conversations with ted

So, I've been having great, funny, weird conversations with Ted. I will have to preface a couple of stories with background information . . .

1) Background info: Sophie does not say "yes." She says no to everything. When she stomps her feet and claps her hands, she really means yes.

So I hear this conversation in the living room. Sophie obviously did something and Ted asked her if she did it. She, of course, said, "no!" Ted promptly comes into the kitchen and says, "Mommy, Sophie is lying. She needs to stand in the corner."

2) Background information: Behind our kitchen we have a laundry/storage area. Ben has put a desk back there and Ted call is Ben's office. He doesn't use it much - just more for a place to put his stuff.

So we're driving the other evening and there's lots of traffic. Ted asked where everyone is going and I said that most people were coming home from work. He says, "Mom, they don't need to go home. They can work in the laundry room!"

3) We've been watching the Olympics a lot. Ted asks LOTS of questions. He can't really tell the difference between people and when they show old things verses the current activities. It's been fun though.

In other news:

- Sophie has some new words - gentle, shoe, more, please

- Sophie loves climbing up on the kitchen chairs and when she does she just jabbers away at nothing. So we put her high chair in the attic and she's moved to the table with the rest of us. It's fun.

- Sophie is jabbering a lot. She's also starting to "sing." Today in the car she was yelling, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" And when I said, "What?" she just "talked" away. I so wish I knew what was going on in that head of hers.

we miss you, daddy!

Ben has been in Dallas all week for a Young Life training class. Funny thing is, it snowed there too. Today I heard on the news that 49 states have snow somewhere - Hawaii being the exception. All the snow has made flying interesting. After spending 10 hours in the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (which is bigger than the island of Manhattan I learned today) he missed his connecting flight from Atlanta. So he'll (hopefully) fly out of Atlanta tomorrow morning.

Here are some of the things you missed while you were gone . . .


Sometimes you just need a change of scenery with the same old toys.


There was a marriage workshop at River Ridge Friday night. Barb and I were the single ladies who got to help with registration and sit in the back since our husbands were out of town. It was nice to get out of the house for the evening.


Talking to Daddy on Skype. Sophie commanded most of the conversations with very loud hi's and bye's and trying to kiss Ben on the computer screen.





We had two snow days. We were going slightly stir crazy. Ted asked if he could do the running on Wii Fit. Turns out, he's good and can go the distance. He'll run for about 20 minutes. Really helped get the energy out. Sophie preferred to spectate from her chair and check out what she had stashed in her purse.


Our friend Hannah came over on one snow day. The kids played Just Dance. Another great way to get the wiggles out. (FYI: Ted beat Ben in a dance last week. HILARIOUS!)


This is how I found Sophie the other morning!

So, we've survived! Spring is lots of travels for Ben. We're REALLY ready for it to stop snowing. But we're supposed to get 4-8 more inches by Tuesday morning. Sigh.

UP

After 2 weeks of wacky childcare and lots of shuffling with kids and schedules, and another full week for Ben we finally had a family night. We broke out a Buffalo Wild Wings giftcard for dinner and hit Walmart for a special movie snack. We played a game of bowling on the Wii and put Sophie down for the night. Ben brought the video projector and we watched a big screen movie - UP.




We've been wanting to watch it after it made many people's "movie of the year" lists. Although it was a good movie (not great), I wouldn't put it on any of my top lists. Kind of a weird plot. Great animation. But it can make you think . . .

- it's not about the big adventures in life. It's the day-to-day memories you make that are the most important.

- it's only when you truly let go of your stuff that you find freedom. Holding on to your "stuff" (whatever that made be) ties you down and it's all you can focus on.

It's fun that Ted can/wants to watch movies now. Although the first time you watch things he asks LOTS of questions. Still fun.

And, since it was Friday, that meant snow here in Charleston. We got about 4 inches. Nothing major. It did rain HARD all day Friday. If it would've been just a tad colder, we would've had a ton. This has been the snowiest winter I can remember for quite some time. Too bad Ted gave his boots away . . . I keep thinking it really can't snow that much more to justify a new pair!

big things

So, I kinda feel bad about Sophie watching videos in her carseat. She's actually started playing better on her own and will snuggle for more than 30 seconds. Tonight she sat in her little rocking chair and watched a video. She loved it. . . so did I.


Sophie's friend Maisie came over last week. Maisie is actually a week older than Sophie. Sophie followed Maisie around saying, "Baby!" And trying to hug and kiss her. Maisie is way more verbal than Sophie.

Last weekend, Ben Santen had his 5th birthday party at Grand Prix. It was a father/son birthday party. They rode go carts, played laser tag, and other games.



Ted made a card for Ben:


This is Ted & Ben.


To
Ben
From
Ted

Ted wrote this all by himself. I just had to show him how to write a few letters. I had no idea he could do this.

videos

Here's two videos for you . . .

Although Sophie is definitely becoming more verbal, it appears she is not yet ready to share her new words with the world.




Ted has swimming lessons two days a week and practices in the tub. He has come a long way and is quite brave in the water.



In case you're wondering about the blue water . . . he got these bath tablets in his stocking that turns the water in the tub different colors. It's pretty amazing how bright the water can be and it doesn't stain anything. It's been a neat art lesson to teach Ted about the primary colors and mixing them to get the secondary colors.