Losing Fairyland...

As a result of Josh getting in several fights with his friends about whether or not Star Wars is real, (Josh is sure that it is and he wants to be a Jedi when he grows up), Justin strongly suggested that I should tell Josh that it really isn't real.  Currently I just give Josh my shocked face when he tells me things like, "Tyler doesn't think Star Wars is real, what is he thinking?!"

Justin's thoughts on the matter:  My son is going to be made fun of at school for not knowing the difference between pretend and reality.  Then he'll be scarred and wonder why we didn't tell him the truth.

My thoughts:  I love that my sweet baby thinks everything from Transformer land, to Spiderman land is real.  Tears welling in my eyes.  He's not big enough to worry about it yet.  I remember reading Anne of Green Gables and being so sad when the characters outgrew fairyland.  I love his imagination etc etc.

However, after Justin's suggestion I started to feel a little bit guilty.  So at dinner tonight Josh started talking about being a Jedi when he grows up, and I said, "Hey bud, I have to tell you something, you know that Star Wars is just pretend right?"  

Josh - totally shocked face.  

Justin, "where did that come from?"  I'm sure my teary eyes and defensive attitude were in his mind. 

 I continue frantically, not wanting all the magic to be lost, "It's one of my favorite stories though, isn't it so fun to pretend about it?  We can still pretend about it, and go to that world in our imaginations.."something along those lines anyway.  Josh thinks about it and then says, "Then I will be the FIRST Jedi!"

I love my boy!  Then he and his Dad spent the next 10 minutes deciding how they would design a light saber and who he would use it against if there wasn't really a Darth Vader. The conclusion: some kind of a laser combined with magic bombs- and there will always be bad guys to use it on.

I love that he can get so lost in a story and another world, I  know just how he feels....

PS I am really really really sick of pretend fighting Darth Vader though.  I discovered if I try to really visualize him it helps, but I'm still sick of it...

My Chica!

 My Anna,
I have been thinking about you a lot lately since you have just turned 2!  You are my sunshine girl (except when you're not, we'll talk about that later).  You always have a skip in your walk, or a bounce.  I'm not quite sure how to describe it but I have had several people comment on it to me.  When you're not walking you are dancing or marching.  It's not unusual for you to randomly jump in the air and bust out some crazy moves just for the joy of it.  People smile when they see you.

You are a sweet little mama and love to cook for your babies and everyone else.  You will bring me a pretend meal and when I'm done eating it you'll say, "don't worry I get more"  in your sweet baby voice.

You want to do whatever Josh is doing and are often smart enough to figure out how to do it.  You love to write in your "little books" while he does his homework.  You are NEVER content to just observe.  You always say "I help Mom!"  I have come up with some pretty inventive ways for you to "help" me do things.... like sew:)  But you also don't need to be entertained very much, you are content to "help" me with whatever I am doing.

Your brother is your best friend.  You love babies, and being "Batgirl"- said in a super scary voice.

Lately you have discovered princesses, we did figure out how to make the"princess shoes" that you got for your birthday stop singing.  And boy can you run fast in those heels.  You played a full blown soccer game in princess heels the other night. It's impressive.  A man asked you today if you would share your shoes with him and you gave him a completely appalled look and yelled , "NO!!!"

I love love love this picture of you and Josh, which Dad will be mad at me for posting because he hasn't edited it yet.  This is how you make everyone around you feel.  

Except when you throw your occasional stubborn tantrum, which you have only recently begun doing.

Today you are sick.  You brought me your blankie and a book and said, "cuddle Mom".  I melted.  

I love you sweet girl.  I savor every day that I get to spend as your Mom.  Don't grow up too fast. 

Christmas

As always there was a beautiful place setting....

And a talent show.  Luckily I'm finally in the older generation and don't HAVE to participate every year, but this year my sweet Josh roped me into being part of A Star Wars Christmas.  Written and directed by Josh Taylor.  My kids suddenly lost their shyness and wouldn't quite performing.  "Just one more song Mom!"  Then they'd dance and jump off the fireplace...

 Cute cousins in their Christmas jammies.  We loved being able to play with Natalie so much.

The nativity.  Look at that swet angel.

 Christmas morning

 There was a ridiculous amount of presents. Our family is getting big.

 

 Love the excited faces:)

 Enjoying new friends.

 And presents ...

 

Annual Esplin family Christmas party and Nativity.

 I mentioned that my kids lost their shyness.  At this party they got on the coffee table and sang and danced (I'm talking full on shake the booty dance) in front of about 50 people....

 The nativity participants.

Other fun Christmas happenings....  Making cookies with cousins.

 

And a gingerbread house out of a cardboard box...  Much much easier..

Dad Upstaged Me

Weapons

I love to read my friend Melissa's blog learningmommy.com.  She does so many fun things with her kids.  One loves to bake, one loves to create out of wood.  I have dreams of being crafty with my kids.  But what my boy likes to do is.... make weapons.  Here are the num chucks he dreamed up himself and we created at 7 am.  He came out of his room too excited to wait.  

We've made swords out of cereal boxes, knight helmets out of file folders, I guess that's the crafty I get right now until Anna's bigger.

For such a sweet boy he sure loves weapons and fighting, should I be worried?

Anna's Birthday

We had a low maintenance party for Anna this year.  It was after the half marathon so I knew I wouldn't have a lot of energy....  We just invited some neighbors and friends over for a pinata and some cake on the basketball court.

Jack was the most excited about the pinata.

The Moms trying to keep the kids from getting their heads wacked off.

Anna's favorite present thanks to Ms. Natale - and they sing!

Look at the height on that girl, heels and all.

Just wanted you all to appreciate Josh's full outfit:)

Favorite Color:Pink
What Do you Want To Be When You Grow Up?A monkey - at first I thought a mommy, but no it was a monkey
What's Your Favorite Toy?Babies
Favorite Food: Candy
Favorite Friend: Babies and Minnie Mouse
Favorite Thing To Do: Books - she LOVES little books
Favorite Book: Minnie Mouse Book

The Half Marathon

 Only shot of me where you can't see everything through my sports bra.   So embarrassing, my family is in trouble for not telling me that.

Josh ran races the whole rest of the day....

The half marathon is done!  The day before I spent sick in bed and my running buddy was injured and couldn't run.... (she let me borrow her i-pod though to keep me company which was fabulous!) It was a hard race.  The last three miles I just kept thinking, "don't throw up until it's over... just don't throw up until it's over:)"  But I finished in 2:03, a 9:30 average mile time, which was 60th in my age group.  Officially in the top half of the race which was my goal.

So in comparing this to the marathon, I would say the marathon was more fun for a couple of reasons....
I had someone to run with...and

I had trained so well.

This race I really only had time for a short run during the week and a really long run on Saturdays which definitely made it harder.  But I feel like I'm in really good shape, which was the ultimate goal:)

Going Private

So after viewing google stats and seeing what search terms led some people to my blog.... we are going private... I know private blogs are annoying, but sometimes necessary, so if you want an invite, email me or leave a comment....

Christmas Eve Day

Christmas Eve started out early for me with a long run. Then we met my family at the park to help everyone get some of the excitement out while waiting for Santa. There was basketball and tennis,
Cuddles and snacks from the grandparents.
That game where you hit the ball back and forth with paddles.... paddle ball maybe - Dad and Adam won our contest with something in the 200s.
some football (BTW anna is obsessed with this skirt and wants to wear it or her pink shorts everyday, good thing we live somewhere kind of warm.)



Couldn't decide which picture to use they are all too cute.
Ahh future parents.
There was also this contraption, way too dangerous for me, I almost killed myself, I was much better at the pogo stick.:)