2013: A Year In Review

This year I decided to do a Christmas letter in our blog in lieu of sending out an actual Christmas letter. (Honestly, who keeps them? Do you?) 

Jordan: 

  This year was an bit of a roller coaster ride with our 4 year old.  A few weeks after Jordan turned 4 in March, we went to WA for David's grandfather's funeral. The same day we arrived, Jordan fell out of our hotel window 2 stories up. Praise be to God who protected our sweet boy.  He had a grade 3 liver laceration, but no broken bones and no lasting injuries.  In September, Jordan started Pre-K and more prayers were answered.  He has a wonderful teacher who understands that along with his high energy, there is a sweet and caring heart.  Jordan has been loving school this year. He can write his name (and Lucas's), and asks me to work on his school project with him. (A weekly packet that gets sent home). Jordan has started karate and is loving it. What a great outlet for his energy. Another change that happened over the past few months was taking Red Dye #40 out of Jordan's diet. Yes I was quite skeptical when I read about it, but I figured it would be a relatively easy thing to do and why not give it a shot. While Jordan is still your typically active 4 year old, he has calmed down a lot. The over the top tantrums and aggressiveness have dramatically reduced (and now only happens when he is overtired or ingests Red Dye unknowingly).  This simple change has made life so much easier for all of us, especially Jordan who says "Red Dye makes me mad. I can't have it". Hey, whatever works! He has been a champ since day one in understanding why he is unable to have certain foods, drinks or candy.  I look forward to seeing how my handsome boy continues to mature and grow in the next year! 

Lucas:

    This year was a big change for Lucas as he adjusted to Jordan going back to school.  He was 16 months old when Jordan fell, so he was too young to remember Jordan being in school prior to his accident.  When Jordan started school in the fall, Lucas was beside himself. Remember this picture from September? 

Thankfully, after a month, Lucas transitioned and started realizing that Mommy was not so bad to hang out with after all :) This little guy has been keeping up with his brother and gets his fair share of bruises and bumps.  He so badly wants to do everything his big brother does, and becomes extremely frustrated when faced with his limitations. When Lucas turned 2, he decided that he had to throw a tantrum every day, say 'no' and cross his arms while walking away. I still maintain that someone told him how a 2 year is supposed to act.  Approximately two weeks after Lucas turned 2, he decided that it was time to sleep in the bottom bunk. That was it - one night he asked to sleep on the bottom bunk and never went back to the crib.  I admit it has made bedtime more challenging as the boys play more now and Lucas is not great at staying in his bed until he has every toy and book his little arms can hold, including a green bucket.  I can tell that we are in for a different kind of ride with this boy as he enters the toddler/preschool years!

David & Stacy:
   David is keeping busy with working at Flextech, teaching music lessons once a week, and doing Crossfit three times a week. Stacy is always trying to stay one step ahead of the boys (not an easy task) and has discovered that she enjoys baking, especially when she is able to pass off the baked goods to others.

Lucas Turns Two!

"Lucas, you are two today!" ... "No, I four".  My little one who wants so badly to be a big boy like your brother - you are almost there! Oftentimes your daddy & I forgot that you were younger than 2 because you act older.  Your vocabulary, your motor skills, your social skills. You are growing up quicker than your years & I am simply trying to keep up!

I had to laugh this morning as I tried so hard to get the perfect shot - a candle in your pancake and you smiling. You had a meltdown. In the midst of it, I turned to your daddy and said "welcome to the 2's!".

You love your brother and often ask for him.  "Brother! where you?" Your imaginary play is molded after Jordan's - the two of you run around with swords, imaginary guns, wrestling and fighting bad guys.  I am never quite sure how much of the game you are understanding, but you go in there full force & keep up with Jordan. We are truly blessed that the two of you love playing together. I am learning not to rush in and interfere when I hear you cry because you will laugh one second, cry the next and then back to laughing.  The two of you are learning your boundaries with each other, a lesson that will prove valuable in the years to come.

I love how much you love being around others.  You love play dates, the park, the grocery store and you will wave and say hi/bye to every person you pass.  When we leave somewhere, you make sure that you say goodbye to every person & you keep saying goodbye until they respond to you. You often still say goodbye after they have responded to you!

As you turn two, you are starting to test the boundaries.  Tantrums, running from me when I call you, refusing to stay seated, and more.  Bedtime is becoming challenging because you are learning that just because you are in the crib it does not automatically mean it's time to sleep (to which I say - Yes! yes it is!).   Thankfully I have been through the "terrible twos" before and will not be caught off guard (hopefully).  You are my sneaky one - when I do not hear you, I know that you are doing mischief! You know it too as you quickly try to leave the scene when you are caught.  I am learning with you - you do things your brother never did (coloring on the wall, the chair, the floor).  You do your part in making sure life in the Thompson household is never dull!

