Legos!

I bought two fairly substantive (= a lot of pieces) lego toys, a lex luthor robot and a wolverine helicopter. Both came with three little figures. The robot was the first assembled. Sam at first said he would never, ever, ever take it apart but then a few minutes later wanted to make changes. After it was in a few big pieces he wanted to put it back together and that's how it is now. 

I delayed on doing the helicopter until today. They also each have a little motorcycle (captain america, cat woman, wolverine). It is hard because Sam's probably the only one who can play with these without taking them apart. I have mixed feelings about the more substantive lego toys. They are really, really cool, and the engineers at lego clearly can do a better job of making a helicopter than, say, I or my five year old can. Still, I also like when they experiement and expect all of the legos to have devolved back to pieces in a few weeks. Eva likes them too and we made an airplane together today. I read somewhere that the bulk of the lego market is boys, and they've even introduced pink girl sets. Not really a fan of that, but also thinking of ways to encourage Eva too. Emily said she didn't play with blocks much when she was little. The red box in the last picture is one from my own childhood. They really are a fun toy. When I get over the diapers, the snot, the early mornings and the late nights, this is a really, really fun age and our kids are having a blast.

Today we took them to gymnastics and they had a really good time. With Sam's group they did the thing where you hang from bars by your knees. I think this is a really good activity for them lately.

I'm still feeling a bit stressed just by all that's happening in our lives, but also excited too. I think if I have course load under control, cut the church responsibilities, and if we have extra help (which now seems likely) it will be a much different spring. Here's hoping!

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013

This was a fun Christmas, although our first away from home and family for a while. Last year was US, then before that baptism, then twins just born. This year was a pastiche of traditions: several church-y events, our durable Costco tree, school potluck and services, some back-from-home gifts (trasnformable vtech dinosaurs, lego superheroes, and so on), a Christmas Eve dinner at Chili’s and homecooked meals on Christmas (chicken, a slow cook roast, etc.).

This was the first time the twins began to catch on to everything. At first Eli was confused that he could have more than one present, and so baulked at opening a second (he thought he’d have to give away the first toy). After that it was really fun. I helped Sam assemble a robot that Lex Luthor sits in and they now have lots of mini-figures that are superheroes. I also found the little plastic action figures that Eli loves so much and he has quite a collection now (before we had the DC ones, Superman, Batman and so on, and now we've added Marvel: Wolverine, Iron Man and others).

I’m skipping afternoon work to go see Ender’s Game. I read that book earlier and liked it. No one else in the family is old enough, but I’m happy to go myself. This is one of the traditions I always like.

One thing we’re missing this year is the post-Christmas let down. Next week is back to class for me with syllabi for next semester and some writing projects due very soon. Emily’s really on the hook for dissertation and then this conference. Busy!

3 Down

I did my conference in mid-November. It was a real change of pace. I did two papers and was part of a group that meets there, and was able to spend about half a week with my uncle Paul and aunt Joan and also a day and a half with Reina. On the way back, I saw Alan for a couple of days, visiting from the base (just a 90 minute flight away). It was an unexpected opportunity to reconnect with several branches of the family and I'm really grateful for the change in pace.

Academic life is a little tougher. I feel like I've come miles, but that I still have quite a ways to go and it's hard to get much flex from my employer. Anyway, this is just to say that we're always in the middle of discernment, but that the answer may become clearer with time.

What else? The kids are all sick. Sam's better and Eli's pretty much back to normal, but Eva has a plugged up nose and would prefer to just sit on someone all of the time. She's currently lodged herself next to me, with her head under my elbow. She definitely still has a fever. Days like these are rough, they just go on and on. The weekend was my most intense too: wedding, sermon on Sunday, speaking at event Saturday morning with Emily.

It will get better, but not immediately. Next semester I am hoping to just have 2-3 classes. I'll see what happens with it.

That's the news. More to follow.