enrolled – and one day, a discounted coupon arrived in the mail. We decided to use some of Lauren’s Christmas money for it. Great decision. She loves it, and the teachers are so much nicer than the one in her toddler exercise group, and less frantic than her swim teacher (we are averaging one activity a season, which is just enough to get her out of the house). Each class showcases eight stations to work on a muscle group, perfect for those short toddler attention spans! There’s a balance beam, a hill to roll down, parallel bars, and puzzles and clothespins to work on fine motor skills. Watching toddlers try to open a clothespin is really hilarious! One of Lauren’s favorite motor skill items is an oatmeal can with a slot where she can poke poker chips in. Easy to recreate at home one of these days.

One of the things I want to remember about this age: Lauren is really mellowing out, after a tantrum-filled second year. I’m looking forward to three. She’s learning Spanish names for colors with Kaye and shouts them at random times. “Azul!” (Blue). “Rojo!” (Red) and so on. Love it.

Row 1: Celebrating Mom’s birthday, attending Ami’s wedding and posing with Marie.

Row 2: Teaching Isaac to sit, letting Isaac relax in Dam Lake.

Row 3: Lauren attending Andra and Penny’s joint birthday party and swings with Owen. Isaac learns to sit (and likes looking at the grass too!).

Row 4: At the new Madison Children’s Museum, Lauren scaled the wooden rope/slide combo and Isaac chilled out in the baby tumbling area.

Row 5: Lauren feeds Isaac. With supervision, she’s so gentle (but messy!) and loves to help out. Dad buys Lauren a kite at the Dollar Store on a windy, cool fall day.

Row 6: Bro and sis hold hands traveling together.

The “nuk fairy” recently visited Lauren, and we took her nuk, put it in a gift bag and hung it on our front door. In the morning, there was a present from the nuk fairy: a tea set with cups and cakes! Lauren was more satisfied with the explanation from Dad that the nuks were going to help other babies that needed them, than the actual present.

We have also been practicing dry mornings with underwear on. Baby steps.

I cannot believe how much baby food Isaac has been eating! Growing boy!

Lauren and Isaac finished their summer reading challenge through the library, just in time to go to a pool party this Saturday for the participants. Lauren finished 60 books (they all had to be different titles, so that’s not counting repeat reads of favorites!) Isaac finished 80 activities, like reading board books with Mom, singing songs, and doing activities (patty cake is a favorite).

Isaac is doing a great job eating solid food. He is up to two meals a day and likes everything we’ve tried: oatmeal, rice cereal, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, peaches. He cries for his food on command now! We’ll introduce a third meal soon. He is almost able to sit up by himself if you place him in a sitting position, too!