little man, big words

Since my little man started preschool there have been some very noticeable changes in him, especially when he speaks.  Some of the letters, like "f" that he used to have trouble pronouncing are no longer an issue and he has started using some very big words.  Supper is no longer just plain "yummy" it's "DELICIOUS!"  A new toy, new show, new anything is not just "cool" any more it's "AMAZING" or "AWESOME!"  Nothing is "funny" any more it's "HILARIOUS!"  And, after he has spent the better part of an hour running laps around the house he is not just "tired" he is "EXHAUSTED!"    I love listening to him use these big words and use them correctly. 

Along with his big words he has started telling stories, using longer phrases and having conversations with his guys (a.k.a. is superhero toys).  He doesn't know that I listen to him all the time and has no idea that I can hear every word coming from his room.  His new favorite game is to imagine that we are racing every car that we pass or come up next when we drive anywhere.  On the way home from swimming lessons (BTW swimming = best money spent...ever!)  this week we were passing a semi and all of a sudden from the back seat I hear him yell "Come on Mommy.  Give it all you've got!"  It took all my self control not to drive off the road and fall on the floor of the car laughing.  This same car trip home from swimming produced a rather lenghty story about what happens when your teeth fall out.  Without going into major details the story involved teeth falling out, putting them under your pillow, the tooth fairy leaving you money which will then be taken to the store to purchase new guys and movies. 

I know that this whole post seems pretty pointless and not really about much of anything except the fact that my baby boy is looking and sounding more and more like a big kid each and every day and as sad as it is when I really take the time to sit and think about that fact, I absolutely love getting to see this amazing tranformation. 

Busted playing in his sister's room so he posed for this picture.  CHEESIEST! SMILE! EVER!

the holidays are officially over

When Christmas is over and it's time to start thinking about taking down all the decorations, I get a little sad.  Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of year.  I love twinkling lights, all of my lighted houses and our great, big tree.  It makes dealing with the transition between the warm days and cool nights of fall to the all day snow and cold of winter a little easier.  Each time I open a bucket filled with decorations or look at an ornament as I hang it on the tree it's like seeing an old friend again.  Each ornament has a different memory that goes along with it and all the new ones that get added in every year get me excited to see them again the next.  As I have sat in my living room last week I kept thinking that the time to take everything down and pack it all away was quickly creeping up and so Saturday morning, it started.  I don't want to be "that person" who has their tree lit in their living room window until February.  It may be too cold to take the lights down from the house but they won't be turned on at night any more very soon.  As I was attempting to drink my coffee without spilling all over the toddler climbing up and down off my lap, I decided that I should be productive and start maybe taking the ornaments off the tree.  That quickly turned in to me barreling full force towards the take-down and re-packing of all our Christmas decorations.  It was just that time, time to say good-bye to all my pretty twinkling lights and smiling snowmen for another year and hunker down to ride out the rest of the winter.  If the last week with Harper thinking that she needs to start her terrible 2's at only 1 1/2 is any indication of how our winter is going to go...I may need to start leaving the tree up all year round!

What do you do when it's too cold to go outside...stay inside where clothing is optional and accessories are a must!




One of the few moments the poor kid was actually able to play with his new "iPad" since his little sister has decided that it's really hers.

road trip

After spending an amazingly quiet and relaxing Christmas at home, we packed our suitcase and cooler, loaded up the car and headed out.  To say that I was a little nervous about how our 10 hour road trip would go is a gross understatement.  Harper has never been the best traveler in the car and the 3 1/2 hours from between Grand Forks and Bismarck is the farthest distance we have ever taken her.  In an effort to try and keep the monkeys in the back seat occupied and (at least somewhat) happy I also made sure we had plenty of movies, snacks, toys and time for stops.  My nightmares about a horrible day filled with one crying toddler, her brother screaming because of the crying, a crying and frustrated mommy and a stressed out daddy were completely irrational and unfounded.  The drive to Nebraska and back home a few days later went about a zillion times better than I ever thought it would.  The kids watched their movies (I brought lots but we ended up playing the same 3 over and over again...Ice Age 4 anyone?), played with their toys and ate their snacks with only a few little outbursts and with minimal fighting.  I really could not believe it.  I was pleasantly shocked and incredibly relieved.

