Presidents Day

Presidents day is a pretty big deal at our house. Levi and I spend a couple weeks leading up to Presidents day talking about and looking up pictures of which president we want to dress up like. After much discussion it was determined that I would dress up like Chester Arthur, Levi as Benjamin Harrison, Naomi as Warren G Harding.



Levi's name was almost Harrison up until about a month before he was born, so it seemed fitting to dress him up as his ALMOST name sake.


Harding was never in the running as a first name for Naomi, nor was Adams. I wanted to dress her up as John Quincey Adams


Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would have a daughter who would refuse to tape side burns to her chin! In this moment I questioned whether she was biologically mine, I also became a huge home birth enthusiast. The only rational conclusion I could come to is that she must have been switched at birth.



These two little presidents accompanied me to pick up Richard from school. You can only imagine the distinct honor I felt when looking through my review mirror.



On my commute to pick up a presidentless (I challenge you to use this made up word in casual conversation) my Ford Focus was transformed from a Lego and half eaten granola bar invested mom car to a presidential motorcade of one. Never before in history had these two presidents road in a car together (I googled it). You would think they would have had a lot to talk about, you know both having been born in Ohio and all, but President Harding killed any chance of conversation with his thumb sucking.



President Harrison sat back and whined about his itchy beard, socialism, and how he wanted Subway for dinner.



I loved being President Arther behind the wheel, sorry no pics. I looked a lot like this, but with my funny driving glasses on.


Like true politicians these two did not miss a photo op.

I love finding any excuse to dress up with my kids. I hope they come to understand the privilege it is to live in a democracy, where we can elect men and I hope someday woman to lead our country.

What have we been up to?

With Richard busy so much of the time, the kids and I are forced to find hobbies other than obsessing over how great he is.

Naomi has explored the possibility of becoming a makeup artist. While I am complimented that she wants to mimic how I put on my makeup, I am somewhat insulted that this is her interpretation, it is pretty accurate though


In October Levi joined the Little Dragons karate class. Richy also did karate as a child, so they are able to work on moves together. Levi is working very hard and it is showing!



Levi's karate teacher's only concern is that he bows for too long (I think it is cute).


I want to instill in my children a desire to compete with themselves, and not to simply be better than others (huge pet peeve of mine). Although Levi does Karate in a group setting, it is still an individual activity. He loves Karate, he skips his way into class and and smiles ear to ear for days afterward.



Naomi is taking a toddler gymnastics class.

Naomi's nature is to physically work harder than I am comfortable with. I remember reading a long time ago about how babies learn to crawl. It is just as much about the physical component as it is a lesson on teaching themselves to self motivate. So if Naomi feels the need to push herself, I will let her within a safe range. This last week she took a 5 hour nap after class!



I have a hard time keeping up with this little gymnast!

When I am not taking kids to activities or failing to create the perfect vegan recipe, I like to watch documentaries on US Presidents. Recently I watched one on President Truman, but when I started having nightmares about atomic bombs and weapon testing in North Korea , I decided it is time explore other interests of mine.

I built Naomi this bench, which she calls a "tiny bed".


I surprised Richard and give our room a facelift.

Before


After


Our bedroom gets a LOT of sun, I love waking up to the sun. We spent so many years waking up in dreary gray Oregon, this is a welcome change. For the record I love Oregon.

Levi experienced his first school valentines day party, which meant I experienced a sugar high little boy, and it was worth it. Levi and I made him a v-day shirt. The goal was for him to be a walking valentine.



Naomi was not so into it.


Richard was away all day studying for a test, so these two were my valentines.



That night I put the kids to bed and I made Richy and I a late valentines day dinner. I barricaded half of our table with plants and candles so our 6 seater table felt like a date for two. It worked!

Now on to find other things to busy ourselves with.

Cake month

January will forever be filled with cake in our family. Naomi and I are both January birthdays. Luckily Levi's favorite food is cake!

Naomi turned the big 2 on the 17th. The night before her b-day Richard and I sat in bed blowing up balloons to fill up the living room. The flaw in our plan was having to move 60 plus balloons to the other room. We are not the most studious couple. The kids woke up in the morning and loved the ready made party.

Naomi had a fun day. Her baby friend Annie came to play and went out to dinner with us. Unfortunately Richy was unable to join us for cup cakes. The pictures make it look like a pitiful birthday, but it was not.

Now that Levi is gone 30 hours a week at school, Naomi has stepped in as being my little side kick. I have loved everyday of the last 2 years with Naomi.

Our first winter in St. Louis has been odd. We have been able to get outside and enjoy a couple days of 70 degree weather.

Followed by days where I looked out my window and saw this

When the weather is nice, and by nice I mean mid 40's, I like to walk to pick Levi up from school. Levi and Nay love to have "Lightsaber fights", which usually ends poorly, and not in the way you may think. Levi gets upset when Naomi says the lightsaber is a "stick".

The kids are anxious for the weather to warm up. They miss swimming, so in lieu of going to the pool they like to play around the house in their life jackets.

And because they are my children they like to take baths. My sister got Naomi a penguin bubble making machine for the bath. This is the epitome of brilliant!

I braved the cold weather, because I had too. Richy surprised me with an outdoor ice skating date. I did not want to go at first. I was content with just going out to Indian food and calling it a night. I am so glad we put on our skates, a new couple emerged. Richard pretended to be Brian Boitano, and I was none other than Oregon native Tonya Harding. Neither of us were able to perform a triple salchow, had Richard showed me up with one I may have had to be true to character and put a club to his knee.

Levi celebrated 101 days of school. Everyone wore dalmatian hats to commemorate this day. Levi was so excite. I loved driving him home from school and looking in my review mirror to see this little boy turn puppy strapped into his car seat telling me about his day.

Lively little Naomi has been sick. On one hand it is hard to see your child sick, but on the other, I secretly love it. Sick kids become cuddly kids. It boils down to I love being a mom. I have enjoyed being their mom more and more lately. I feel selfish that Richard is at school so much, and I am getting to see all the cute things our kids are doing. The other night, I heard Naomi coming down the hallway pushing a laundry basket full of clothes. She was tired and not feeling well. I am not sure why she felt compelled to do this. She was struggling. I heard the basket stop moving and then her little sweet voice say to herself "Keep going Nay-Nay". She picked up and pushed on to her desired destination. I love my curly blond haired girl.

January was a good month, it had days of sunshine and 9, yes 9 degree weather. We are looking forward to spring and being able to put the life jackets to use in a real pool.