wall-E

I love this movie. I love that Disney made a movie that is a commentary on how wasteful and lazy our society has become. I love that its all packaged in a kid-friendly, cute little story about 2 robots falling in love. I just love it, okay?

Here are my munchkins plus 1 (Clara) watching wall-E.



If you haven't seen it, please do so now (even if there are no kids in your life and you feel silly watching an animated Disney film). Those of you that know me well, know I'm a total green freak. If we instill simple recycling and nonwasteful practices in our children now...we might not be forced to live in space and become nonweight-bearing, lazy, fat slobs tomorrow. :-)

Okay, I'm done. I said my green peace. (apparently, its once a year on this blog...last May it was the purchase of our "green mower", this year, its wall-E. You're safe from my soapbox for one more year. ;-p)

Word #2

It appears as if I'm going to need to start keeping a list. Xavier said his second word today - "MOM!"

I had just gotten him dressed for school. He was sitting on my lap and I was telling him what our day would be like. He looked at me right in the eyes and said, "MOM!"...very intentional and deliberate.

Pure magic. Let this be an example to us all to never give up. :-)

I chose this picture, because he looks like I felt this morning...

The boys on stage

I'm not sure how this post got missed on the blog, but better late than never. The boys had their annual school show on March 26th. The theme was weather, and they sang several songs, some with hand motions. Both of them did very well, despite dualing meltdowns right when we got there (Bennett > Xavier). But the two of them managed to pull it together (along with their mother, who was near a breakdown herself because of a rough day with them), and the show was great.



BEN:


I love this one - cropped just right with the mic right in from of him...looks like he's fronting his own band, casually, with his hands in his pockets. :-)




It was difficult to get both boys in one shot, because they weren't very close to each other on the stage. Here's Xavier with one of his favorite people, Ms. Dianne and a little buddy, Trent.


Ben after the show with friends Saige and Haley:

Xavier looking quite dapper and pleased with himself.

There was an open house in the classroom afterwards. We talked with the boys' teachers, picked up some of their artwork, and played with a tornado tube, which both X and B are fascinated by.




And, staying true to form, Xavier really started to warm up to the situation and have fun, just when we were needing to go home. He takes a while to adjust, so this is a common theme. Here he is in the parking lot with Auntie Meam, acting like the giant hambone that he is.

Spring, according to Bennett:

1. Trips to the metropark to feed the ducks and walk the trails. (I love the expression in the first one - he's so perturbed that there are no ducks. In the past, there have been nearly 50 there to feed. Now, there is only one lonely swan, which he called over by shouting "C'mere big white duck!!!" ;-)





2. Planting. This is my creative boy planting a "cereal tree" from a "cheerio seed".




3. Bubbles. Lots and lots of bubbles.

Never say never.

That is the life lesson that our family reviewed this evening.

All afternoon, Xavier had been saying "mmmm" on and off. I thought he was trying to say "mom", which we've been working on FOREVER, to no avail. Up until today, Xavier has never spoken a real word. He "talks" a lot, but its mostly vowels sounds, sometimes with a consonant thrown in here or there for good measure. He understands a lot of what we say, but isn't able to communicate back with words that have definite meaning. Occasionally, he'll say "hhhhaaaa" when it would be appropriate to say "hi", but we can't be absolutely sure that's what's going on.

Well, at dinner, we were having tacos, which he LOVES. And he kept saying "mmmm!" We just thought he was loving the tastiness of the meal (he "mmm's" when he's happy with food.) But the "mmm" quickly turned into "mmmmo" and then, clear as day ---> "MOOORRRE". We all drew in our breath, and Nick and I were completely speechless. Could it really be?! Saying "more" is something we've literally been working on for about 4 years now. But almost immediately Ben shouted "XAVIER SAID MORE!!! His muscles are starting to work!!!" Which totally confirmed that it wasn't wishful thinking on my part that I had heard him say that. So Nick said, "Xavier, did you say more? Do you want more?" And Xavier got a big smile and hit the table with his hands, which is his usual "sign" for more.

Oh, I about cried.

NEVER will I say "No" again to someone that asks me "will he ever be able to talk?". Or any "will he _____ ?" question, for that matter. Now, I will say, with confidence, "its possible".

Thank you, Xavier, for continuing to show me that life is filled with pleasant surprises, and that knocking down boundaries built up in your way is totally possible. You are AMAZING, and I love you.

This picture was taken on an afternoon a few weeks ago, after me smiling at the fact that all three of us were sitting at the table with "computers", all intent on our separate activities...but enjoying each other's company at the same time :-)

Easter 2009

The day flew by in a flurry of activity, as I needed to head off to work at 2:30. But the good news is, we got everything in...from Mass in the morning to a dinner in the early afternoon, and all sorts of fun moments in between.

We woke up Easter morning a little before 7am when Bennett shot through our door shouting, "The EASTER BUNNY CAME!!!" He knew this to be true because of the cottonball trail leading from his and Xavier's doors down to the note that had been left for them. We had much difficulty getting Ben to wait the 2 minutes it took us to get Xavier up, and get dressed before heading downstairs to see what goodies awaited.

He found both his and Xavier's baskets very quickly. Here he is holding up a package, which he unwrapped in record time to reveal a PlayDoh Icecream shop.

Xaview with his cute little basket that "ba's".



I don't know that I will ever get a picture with both boys looking at the camera at the same time and smiling. This phenomenon is similar to fighting gravity - try as you might to overcome it, "it" always wins. Sigh. They look cute, nonetheless.




Ben had an egg hunt out in the backyard while we were getting dinner ready. I expected this would take him awhile, but he found all 27 eggs very quickly. He was focused...intent...on a mission. And SO happy to find that each egg contained a few coins for his piggy bank. We're attempting to teach Bennett the value of saving, and patience in waiting to buy something until you have enough money. Once his bank is full, we'll count it up, and he can pick out anything he'd like to buy with the money.


I realize that its genetically impossible - but Bennett looks so much like Nick in this photo to me. I think kids pick up facial expressions/body language that go as far as actual appearance does in "looking" like their parents. :-)

So! Now that Easter's come and gone in the blink of an eye, lets get on with it, and have some spring weather, shall we? :-)

WHAT?! Xavier is SIX?

You've got to be kidding me. My little dude is SIX today?!

Xavier had a super fantastic day - I mean, it was 65 and sunny out, so who wouldn't have a great day, right?

My boy is all about attention, so when his classmates, teachers, and then us here at home lavished him with kisses and birthday wishes, it totally made his day. He shared cupcakes with his friends at school:



After school, Ben told me that he and Xavier wanted "birthday hotdogs." He was right! -- Xavier "mmmmm'd" all the way through lunch. Then it was on to spending hours outside playing. Yay spring!






Nick brought Xavier home a balloon (and one for Ben, too) and he spent a long time at the table just bapping at it happily before dinner, which by the way was spaghetti - his absolute favorite.





After dinner was a bath, of course, and then opening a few gifts including those from our great friends the Fluhrers. THANK YOU sooooooooo much - that parachute is unbelievably fun - he LOVES it and its going to be such a blast to play with.

I think Xavier felt like it was his "BIG TOP BIRTHDAY" underneath the parachute. Crazy fun!!! :-)



Saturday is Xavier's party...so there's more birthday madness to come! Stay tuned! :-)