Freedom!

Today was one of those perfect California weather days right in the middle of gloomy winter when you can really appreciate it. Cal and I started out at the gym, and as we walked to the car we declared it a "Windows Open Day"! We opened the windows, I showered and put on a tank top, and I moved the patio furniture out of the shade and into the sun so I could lay back and soak it all in. Warm sun on my skin felt so great!!!

Then kayla remembered that she had seen a four year old riding his bike without training wheels. "If he can do it, I can do it!"

So I took the training wheels off her bike, we grabbed my old rollerblading kneepads and wrist guards, Cal grabbed his football and rubics cube, and we headed to the park where the sidewalks are wider.

She did so great! She started off confidently by herself, getting about two pedals before she needed to put her foot down for balance. She wasn't falling at all, so the wrist guards were really only making it hard for her to control the handle bars, so she took those off.

She reached a peak and wasn't making any more progress, so we tried it with me holding on to her to get some speed going, then letting go. She did great! She got up to about 8 pedals before she had to put a foot down.

She still wasn't falling, so she shed the kneepads to give her better leg control. But she started getting frustrated, and mad at me for not letting her also shed the helmet. "It makes me feel caged in!"

About then the ice cream truck came by, so we took a snack break. After she cleaned up all the melted pink panther popsicle from her hands, face, arms, and clothes, she played at the park for a while.

She is so excited to have her freedom from training wheels now!

And when we got home, Cal actually completed the rubrics cube! Seriously! No cheating! He totally got all the colors put back and solved it in one day! That's persistence.

Christmas

Kayla woke up at 6:30 this year and was very patient while we drank our coffee and woke up Cal to open Santa's presents. We started with the stockings, which had fun games and magic tricks in them. We've especially been having fun witht the electronic 20 questions. It's spooky how specifically it gets your thoughts! It knew that I was thinking of a golden retriever puppy -weird!

Then we opened presents from each other. Dad got rock band gear, fire place tools, and framed momentos. Mom got work out gear, pajamas, and a digital frame. Cal got jerseys and baseball cards. Kayla got bean bags and Barbie furniture. Both kids got Dave and Busters gift certificates. WooHoo!

We ate a quick breakfast and went to Gaga and grampa's to eat and open presents there. Ella was very cudly with Cal this year. The kids had fun playing in the leaves in the back yard.

Christmas Tree Farm

We go to Canton every year to get a tree from the Christmas tree farm. The real Santa is there, and it's a lot of fun to cut a tree down, so it's worth the long drive.

We see Santa first. He tells jokes to Dad, then the kids sit and tell them their lists for Christmas.

Next, we walk the farm in search of the perfect tree. This year we chose the tallest one yet. It almost touches the ceiling in the house!

Christmas Eve

We drove to Wichita Falls for Christmas Eve. We got there in time to enjoy Kenzie a little before everyone else got their hands on her. She's very alert and laid back.

Dinner was Mexican food, and the enchiladas were awesome. Cheesecake dessert was great, too. The kids didn't eat much since it wasn't Tombstone and fried eggs. I've got to start making them expand their diet. I've let them be too picky.

The kids wrestled while they waited for everyone to finish eating so we could open presents. Jaxson was having fun calling James "Bucko!", which always prompted a beating. Kohen just watched from a safe distance. He's not into the rough stuff yet. We also got a great picture of all 6 great grandkids.

Cal loved his jersey and video game, and Kayla was thrilled with her Webkinz and American Girl loot.

Thanksgiving

Cal and I started Thanksgiving Day with the Turkey Trot 5K in downtown Dallas. I've been looking forward to racing with him for a long time. Lately he's been working out with us at the gym. He can run for about 15 minutes on the treadmill, so it was definitely time to bump up from the fun run 1 mile races to a 3 mile 5K. He was reluctant to get up early and drive all the way down there with me, but I think he saw how excited I was and did it for me. He's a great kid!

So we parked and registered and found a good spot to people watch and soak in the festive atmosphere while we waited for the race to start. The dogs are always fun to watch and pet. One black lab was decorated all over with turkey feathers. Cal liked the guy dressed up as a tofu turkey with a sign that read "It's hip to eat square!" We started pointing out all the kids his age that he was about to beat in the race.

When the race started we had to wait about 15 minutes before we could cross the finish line. As soon as there was an open path, Cal took off sprinting. I had a hard time keeping up with him because of both speed and weaving ability. He's not as worried about politeness as I am. I kept up well enough to not lose him, which is good because he never looked back.

After a few minutes, he slowed down to walk for a little bit. We alternated sprints and walking for the first mile. At about 1.1, we were walking and Cal said, "Mom, this isn't very fun."

"That's okay. We're almost half way, and there will be a water station up here. That should replenish your energy."

"Whatever. I think I'm getting blisters. And I know we've gone at least 2 miles by now."

He slows down to a leisurely stroll. Kids start passing us.

