A Toddler Christmas

I know this post should be about all the wonders and magic Christmas was with a 2 year old. I should share smiling pictures like this...yes, she is wearing her 12 month pajamas she wore last year and they fit perfectly.

I could also tell you about sledding on Christmas Eve and the joy in her laughter across the snow banks
...but it would mainly be lies. The main facial expression looked like this:
(By the way the retro knit hat from her great grandmother looks a lot cuter when she smiles)

For the past few months, I've said "oh, 2 years old isn't so terrible. I love how excited and animated she gets over the littlest thing" That's very true, but the same amount of emotion is put into the tantrums. Here are the conclusions I came too this morning after dealing with tantrums Monday evening and 2 hours of tantrums in the middle of the night!

1. I am a huge wimp! If all women were like me, the world would be a lot less populated. The thought of going through this multiple times boggles my mind. I'm trying so hard not to give into the whining, crying, stamping etc, because then it is just worse the next time she wants something, but boy, it is tough! Is she harder than other toddlers? Probably not. But when she is screaming on the floor in Target, and I handle it wrong my mind races to the future. "I gave her the sticker book to stop her from screaming. This is probably the gateway to gangs, piercings, and bad grades." That was the first thing I said to Chris when we get home. My worrying gene is in overdrive with every decision I make.

2. Working moms should just deal with it. I feel extra wimpy because I'm a working mom. It's sad when I add up the number of hours I'm with her during the week. If you count the hours she is awake, it is maybe 3 hours a day on the weekdays and that is including the time when I'm getting ready in the morning while she is eating oatmeal and watching PBS. All of you out there staying home with your toddler full time, I'm in awe. I went online today to find Toddler Parenting classes through the Early Childhood Education program here in Mpls. They have quite a few classes, but only on weekday mornings so not possible for working moms. Guess I'll be going back to the library to read up on more toddler books. Any suggestions?!

3.Karma sucks. I'm stubborn and as a kid I could have been employed as a professional whiner. Just ask my parents. There were instances where I caused both of them to get in the car and drive away rather than deal with me. As Chris pointed out, if I'm in a bad mood then everyone else around me better be grumpy. No sunshine-y outlook if I'm pouting, thank you very much! Penelope seems to have adopted this as well. Do you know that poem about the girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead, when she was good she was very good, and when she was bad, she was very bad? That was written about me and Penelope.
4.This too shall pass. I know we'll get through this. I hate the feeling of dread to go pick her up at daycare. How terrible is that? I work all day to fund research for children's cancer, and then I go home just hoping we can make it through without a meltdown in the 2 hours before bedtime. We actually did have a meltdown free tonight with a lot of concentrated effort by Chris and I to entertain her and keep her occupied the entire time.

5. The rest of the world thinks I make this up. According to the teachers at daycare she is pretty easygoing there, and they can easily redirect her. She definitely is not one of the big tantrum throwers so they are surprised when I ask them about it. (once again, wimpy mom...how do the moms with the big tantrum throwers do it?!) So I'll leave you with a picture of the way everyone else sees Penelope:
She LOVES this hat. I only let her wear it on warmer days...you know, over 20 degrees. Anything below that, and I juggle the options of frostbite or tantrum about the hat.

(Thank you for dealing with my complaining. The amount of sleep I get is directly correlated with the shade of my rose colored glasses. After last night, there is no tint left in them)

Merry Christmas, Dad!!

My dad's Christmas present is a blog post. Weird, I know, but a few weeks ago we got an email saying he had too much stuff and can't fit anything more into their house. Instead he has been inspired by Penelope and her "I Got A Bed" video. For his Christmas present he wants each of his kids to write down what makes us yell "I Got a Bed" Here were the options for our Christmas homework...ahem...gift!

1) Write out your “Perfect Day” – what would you do, who would be there, what is the weather, describe your perfect day.

2) What are the 10 things that make you the feel the best, either in your whole life or just this year. Things you did, things you like to do all the time, events that happened, beds you were given etc. Then let me know what was it that it made you feel – you were proud, you were just happy, you just enjoyed the tranquility.

