Christmas Lists

5 year olds really aren't known for moderation are they?  Owen is therefore not unique.  He has been nabbing every toy catalog that comes to our house than he can (if I don't remember to stick it *under* the other items in the paper recycling bin), taking scissors to them, and making a folder full of graphic Christmas list.  Oh my.  I looked at one of the catalogs post-Owen and it was sort of like a lacy catalog-paper-snowflake...definitely more open space remaining than paper.  Once the folder began to bulge, I told him he had better narrow it down a bit because Santa would have a hard time figuring out what his real favorite thing  is with all those choices.  Tonight I spied the folder and it was considerable thinned...but still quite full :)  Here's a peek into the mind of Owen:

Craft kit with lots of supplies for open-ended creative projects
Suction cup archery
Spin-painting
Microscope
Remote control helicopter
Vinegar and baking soda rocket
Microscope (different model)
Razor 360 big wheel type scooter/bike
Laser shooting range w/ gun and targets
Erector set crane
Sewing machine
Build your own go-kart kit

He is being awfully sweet and accepting about the fact that he's not getting what his little heart truly, truly, truly desires (a longstanding desire that has been spoken many times since the summer):  a skateboard.  Maybe he actually is ready for one.  He rides Asher's scooter down the driveway now with no hands just to pretend.  But earlier on, we said no, not til you're quite a bit older, and he grew to accept it.  Now, when I otherwise might be inclined to budge, I am so pleased that this (relatively speaking) wealthy and entitled child is calmly accepting being denied (even in the face of finding out some of his fellow kindergarteners have them when they saw him drawing a picture of one at school!), that I am thinking it is healthier for him to actually have to wait a while...  I'm hesitant to teach him that when your parents say you have to wait, it's not actually true, and you'll end up getting it.  (But he would be SOOOO excited and surprised and it's inexpensive!)

In other Owen news, he has been promoted to the 6 year old gymnastics class.  Apparently he was ready sooner than this, but at 5, the staff thought it wise to push til he was a little older to switch over.  The boy has some talent (teacher said so!  not just me!) and since he has learned how to cartwheel, pull himself up and flip-mount onto the bar, hold a headstand and do a quick handstand all on his own time here at home...well, the preschool class was not such a match anymore.  I am proud of him!  He's practiced hard, and when he gets stuck we watch a video online and he goes and tries to figure things out!  (Ever since I taught him to blow his nose by drawing a picture, we stick with graphic lessons and he seems to do well that way.)

If you can, say some prayers for Asher.  He has had significant asthma symptoms crop up recently (perhaps coincident with the onset of a cold...can't tell for sure yet) and seems in general to have allergic responses here and there to things we haven't been able to narrow down.  I will be getting him into the Dr. this week.  A mother wants her child to be 100% well, and that's not the case for Asher, so my heart hurts for him :(  He is such a sweetie.  In all of this present-hunting, Asher hasn't really been interested.  I am sure he will catch on soon enough, but this year he hasn't developed greed, which is nice!  He is having a bang-up time at his new preschool 2x/week and he wants to bake cookies with me every. single. day.  That's his new fave activity.

Eden's pulling up for a few weeks now!  She is so stinkin' cute crawling around the house getting into things.  We put up our Christmas tree today and it's going to be hard work for a few days to say no consistently enough that she gets the picture.  She does NOT like to be told no.  Oh my.  Is this the girl difference???  She is way more sensitive...if the boys say something with a sharp tone, she cries and lets them know!  Also screams bloody murder if I say no and move her hand away from an outlet!!  Better have the authority battle now vs. later...learned that one the hard way...!!