Ramp it up!

For the big birthday party this year, we rented out an indoor bike riding/skate park. Rhys and Claudia had enjoyed going there for the little kids riding time, and Rhys was excited to introduce his friends to it.

The 18 kids climbed, raced, and traveled in a boy pack + Claudia across this amazing, yet dirty, ramp creation. The other girls (little sisters) rode bikes and scooters - but weren't throwing their bodies over these walls like our girl.

A great time was had by all - except for the splinters (yes there were four!), ripped pants (at least 3), and  tears (ummm…I lost count?!). Geez - whose idea was this anyway?

At least the sweets helped and the hot pizza and juice boxes and candy….!

But maybe next year, we should try mini golf…or art classes. :)

But then it wouldn't be quite as an exciting of a story to tell. Happy Birthday and Love to Rhys!

Six Years Old, Yesterday

Happy Birthday to our dear Rhys, our child who is full of life's passions.

Five was a big year -- he tried "rock" school, navigated the preschool friendship circles, and graduated from preschool in May. He got ready for Kindergarten, following a month of camp for soon-to-be Kindergartners. He swam, swam, swam this past summer and even went off the first platform at the pool, multiple times.

This year he had Camp Aunt Kate, a week in Chicago and and alone trip to Nanny-ville with Mom.

Kindergarten arrived and with it the neighborhood bus. Rhys was brave and took the bus on the very first day. He has embraced Kindergarten but not all the rules. (The poor boys in the classroom - but that's another post.)

Dom and I are amazed by the process in which he he is learning to read, write and add/subtract.

Rhys enjoys putting together comic books for his friends and family. He is also quite adept at Legos now, too, "reading" the directions by himself. And, of course, he continues to love his preferred friends - running, playing spy, and trying to get time on anyone's video game consul!

He is the best friend to those he loves, and a caring big brother.

Wow - Six…1/3 of his time living at home (well, maybe) is over! The next six years will be a whole new journey of learning, for him and for us.

And I miss the day he was born…if I could back in time to that day, I would, just to experience it all again.

We love you Rhys - forever, and ever, and ever………

Yes!

From LeapPads to art supplies and everything in between - it was a very good Christmas for the Oldham children. Despite threats that Xavier the elf would tell Santa not-so-good news, the Jolly Old Elf delivered.

Following a day of play with neighborhood friends on new scooters and go-carts, we prepared our Christmas Day Feast for Uncles Matthew and Mark, and Granny.

Today the walkie talkie and other spy gear is in full force (at 8 am) as we contemplate what do to today -- besides prepare for the big birthday.

Six years of parenthood to celebrate tomorrow -- oh, and six years of awesome Rhys-ness!

The Best Pageant Ever 2013

Rhys volunteered to be an angel in this year's pageant - a very cool decision, and not one embraced by any other little boy. I say they can keep their bathrobes ... who wouldn't want wings.

He rocked it...

At the last minute, little sister C wanted to be an angel too -- yes, she's another break-the-mold kind of child!  No white dress and tights and shiny black shoes for her.

But in her, you can see the wonder!

Claudia and Rhys did great - it's much more fun to be part of the action than in the audience.

(That said, we did leave during the "Peace" -- better than last year!)

It's a Holly Jolly Christmas

Kindergarten party! With little sister joining in - like the 5-year-old she thinks she is.

Part Two: Our new passion, snowboarding!

Superheroes Don't Get Hurt

Preparing for the 2024 X Games. Quote by Claudia O.

Our Family of Four

Aren't we blessed?!

This is the best we could do a for a family photo this year  - but we have some great ones in the holiday card of the children,  that will soon be flying to your door.

First Snow of 2013

Claudia and Rhys are very excited to put on snow boots and are eagerly looking forward to sledding, snowman building and snowball fights.

Too bad this snow isn't sticky!

Next time…

Feast Day!

It's great to have a helper or two or three!

It is Magic

The Magic House is truly a great place to visit. I resisted for a long time, but now the children are both at the perfect combo-age for it. 5 and 3 is much easier than, say 2 and 0.

So when a Groupon came along for a rather inexpensive family membership, it was the right time.

And now Zhou Zhou agrees too!

Firefighting Duo

It may look like my children are besties, but don't let these adorable photos completely fool you...

They have been known to have their differences.

But at the end of the day - the sibling relationship is stronger than a few hair pulls or yelling sessions. Rhys and Claudia, for example, are very worried if I am seen "ignoring"the plight of the other one, and they come up with elaborate games involving forts and rescue missions that can go along quite nicely for an hour or so before it all falls apart.

I am so THANKFUL (working in the holiday angle) that I am their mother.

Best friends - for now!

Isn't it nice when your children actually show you that they love each other…?!

Leaves!

Ready for autumn! Note the shorts…yes, it is a shorts-day in STL. But not for long.

Things I Have Grown

One Claudia, One Rhys and 2 lemons!

Claudia wants to make lemonade and sell it at her lemonade stand….but I think we need a few more lemons. Maybe next year!

Halloween 2013

An orange monster and a Wild Krattz brother (Martin to be exact) filled our house this year.

Despite the rain, both children had a great day/night with parties at school (and mom in attendance at both!) and trick-or-treating around the Lane.

The neighborhood party was moved to Friday night - just to keep the festive spirit.

Claudia loved scaring people in her orange monster costume...the cutest monster I have ever seen!