You are starting to sing along to Jesus Loves Me and you love to dance.  I think you sing songs in your head because you will just start dancing for no apparent reason! Your smile is infectious and every person smiles back at you.  You possess a joy for life and truly are excited about the little things.  Washing your hands? "I did it!".  Zipping up your pajamas? "I did it!".  Put your bowl in the sink? "I did it!". Scribbled on paper? "I did it!" Try to pee in the toilet? "I did it!" You pump your fists & jump in the air - victory! triumph! "I did it!".

I pray you keep that zeal for life & even more that you use it for Christ.  I love you my little one :)

Sept/Oct Pictures

2013-2014: Pre-K

Halloween 2013: Elmo & Iron Man 

Jordan started karate this year and is loving it! (The only way I could get a picture of him in his uniform was to sit & wait to snap a pic as Jordan & Lucas ran around the house with buckets on their heads)

What a difference a year makes! (although Lucas's feelings about Jordan trying to hold him have remained the same)

I Need You Jesus ... And A Glass of Wine

It's a day where I find myself praying "I need you Jesus ... and a glass of wine".  Have you ever had those days? It does not have to mean a day where every little thing is going wrong {that may call for two glasses of wine!}, but a day where you are fully aware that you cannot do it on your own.

Jordan is going through his "homebody" stage which means he does not want to go anywhere and puts up a fight whenever I try to get him dressed & out of the house.  As we left the house this morning {"It's your turn to bring snack to school today! Let's go so the other children can eat!" ... hey, whatever it takes} I notice crushed cereal all over the floor and under the table. Sigh. Okay, we'll address that later, we need to go.  Successful drop off and errands are run. Head to the library & attempt to pick out just ONE book while also chasing down a 23 month old who insists on pulling out books and leaving them on the ground. 

We arrive home after picking Jordan up from school.  Immediately the cries start "I'm hungry! I'm starving! I want to eat!".  I decided that the mess on the floor {crushed cereal} must be cleaned up before I would let them have lunch.  I'm doing dishes in the kitchen and I see this: 

Not what I meant when I said "Clean up the mess you made" but I was thankful for the laugh.  As I instruct Jordan finish vacuuming, I go back to the dishes. Two minutes later I hear a clatter - Lucas tried taking down yet another bowl of cereal from the counter & it spilled all over. Deep breath. Okay, let's clean this up again. 

Cereal is all cleaned, boys have eaten, I walk out of the room.  I find spilled water somewhere (probably Lucas because he never tells me when he spills).  Cleaned that up. As I walk back into the kitchen to throw away the towel, there's Lucas, on the floor, next to the spice rack.  {I should let you know that twice yesterday, Lucas got into the spices & dumped them all over the floor.  This was a few days after he spilled apple cider vinegar all over the floor}.  Sure enough, Lucas had opened a container and dumped out what was in it.  Another long deep sigh.  Together we cleaned up the mess.  Is it nap time yet? Why yes, I declare it is. They cannot tell time yet ;) 

Jordan is currently sitting next to me in time out because he is not napping.  You may lay in your bed or you may sit on the floor in a time out. You know how I mentioned earlier he's been a homebody? This means he's also very attached to me and just wants to be with me. "Mom, my quiet time is over. It's over Mom, my quiet time is over".  

I need you Jesus ... and a glass of wine. 

September Happenings

September started with a bang and is ending on a whisper.  After a crazy month, we are finally settling into a routine.

Jordan started pre-K and he is doing well.  I took him to meet his teacher & see the classroom a week before school started which helped make the transition period smoother.  He has a wonderful teacher and she is so good with him.  We are already seeing Jordan start to enjoy things that require him to sit down and focus, which is a rarity!  He is starting to enjoy coloring & drawing, as well as working on writing his letters.  A work packet gets sent home every week or so & it is to be turned in ... whenever :) Jordan's teacher does not want them to have "homework", just something that they are encouraged to work on when they feel like it.  I leave it on the kitchen table & occasionally Jordan will wander over to work on it.  It is working well for to have it accessible to him, but not forcing him to work on it.  (I refuse to even think about what kindergarten will be like ... )  For now, I am enjoying this pace & how Jordan is learning in the way that seems to work best for him.

Now this little guy on the other hand ... 

Isn't that just heartbreaking? We were taken aback by how much Lucas has struggled with Jordan being in school three mornings a week.  Lucas became very attached to his bear, blanket & pacifier - all three went with him {almost} everywhere.  We are just now making strides with Lucas leaving all three at home when we go somewhere.  Today was the first time I was able to wash his bear & blanket in two + weeks!  I find that Lucas does well if I keep him busy (library, errands, etc).  He tends to get into mischief when we are home :) This one is my sneaky one - when he's quiet, you KNOW he's getting into something.  Lucas knows it too b/c if I catch him, he quickly runs away from the scene of the crime!