In addition to my surprise over my rockstar road trippers, I have to tell Cayden's McDonald's story.  He will hate me for it when he's older but it's far too funny not to tell.  So on the way to NE, we made a longer lunch stop at McDonald's in Watertown, SD.  As we were finishing up and getting ready to use the bathroom one more time before getting back in the car Cayden stands up at our table and says he needs to poop.  Good timing on his part because now we don't have to stop again 5 minutes down the road.  He and Daddy go into the men's room while Harper and I wait outside.  A few minutes later another man comes out of the bathroom and walks by me laughing.  Not knowing that Cayden is with me, he turns and says "the little guy must have been successful in there," laughs and sits down at his table.  My boys come out of the bathroom and as Jake is already trying his hardest not to bust out laughing Cayden yells "Mommy, I pooped!"  Apparently, while on the toilet in the public bathroom Cayden also felt it was necessary to narrate his activities.  When I say narrate I mean he sat there and said something to the affect of "Wait for it.  Wait for it.  My poop's coming.  It's coming.  Wait for it.  I go-ed!"  This is what is meant when people say that parenthood removes your ability to become visibly embarrassed because any time you are in public you are in a permanent state of embarrassment.



Cool Rider!

What makes a road trip better?  Chocolate milk, of course.  CHEERS!

it's almost 2013

As 2012 is coming to a close I thought I would end the first year of my blog the same way I started it, by posting our Woinarowicz family Christmas letter.  We have had an amazing, fun, crazy, busy year with lots of trips, celebrations and major milestones.  I hope that this holiday season has found everyone out there happy, healthy and getting to spend time with the people they love the most.

See you all in 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The 12 months of 2012

Read to the tune of “The 12 days of Christmas” and see what Cayden and Harper did this year.

 

JANUARY – IN THE 1^ST MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID…SETTLED IN TO OUR NEW HOUSE

We finally got to move into our new house in Bismarck Christmas weekend and worked on getting settled in January.  It was like Christmas all over again when I got to see all of my old toys and stuffed animals after such a long time.  I think that Harper was excited too because she got to have her own room and doesn’t have to share with Mom and Dad any more.

FEBRUARY – IN THE 2^ND MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID… MOMMY’S VACATION

Mommy and Grandma Shell took a trip to Mexico.  They were gone for a long time and looked funny with their different skin when they came back but they did bring Cayden and I some really great presents.  Plus we got to spend a whole week at home with Daddy. 

MARCH – IN THE 3^RD MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID…IT’S STILL WINTER

Mommy baked a LOT of cupcakes.  I think because it was still cold outside and she needed something to do because she doesn’t play with guys like I do or with little ponies like Harper does.  I am not complaining though, they were yummy. 

APRIL – IN THE 4^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID…MY FIRST CIRCUS

We got to go to the circus with Cayden’s friend Hunter and his Mommy.  I slept through a lot of it but I know Cayden was so excited by it.  We saw lots of animals and clowns and got fun treats.  Mommy bought me fuzzy, light-up bunny ears that really came in handy for Halloween.  I can’t wait to go back next year!

MAY – IN THE 5^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID…WENT TO THE BEACH

Mommy, Harper and I flew on the airplane to North Carolina.  We got to swim in the pool at the hotel, eat fondue (my new favorite way to eat supper), went to the beach to play in the sand and ocean and went to see all the sharks and fishes at the aquarium.  It was a so much fun even though Daddy had to stay home.

JUNE – IN THE 6^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID …LOTS OF CELEBRATING

I got to be a cowgirl in Medora!  We were there for Great-Grandma and Grandpa’s 50^th anniversary.  I can’t count that high but we had a good time.  Cayden had fun riding all the horses in front of the stores and even yelled “Yee-haw.”  He made a good cowboy.  Then it was time for my 1^st birthday.  Mommy made me a ladybug party and I got to have so many people at my house.  I’m a big girl now!

