July 26, 2004
A fun parade and lots of candy
This Saturday, I took the kids to a parade in Streamwood, Il with their Aunt Mary. I wasn't expecting it to be so fun! It was all geared towards kids. The parade was full of different kid dance groups from the area, cheerleaders, a bagpipe marching band, clowns, fire engines, politicians, old cars. There were some mini go karts dressed up as magic carpets or old corvettes, all driven by old men, most who looked like they were having fun. I was amazed at how short the skirts were on all the dance troop/cheerleaders. The fun part was that the different parade groups would throw out candy to the audience. Mary knew that they would do that, so she brought along two paper bags to collect the candy. A family next to us had a big plastic bucket for their candy. At first, when candy was thrown, Zach just looked at it, kinda of confused and a little frightened, especially since his Aunt Mary was telling him to run into the street to get the candy. He knew he wasn't supposed to go into the street. So the little guy would just sit there on the curb holding his empty paper bag. Mary would run out there to get the candy. A lot of the adults in the parade would throw the candy pretty much at your feet. Some were even walking along the edge of the road and hand you the candy or drop it into your bag. One group of people from Fiesta Market were throwing out handfuls or bucketfuls of candy. Asia started throwing the candy back at the people in the parade. She thought it was some kind of game. Burger King gave out coupons, candy, and those paper golden crowns. Zach was king for a day.
July 25, 2004
Family Vacation for Four
We took our first real family vacation this past week at the Wisconsin Dells. It's not a place John would have picked out, but it's only 3 1/2 hours away and has tons of things for the kids. When we were driving up to check into the Riviera Suites Motel, we were having second thoughts because the motel looked so seedy. Cheap blue painted doors, small pool right in the front in the middle of the parking lot, an actual key to get into the room instead of keycard. Just one lock too, no double-lock. I had forgotten the difference between motel and hotel, but not the price (motels in the area going for around 89/night while hotels were around 200/night since it was in season). Luckily when we got into the room, we were pleasantly surprised. The room was actually quite nice. Two queen beds and a 2 person jacuzzi in the room, along with fireplace, microwave, and fridge. It was very tastefully decorated. And turns out that the kids loved the outdoor pool. It was the perfect size - not too big where we couldn't keep an eye on the kids. One side of the pool was around 1 foot so that Asia could stand up in it. The other end was around 3 feet so that Zach could stand up in it on his tiptoes. There was a small water slide into the deeper end. Both kids liked it! During the first day though, some kid had a BM in the pool. We were swimming in the pool, then one of the guests had their kids get out and told me that something was at the bottom of the pool. Then he pointed at it because I didn't understand what he was saying. There was something light brown at the bottom of the pool. I told John but we didn't immediately exit because we thought that it should float if it really were feces. Anyway, I brought Asia back to the hotel for a bath just in case. John and Zach followed soon after because a motel employee (alerted by a guest) confirmed that there was indeed a reason to clear out the pool.
We took lots of walks along the main road. At the Dells, you never have to leave this main road because everything is on it - all the theme parks, restaurants, and hotels. That's how you know it's a tourist attraction. But it's convenient if you're there for the kids. We took the kids to a little kids' park - something really for young kids. It was a storybook garden. You walk along the path and see wooden cut-outs of storybook characters. There was a little house with a stuffed mannequin that was supposed to be the grandmother who gets eaten in Little Red Riding Hood. Kinda freaky. If you walk in, it sets off a motion detector that tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood, only I was too short to set it off and the kids didn't set it off either. Only John's entrance set the speakers in action. There were also the 3 Bears, the little ol lady who lived in a shoe, etc. The best part of it was the train. It rode maybe every hour or 1/2 hour and you could just keep riding on it. Zach went on it twice. It takes you all along the garden. There's also a playground and a carousel! That's what Asia liked. She just wanted to keep sitting on the horses and go round and round. Sometimes, she was the only one on the carousel. We also bought some birdfood for 6 dollars and fed the ducks and geese at the park. The birds were just roaming around. Some of the geese were a little scary because they'd chase after you. I saw many kids running away from them crying. There were also some fun mirrors that distort your image. And there were animals. I guess that was a new edition. There were some giraffes, monkeys, tigers, etc. And a pretty lame animal show. It didn't keep the kids' attention because what they talked about was more for older kids. One part of the show, they brought out a canvas bag. A little girl had to put her hand in it and try to identify what it was. Her response was, "Is it a lemur?" That wowed the zoologist because he wasn't expecting that kind of guess. But it was a baby kangaroo. What the girl had touched was the kangaroo's foot. When kangaroo's sleep in their mom's pouches, they lie upside down. So I guess I learned something. Asia started to get antsy, so John took her out of the show and went on a train ride. I made Zach sit with me and watch it. He was interested, but got really thirsty and I didn't have anything with me at the time. Basically the place was fun for the kids, but as an adult, you see how rundown the place is for the money you're spending. The place needed to be cleaned - dust, cobwebs - and it really looked like it was falling apart.
