4 Years Old and Turkeys

Dear Leah and Logan,

Wow! We had a busy few weeks! GiGi flew in from Michigan in mid-November and we started the holidays off with a birthday party for Leah! Actually, we kind of of hand a bunch of mini parties before a big on Sunday. You were so excited, Leah, and you truly owned the day. Aunt Amanda brought William and Uncle Mike came too...along with Grandma, Grandpa, Dennis, and Nana.

It's great to watch you both grow up and start to grasp the concept of all these holidays. Logan, you want to assist everyone in blowing out their birthday candles and you do a great job. Leah, every toy commercial that has been on tv lately has joined your club of 'I want that.' I guess you figured out what a Christmas list is, huh? Every 3rd gift request is a sparkly, flying unicorn. I hope I can track one down.

GiGi stayed for 2 weeks this trip...she loves you 2 so much! And
I'm thrilled to watch you guys love your great grandmother as much as you do your grandmas. We capped the week off with Grandma getting a room at the Embassy Suites so we could use their pool. So much fun! You guys swam and kicked until you had no more energy left.



Great memories and good times with a bunch of family- that's what it is all about...don't ever forget that.

Love,
Daddy
12/9/14

Halloween 2014

Dear Leah and Logan,

We survived Halloween 2014! You both did great! The week started with Family Pizza and Pumpkin night. Papa John's delivered our favorites and we dove into both the pizza and the pumpkins right in the garage. Leah, this was your first time to use the little orange saw to do your own creative art work on a pumpkin. You weren't a fan of the orange goop inside, but you sure liked the saw. You started with a unicorn pattern, but in the end you just went with a goofy face.

Logan, you did good too! You did your best to help daddy with every step. Ultimately, you just wanted to use the pumpkin like a bowling ball and roll them around the garage and driveway. But at age 2, you got your first real pumpkin experience, and maybe next year you can start cutting!

We cut pumpkins on Tuesday, so Halloween was just 3 days away. Leah, you had picked out your pink unicorn outfit a few weeks before Halloween. In fact, by the time the Halloween got here, you had already worn your costume 10 times. Logan, we really couldn't decide on what we wanted you to be. So Mommy got you a 'Woody' costume on the morning of Halloween. It was a little big, so we might be able to use it again in the future. 

As a bonus, Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us on Halloween and walked with you the entire time. It was chilly that night, so it helped that you both ran the entire Muirwood subdivision. Leah, you already had one Trick-or-Treat session under you belt in 2013, but this was Logan's first real time. Logan, you kept up with sister all night!  Plus, you did it while you struggled with how to hold your bag of candy.

Mommy added a pink cowgirl hat to your costume at the last minute, so a lot of our neighbors kept complimenting your 'pink pony'. Trust me- you were quick and stern to point out that 'its a unicorn!

The final highlight to the evening was that Daddy once again dusted off the Bert costume and added Sesame Street to our adventure.

The whole week was a success and you all ended up with a bunch of candy...half of which you ate the night you got it! Daddy might have snuck a couple pieces for himself, too! I'll pay you back one day.

Love you both...Leah's Birthday and Thanksgiving are coming in November.

Love,

Daddy

11/9/14

Grandma's 60th Birthday

Dear Leah and Logan,

We had such a busy weekend! Gigi, Aunt Karen, and Cousin Courtney all flew down for Grandma's 60th birthday. Then Aunt DeeDee, Uncle Mike Olding, Aunt Patti, and Cousin Kathryn drove down from Cincinatti and Lansing to join us on Saturday.  You two did so good getting knowing everyone and playing with everyone. It was a real joy to see my Aunts playing with each of you in the right way- on the ground playing Ring-Around-the-Rosie and steam-roller. I grew up playing the same games with them.

We all went to Olive Garden...Uncle Mike, Uncle Justin, Uncle Caleb, and Aunt Daniela joined us too. I can't say that you 2 really liked the appetizers, but you did munch on the unlimited breadsticks, and Logan, you ate about 100 grapes. Dinner was great, but afterward, half the group went to Julia's Bakery, so we had triple the desserts to go with birthday cake. But that didn't stop you from making a complete mess of Grandma's cake.