For David and myself, September started our season of 'busyness'.  HUB & GUM at church started up for the year, while David and Jordan are doing AWANA as well.  David has started doing Crossfit three times a week which he is enjoying (although he is quite sore!).  It took a while as we adjusted to the new schedules and helped our boys adjust, but I think we finally found our groove :)

Catching Up

In September Jordan will be starting pre-K! I have been praying for a smooth transition and that he enjoys school this year.  After having to abruptly stop attending preschool after his fall, he did not have any closure or knowledge that he would be attending a new class this year.  We have been talking about the fact that he has a new teacher and a new room.  Currently he is excited & when we dropped off his tuition check, he seemed very comfortable with being there.  He is not a huge fan of change and likes to know what he's walking into, so we are praying for a wonderful first day of school :) 

Jordan has been loving the pool this summer and has even started swimming on his own without floaties.  He has no fear of going underwater & getting a toy from the bottom of the jacuzzi (or shallow end of the pool).  Lucas's motto is "anything you can do, I can do too!". He desperately wants to swim like Jordan, but is mostly content swimming around in floaties.  He loves to be picked up & dropped back in the water - he comes back up with the biggest grin on his face. 

Lucas is almost 21 months.  This little one is growing like a weed and does not stop eating. If he sees food, he asks for "a bite! a bite!".  He had a growth spurt somewhere around 18 months and went from size 12 month clothes to 2T.  He is our fearless one that gets bruises and bumps daily from keeping up with his big brother.  Lucas is talking in sentences (although it depends on your definition of a sentence).  He is on the path to potty training and is very interested in it.  (Again, it's easier because he wants to do what Jordan does).  It'll be interesting to see how Lucas adapts to Jordan being in school three mornings a week. I think he'll love having the time to play on his own without being interrupted or told how to play, but he'll probably miss his playmate as well. 

As for David and myself ... same old same old :) 

He's jumping!

The little fearless one - running across the top

There were plenty of these moments this summer!

Parade in Oregon with their cousins
Jordan (4), Winter (3), Lucas (20 months), Clara (18.5 months)

The best way to eat a s'more

This child is crazy! It was so cold & he's happy! 

Swimming was a big part of our summer.  

7 Weeks & Counting

Nooo -- this is not a pregnancy announcement!

Tomorrow it will be seven weeks since Jordan fell out of a second story hotel window.  The first three or four weeks we took it easy & Jordan used that time to heal. He knew his limitations and was tired easily.  It was certainly an adjustment going from having a busy schedule to just hanging out at home or at my parents.  It took a lot of creativity and ideas to keep Jordan entertained with limited use of television.  There was no church or school or any of the other activities he was involved in. After about three weeks Jordan was cleared to play with his friends, which he was excited about. Play dates were set up, and it took less work to keep Jordan busy :)

The doctors at the hospital told us upon release that Jordan could resume all normal activity in 5-6 weeks.  When Jordan had his follow up appointment with his pediatrician, he recommended that Jordan cannot play on play structures or ride a bike (anything that could cause him to fall) and no jumping for three months following his fall.  This seemed daunting but we have made it this far ... mostly :) It is proving to be quite difficult to prevent Jordan from jumping. Jordan's energy has come back and sometimes he is bouncing off the walls! David and I agreed to let Jordan go back to church as the play structure in the nursery area is safe for little ones and low to the ground.  That gives Jordan one a day a week to see his friends & burn off some energy the way he used to :)

It has been wonderful to see how well Jordan and Lucas are getting along.  I was nervous when I thought of how long Jordan would be home and how much time the boys would be spending together. Thankfully, they have grown closer together and really enjoy playing with each other. Lucas is old enough to mostly keep up with Jordan and they somehow communicate (Lucas is not talking a whole lot). Jordan actually will come & tell me what Lucas wants.  How he knows, I have no idea. I think he just decides for Lucas what he wants :) With Jordan a leader and Lucas a follower, they compliment each other really well.  Lucas does know when he does not want to do what Jordan says, so he will go do his own thing and ignore his big brother!

Here are pictures from a trip we took the to the beach.  It was a great day and Jordan had so much fun having the freedom to just play!

Lastly, thought this video would be amusing. I am working on teaching Lucas sign language so he will stop yelling as a form of communication. It's actually helped since he can communicate the things he wants most - more (food), please (instead of just yelling at me), and thank you. You can hear Jordan in the background - he's Lucas's coach ;)