The way kids open christmas presents....

I always pictured kids just tearing through every shred of wrapping paper they could see as fast as they could get their hands on it.  We had a rotation around the room growing up - I always figured that was the only thing preventing total chaos.

But not Griffin.  He just opens one thing and wants to play with it right away.  We had to remind him that there were still other things under the tree to unwrap - lest he just spend the whole Christmas day (week?) playing with the first thing he opened.

I can't complain.

Not 'Old Kids on the Block'...

"Not the 'Old Kids on the Block' right Mom?"...said Griffin after Mom pointed to her 2008 reunion tour t-shirt and said "This band is called New Kids on the Block, Griffin".  Thank goodness Vicki only uses that t-shirt as pajamas - oh the embarrassment.

Added by Vicki:  Um, my t-shirt is awesome and so was the concert. Jordan is the hottest.

Stuff Griffin Says - Just Found Some Funny Old Notes

Vicki wrote down some funny things Griff said and I just found them on paper after shuffling through an old folder.  Here they are:

Date unknown:

• Griffin:  "What's that?"
• Vicki: "Its Penny's butt."
• "Can I pet it?"
• "No.  Its yucky."
• "My butt is not yucky.  Can Penny pet it?"

8/17:  

• "Don't go to work Daddy.  That's Silly."

8/20:  

• "Who's coming today?  Do you have a door in your belly yet?" (Vicki was still pregnant with Vera)

8/19:  

• "I want 2 babies in my belly, just like you Mom.  Two cubby babies."

8:20:

• Vicki:  "When do you think Vera will come?"
• Griffin:  "On Saturday."

8/24:

• Griffin:  "I like to eat Poop"
• Vicki:  "Oh really?  Whose poop do you like to eat?"
• "Ducks' poop."
• "What does it taste like?"
• "Mac n Cheese"

Crazy Genes!

Wow, genetics are crazy... look at these pictures of Griffin and Vera, they look so similar!

Happy Birthday Aunt Kate

Griffin and Vera made her a little video this morning...

The Po-Po Card

I completely believe the parents who have told me that age 3 is worse than 2.  It's confirmed.  I've been struggling daily trying to manage Griffin's behavior; the clever little punk knows exactly how to push my buttons (ie, stares into space and pretends to not hear me when I'm talking to him, does basically the opposite of everything I ask, fake cries, purposely hits Vera or me, refuses to get dressed, get out of the bath, or go to bed, etc). 

OMG, which in our house means, "oh my Griffin", I am at my whits end! I've tried motivating him with Zelda, our Elf on the Shelf (p.s. she was a waste of $30), and I've gone down the whole Santa-will-bring-you-Christmas-presents route, but Griffin claims he doesn't want Santa to come to our house, and he doesn't want any presents.  So, my newest strategy, which has been successful about 80% of the time in the last week, is that I threaten to call the police.  I say ridiculous things like, "Griffin, do you want me to call the police?", "Do you want the police to come to our house?", or "The police don't like that..." Once, in my parental fit of rage, I even stormed into the kitchen and pretended to start calling them on the phone.  Admittedly I do feel a little mean playing the po-po card, since he's clearly scared by my threat, but it's also a little funny watching him squirm. Yesterday, when I told Griffin I'd call the police, he tightly grabbed onto my leg for security, and he pleaded with me saying, "Mommy, don't call the police, they're going to throw me in the trash." Oh Griffin...

Griffinator

I was putting Griffin to bed for the second time (more details on that below) and I said, "Good night Griff-man" as I walked away from his crib.  And he said, "I'm not Griff-man, I'm the Griffinator."  I call him Grifinator on many other occasions.  I so so so love our kids.

So here's why we had a little stumble and I had to put Griff to bed a second time:  Today we ate chili (which we home made yesterday -yum!) and then had some indian food at a Christmas party.   So I was lighting a match in the hallway to, ahem..., cover the, ah, odors.   And the match set off the smoke detector, which Griffin got a little scared about.  So I went in to give him a last hug.

Christmasy Weekend

 

It snowed for the first time of the season this past weekend, perfectly in time for the Marblehead Christmas Walk; it felt magical, festive, and kick-started our family right into the Christmas spririt. Tom and I took the kids to see the Marblehead Christmas tree lighting Friday evening. Vera slept in the Bjorn while we counted down to the tree lightining with Mr. Humphreys (the Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and our neighbor). Sidebar: Griffin recently got a big stuffed bear from IKEA and wanted to name him 'Mr Humpreys'.  After the lighting, Griff, Tom, and I displayed our best hot-dog-dance moves together on the sidewalk to the live holiday music before heading home.
On Saturday we motivated and got down to Old Town just in time for the Christmas parade. We shared a chocolate chip cookie, and waved to Curious George, Abby Cadabby, the Ginergerbread Man, Santa and Mrs. Claus as they paraded by.  Griff ate a mini candy cane, which he said tasted like adult toothpaste. 

On Sunday early evening, we took a family walk up to the MHD Garden Center to pick out our Christmas tree. The streets were quiet, the air was crisp and cool, and it was snowing lightly. We found our perfect tree after walking up and down the aisles, carefully inspecting and critiquing the inventory (Griffin was busy licking snow and Vera was alseep, again). Tom carried our 7 foot friend home on his back, while I carried Vera and pushed Griffin in the stroller. We sang Christmas carols during the walk down Village Street. At home, Tom brought the tree inside, while Griffin made "snow forts" along the brick wall in the driveway. I stood on the street watching him play. He had this childish innocence and joy about him, as he pushed and packed the fresh snow into little piles, which he then proceeded to lick. He was just so happy, which made me so happy. Tom also took Griffin out to the deck to play, where they made snow angels and a big snow ball. After a quick dinner, we got a little carried away with the Christmas spirit as we allowed Griffin to stay up way too late to help decorate the tree. This was followed by a giant meltdown/tantrum during bath and bedtime...oops. It was totally worth the good memories. :)