So always remember that you have lots of family in Michigan and other places that love you to pieces. I hope I'm able to pass down the value of family...and that family should always come first...and to always make time for family events...so you can just enjoy each other's company.

Your Grandma is now 60! I hope she lives to be 100 so I can watch you play with her and Grandpa for many years to come. They both adore you so much!

You two are loved!

Love,
Daddy
10/22/14

The Screech of a Boy

Dear Leah and Logan,

It dawned on me today that Logan has perfected the art of the 2 y/o boy screech. Wow. It is loud to a point it hurts your ears. Logan, your scream is your natural instinct for 'fight of flight' and it usually comes 2 or 3 at at time. Whenever you're in a situation that is displeasing...such as getting sprayed with the hose, a kid taking a toy away, or anytime else you feel threatened...you simply scream. And it's a scream that can be heard around the world. For sake of our ears, I hope it's just a phase that will end when you're 3, but for now, we'll all just cover our ears.

My boss Tony gave us a cd full of Disney and Pixar movies, so you guys have been having some long movie sections lately. Wreck-it Ralph and Little Mermaid seem to be your favorites, but there is also Toy Story 1-3 on there. I'm a big fan of Wreck-it Ralph, though, because it has several references to 80's video games :)

I love watching how you take interest in all the characters and use them to boost your own vocabulary. Leah, you hit me with a new 'big' word every week...but my favorite might be when you called grandma a genius.

Gi-Gi and Aunt Karen will be here next week!

I love you two!

Love, Daddy
10/12/14

3 Going on 16

Dear Leah and Logan,

Fall weather started this week, so that means falling leaves and warmer clothes. Now that the heat is gone, you two have been soaking up more outdoor time...which is good for us because we like you to run until you're ready to fall asleep :)

Leah, this week I posted a picture of you on my Facebook wall. Wow, the crowd loved it! It got a record number of 'likes' and it reaffirmed my thought that I'm going to dread having to deal with boys coming around. So if you could slow down growing and just stay 3 forever- that'd be great. Just stay 3 and be my little toddler model forever...Always Daddy's Princess.

Logan, you're in a phase right now. You'll go into the kitchen and find whatever container of food you can....jar...baggie....spice bottle...and then you open it and spread it all over the kitchen. The key to these actions are that you only need about a 45 second window to make a complete disaster. If it wasn't our kitchen, I'd almost label it as 'impressive'. So far you've knocked out 1/3 of our spice rack, 3 gallons of milk, a bottle of peanuts, and a couple boxes of cereal. And all that doesn't even include an additional 3 bottles of baby powder. Yes, you're all boy.

Tonight we're going to Ian and Tiffany's for a bonfire...more great fall activities, and you get to see baby Cadence.

Love,

Daddy
9/26/14

Butterfly Nets and Houses

Dear Leah and Logan,

So I bought you a butterfly house, and WOW, it's a big hit. Grandma bought you guys some butterfly nets not too long ago, so now you have something to keep your work.  We walk in the woods behind our Muirwood home and we have a teamwork approach. I spot the butterflies, we all run after them, and hopefully one of us can manage to get it in the net and then into the butterfly house. By looks of this picture, I think we got 3 of them!

As your daddy, it's an amazing experience (and sometimes aggravating) to watch you 2 interact. You have so many moments where you will sit for hours right next to each other and watch cartoons together....or look at bugs...or jump in the trampoline. The other moments- well, you're not so nice:)  Logan likes to pull hair and pinch, and Leah you just like to prove you're bigger and stronger. My only hope is that you stay best friends forever.

Leah, Logan looks up to you right now. He wants to do the same things you do, play with the the same toys, attempt the same adventures...and he's willing to jump on anything or even hurt himself to prove he can do it. We played a little bit of catch today with the Dora beach ball...it's my way of grooming you into perfect athletes. Leah, every time you make a great catch, I throw it just a little bit higher. Logan, I'm still working on you keeping your eyes open when you catch.