JULY – IN THE 7^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID…OUR VERY FIRST PARADE

On the 4^th of July, Mommy and Daddy took Harper and I to watch our very first parade.  I never knew that you could get so much candy and it was awesome seeing all the different trucks and tractors.  My favorite part (other than the candy) was the horses though.  Harper like when people came by us playing music so she could dance.  It was so much fun!

AUGUST – IN THE 8^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID …A WEDDING IN THE RAIN

Cayden, Mommy, Daddy and I went to North Carolina for cousin Mandy’s wedding.  I got to wear a pretty gold sparkly dress and Cayden had a fun bow-tie.  We didn’t ride our wagon down the aisle but I think we still did a good job as the flower girl and ring bearer, even in the rain. 

SEPTEMBER – IN THE 9^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID …CAYDEN STARTED PRESCHOOL

I got to start school this year.  We get to do all sorts of fun things with my new friends and teachers and Mommy and Daddy are proud of me learning to write my letters and numbers.  My favorite part is singing our good-bye song before we leave.  I even sing it to Mommy when she picks me up.

OCTOBER – IN THE 10^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID …SUPERHERO PARTY

This month was Cayden’s 4^th birthday.  Everything was Spiderman and superheroes.  Mommy even made me my own superhero shirt.  We all had so much fun playing with his new toys but he doesn’t let me play with them anymore.  We also got to go trick-or-treating this year.  Cayden was spiderman (with great big muscles) and I was a bunny.  Grandma Shell made my bunny costume and I loved wearing it!

NOVEMBER – IN THE 11^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID…ANOTHER FUN AIRPLANE

Mommy, Daddy, Harper and I went to North Carolina again.  I got to go fishing with all the boys, I hunted for acorns and I drove Pop’s tractor.  Mommy and Pop got Harper and I Chicago Bears shirts to surprise Daddy the day they played his football team.  I don’t think Daddy liked the surprise or that his team lost but Mommy thought it was really funny!

DECEMBER – IN THE 12^TH MONTH OF 2012, THIS IS WHAT WE DID…HEADING TO NEBRASKA      

After we spend a quiet Christmas at home in Bismarck, I get to go to Nebraska (with Mommy, Daddy and Cayden of course) for cousin Brenda’s wedding.  I usually don’t like to take long trips in the car but I think we will have a good drive.  Cayden and I will have all our fun new toys and movies from Santa so we can keep busy while Mommy and Daddy Drive.

Christmas crafting

This year for Christmas I decided to make a lot of the gifts that I was planning to give and some things that I wanted to have around our house.  There are still some friends whose kids haven't gotten their gift so I won't post a picture of that project quite yet.  Here are three of my favorite craft projects from this season that were all big hits.  And, of course, my new best friend was there every step of the way.

My glue gun was permanently camped out on my kitchen counter for about a month.

1. Harper's bedroom wreath: I wanted to make a wreath for each of the kids' bedroom doors.  They already had a small tree in their rooms with ornaments and lights they picked out themselves but I wanted their doors to scream "IT'S CHRISTMAS!" when you walked down our hallway.  Not wanting to go overboard but not having much for ideas I hit Pinterest.  Being someone who loves to bake and craft, I have to limit my time on Pinterest to only those special occasions when I have something specific in mind and need some ideas.  After about 45 minutes of scouring pictures of wreaths, I came across one fluffy one covered in faux fur.  From that picture, this is what I created for Harper:

The fur wasn't as fluffy as the one on Pinterest but it works well with the big letter (and wasn't quite as messy).  By wrapping small sections of fur around the foam wreath and gluing the strips as I went I was left with a few small sections that needed to be filled in.  Little triangle shaped pieces fit nicely and fluffing the fur a little make the seams less noticeable.  The letter is just a simple wooden letter modge podged with Christmas fabric.

