Subliminal Messages

I see my patients in the office, but most of my paperwork time is tackled from the home office, so Paxon sees me doing work from time to time. Occasionally, he asks to do some "work" of his own on the computer.This basically is when I open up Microsoft Word to a blank document and let him push letters on the keyboard.

There are several letters he recognizes, particularly those in his name and our names, plus a few others. He still gets most letters mixed up, but it's fun to see how literacy emerges and how his interest in reading is growing.

Today, I was doing work on the computer when he woke up from his nap. He found me in the office and asked if he could type. I agreed and let him sit on my lap for a few minutes to type.

This is what he typed, somewhat deliberately, saying each of the letters aloud as he typed... I am not kidding...

PAX I hit return here to tab down a few lines to see what he wanted to type next.

TOY He doesn't know what this spells, at least I don't think he does, but amazing that T-O-Y was what he wanted to type in the countdown to Santa's visit.

Do you think he's trying to tell us something?

Hook, Line, and Sinker

With the Thanksgiving holiday put away and the birthday festivities behind us, I barreled full speed into December. After all, with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, there is a lot to get done! Last Friday was the one night out of seven nights in a row when we didn' t have something on our calendar to do. 'Tis the season, right? I was looking forward to a low key night at home. When I came in exhausted from work, Travis mentioned that he needed to run by the church briefly for a rehearsal of some sort or another. He told me that there would be dinner there and that Pax and I were welcome to join him. Enticed by the idea that I didn't have to think about or prepare dinner, I found myself putting on my coat and following him out the door.

When we walked into the Cafe, an enthusiastic group of friends and family shouted, "SURPRISE!" I was so glad I had not decided to put on my pajamas as soon as I got home! For the record, I am pretty hard to get. Maybe it's the pregnancy brain... maybe it was the fact that I worked more than usual last week... maybe it was the distraction of Christmas decorations and gift purchasing... maybe I'm getting soft in my old age...maybe my husband, sister, and mom are really that good. I simply cannot believe that I had NO idea.

We had a wonderful dinner of Moe's and the kids all ran around and played in the game room. My mom had decorations and childhood pictures posted around the room. My sister-in-law Jayna made a beautiful and delicious cake. AND to top it all off, to celebrate my 30th birthday (did I mention that this was a landmark birthday?), my friends and family had collected items in increments of 30 to donate to Safe Haven Family Shelter in my honor. It was a great surprise! I'd post pictures, but I didn't bring my camera since, well, you know...

Happy Birfday, Mommy

Pax learned quickly that saying, "Happy Birfday, Mommy!" melts my heart. Though my birfday has come and gone, he has climbed up on my lap and wished me happy birfday many times this week. He's done it once or twice when he wanted a cookie, and I indulged... I hope I'm not this easily manipulated when he is a teenager.

Uncle Danny has a farm, E-I-E-I-O

My uncle Danny has a farm (E-I-E-I-O). Pax was actually singing the song with his own modified lyrics tonight about Uncle Danny's farm. In Pax's version, Uncle Danny's farm has sheep that moo and tractors that vroom. I like it. This kid found his mecca with all the John Deere tractors. Uncle Danny, if you ever consider retirement, Pax may be willing to step up to the family farm.

After the "big big John Deeres" and the "yittle tiddy tats" that we saw, I am not sure we'll ever go to my parents' hometown again without making a trip to the farm.


Notice the deft tractor driving skills toward the end of the clip. Those tires are ginormous.

The Greeks

My birthday falls over the Thanksgiving holiday. As is my family tradition, we took a break from the turkey and celebrated with greasy cheeseburgers, stromboli, french fries, milk shakes, banana splits, and hot fudge chocolate sundaes at The Greeks, which is a family run candy store near my parents' hometown. When my mother and her sisters were little, my grandfather would take them "to town" to buy Christmas gifts for my grandmother for Christmas. After shopping, they would eat and buy candy at The Greeks. It became a tradition. My generation of siblings and cousins grew up going to The Greeks when we were home for the holidays. Now my generation brings our children to sit at the little table and see the Santa Claus train.

November is a popular birthday month in my family, so it has become a family custom to have a birthday party complete with party hats at The Greeks over the Thanksgiving weekend. I have even received the birthday honor of making candy with the shop's owner Lou. We leave with full bellies and boxes of bourbon balls and caramel turtles. In trying to describe it, I realize that there is really nothing fancy about The Greeks, but in my mind, it shines with all the glitter of family, special traditions, and shared memories.

Pax trying to catch a glimpse of Santa

Mason found his way behind the candy counter...twice. Don't tell Lou!

Smile, it's my birthday!

Waiting for the train...

Our little guys at the little table

Over the River and Through the Woods...

Monday November 23, Pax has a fever virus.

Tuesday November 24... still has a fever.

Tuesday evening, Pax still has a 102 fever... No Thanksgiving meal with the Campbells tonight. We are considering staying home from the Thanksgiving tour. In the words of my wise husband, "Why would we take a 2 year old with a 102+ fever in the car for 8 hours?"

Wednesday morning, November 25... fever free-- woo hoo! We frantically pack our bags, grab some breakfast, and hit the road. Illinois here we come!

Pax did great the rest of the trip and we were so glad to spend a bit of time with our extended families.

All is Calm.... All is Bright

Just realized it's been exactly one month since my last post... apparently the most wonderful time of the year has kept me busier than I was giving it credit... Rest assured, we're here and we have lots of catching up to do!