Despite not wanting to wear his creature power discs, Rhys made a very brave Wild Krattz brother! 

Rain Schmain - at least it wasn't snow!

Bus Stop

The joy of a bus stop and neighborhood friends!

Best Nanny in the World

From Chuck-E-Cheese to a 20-inch bike to ice cream BEFORE lunch and big boy legos...nanny is the best. Rhys and I had a wonderful 3 days in Western Massachusetts. And can't wait to come back.

Beware!

Zombie alert...

These two found great pleasure in a pair of yellow-scary fake teeth this past weekend at Party in the Patch. The scariest part was the saliva that emitted from the mouths when they removed them...but I digress.

Don't forget to brush! 

First Note

Dom helped with the spelling -- but here is Rhys' first note....I especially love the "love" Rhys. #bigkidnow

The Great Pumpkin

Halloween and pumpkin patches are much more than just finding the one, magical pumpkin for your family to carve. These days they include animals, zip lines, mazes, hayrides, and more...!

Luckily this year it was actually a bit fall like ... and not a sweltering 90 degrees. Man, I am getting soft living this far south!

Birthday Times

Another October 10 has come and gone and Dom is one year closer to the big 5-0. But you couldn't guess it.

Dom's our fall family birthday -- bringing with it Halloween costumes, pumpkins, Thanksgiving, and next up, the big 6 for Rhys, our winter birthday.

Night Away!

While the children slept all trundled in bed...

Mom enjoyed a night away with friends with wind whipping by her head!

Our hearts

As Dom can attest, since having children I have become very weepy at certain parts of our daily life, or at a movie, or during a commercial, or reading a blog post.

This past Saturday, at the 2013 Scottish Games in STL, was one such time.

Claudia, after hurling her caber (sp?) designed for children, timed of course along with Rhys' caber tosses, moved on to golf (another plus of being Scottish it appears) and then on to the dog section of Scottish heritage. It is Scotties and more.

(I'm not saying the Americanized version of Scottish heritage is 100 percent spot on - but it is a bit of fun in STL).

While a Scottish ballad played in background (sounded lovely but really about the woman putting away her ribbons and fancy shoes as she is married now and settled in for a life of children and drudgery), Claudia was stroking the fur of two Shelties with pure love in her eyes.

I started to cry. And Dom looked me ... but he too was touched by this continued devotion of Claudia for the furry-footed.

And my heart opened more to the idea of a dog.

Especially as she tells me that when she closes her eyes, she sees her wishes, and her wishes are often a dog. And tonight it was digging up dinosaur bones. But I can give her that dog.

Added to this Seamus - her pretend dog is now living us.

And this....this is Rhys' love for his school. An embellished "buzz book" for you.

My heart cracks open for these humans I am so blessed to have as children.

Go Blue

Panther Day celebrates all those things I kind of hated as a child. 

But Rhys loves it - and it seems like all the children love it, too!They must be doing something right.

It's kind of a field/spirit day - and you can only observe if you volunteer so am a bit hazy on all the activities. It did include face painting and hair coloring if you were lucky and color coordination.

Fortunately, we did get a view of Rhys in action.

Two hands, Rhys!

Blue lost to the White team this year...but what a great school spirit day!

Hottest Trend

Looking for the hottest trend with the Elementary School set in St Louis -- I give you, the rubber-band loom thingies!

Even Rhys is getting in on the action and is beyond proud of himself now that he can make the fishtail...not pictured here.

Puzzle

Dom has loved his cross-word puzzles since I met him. I find them infuriating. But then, I never understood the beauty of puzzles until now.

Claudia's work of art.

And the very engaged Puzzler  herself.

Soccer time!

We have entered Soccer season!

Rhys is having fun and is working hard on his kicking skills in the mornings before getting on the bus. Game number 2 is this weekend and we hope his team will get at least one goal this time.

Rockin' Claudia

Claudia made it through the night 3 nights in a row!

This is a big deal....and we are going to get our nails done this weekend to celebrate if she makes it through the week.

Best Dressed

It was school picture day last week and all the children on the Lane were ready with big smiles.

Rhys even wore a collared shirt and plaid shorts, but changed at the last minute to his favorite sports shorts to match his big kid idol.

It reminds me of my brother who wore sweat pants for an entire year! I have heard ways around this if you are so inclined to learn...Personally, I couldn't get my head around how you could have children who don't wear sports shorts and a Ninja t-shirt every day. So I asked the parents of the well-dressed crew how they do it.

One mother of two told me she allows Fridays as the "free day" for the children and otherwise they must wear what she chooses (collared shirts and smocked dresses, typically). Another mom of three told me she refuses all hand-me-downs (gasp!) and only buys clothes from a certain brand or two that can be swapped nicely with each other.

Moms like me who embrace hand-me-downs, resale shops and sale racks, and allow their children to choose their clothes in the morning, I guess produce children who don't win the best dressed award in Kindergarten or Preschool.

So after my limited research, I'm happy with our approach of free-thinking, penny-pinching dressing. ......As long as every once in awhile we can agree on what "dress up" clothes look like......

Yes, still working on that.

Happy September!

We've spawned!

Just imagine if there were two Rhys' and two Heathers!

Glorious!

Double the Fun.

First Pro Baseball Game!!!

Can you tell Rhys is VERY excited about the experience? And so is his father. Claudia can't wait until it is her turn.

This is how we roll

Just a regular weekend around the lane.