"Hey Cal. See that group of kids that just passed us? They're all beating you now."

"I don't care, Mom! My feet hurt. Where's the water?"

We kept strolling through Deep Ellum. We passed a pizza restaurant and Cal wanted to stop and eat. Luckily everything is closed for the holiday. He insists that he was just kidding, but I don't believe him.

As we passed the 2 mile mark, Cal declares that he will never do another Turkey Trot. I thought maybe he was rested enough to jog a little bit and get some momentum going, so I pointed out the toddler and old lady that had just whizzed by us.

"Cal, you can not let that baby beat you, and I can not let that Grandma beat me. Let's go!"

"Stop it, MOM!"

So I decided to just enjoy the leisurely walk with my son. Maybe next year he would change his mind, change his shoes, and decide to try to beat his time.

Luckily, about that time, we passed a building with a couple in the window cheering everyone on. They were acting like they were running. They had their hands in the air in exaggerated "rock on!" signs, and were screaming and celebrating. It was SO funny, and their energy was contagious.

That got us to the 2.5 mile mark. There was water there and that seemed to pep him up a bit. We might make it. Then Cal actually asked if we could find a place to sit down and rest! That was where I had to draw the line. There was no way we were sitting down!

So we somehow made it through that last whiny half mile, and found the energy to run across the finish line at an hour and 22 minutes. Pitiful! But hopefully encouraging that we could easily beat our time next year if I'm able to drag him out again. I really hope so. I had a great time!

Thanksgiving lunch was at Gaga Irene's. James fried a turkey this year, and it was delicious! Grandma Wood was here, and it was a great day!

Birthday Girl

Today was Kayla's party day. She surprised us by sleeping in. She later told us that she was trying to sleep until 3:30 becasue she just can't wait for her party. Then she surprised us again by wanting to eat breakfast BEFORE she opened her presents. So she ate 2 cinnamon rolls and 6 fried eggs, snuggled with Dad for a while, played a song on the piano, and finally decided to open her presents. We played the "hot/cold" game to locate her hidden presents. She got a Hannah Montana karaoke machine, 3 karaoke CD's, and a rug and wall decorations for her newly decorated room.

Her friends started arriving around 3, and we all went in our car to iceskate at Stonebriar. I even skated, and it was scary at first, but very fun.

I'm glad Kayla wanted me to. At the end of skating, they cleared the ice for the zamboni, and Kayla got to ride on it and wave to everyone while it smoothed the ice. Then we gathered in the party room to eat pizza and cake and open presents.

Back at home, the girls made a flower craft that Kayla created and organized. They had a pillow fight and watched a Olsen twins movie called "The Challenge". There was some drama at bedtime because everyone was so excited about Kayla's plan to sleep under the bed, but they just couldn't find a way to fit 6 girlas under the bed, and no other arrangement would work to everyone's satisfaction. So after a lot of tears, negotiating, and losing 2 of the girls who decided to just go home, the remaining 4 girls slept happily on Kayla's bed.

I'm mad at myself for waiting almost a month to finish writing all this down, because I'm not doing it justice a month later. Which reminds me, she still needs to send out thank you cards. . . . . .

Date Night

It's been too long since we did a date night with the kids. Cal and Dad went to play basketball at Lifetime. The place is empty on Saturday night, and they got the court to themselves. Although they were surprised to run into 2 seperate families from McCoy. I guess Saturday night is family night at the gym - who knew?

They planned to go bowling afterward, but there was a 90 minute wait, so they drove over to the whirlyball place. They were promptly "greeted" by a lady informing them it was closed for a party. So they settled for the old standby - a movie. They saw Madagascar2. They thought the funniest part was the old lady beating everyone up.

Kayla and I decided to finally go to the American Girl store to get Mia, have them re-do Julie's braid, and eat at the Bistro. We invited Gaga Kay to go with us. First we got Mia. She has really soft, shiny, strawberry blonde hair. Then we dropped off Julie at the hair salon. Kayla was worried about her having to wait in the cubbies for her turn, until we pointed out that she could see all the other dolls getting their hair done while she waited.

We shopped around the store and made a birthday list until it was Julie's turn at the salon. We watched how they did her hair, and we think we'll be able to do it ourselves if needed in the future.

Then it was time for our resevation at the bistro. They had special chairs for the dolls at the table and special menus, too. They actually have really good food! You get to order a starter, meal, and side. Kayla liked the flatbread best, because it is actually cheese pizza. That was my favorite, too, but I think Gaga preferred the pretzel bread with dipping sauce. Kayla even got her favorite desert - hot fudge with ice cream.

The birthday party on the other side of the bistro was cute for about 5 minutes. The second time they screamed the happy birthday song we began to get annoyed, and the 3rd time was just downright obnoxious. Right now Kayla never wants to hear that song again. Hopefully that will wear off in the next 3 weeks!