Bowling

Today we met friends for bowling.  Boy have times changed.  We used to bowl in the evenings or late at night, be there for a couple of hours, bowl several games with beers in-hand...now, fast forward a few years and we all show up after nap-time with car seats over our arms and diapers bags over our shoulders filled with snacks to keep the little ones occupied.  Wouldn't change it for anything!

Carmen was curious why she had to change her shoes, was enthusiastic about the bowling part for about 7 frames but couldn't figure out why she had to keep waiting to take her turn.  She proudly carried her 5 lb ball and pushed it down the lane with help from Daddy who kept having to scoop her up as she tried to run down the lane every time she 'threw' the ball.  It was a juggling act trying to each bowl our turn, keep Carmen patient and chase her around as she wanted to try out each of the driving video games.  As for our little man, he didn't give us any trouble, he happily slept through the entire game (surprise, surprise)!  It was a fun time reconnecting with good friends.

Merry Christmas

Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.”
~ Dr. Seuss

 

Birthday Fun

2 Years

Today is your happy, happy dear Carmen James (what you call this special day).  You are two years old.  I can't believe it.  For two years you have enriched our lives, put countless smiles on our faces, helped us understand the meaning and importance of family, made us laugh out loud, at times made us question our sanity but above all have made us so incredibly proud.  We love who you are--your passion, your gentleness, your concern and care for others, your head-strong nature with clear opinions, the way you hug and tickle and the way you call me mama.  Mom or mommy will not due, it's always mama, which warms my heart.  You are learning so much and your vocabulary is expanding so quickly.  You continually amaze us and are always doing something that catches us by surprise. You love to cook and have made countless batches of 'soup' with your letters, number and magnetic dress up doll.  You like to help in the real kitchen and are like a little shadow to both daddy and I.  If we go upstairs, you want to go to.  If we run upstairs for a moment, you want to come to, and Lamby is always in tow. You love art and can't get enough of stickers, paper, crayons and markers.  You like to build--you make 'houses' with your blocks and continually stack as many as you can until the 'house' falls down.  You like to dance and wiggle.  You love to make forts.  You take such good care of your brother and always want him around.  You are a wonderful big sister and the best daughter we could ask for.  Of course you have your two year old moments, but that's all part of the process.  We still think you are pretty perfect.  A very happy, happy to you on this special day.

3 months

12 weeks already...how much has changed during that period of time.  No longer are you the fragile little newborn we first met three short months ago.  You have grown so much and continue to amaze us with how alert, strong and inquisitive you are. You are rolling from your back to your front and you are somehow able to scoot. It must be those strong muscles you have in your arms and legs from all of the waving and kicking you do.  While you are constantly in motion you are also calm and relaxed.  I love the time you and I spend together just hanging out.  You are content just to lie there and watch and I can tell you are taking everything in.  My favorite part is when you smile and it doesn't take much to make you produce that giant grin. You love music and love when I sing to you (despite my awful voice).  You and daddy coo a lot together and you even laugh a little too.  You are certainly a happy baby.  One day I hope you'll understand how happy you make us too.  Happy 3 months old Maxy Moo.     

Candy House

Carmen has been anxious for several weeks to get her hands on the candy house so we finally started decorating.  In true almost two year old fashion, it entertained her for a few minutes and then she spent most of the time organizing the candy by size and color.  Her enthusiasm for decorating resumed when she discovered that the 'glue' holding everything together was a sweet treat.  There was lots of finger licking after that!

Ho, Ho, Ho

Carmen and Max got an extra special visit from Santa this weekend at a Skurski family Christmas celebration.  Carmen loves pointing to Santa and itentifiying him in books, on TV and decorations on houses, but she was a little less enthusiastic about seeing him in the flesh.  She wasn't so sure at first but was a trooper and did sit on his lap without any tears.  The fact that Santa had a gift with her name on it and there was a candy cane involved was just enough motivation.  Max was unfazed by the whole event and gladly complied with being passed off to the man in the red suit.  Hopefully this is a sign of things to come when it's time for Santa photos.

O Christmas Tree

The tree is up and the lights are on thanks to our special helper.  Carmen was thrilled to help Daddy string the lights and was delighted to help decorate the tree with as many ornaments as she could get her hands on.  Of course, you can quickly tell which spot Carmen decorated as there are 10 or so ornaments on the same two branches.  Lets just call it her own artistic flair--who needs balance or equal distribution?  Turns out both daddy and I do...we secretly re-distributed her ornaments when she wasn't looking.  So far she hasn't made a fuss about it.  We'll see how long that lasts.  For now, she's enjoying looking at the tree and saying "big tree! and' "lights! lights!" with enthusiasm.  And, this time Max didn't sleep through the entire event, only most of it.  He did stay awake long enough to give a few smiles of approval.

Dentist, a Success!

Today Carmen had her first dentist appointment.  Needless to say, I was a bit nervous.  I was replaying in my head all of the possible scenarios about how it might go.  What if she doesn't cooperate?  What if she throws a tantrum? And on and on.  I even had the ipad in my purse in case there was an emergency situation. Turns out I was stressing for nothing.  Carmen was close to perfect at the appointment.  She was happy to play at the block table upon arriving, got to decorate an ornament, played with Thomas the Train, received a treat bag with her name on it containing a new toothbrush and mirror and got to pick out a 'prize' when the appointment was over.  She actually thought the dental mirror was the prize vs. the turtle squirting bath toy (shhhh, don't tell).  She opened her mouth when she was asked, got her teeth brushed by the hygienist with not so much as a protest or fuss (maybe because she was able to watch Dora the Explorer on the ceiling), got her teeth counted by the dentist and got her teeth painted with sparkles (a.k.a. fluoride).  The only fussing that took place is that she didn't want to leave.  Two thumbs up for Greenlake Kid's Dentistry!

