School Party

Today was Bryce's school holiday performance. Perhaps you remember the Thanksgiving performance just a few weeks ago? Well, his showman skills have developed since then! He walked in shaking his bells, sang all the songs and even did the hand motions.
It was too cute. Ivy was busy greeting everyone in our aisle and going through their camera bags. She also discovered that the back of the pew is perfect for hanging. After 30 minutes of singing(that's a lot of songs) we all had pizza. A pretty way to end the 1st half of the school year.

Happy Hanukkah

We went to see some of Russell's family in Dallas to celebrate Hanukkah. To get in the holiday mood we went to Tot Shabbat on our way out of town. The kids sat on the bima and sang some dreidel songs. After the service Bryce made a menorah and then they each shoved in about 100 donuts. Then we hit the road.

Since we live in south Austin and we were heading to north Dallas it was about 4 hours each way but the kids were great in the car. Bryce loved playing with his 4 year old cousin Morgan. He didn't even mind that everything was princess themed :) Aunt Dot cooked a wonderful dinner, Uncle Marty was a big hit getting the kids all riled up before bed and Hilary and Scott were the perfect hosts. Hope everyone who celebrates Hanukkah had as much fun as we did to start the holiday off.

Happy Birthday Mimi!

My family came in to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. Bryce couldn't wait for cake! Russell played happy birthday on the piano (it helped drown out the bad singing) and then Bryce helped blow out the candles.

After lunch Bryce demonstrated how fast he can ride his tricycle. He even let Ivy take a turn.

Happy Thanksgiving

We went back and forth to my parents house for the holiday. Since my grandparents sold their lake house, my parents ended up with a full house. My grandparents, Uncle Mark, Aunt Judy and cousins Ryan and Austin all stayed. We wouldn't have had a bed even if we wanted one. Wednesday night was chili with the Barban group and Thursday was turkey lunch. The kids swapped personalities for the holiday. Bryce was friendly and had a great time. Ivy was clingy and not her usual perky self...she's teething and it's making her cranky.

Thanks to everyone that cooked, cleaned and entertained us. It was a great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving at school

Bryce class performed some Thanksgiving songs and then we all had lunch together. It was hysterical. I don't think Bryce actually sang but he did a great job standing on stage. A couple kids ran out screaming, one by refused to wear his costume, another girl cried the whole time because she wanted to be an Indian, not a pilgrim. Ivy clapped enthusiastically the whole time.

Bryce is on the front row far left. His Indian headress covered his eyes most of the time.

Time to eat!

New York

We haven't been to Long Island since Bryce's 1st birthday so we decided it was time to go. This was Ivy's 1st trip on a plane and I was relieved that she did great. Both kids were wonderful travelers. Since it had been so long since our last trip we stayed busy seeing a lot of friends and family. Thanks to everyone that made the effort to get to know the kids. We also went to NYC and Bryce loved his 1st train and subway rides. He's still talking about them. They're pretty worn out from all the excitement.

Happy H(1)alloweeN(1)

Trick or Treat? Well...unfortunately this year our kids got tricked. I don't think when Paige asked them what costume they wanted to wear this year she expected the answer to be "I think we'll dress up as swine flu". I'm not sure why there's all this fuss about breeding vaccines and getting them to the public...they should just come to our house because apparently we have conditions just right to be a fertile breeding ground. In fact our house turned into an 8th grade algebra problem this week when H1N1 + H1N1 = H2N2. Well...technically I think the right answer is 2H12N1 but who really remembers that crap anyway?

So...this year, which was going to be our first real trick or treat experience, turned in to one more year of staying in the driveway. Of course we were the only house on the block passing out hand sanitizer and tamiflu to the kids, but I'm sure the local parents appreciated our concern for their kids. The kids also thought that by layering in a time change on top of their piggy flu, Paige and I were in kahootz with the doctor to force them in to one extra dose of medicine (which loses out 10 times out of 10 to Snickers and M&M's).

But, for all the fever and coughing this week, the kids were well enough to get costumes on (Bryce as Bob the Builder and Ivy as a Cheerleader) and man the candy bowl in the drive way for an hour or so and greet some trick or treaters. I think we'd be better off doing Halloween in Boca Raton as our kids would much prefer the 'early bird' crowd since they go to bed before things really get rocking and rolling. To pass the time Bryce broke out his tricycle and rode mad circles in the drive way while Ivy desperately tried to figure out how to open her bag of M&M's (which she did..promptly stuffed as many as she could in her mouth...and then spit them all over the driveway).

