The boys opened their first gift of the season. It was a cloth book of Rudolph th Red Nose Reindeer (the classic version we all grew up watching on TV) from Grandma Peppmeier. Holiday news: Will has begun to identify Santa. Unfortunatly I think it's the beard he recoginizes because the other day while he was in a store with Doug he pointed to a man with a long beard and started shouting, "Santa, Santa!" And, if you ask Will what Santa says, he'll reply, "ho, ho, ho". It's pretty funny.Also, I passed the Oregon Real Estate license exam on Friday. I am so thrilled and thankful to be done with all the studying.
We went to get our Christmas tree last Sunday. It had been raining on and off since Thanksgiving evening so when the rain stopped we decided to go out and get a tree. We went to Lee Farms off of 65th in Tualatin (the same place we went for pumpkins). They are running a pretty smooth operation out there. We decided to bypass the pre-cut trees and find our own. There are people from the farm driving by in tractors every 10-15 minutes, all you have to do is flag them down, they cut the tree and take it back to a staging area where they wrap up the tree in twine and put it on top of your car. Doug and I decided we like this process much better than visiting the boy scout lot (though they are very friendly) where they drag your tree across a parking lot and then anywhere from 2-10 boy scouts try and attach the tree to your car. Don't mind the glasses Will's wearing. They are his sunglasses from this summer minus the lenses. For some reason he really likes wearing them, especially in public.
Earlier this month we were in Palm Springs for my cousin Cara's wedding. The weather was absolutely amazing and warm (I cannot believe we were just there). Corey took a couple of pictures of the boys I wanted to share.*I think we may have another golfer on our hands!
Over the past couple of days Will has become Doug's shadow. He has to be with him at all times. He'll have nothing to do with me if he knows Doug is somewhere in the house. Will is very curious about anything Doug is doing including fixing duct-work. He was so cute...he had his own screwdriver and would try and repeat anything Doug would do. The other thing Will is doing is repeating just about anything we say. The funny part is that he'll just say things out of the blue. He's saying funny things like "oh darn" when he forgets to put a toy away. My favorite is he'll say "excuse me" to Gus and Jack when trying to move pass them.
Jack's second tooth has appeared. Sorry for such a close up, but I wanted to make sure the new teeth could been seen!Phew! It has been a busy couple of weeks. I've been studying for my real estate license and just finished all the required classes,150 hours which I crammed into 6 weeks. I'm taking the actual state exam this Friday and am looking forward to getting my license. Thanksgiving was wonderful, we spent the holiday with Doug's family and our friends Dina, Ryan and Luke Hovde. Of course after finishing a wonderful meal the realization that Christmas is right around the corner set in. So with the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend we're trying to get ready and prepare for the next couple of weeks.
Jack's first tooth came in on Monday, November 14 while we were in Palm Springs for my cousin's wedding. It's on the bottom on his right side. Of course I can barely see it (let alone take a picture of it) but I can feel it. So far he's been just like Will when it comes to teething, aside from drooling a bit you'd have no idea that he's been trying to cut teeth. I'll just say it again - we have the most amazing children.
This is a pretty recent picture of the Peppmeier boys. I'm always asked (and told) who Jack and Will look like. Right now I think it's pretty much up in the air. Most people see Doug in Will (where I don't see it) and me in Jack (who really reminds me of Doug). So you decide. Once again Will is not smiling...
Trick or treat! Will was a lion and Jack was a jack-o-lantern. Halloween was pretty low key. We spent the evening with Doug's family, eating dinner and watching the boys (all four of them). Our nephews were a horse and a chicken. What I learned this year is that toddlers don't always want to wear their costumes, no matter how appealing you try and make them.
We like to start them young at our house. By the time Will is 2 maybe he'll be able to trim the hedge. I don't know how we did it, but this house has twice the amount of leaves compared to our last place. I swear by the time you've raked or swept up all the leaves another batch has fallen. Will actually is quite handy in the yard. He's very good at putting leaves into the bag and insists on having his own rake!
Jack has been eating (more like tasting and then spitting out) rice cereal for about a week. He's a good sport and will open his mouth but he usually ends up spitting it out. He also makes an awful face when he first tastes the cereal. I tried it - it's very bland and not exciting at all. I think it's the texture he isn't sure about. Also, we purchased a second seat it's exactly like Will's. Jack's doing a great job of sitting up, occassionally he'll start leaning to one side and has a hard time straightening up. I cannot believe how big he is getting!
We went to the pumpkin patch this weekend. I was really hoping for a picture of Will trying to pick up a pumpkin twice his size, I would have even settled for a picture of him looking for a pumpkin. No such luck. The only thing he was interested in was the great big tractor, used for the hay ride. Doug spent most of our trip holding Will and I was holding Jack so figuring out how to pick up pumpkins required some creativity. We went to Lee Farms on SW 65th. I strongly recommend it - there's lots to see and do and even though there were a lot of people it didn't seem crowded.
I'm starting to notice many of my pictures of Jack are taken while he's in the jumperoo. It looks like he lives in the thing! (I swear he doesn't!) He does enjoy it and as you can see he's started tucking his arms in, not sure if this gives him more control over the jumping, but he looked so happy...