Practicing her brushing techniques.

Sandcastles in November

Who says sandcastles are just for sun and summer?!  Carmen, Max and I took advantage of a beautiful Seattle day (still cold, hence the hat and coat, but beautiful nonetheless) and went to the beach to build sandcastles.  Carmen was thrilled to shovel the sand and have mommy's help creating 'houses' that she decorated with sticks and rocks.  Max was thrilled to get some fresh air and do what he does best, snooze.

A smile for a Monday

Weekend Whirlwind

We had a great long holiday weekend but it went by in a blur.  Jimmy took a few days off from work and we tried to take advantage of our extra time together. We visited the Children's museum where Carmen loved driving the Metro bus and shopping in the mini grocery store, Jimmy slaved away in the kitchen and produced a delicious Thanksgiving meal, I did a little Black Friday shopping, we watched some football, Carmen had a playdate, I had a coffee date, we had good friends over for dinner, we started decorating for Christmas and got the Dicken's Village up, which is always a big job, and ended the weekend with a second Thanksgiving.  It was a whirlwind but fun-filled extended weekend that we were happy to spend together as a family.

Fill 'er up!



Making sure I have everything on my list.



Chef Carmen.

 

19 lb turkey, Jimmy's prize possession
besides his mustachace for Movember.

Turkey comatose.



Where's Carmen? 



Supporting team Purple & Gold.





ipad and icecream--the perfect combo.

 

Thankful

 



Two months

Happy two months to you today, Maxy. It's funny but sometimes I can't fathom where two months have gone and other times it feels like you've been here a long, long time as you are now seamlessly integrated into our lives.  Life would certainly not be the same without you.  While we'd get a bit more sleep, there would certainly be something missing...the way you give a huge smile after you are done eating or when I sing to you, the joy Carmen gets out of being a big sister and helping bring your diapers, 'shirts' and wiping away your bubbles and, of course, decorating you with stickers, the way you snuggle up after a feeding, the way you get your rings stuck around your wrist and grunt to get them off when you are in your gym, the way you now love bath time and floating in the warm water. It's the little things you do that make this time so special--your gentle coos, your funny expressions and the way you fill our hearts with so much love. Happy two months to our little man! 

Toddlers Creed

I thought this was fitting as Carmen's new favorite saying is:  'No! Mine!'  Ah...the life of an almost two year old...

Toddlers Creed

 

If it's mine it's mine,
if it's yours it's mine,
if I like it is mine,
if I can take it from you it is mine,
if I am playing with something ALL of the pieces are mine,
if I think it is mine it is,
if I saw it first it's mine,
if I had it then put it down it is still mine,
if you had it then you put it down it is now mine,
if it looks like the one I have at home it is mine,
if it is broken it is yours

Carmen's latest art project

Halloween is here

The Skurski household has been buzzing with Halloween festivities. Carmen has enjoyed decorating the windows with stickers and clings, baking cookies, making a trip to the pumpkin patch, carving Jack-o-Lanterns, eating treats, going to a costume parade and Fall Festival, shaking her pom poms and practicing saying "go, go, go."  She wasn't so sure about her costume at first but once it's on, she doesn't want to take it off. 

Here are a few pictures commemorating this year's Halloween festivities.

Baking Cookies: 
Carmen was very enthusiastic about rolling out the dough, playing with the flour and using the cookie cutters.  Funny, the novelty of these activities wore off in a few minutes compared to her enthusiasm for eating the sprinkles when it was time to decorate, which she ate one at a time out of a bowl.

 

 

The Farm:
We made another trip to The Farm this year to pick out the perfect pumpkins.  Carmen went right to work selecting her pumpkin from the sea of orange and also helped pick one out for Max.  She enjoyed looking at the animals but made a funny face when she discovered what an actual sheep looked like--not quite as cute and cuddly as Lamby.  She then got to see a Llama stick it's tongue out at her and was impressed with all of the roosters.  One trip down the slide at the playground and a quick turn 'driving' the tractor and she was ready to retire back to the car with her kettle corn treat.   Max was a trooper during the day's festivities and slept through the entire event.

Happy, Happy:
Dad and Carmen carved pumpkins or Happy, Happy's as Carmen calls them due their smiling faces.  She preferred to let Daddy do the dirty work and wasn't into getting her hands dirty and scooping out the guts...maybe next year.  She did want to help draw the face on (aka color on the pumpkin like it was a piece of paper) and was excited to see the pumpkin face light up once the project was complete.

Costume Fun:
Carmen got to strut her stuff in her Husky cheerleader uniform along with her friends as she attended a Halloween party.  Other notable costumes included an appearance by Captain America, an oh so adorable Love Bug and the cutest Raccoon you've ever seen.  Max dawned his best Husky outfit in support of his sister and proceeded to snooze through the fun, opening his eyes only a few times to check out his surroundings.

Fall Festival:
Carmen's daycare threw a Fall Festival where the kids dressed up in their costumes and practiced their trick-or-treating at the offices in the building.  She got good practice for the real event and was proudly caring her 'pumpkin purse' to collect all of her goodies.