Daddy/Daughter Date

Another of our goals for the year is for Steve and I to each spend more one-on-one time with Reagan and Cole. We are together a lot of the time, but we haven't really taken the opportunity to have each of us be with each of the kids one-on-one on a regular basis. Obviously, Cole and I have the most one-on-one time when Steve is at work and Reagan is at school, but that isn't really a "system". So, we told the kids about our new goal (at that FHE that I spoke about a few posts ago). Reagan and Cole were SO excited!

The time for Reagan's first Daddy/Daughter Date finally arrived. It was a Saturday and Reagan had talked about it all. week. long. She was so over the top excited. She asked what she should wear, how she should do her hair, what jewelry she should wear, etc. She speculated where she and Daddy would go and what they would do (she was hoping the park, but with temps as low as they were, that wasn't likely). Steve started to get worried that she had built it up so big in her head that he wouldn't be able to meet her expectations (especially on an ongoing basis - once a month as we had decided). Well, they left and Cole and I stayed home to put away the Christmas decorations.

They went to Training Table. We have only taken Reagan and Cole there a couple of times and Reagan thought the calling on the phone thing was so cool. Steve actually typed up a little note to Reagan, telling her how much he loved her, and put it in a pretty, pink card. Next, they went to Target to get a little toy. (Reagan and Cole LOVE the dollar bins.) Then, they went to the Aquarium and had a great time. On the way home, they stopped for ice cream and called to see what Cole and I wanted from the ice cream store. Reagan had a blast with Daddy and she's already planning their next month's date. Cole's Father/Son Fun Day is coming up next week and he's anticipating where he and Daddy will go.

Steve and I laughed that Reagan insisted on getting a toy for Cole at Target and she had to get ice cream for Cole and Mommy, even though it was her Daddy/Daughter Date. At the same time, Cole and I were making cookie dough and Cole refused to put in the chocolate chips (he refused to finish the recipe) until Reagan and Daddy returned home. I'm so glad for all the time we get to spend together as a family and I'm sure we'll all love our individual, special times as well. For now, we'll anticipate the Father/Son Fun Day next week.

Show and Tell

Each week, Reagan and Cole have "Show and Tell" at school. In preschool, Cole just has to bring something, anything, and show it and talk about it. In Kindergarten, Reagan has to bring an item that corresponds with what they are studying that week.

At the first of the year, Reagan was studying the different continents. She took a postcard that Shannon sent her from Spain when she was studying Europe. She took her chopsticks from Bonsai when she was studying Asia.

During the week when she was studying North America, we didn't know what fun item she could bring to talk about North America. Then, we came up with it - the fish that Steve had caught in Alaska and had brought home to have it stuffed and hung on the wall. It used to hang in Steve's office when we first met. I was puzzled because he is SO not "that" guy who brags by hanging his "prey" on the wall. I'm proud to say that it currently occupies a coveted position on the wall of our garage. Anyway, it was far too big for Reagan to cart to school, so, we figured we'd take a picture of her holding it. Well, she was too grossed out and she wouldn't touch it, so, we had to take a picture of her standing next to Steve as he held it. Cole got right into the action and wanted to take a picture with the fish as well. He was thrilled. Reagan took the picture of the fish to school for Show and Tell along with a map showing where, exactly, Daddy caught that big ol' fish. Apparently it was a big hit at Kindergarten. Gotta love Show and Tell :)

It is Such an Honor

Our first Family Home Evening of 2012 came on January 2nd. We talked about different areas of our life, goals for each area, trying to be our best, etc. As a family, we set a couple of goals for each of 6 areas of our life.

One of our goals is to be better about eating together as a family every night. It isn't that we don't try to eat together, it is that we are often eating different things and they aren't always ready at the same time. Steve loves fish and has it a couple times a week. Reagan, Cole and I aren't big fans of fish, so, we are usually having something else. Often, I will have a weight watchers meal or a salad while I make chicken or something else for Reagan and Cole. Being the resident chef, I should do better at having all the meals come up at the same time. On the nights when we are all eating the same thing, we eat together, but on the other nights, each person eats when their meal is hot and ready. Anyway, we are making an effort at eating together every night.

On Tuesday night, January 3rd, we sat down together to eat and got ready to bless the food. Reagan piped right up and said "Before we say the prayer, I have something to say. I would just like to say that it is such an honor to be here and eat with my family. I think it is a good goal that we all sit together every night and it is an honor to be here with all of you and eat as a family at the table. I am honored." ....... Alrighty then. Seriously - I don't know where she got all of that from. She is "honored"? I mean, it isn't THAT rare that we all eat together. She listens to what people say and she watches how they interact and how they move. She probably listens and watches way too much. I just crack up thinking about her saying that and she was really dramatic (I know what you are thinking "No, Reagan, dramatic????). She looked at each of us lovingly and tipped her head in that condescending way. What a card!!!!

Well, Reagan, we think it is an honor to be in your family and get to see your antics up close and personal. We are so honored!!! Love you Reagan!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

We decided not to go anywhere this New Year's Eve. For some reason, we just didn't want to go somewhere, try to keep the kids up until after midnight, drive home and put them to bed and then drag ourselves to bed sometime past 1 or 2. I guess we're boring, but we had a great night anyway. We watched a movie and had popcorn, we went through boxes of those pop snap things that you throw on the ground. Reagan and Cole love those.

Then, we popped open a bottle of Martinelli's and showed Reagan and Cole how to "toast" the New Year. I think when we said "Cheers" and "To our family having a great 2012", they thought it was a wish thing, something akin to throwing a coin in a fountain. They wanted to touch glasses again and again and wish for something different each time. I had to laugh. (In fact, I'm delayed in my writing, so, we are days after New Year's and each night for about a week or so, Reagan and Cole wanted to have a family toast. We went through half a dozen bottles of Martinelli's before we told them it was really just for special occasions.)

2011 was a great year for us and we anticipate 2012 will be even better. We have much to be grateful for and much to look forward to. Reagan and Cole are growing so fast I can hardly believe it. They are learning and becoming and doing. I love to see each stage they hit and, although I always think I'll miss the current stage, I seem to love the new stage even more. We are healthy and happy - we have each other, the gospel and our family and friends - what more can we ask for? So, here's to 2012 - let's get started!