Another thought, I realized the other day that Jack is now at the age Will was when I got pregnant. I cannot believe how quickly time has past, and it seems to have sped up since Jack arrived.
I'd like to start out by saying "thank you" to the person(s) who invented the digital camera. Will has become so difficult to photograph lately. I'm not sure if suddenly he's camera-shy or if he just cannot sit still (I think it's the second one). Thankfully I can continue trying for the perfect shot without worrying that I've almost used up all my film.
We did it! Team Peppmeier flew to Oakland last weekend for my grandmother's 90th birthday. I was really curious to see how the boys would do on the plane (especially Jack since this was his first flight). More important I was really curious to see how Doug and I would manage hauling around two full size car seats and diaper bags while trying to keep the boys in the stroller. Let me tell you, the security line was a real treat. The flight to Oakland was great, my mom (Tutu) was with us and she helped Doug keep Will entertained. I lucked out because Jack fell asleep 15 minutes into the flight. On the way back it was just the four of us, and again the boys did great. We sat them next to the windows, Jack in front of Will. That way other passengers did not have to sit next to our darling children and when Will kicked the seat he was only really bothering Jack.
Where has the time gone? I cannot believe we are already to this stage. Jack had his six month check up yesterday. Here are his stats: 28 inches long (90th percentile)18 pounds 5 ounces (60th percentile)Jack is a busy boy - constantly moving whether making himself bounce in his bouncey chair, rolling on the floor or jumping in his jumperoo, I think he takes after his father with this constant movement. He is very social, always has a smile for anyone (including strangers and Gus). He still likes his binky and has to have his blanket snuggled up around his face and neck if he's going to sleep. He's sleeping through the night, usually going to bed around 7 or 8p and waking by 7a. He can almost sit up without being supported and if you lay him on his tummy his legs are ready for crawling it's just the upper half that isn't quite there. Jack is a constant joy. He is so darling in looks and personality, every day Doug and I are amazed and thankful we have such wonderful boys.
Team Peppmeier decided to load up in the car and head out to the beach today. It was a bit wet and rainy, but we did have a destination and sometimes it's nice to get out of town. After leaving the house close to the time we had planned, I was feeling pretty good about myself. Here we were, being spontaneous with children and then I realized we forgot the camera (we had plenty of snacks, diapers, change of clothes, etc., but we forgot the one thing that could document this trip) so there aren't any cute pictures of the boys all bundled up in the double stroller braving the elements as Doug and I took a brisk stroll through Cannon Beach. We drove down to Manzanita to check out a possible lodging location - Coast Cabins (thank you Renee!). The grounds and the buildings looked quite lovely from the outside, we look forward to staying there. Then we drove through tiny Arch Cape and admired the homes and saw wild rabbits. We finished up in Cannon Beach, had a very late lunch, took a quick walk and headed home. It was a nice trip, I was reminded how much I enjoy where I live and more importantly how much I enjoy spending time with my boys.
Who knew a toddler would have so much to say? Just over the past few weeks Will's speech has really taken off. It seems like everyday he can say another new word. Right now my favorite is "please". He's also referring to Jack as baby, but it sounds more like "bobby". Along with the words we can understand Will has been working on his sentences. Right now they sound like gibberish, but the way he delivers it you'd think he knows exactly what he's saying.
This weekend while Doug and I were in Boise visiting with friends Will and Jack stayed with Grandma and Grandpa P. They had a great time (as they always do). This time Will discovered the tractor in the barn and really enjoyed (pretending) driving it. Unfortunately for the grandparents Will also took his first big tumble this weekend (we're talking blood and a goose egg, people). Turns out Will lost his balance while riding the tricycle, rode over the curb and landed in a rose bush. I didn't see the rose bush, but I think it may look better than Will.
The regular person I take Will to was booked for the next couple of weeks, so I decided to take him and Jack to this great place called Little Clippers in Lake Oswego. They have the best set up, a jungle gym in the middle of the salon and tons of distractions for children of all ages. When you get there they ask what movie your child would like to watch and they let them pick the "chair" they'd like to have their hair cut in. Will chose the yellow car. Will's hair was cut VERY short, but I'm not too worried since it grows fast. However, I am absolutely beside myself over Jack's hair. I asked the stylist to trim the back because it was getting long. And I thought it would be good to trim up the front so it wasn't in his eyes. I don't know what happened. One minute she was conservatively trimming, I looked away to make sure Will was staying out of trouble and the next thing I know she's giving Jack a full haircut, clippers and all. By the time I noticed what she was doing she was halfway done. I realize this may sound a bit irrational, but Jack will never have another haircut.
I've been waiting for this day and it has finally happened; Will climbed out of his crib. I realize I've been very lucky since many children climb out much earlier than 21 months. Unfortunately Will was taking a "time out" and all of a sudden I heard his feet hit the floor and him running to the door (thankfully he didn't hurt himself). I stopped him as he was trying to open the door. Then reprimanded him and put him back in the crib. He didn't climb out again. I cannot believe it's already time to start thinking about a big boy bed!