2. Not wanting Cayden and Harper to have the same kind of wreath on their door, I found another idea on Pinterest and then let Cayden have some of the creative design control.  Here is what he chose:

 

The wreath itself is wool yarn wrapped around a foam circle.  Cayden chose the red yarn after he decided that we wanted the peppermint candies on his special decoration.  He LOVES peppermint Hershey kisses, M&Ms and candy canes so his choice in decor was actually very appropriate.  I glued the ends of the yarn on the wreath when I started and then when I was done wrapping it around.  The candy decorations came in groups from Hobby Lobby and the wires stuck into the foam easily.  I did glue some of them in place and used the tight yarn to hold others in place.

 

3. Peppermint Bath Salts: Between secret Santa drawings at work, Cayden's teachers, the kids' daycare and some friends I wanted to give gifts to, this idea was the easiest and got the very best reception. 

 

 

The salts themselves were incredibly easy to make (1 cup Epsom salt, 1/2 cup coarse sea salt; divided in half with red food coloring added to one half and a few drops of peppermint or mint extract added to the other half).  I put each mixture into a Ziploc baggie and cut a small hole in the bottom.  Alternating the two mixtures so that there were different layers I filled a simple canning jar.  Adding a candy cane, a small coffee scoop and a hand written note the finished product turned out rather cool.



 

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I LOVE Christmas time!  Seeing lights on houses as we drive through town, seeing Christmas trees through windows, unpacking all my lighted houses, snowmen and 30 (yes, 30...I am using that number in reference to myself and I am not sure I like it) holidays worth of ornaments makes me smile every time.  The best part of all, though, is seeing the look on the kids' faces the first time they see my little village all lit up, seeing the tree completely decorated and seeing our house covered in lights as we drive down our street.  These simple little things make them so excited that it gets me excited to do it every year.  I don't care if people come to my house and think that Santa threw up garland and fake snow everywhere or if they compare the lights on the outside of my house to the Griswolds...as long as it makes Cayden and Harper smile I will keep doing it!  Truth-be-told, I will probably keep doing it long after they think it's fun too.  I.JUST.CAN'T.STOP.MYSELF!

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving weekend

For the first time in the 8 years since he moved to North Carolina, I (we) got to be with my dad on a major holiday!  It was a long time coming and an absolutely fantastic trip.  Despite the fact that we were traveling on Thanksgiving and our flight into Charlotte was delayed about 3+ hours (not doing much to improve my opinion of your airline or customer service Delta) we made it to Dad's by 7pm and just in time for dinner.  Anyone who has traveled with young kids know what I am talking about when I say that we got plenty of dirty looks from people sitting down around us on the plane when they saw Cayden and Harper.  It's a good thing that the drunk lady in front of Jake wasn't talking loud enough for me to hear her rant about drugging my kids with Benadryl if they start to get loud en route.  Little did all of these nasty people know that my kids are pros when it comes to air travel and were incredibly well behaved the WHOLE time!

 

 

 

Part of the reason for our long (6 days away from work = heaven!) vacation in November was to have a holiday together, finally, but also to celebrate a big milestone.  Starting with G&G's 50th anniversary and Harper's 1st birthday this past summer, we have a full year of major milestones in our family including 60th, 50th, 40th, my 30th (YIKES!!!) and 21st birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc.  This week was my Dad's 50th birthday.  It was so amazing to get to spend this important day with the first man in my life and the best Pop my kids could possibly have.  We had an amazing time relaxing up in the back-woods of North Carolina, getting to have a true Griswold Thanksgiving weekend (with 12 adults, 2 kids, 6 dogs and a cat all in attendance) and a fantastic birthday for Dad in the mountains! 

 

Cayden was in HEAVEN getting to drive Pop's tractor!  Pop was pretty proud too.




making the trek back to the house from the dock (it's not that far but the hill is pretty steep)




So proud of his acorn and pine cone finds!




The two best uncles any two little kids could have!




Daddy was not impressed that Mommy and Pop dressed the kids in Bears gear when they were playing the Vikings.  I am happy to report that all of our positive vibes helped the Bears wipe the floor with the Vikings!