laughter

Dear Marek,

I love how happy and funny you are. Recently, you've been asking to have "laughing parties" every night before you fall asleep. You want to look around the room, find something funny to talk about and laugh hysterically with me. I love how you bounce, flop, and play with a pile of pillows while singing at the top of your lungs, like we are doing here. I love how we can dance together and sing together and be crazy together. I love your smile, your silliness, and how our friends and family always comment on what a funny little guy you are. You've got one heck of a sense of humor for someone so small and I hope that no matter what life throws at you, you'll always be able to laugh. I love you so much!

Love, Mommy

preschool is a serious affair

Marek loves shirts with ties. I think he's the only boy in his preschool that wears them, but he is so excited and proud to wear his "tie shirts" each week. He's not always dressed in formal or "nice clothes" for preschool, but those days he definitely feels special. I know the feeling. I love being comfy, but there's something energizing and empowering about wearing more formal clothes. I wore a suit to work a few weeks ago and everyone kept asking what the occassion was - a job interview, important meeting, something special? Not just that, I always feel like I take myself more seriously when I'm dressed up. I love putting on a nice dress and going out for dinner or to a party, although most days I am casual.

If you are a mother, you probably know how happy it makes you feel when even the smallest thing can make your child feel proud of himself. If he's glowing, I'm glowing.

Bowling Day

At the bowling alley with his best friend and their family. He was pretty excited to be able to show off his bowling shirt too. And neon shoes - awesomeness.

"Skating" at the Bowling Alley

Bowling '10 from Kristin S. on Vimeo.

out west

Marek was hard at work today building his log cabin. If only we could be visiting Uncle Kevin & Aunt Trina's log cabin right now. They have snow!

 We'll settle for our toy version of the rugged life. I spent part of the afternoon going through boxes of toys and memories from my childhood. He incorporated a few old lincoln logs of my brother's with his set to create his cabin. Marek was so excited to see what I used to play with. It was really nice to see how the same toys I used to love and adore - simple and now well past their prime - could make my boy so excited and keep him engaged in great play. We had so much fun today.

bloggity blog

One of my many goals of starting this blog awhile back was to capture the small moments of life with a young child. I wanted to freeze these moments in time, so that when my child is older we could look back and reminisce on his childhood. Not just the major accomplishments or memorable times, but the simple, joyful or tearful, everyday moments that really make up life. To catch a funny phrase, a sweet moment of innocence, a new joy, a wonder, a difficult task overcome, a laugh over lunch, a walk in the woods, a sandcastle built, a new song sung, or a smile that appears after a long, hard day.

But the reality is that I've barely posted any of these moments. I have hundreds of photos stored on my computer and, for the most part, they're yet to be uploaded and shared or printed out and scrapbooked. I have conversations with friends and family in which I share the "moments" of life that I wish to remember...but I tend to forget to write them down as much as I'd like. My goal for this year is to post more and more often!

I also have such limited uninterrupted time to be online to think and to share...and I have to admit that I am in awe of so many of the wonderful blogs out there of friends and dedicated bloggers that share their real thoughts and their beautiful, creative photos and projects. But I'll try not to let that get in my way of sharing. I do hope to acquire a better camera this year so that I don't miss any more moments that could be captured in the beauty that they are rather than the way they turn out with my current camera.

So, I'm off to tackle some of my creative projects. Happy 2010!

marek this week

• Loves to wear a tie!
• Is beginning to read to me.
• Loves preschool.
• Puts on regular shows - singing and puppet shows.
• Is kind-hearted and gentle.
• A big fan of board games.
• Funny as can be. This little guy has quite a sense of humor.
• Still loves music. Still singing as if life were a musical. Moves to the beat everywhere.
• In the middle of a growth spurt. Hungry and thirsty a lot!
• Current favorite books: Dodsworth (in Paris, New York, or London); Itty Bitty; Toot, Toot Zoom!; the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. He's also beginning to really like non-fiction. Current question: what is condensation?
• Quite possibly the biggest and best giver of hugs, kisses, and snuggles.
• Has my heart.

a very Merry Christmas indeed

Twas the night before Christmas...enjoying

magic and warmth at home.

New pj's were on...bedtime was near...

Christmas nativity play attended. Delicious dinner was eaten. Cookies for Santa baked and decorated. Last evening of Advent. Warm, happy night at Grandma's.

Daddy came for the holiday and lots of Daddy & Marek giggles were shared. Santa was tracked online. Santa's magic key was placed on the doorknob. All was ready.

Christmas Joy.

Stocking surprises.

Santa brought gifts great and small.

A new puppet stage and a Playmobil pyramid.

I learned that I should open and double check the contents of all presents ordered online prior to Christmas Eve. Marek's special gift of a working, light-up, talking railroad crossing came missing a part. Notice that the sign isn't on the top of the stand? I wasn't excited about that find. Calls to make to the company on Monday... But, luckily, my boy doesn't mind at all! He's been playing with it constantly even without the top part attached.

Many happy memories. As Marek said, "the best Christmas ever!"

Hoping that your Christmas was merry, bright, and filled with love and peace.

reality

Today I read a sobering article in the Wall Street Journal online. So many people are faced with challenges. At least a library card is free - and gives you access to a wealth of information and entertainment.

"Please, Santa, get Dad his job back

For America's Santas, it's hard to be jolly when kids are asking for bare essentials -- shoes, a library card, a place to live...

As a longtime Santa Claus at a suburban Chicago mall, Rod Riemersma used to jokingly tell children they would get socks for Christmas if they were naughty.

This year, he stopped telling the joke. Too many children are asking for socks."

Read the full article here...

Simple Pleasures

I baked these Christmas Tree Brownies for a recent Christmas gathering. So easy and delicious!

This is my favorite time of year. I love everything - well, almost everything - about the Christmas season. Every year I feel like a little child instead, looking forward to the magic of Christmas. And now as a parent, I find myself trying to recreate the magic of Christmas for my own child. It is too easy to get swept up in trying to do too much, though. Buying too many presents, obsessing over the perfectly decorated house, trying to bake the best food and entertain like nothing else. Sometimes seeing Christmas through the eyes of a young child makes the whole season a lot clearer. Of course there's an element of "What will Santa bring me?" But there's so much joy and happiness watching the Christmas magic unfold in the everyday traditions, gathering with family and friends, and simplifying. Taking time to focus on the story and message of Christmas and spreading love and peace. That's the magic.

Mr and Mrs Claus - a family tradition at the table as long as I can remember.

Small treasures from St. Nicholas Day:

Christmas Land

my birthday boy

F-I-V-E!

It's not officially his 5th birthday yet, but we celebrated with his birthday party this afternoon. It was so much fun! What a fantastic five years it has been. And, wow, how fast it has gone by! I made treasure chests with treasure jewels and cupcakes with parasols for a pirate/beach themed table. We made animal paper bag puppets for an activity and had some serious fun at our favorite toy store's play room. Random moments from a great afternoon...