Kirschlings

Are You Asleep Yet?

Last night as he was trying to fall asleep, (for reasons passing all understanding), Benjamin decided that once we were asleep, he was going to come into our room and climb into bed with me to snuggle.  And in that way that I have of not inviting conversation when I am trying to get him to sleep, I gave a perfunctory and dismissive (yet relaxing sounding) “Mmm Hmm” or “O.K.” rather than discuss the issue with him and bother trying to talk him out of it.

Well, when Benjamin gets an idea in his head, he can be quite stubborn, so he then put his mind to waiting us out so that once we went to bed he could tiptoe in.  Of course, lying in bed trying to stay awake can be a bit dull when you are four and a quarter, so this rather benign sounding goal engendered some rather impish antics:

First, Benjamin quietly got out of bed and moved his door from being only slightly ajar to wide open. He then quietly got back into bed and then, not so quietly, rolled over on to the floor.  “Daddy!  Mommy!  I fell out of bed!!”  So we went in and obliged this little show, picked him up, and put him back in bed.

A few minutes later we went to see if any progress had been made towards sleep and we found something quite remarkable. Benjamin was sitting up with his quilt over his head with a flashlight and his Magic Schoolbus book underneath. This may not at first blush strike you as very funny…but please remember…Benjamin can’t read.

And similarly, the next check-in showed little progress toward sleep.  The little clown had turned himself around so that his pillow was where his feet go and his feet were where his head go.  He was patiently waiting for us to find him in this silly position and absolutely cracked up when we did.  It was in this backward position that we finally got him to sleep…We had to pick him up and turn him around once he was snoring.

And at 5:45 a.m. he remembered his declaration and came a-shuffling in to our room and climbed on in. Luckily he snuggled right in with me and we got another half hour of sleep before Miss Gabrielle decided to start the day!

Merry Christmas

Christmas weekend was spent up at Gipsy Trail.  Benjamin got a new bike! At first he was pretty adamant that he didn't want one with training wheels because he already knew how to ride a bike.  But we told him that all bikes in his size come with training wheels and we'd just have to take them off when we got the chance.  Of course, he started "riding" and soon the issue of taking off the training wheels was dropped.   But he did really well his first time riding, and he looked very handsome in his helmet.  Gabrielle was very good about reminding him to wear it: 

The weekend was very busy with bike riding, football playing, circus performing, several visits to the Poof restaurant (the Hibachi restaurant) and we even snuck in a movie:  Charlotte's Web - which was fabulous.  The kids were all fairly wiped out.  Gabby could hardly keep her eyes open - even during her most favorite activity!

No special caption accompanies this photo - except to say that Benjamin and Gabrielle are still the happiest of siblings -- and this picture is really cute.

She Walks!

So Gabrielle, at approximately 14 and a half months weighed in at almost 30 pounds and 32 inches tall.  And I do mean tall - not long.  Because now she is walking!!!!! She has entered the world of Toddlerism.  She still will squat down and revert to a crawl if she is in a hurry, but if the weather is fine and she has no pressing engagements, she will stroll across the living room and back again, all the while sporting an enormous "I am so pleased myself" smile.  Congratulations Gabrielle! Pictures of walking to come!

Let's Go Rangers, Let's Go!

Well, it is time for Joel to come to terms with the fact that while he comes from Philadelphia and will always be a Pbiladelphia sports fan, his son is a born and bred NEW YORKER.  At the tender age of 4 and one quarter, we seem to have a die hard Ranger fan.  Benjamin has become a hockey fan ever since his first foray to the Garden to see the Rangers take on the Buffalo Sabres.  He has since seen the Rangers blow out the Washington Capitals and is slated to see the Ranger/Flyers in a couple of weeks.  His current favorite Ranger is Jaromir Jagr - but we'll see...he can be a bit fickle (he really took to Olie the Goalie this past weekned).  And while Benjamin is unusually interested in the rules, regulations and penalties of the game (never turn down an offer to play hockey with him...he'll send you right to the penalty box and you can just sit on the couch) he does seem to love the sport.

   

Time to get careful...

So Benjamin went into the bathroom to do his business, and as usual, he picked up the Sudoku book and pencil that are kept there. Not only does Benjamin like Sudoku puzzles, but apparently his reading skills are developing rapidly. Atop one of the half-done puzzles was written the word F$%@, apparently in a little hissy by Joel or me upon realizing that we had made a mistake. Benjamin sounded it out perfectly and called for Radica to ask what it meant.

Evidencing one of the many reasons we adore Radica, she calmly reasoned that she didn’t know that word, but probably someone was trying to write "Duck" since there are so many ducks in the bathroom. And together she and Benjamin proceeded to count all the ducks in the bathroom.

Look! Up in the Sky!

It's a bird!  It's a plane!  It's Superman!  On October 31st, 2006, the world was a far safer place for innocent victims of crime everywhere.

And just for the record, those are real muscles on his chest.  Don't think for a minute that it is some kind of plastic material built into the suit.

Gabby was officially a pumpkin for Hallowen - but she didn't get a lot of time in her costume.  In fact, I don't think we even got the obligatory photo op.  Sorry Gabs, but the pumpkin suit on a one year old is kind of exploitive anyway...it's just for show and you don't enjoy trick or treating yet anyway.  You stayed home where it was warm and dry.  And anyway, we easily could have passed you off for Lois Lane that weekend.

Gabrielle's Brithday

Well, on October 15th, 2006, Gabrielle turned 1.  We had a wonderful family birthday celebration with all the family (including a kids' table for the under 10 set) and Benjamin and I baked and decorated a spectacular Elmo cake. 

I've made a separate photobook for the birthdays this year, so this won't sport all the great pix that were taken that day.  Just a few to mark the occasion and give a flavor of the event.  Happy Birthday Gabrielle!

Pia and Lara's Birthday Party

Gabby had a delightful afternoon with the young ladies celebrating the first birthday of Pia and Lara, her favorite twins from the building (yes, there is actually one other set, believe it or not). 

There were balloons, toys, laughter and mischief from the one-and-under set. 

Gabby was a little frustrated that the others were a tad more mobile than she, but in her own way, she was the life of the party. 

  Happy Birthday Lara and Pia!

This weekend Gabrielle perfected the pincer. Cheerios and peas were being consumed independently at an alarming rate.  She would have eaten them even faster, but she was so pleased with herself that she kept giggling, making it difficult to keep the Cheerio or pea in her mouth once she got it there.

She also came unbelievably close to pulling herself up in the crib to a standing position.  Once again, however, her giggles of delight in accomplishment held her back. She was almost up, started to laugh with pleasure, and “plop!” -- right back down on her tushie.  But if we can just get her to sober up a bit...we're almost there.