3) What are the top 10 things on your “Bucket List” and why

Dad,

I was going to send this to you in a card, but I've been procrastinating and thinking about it so it got too late. Plus, it all started with a blog post so it makes sense that you get mine on the blog. I'm going with #3. I thought it would be the easiest, but there's some stress in it. I mean what if I put it on my bucket list, do it, and then it wasn't bucket list worthy? Do I have to add something else to the bucket list? See, why I procrastinated? Also, there are many things I'd say are bucket list worthy that I've already done like live abroad, visit Italy, see Broadway shows, hike the grand canyon...oh, wait, I wimped out on that one...

Anyways, this is my "bucket list" as of today, subject to change and not in any specific order:

• Dance the fox trot with Chris at our 50th wedding anniversary. I guess I'm a romantic at heart. We'll be 73 years old and hopefully both laughing, still in love, and spry enough to take dance lessons again.

• Take Penelope camping in one of the big national parks. I really want to go to Yellowstone or Yosemite. Plus, I want Penelope to have memories of camping like I do.

• Visit Turkey. I know this is an odd one. While we were living in NY, I checked out all of Rick Steves' videos from the library. I watched Greece and Turkey because I wanted to know about Greece and instead fell in love with Turkey. I want to stay in those cave hotels on the side of the mountain.

• Finish 1001 books to read before you die. I'm almost at 200 books if you combine all the lists. So annoying that they keep coming out with new editions. Since there are now close to 1300 I've decided as long as I get through 1001 I will have accomplished this goal.

• Play the violin in a local symphony/ensemble group. This one is harder than the others. I feel like I should set a goal, like if I start now I might be able to join a group when I'm 50.

• Keep my house clean, organized and DECLUTTERED! Okay, this isn't so much of a bucket list as "This is the type of person I want to be" I think you get this one. I'm trying to get better. Nothing makes me breathe easier than walking into a somewhat clean and organized house...too bad it doesn't happen very regularly. Maybe it is because I still believe in the Spic and Span Fairy, instead of taking a half hour a day to keep things in place and clean up.

• See Penelope happy in life in whatever she chooses. I know I can't shelter her from everything so I know she'll have hard times and ups and downs like everyone. Oh, and I'd like her to not think I'm a crazy embarrassing mom...is that possible? Probably not.

• Volunteer in a 3rd world country. I've gone back and forth on this one. First, I should volunteer in my own neighborhood. We have so many immigrants trying to assimilate here that there's really no reason to fly to Africa or South America to be helpful. Second, I've heard from people inside international aid non-profits that it usually isn't very efficient to be training and sending volunteers on a weekly basis compared to having people give money for people to live in the countries and train the actual citizens. BUT...I always hear how rewarding it is and eye opening/change of perspective it is to volunteer in a very poor country so although this sounds like an altruistic goal, it is probably more about me and understanding my world than the change I could make.

• Take Penelope to Disneyworld. Okay, by #9 I'm kind of wracking my brain on what else is on my bucket list, and it seems Disneyworld should be there. I want to wait until she is around 5 or 6. That's when I remember you and Mom taking us and the Seguis. I remember one specific moment. We were all eating lunch on a bench and you came around the corner with puppets for all the kids. I was so excited to get Minnie Mouse. Then lo, and behold, Mary Poppins and Bert showed up. It was everything that Disneyland should be to a kid. I'm going to love seeing Penelope's face when she sees all of the magic.
• Learn to snowboard\water ski\ cross country ski. Okay, these should probably be 3 separate ones. I guess out of all 3 the snowboarding is higher on my list. I'm not sure why. I liked skiing as a kid and everyone says once you get the hang of it, snowboarding is so much better than skiing. And there's fun clothes and accessories :)

So that's my bucket list. Not sure if there are any surprises, but I'd say those are all big things that would make me yell "I Got a Bed!"

Merry Christmas!!! (I must say this is a lot harder than buying golf accessories and books, but I was just joking about the homework comment.)

Merry Christmas All! This is Chris's X-Mas assignment. I have to agree with my lovely wife that this is much harder than it looks. Here's my bucket list.