A little pre Halloween pumpkin decorating

Ivy got confused because we frequently call her pumpkin...so she thought she needed to decorate herself

Bryce the Builder ready for a Job!

Ivy sitting still long enough for a photo...just putting this thing on makes her start to do tumbling passes

Bryce anxiously awaits the trick or treaters

Ivy stealthily sneaking some M&M's...Bryce on the lookout patrol

Ivy retreats to her chair to try and figure out how to open those darn M&M's...Bryce got a little loose in turn 4 and crashed in to the bushes (top right :)).

New children's museum

Russell and my dad played in a golf tournament last weekend. They didn't play the best golf of their lives but the rest of us had fun. Mother took us to a children's museum in New Braunfels. They kids loved it! It was small but had things perfect for each kid. Bryce was so excited to see the big train table. He stayed there almost the whole time. Ivy loved grocery shopping. We took them to lunch afterwards. Bryce likes to order for himself now. When the waitress comes over he informs her that he'd like a drink and french fries right away. It's pretty funny...

The Rocky Dance

I usually reserve the Rocky dance for a particular run that I do around Austin. It's a long run where at one point there's a long climb up the hills of Mt. Bonnell. When you reach the park, there's a final dash up the stairs to the summit, where, once at the top....you do the Rocky dance.

Well, for Bryce's birthday, Spencer and Julie got him Rocky the Robot Truck.
For a while Rocky sat idle. If you pushed the button on top of his exhaust pipe he would talk and joke...occasionally even fart (yes, that's right, the truck farts). But recently, we finally figured out how to make Rocky come alive...and when we did, a whole new Rocky dance came to life.

Pumpkins

We thought Ivy was fearless. She will do anything but today she met her match...pumpkins. I took the kids to meet friends and take pictures at a pumpkin patch. Ivy freaked out when we got there. All her friends were very sweet and picked up baby pumpkins to show her that there was nothing to be scared of. She couldn't wait to leave. It was hard to take pictures of Bryce because he was having so much fun running around that he wouldn't stand still and smile. It's the thought that counts right?

On a side note, Russell took this picture of Ivy doing something that she loves, eating chili!

Birthday Party Crasher

Bryce's friend Morgan had a birthday party this weekend at the Little Gym. You might remember the Little Gym from Bryce's list of summer time activities. He seemed to have fun running around the mats at the gym and walking across the balance beams. I think he occasionally hung from some things, but generally he would stand to the side and mentally mock the other children...he's got a cynical side I'm telepathically cultivating.

Ivy on the other hand will literally leap at any opportunity to fall off something. Luckily the Little Gym is full of padded floors (although the way Ivy attacks that place, she'll more likely be in need of padded walls somewhere down the room...seriously...she's crazy). So...with an opportunity to hit the gym this weekend and crash a birthday party (read: sneak a piece of cake), Ivy was all over it.

Here you'll see Ivy playing under the direct supervision of a responsible adult who has her best interest in mind. Notice the safe proximity and spotting demonstrated by this person we'll call "Mommy".


In this video you'll see Ivy taking a more independent approach to her gymnastics career. It's probably advisable that she be spotted by some one (instead of perhaps...say...filming), but that's what you get when you leave Daddy alone with the kids.

But...as usual...she gets up with a smile (although it is hard to ignore the flash of sheer terror at about the 12 second mark...but without pain there would be no joy...right?). How much do you think it would cost to floor our house in those mats?

Requiem for a Nanny

2009 has been a difficult year for the Newman side of the family. With January came the passing of an Uncle who spent more time than any of us knew battling cancer. April came quickly after when on the 10th day, a Great Aunt - Auntie - left us after more than 100 years. The summer came and we started to heal. Ivy turned 1 and Bryce turned 3. Lots of firsts - walking and talking; more of the same - golf in the yard, tricycle riding, and too many cookies. Things were getting better. Then August came...and Nanny went. A car accident was the terribly tragic end to more than 95 years of life...not fair.

I'd like to think that there wasn't anything she loved more than us, her grandchildren...but that would be a lie. Her Great Grand Children brought more joy than a fresh bakery roll covered with fresh tomato and nice piece of American cheese. I'm told it took several days for the smile to go away from our last visit at the park in Waco earlier this summer. ...A gift I'm glad we were able to give her. And for Nanny...who was always quick with a quarter for the toy machine at the grocery store, or a bakery fresh cookie, or even a crisp $20 bill...her last gift to us (and our kids) will be something we can cherish for a lifetime.