Love you both,
Daddy
9/13/14

Despicable Us

Dear Leah and Logan,

Last night we watched Despicable Me 2 for the 35th time this summer. Comcast Streampix had one free movie worth watching the last few months, and we milked it.

Our famous line is always, My name is Silas Ramsbottom.... Minions: 'Bottom...hahahaha', which both of you see coming a mile away. But you, Logan, have pretty much memorized the entire movie.

Lipstick Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazer!!

Our movie nights are something that I'll always remember about 2014, even if it was mostly the same movie :) We put our pallets in front of the tv, or crash in Mommy and Daddy's bed...and for 90 minutes, just be at peace with the humor of the movie.

I can't believe how fast this summer went by. You've both grown so much and have been absorbing the world around you every single day. Leah, you're inquisitive nature wants answers to EVERYTHING! I love it. I hope that trait stays with you forever- if you want the answer- ask!! And Logan, you pick up a new sound or new word every single day. Two nights ago you wanted to lie next to me because you were scared of the 'Tun-der' and 'ighting'. With each flash you were amazed, but still kind of embraced my arm. Thank you for letting me be the comforting figure for 20 minutes.

Leah, your high maintenance back-scratching as to be addressed. :) You may be the only 3 y/o on the planet with an EXACT plan to have your back scratched. It was either too fast, too slow, etc etc. Then you gave up and said, "just scratch my belly." Then five minutes later you wanted your back scratched again. Goodness, child. We'll see if this is foreshadowing of the future you.

Logan, you've endured 1,000 spankings in the last month for pulling Leah's hair, pinching, and pushing. The problem is that not a single one of them did any good whatsoever. Your bottom is red, but you don't seem to be learning.

Leah, you came in this morning and just wanted to talk about gymnastics and doing flips..but your dialogue is like a 10 y/o. So smart and so defined for your age.

Love,
Daddy
9/4/2014

Back from Dropping the Ball

Dear Leah and Logan,

I had originally started this blog to keep track of Leah growing up. A lot has happened since then. But I'm back! And now I'm writing to both of you, Leah Ryanne and Logan Jacob.

It's Labor Day weekend 2014, so I'm challenging myself to revisit this blog at least once a week, and if it all works out...maybe one day give it to you the link when you're in high school or something.

The previous post was about Leah from 2011 and I had just discovered how she liked Granny Smith apples. Well, I was excited because anyone who knows me, knows that I love apples. Fast forward to 2014 and Leah, you pretty much ate fruit, and Logan eats any fruit that's put in front of him. The tables turned.

Logan, you're 2 1/2 years old and you're an absolute terror. It's like your look around every room you walk into and ask yourself- what is the most destructive thing I can do or what is the most expensive thing I can break. Your best work (to date) has been flooding the entire Muirwood kitchen in a matter of 5 minutes. It was truly impressive since I have no idea how you got water into the cabinets while sitting in the sink.  Oh and did I mention you're a climber? You have rock climber written all over you...all you need is tiny ledge or a cabinet handle, and it's good enough for you to ascend. I have a video of you scaling the dresser!!

The event you 2 enjoy most together

Leah, you're the smartest 3 year old (almost 4!) that i know. I cherish eating breakfast with you or just sitting around because our conversations are real. You learn words and put them together so quickly! Your brain is like a little sponge!  squeeeeeeeeze hug!

Events this summer have included several adventures to the farm with your Mommy and several days in our mini plastic pool in the backyard. I also just bought you a butterfly house- and you both LOVE it. We walk through the back yard trails and catch butterflies, and then you just watch them flutter around. I used to do that with your Uncle Justin...the nets are a lot nicer these days!  Oh, and you two LOVE your trampoline...you'll jump and jump and jump and jump...most days, Logan gets 1 good hair-pull in on you Leah, but I'm convinced the trampoline is the foundation for your future athletic careers- you both already have stocky, muscular legs!

Love you both,

Daddy
8/31/14