• Learn to play the guitar. I've always harbored the secret desire to learn to play a musical instrument. Even though all evidence would suggest that I have no musical talent what so ever. Just ask my parents about my foray in playing the trumpet in my elementary school band.
• Create an original recipe. As most of the readers of this blog know, I like to cook. I'd really like to develop my own recipe. I just haven't a clue on what that would be.
• Finally write that story that is always running in my head. This might be getting a little deep...but I have some what of an over active imagination. As a lover of Science Fiction and fantasy I must have come up with a million of my own stories but just cannot get past putting the first word of chapter 1 down on paper.
• Write another play. Have you figured out that I fancy myself the creative type? Back in high school and for a project in college, I wrote a couple of plays. Always enjoyed writing lines. Mostly because I like to make myself laugh.
• Scare the crap out of my daughter's boyfriend. I am sure John can agree on this one. (Again mostly because I like to make myself laugh).
• Buy/Bottle a cask of Scotch whiskey. O.k this one is a little bucket list a little if I win the lottery. I love Scotch...not in the I am an alcoholic and can't make it though the day without kind of love, but it was apart of one of the greatest experiences of my life way. It would just be cool to sign my name to something that has been sitting for 12-20 years and would be unlike any other Scotch in the world.
• Enter a recipe in a cooking competition. This goes sort of with # 2. Would love to see how my cooking would match up against other peoples.
• Visit Sweden/Norway. My family takes a lot of pride in their Scandinavian heritage. It would be cool to see the place my ancestors left in order to settle in Minnesota of all places. You'd think after living in the land of ice and snow, they might try a warmer climate.

Unfortunately, it is rather late and while I know this isn't the full 10 items requested, I think I've bared my soul enough for those in reader land. I hope you all have a healthy and happy holiday.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!

Surprise!

This past weekend the Strand trio drove down to Kansas to surprise my cousin Amy for her 30th birthday. Her husband Cory has been planning this for over 6 months. Two of her friends from elementary and middle school even flew out for the weekend. We had a blast! I didn't take too many photos, but there's a lot of pics on Facebooks of the full weekend including the surprise.Out on the town! (Julie--I got lots of compliments on my flower!)
Penelope, Charlotte and Julia (from oregon) Saturday night 11 of Amy's closest friends went out on to dinner and for drinks in KC. Chris and Cory were at home with 4 girls under 3! Talk about husband brownie points, huh?
Penelope was amazing the entire trip. We borrowed a DVD player from Jackie Lee so she got to watch all 3 of her favorite Elmo videos during the drive. She loved staying at Aunt Jo's house...pancakes for breakfasts, cabbage patch kids to rock, playing outside with dogs...what's not to love?
Molly and Penny are BSCF (Best Second Cousins Forever!) They played so well. No "Mine", no whining or squabbling. It was wonderful!
The two girls having their first sleepover. Only 27 years until Penelope surprises Molly for her 30th birthday!

Pajama problems solved!

My sister-in-law surprised me with her As Seen on TV knowledge. I was skyping with Christopher and Jenn a couple of days ago, and she said, "teenagers could wear pajama jeans." I was unaware of this new technology in fabric. She sent me to this:

They look like workout pants with jean stitching on top. Hilarious! Funny that it comes from someone with such good style. Jenn--have you been watching too much tv at 2 am?

Penelope probably isn't going to get a pair of pajama jeans anytime soon, but her NY grandma is keeping her in all the styles. Check out her jeggings:

I think they are probably the most comfortable jeans she has since they are mainly spandex. So if you want to get the toddler in your life some jeggings, check out The Children's Place.

Reuniting with snow

Penelope doesn't remember the snow from last year. She saw it a couple of weeks ago, and she played in the snow at school so I thought she'd love an afternoon outside after the fresh snow we got during Thanksgiving break. It took a little bit of time...

She was mainly horrified by snow covering all of her outdoor toys. The car behind her also had a big chunk of ice I wasn't able to chip off the seat. This catastrophe requires full tears and screaming.

She'd like me to stop photographing her while she screamed. Is that bad parenting?

She then got very gloomy...

...until she got in her swing. Then things turned out okay.
She quickly learned that we could pick up the snow dad was shoveling off the driveway and throw it back onto his shovel.

I think hiding behind our little garden fence is the equivalent of a 2 year old snow fort.