So with our new piano so elegantly displayed, I'm thrilled to have music brought in to our house (although not as excited as Bryce was when the 'packer' truck showed up to deliver it). But more than that, I'm glad that we'll have something we can look at, and listen to, that reminds us of her.

With much love...

Hook'em Horns

Our friends Kyle and Missy were in town so we met up with them at their tailgate before the Texas football game. It was great to see them and meet their 2nd child, Kendall. The kids have never been to a tailgate and Bryce was very excited to go see some football. We didn't explain that he would not be attending the game and he didn't seem to notice once he saw all the food and activity at the tailgate. It was more than a little crazy trying to park and get to the tailgate. With 100,000 people attending the game and probably another 200,000 tailgating, it took a while to find a place to park. We had to walk a long way but we had the jogging stroller so it wasn't terrible.

Bryce wandered around with Russell to check out other people's set ups and then he and Ivy proceeded to eat everything they could get their hands on. When Bryce was stuffed he announced that it was time to go. Perfect timing, we headed back to the car and made it home in time for Russell to watch the start of the game.

L'Shana Tova

We had our own Rosh Hashana service on Friday. Paige made a nice dinner and we lit candles and said prayers. Bryce was anxious to sing happy birthday and blow out the candles since he saw that Paige had also made a (honey) cake for dessert. Apparently 'honey cake' is the Jewish equivalent of Christmas Fruitcake...personally I think it gets a bad rap since ours was delicious. We even had an authentic blowing of the shofar thanks to YouTube (and Uncle Arnold's email). Happy New Year!

Bugville

For Bryce's birthday one of his friends got him Bugville. Instead of digging in the dirt to find caterpillars, you send away for them...much neater. They arrive in a little container where they live for several days until they cocoon and then turn in to butterflies. Bryce anxiously watch them make their way to the roof of the container (although he kept his distance so they didn't bite...do caterpillars bite?). Once they formed their cocoons, every day we checked to see if there was a butterfly...and then all of a sudden...THERE WAS!!!! We hatched 5 butterflies. They lived in their cage, but after a day we set them free. One was smart enough to stick around since we kept providing food and water. We'll see when and if he joins his friends. I think for his next brithday he's ready to graduate to GrizzlyBearVille.

Finger painting

Bryce wanted to paint today and Ivy didn't want to miss an opportunity to get messy. This was her first time to try it. She quickly smeared paint all over her paper and then got an evil glint in her eye as she looked around for other things to get paint on. Bryce tried to teach her how to keep paint on her OWN paper but she just wasn't listening. Luckily this project was started right before bath time so the damage was cleaned up quickly.

Also-you may notice Ivy in pigtails. Her hair is always falling in her eyes and she started pulling out her bows so I gave piggies a try. The first time I did it was Saturday. Her her was styled before Bryce woke up. When we he woke up and first saw Ivy he looked at her strangely and then asked "Mommy, where's Ivy?" He didn't recognize her...too funny!

Tot Shabbat

We are going to try to go to Tot Shabbat at the Temple on a more regular basis this year. We went once last year and Bryce was nervous and we didn't make it through the whole program. One year makes a big difference...Today was all about Rosh Hashonah and the kids had so much fun. They sat on the steps of the bima while the rabbi led everyone in songs. I was worried when the rabbi opened the ark to take out the Torah that Ivy would wander in and touch things. She was very respectful and didn't do that but another kid did. We were model participants :) Both enjoyed the rabbi's blowing of the shofar and the "sermon" since a cookie monster puppet helped explain the importance of Rosh Hashonah. Afterward Bryce made a challah cover using apples for stamps and the kids loved the apples and honey snack. I didn't think to bring the camera so here are some not too good shots from Russell's phone.

Also-Ivy had her 15 month checkup this week. Miss Personality loved "talking" to the doctor and got a good report. She is 20.6 lbs (10%) and 29.25" (25%). This is where she has been the whole time so that means that she's growing consistently.

Back to School

Bryce went back to his nursery school today. He is going 3 days a week this year and was pretty excited to go. Last year the first couple days were tough on him so I was relieved that he was looking forward to class. My pictures are terrible. He was much happier than I could capture...

Ivy also had a great day. We are doing a gymnastics class and she loves it. Today the teacher asked if Ivy would like to do a forward roll. Ivy grinned and climbed up on the mat. Sarah started ti put Ivy into position and before you could spot her she did her perfect roll. Sarah and I were very impressed. She loves flipping off the furniture at home so I'm glad we have a nice safe place to let her experiment...