A four-year-old's perspective

The other night I was drving home with Addy and McKay, and Addy was looking out the window at the stars. She started a conversation with me that went something like this:
Addy: "How many stars are in the sky?"
Me: "More than anyone could ever count."
Addy: "What's the highest number you could count to?"
Me: "You could keep counting forever and ever. Numbers never end"
(Addy thinks for a minute)
Addy: "I'll bet it's 68."
A few minutes later....
Addy: "How many rocks are on the moon?"
Me: "Lots and lots."
Addy: "Like a million?"
Me: "Probably even more than that."
Addy: "I'll bet there are 25."
Me: "More than that."
Addy: "26?"
Me: "More than that."
Addy: "27?"
Me: (It's late and I'm tired) Yep, probably 27.
It's amazing what kids think about, and how you can almost see the gears working in their heads trying to figure things out. I just hope I can come up with the answers!

Double Trouble

Last week the kids both had coughs and fevers, but by the end of the week the fevers were gone and they seemed like they were both doing okay. Then Sunday night Addy woke up complaining that her ear hurt. Well, I took them both to the doctor yesterday, and they each had double ear infections. I felt so bad that I hadn't taken them in earlier - one of McKay's ears was really bad. Anyway, we got them both on antibiotics and they are doing great. I was thinking tonight that I have a lot to be grateful for in this situation, and I thought I should focus on that. Here they are:

1. For both kids having ear infections in both ears, they were really happy, and were still playing and acting pretty normal (that's why I didn't think they were sick :)

2. If ear infections are the worst I have to deal with concerning my kids' health, I am so lucky! (Knock on wood)

3. Both kids are great about taking their medicine. When McKay sees me getting it out, he comes up to me with his mouth open, going "AAAAAAAHHH". Addy likes to show me how big she is by taking it all by herself, and always reminds me to give it to them. Ten days of twice-a- day medicine would be a nightmare if they didn't like it. Force-feeding medicine is not my idea of fun.

4. I was able to get my kids into a pediatrician (not theirs, but at least one in the same office) the same day I called, which never happens. At least I didn't have to go to the Instacare (not my favorite place.)

Anyway, this is kind of a random post, but I decided I needed to focus on the positive and write down some of the small blessings I've had lately.

Addy's New Bed

Okay, so we have a pretty boring life, and I couldn't think of anything else to blog about, so this is the most exciting thing that's happened here in a while. We got a new bed with a trundle for Addy's room, because we want to move McKay into her room pretty soon. Matt picked it up yesterday and tonight we got it all out to put together and .... no instructions. I was pretty ticked about it, and tried to find them on the internet with no luck. I was ready to call the company and tell them what I thought (which I couldn't have done then anyway, because they were closed), but Matt, being the kind and optimistic person that he is, said we could figure it out. I never would have even known where to start, but Matt is very smart and figured it out. I was very impressed. We got it all put together in a decent amount of time, and only had to unscrew one thing! As were were getting the drawers out of the room where we had stashed them during assembly, what did we find stuck to one of them? Of course - the instructions. I have to say, though, it was pretty satisfying to look at them and see that we had put it all together right, even without them (thanks to Matt). Now we just have to get a stool for Addy so she can get on it by herself (it's pretty tall), and hopefully she won't roll off. At least when we have McKay in the trundle, if she rolls off, she'll just fall on him (just kidding).

Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. It was fun to see McKay get excited and sort of understand what was going on - or at least understand that there was something to be excited about. Addy was so excited she could hardly stand it, so that by itself made McKay excited. Addy had a Christmas dance concert the week before Christmas. She was a little worried about being too scared to go on stage, but when we got there she got excited about it and did a great job. Thanks to Grandpa Steve and Grandma Jana for being there.

We spent Christmas Eve through Dec. 27 with grandparents and cousins having a great time. Christmas Eve night turned out to be a long one for me, Matt and McKay, because McKay was up at least half the night with an ear infection, plus throwing up, but he felt better on Christmas day and was able to have a good time (thank goodness for children's ibuprofen!) The huge snow storm that hit Christmas day just added to the fun for the kids, being able to build a snow fort with Matt and Grandpa Steve, plus getting pulled on the sled.

McKay is 2!

McKay had his 2nd birthday, and had lots of cousins at his party to celebrate. We actually had an early Thanksgiving with my family while my sister and niece were here from out of town, then had cake and ice cream afterward. It worked out well. McKay was pretty excited about his new laptop, cars, blocks and scooter (which he rides at every possible moment). I was pretty excited that the crocodile cake turned out - I never quite know what my cakes are going to look like before they are done, but this one turned out pretty well. Now I'm just hoping my sweet little boy doesn't take the "terrible two's" too literally.

Halloween Fun

This year for Halloween we went trick-or-treating with Addy and McKay's cousins. Addy was a bunny and McKay was a monkey. They both did really well, but they each had to take a turn riding on Dad's shoulders. They had a great time, and it was even good weather!

Cute Kids

I know I just posted some pictures of the kids, but they were taken about 6 months ago, so when Matt's brother Cory was here a couple of weeks ago, we asked him to take some pictures of the kids. He did an awesome job! Thanks Cory! So here they are (well, at least some of them - I think Cory took about a thousand pictures that day.) Now I don't have to torture McKay and take him to Target for his two-year pictures.