So all in all it was a lot of fun. The kids got to watch Nickelodeon on cable at the hotel, and swim a lot. They got to play with animals, ride trains, eat good food, take walks, and spend lots of fun time with their parents.
We took lots of walks along the main road. At the Dells, you never have to leave this main road because everything is on it - all the theme parks, restaurants, and hotels. That's how you know it's a tourist attraction. But it's convenient if you're there for the kids. We took the kids to a little kids' park - something really for young kids. It was a storybook garden. You walk along the path and see wooden cut-outs of storybook characters. There was a little house with a stuffed mannequin that was supposed to be the grandmother who gets eaten in Little Red Riding Hood. Kinda freaky. If you walk in, it sets off a motion detector that tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood, only I was too short to set it off and the kids didn't set it off either. Only John's entrance set the speakers in action. There were also the 3 Bears, the little ol lady who lived in a shoe, etc. The best part of it was the train. It rode maybe every hour or 1/2 hour and you could just keep riding on it. Zach went on it twice. It takes you all along the garden. There's also a playground and a carousel! That's what Asia liked. She just wanted to keep sitting on the horses and go round and round. Sometimes, she was the only one on the carousel. We also bought some birdfood for 6 dollars and fed the ducks and geese at the park. The birds were just roaming around. Some of the geese were a little scary because they'd chase after you. I saw many kids running away from them crying. There were also some fun mirrors that distort your image. And there were animals. I guess that was a new edition. There were some giraffes, monkeys, tigers, etc. And a pretty lame animal show. It didn't keep the kids' attention because what they talked about was more for older kids. One part of the show, they brought out a canvas bag. A little girl had to put her hand in it and try to identify what it was. Her response was, "Is it a lemur?" That wowed the zoologist because he wasn't expecting that kind of guess. But it was a baby kangaroo. What the girl had touched was the kangaroo's foot. When kangaroo's sleep in their mom's pouches, they lie upside down. So I guess I learned something. Asia started to get antsy, so John took her out of the show and went on a train ride. I made Zach sit with me and watch it. He was interested, but got really thirsty and I didn't have anything with me at the time. Basically the place was fun for the kids, but as an adult, you see how rundown the place is for the money you're spending. The place needed to be cleaned - dust, cobwebs - and it really looked like it was falling apart.
So all in all it was a lot of fun. The kids got to watch Nickelodeon on cable at the hotel, and swim a lot. They got to play with animals, ride trains, eat good food, take walks, and spend lots of fun time with their parents.
July 16, 2004
I want the Bob
Asia's vocabulary is increasing by leaps and bounds. Her first true sentence was "I want the Bob." As in, I want Bob the Builder. She loves Bob the Builder. Gee, can you guess that she has an older brother who's also crazy about Bob the Builder. Asia knows all the characters, Muck, Scoo, Dizzy, Nenny, Lofty, Meaow (for Pilchard), Scufty, Spud., Ots (for Mrs. Potts), Eval (Mrs. Percival). Not sure she can say Travis. Today, she came up to me and said, "Wet." She kept lifting up her leg and saying, "Wet." I didn't she knew the word wet so I kinda ignored her. But then I realized that her pants leg was wet because her juice cup leaked on her. Wow! Another thing she says that is really cute is: "mon." She'll take your hand and pull you and say, "Mon." Meaning, "Come on." She draws it out to if you're resistant in getting off the nice couch to follow her, "Moooonnnn."
So Asia doesn't like her crib now. She hasn't slept in it willfully ever since her last doctor's appointment. I've put her in it after she falls asleep on the bed in her room. Or if she falls asleep in my arms. If you put her in her crib while she's awake, she'll scream and cry til she throws up. She used to have such a great sleeping habit. Give her a bottle and put her in her crib at around 8 PM. She'd finish her bottle, roll around, maybe play a bit, but she'd fall asleep on her own. I wouldn't have to be in her room or anything. Then on the day of her last doctor's appointment, I had to wake her from her nap to go to the clinic. She didn't really know where we were going and was just happy to be with me instead of her babysitter. Then at the doctor's appointment, she got a shot in each leg and also had blood drawn from her finger. She was truly miserable. She actually started crying as soon as the nurse came in and tried to weigh her. So she didn't get weighed or much of anything at that doctor's appointment. And ever since then, no sleeping in the crib if she could help it. Maybe it's coincidence.. or maybe not.
July 14, 2004
7 Years And Counting....
This week was our 7th wedding anniversary. I can almost NOT be able to imagine life without my two kids. Almost, I say, because there are moments when I'm really tired or wish I could go out and have some fun - and then I remember that yes, there was a time when I could just get in the car and drive somewhere without worrying about who would be watching the kids. Or times when John and I could go see a movie or go to some neat festival or long car trip. Travelling and vacations have been especially hit hard. Where can we go that's close by and not inconvenient? Asia doesn't like long drives, or any drive longer than 15 minutes. She also doesn't like to fly. If we could walk there, maybe she'd like it. She just doesn't like being constrained to one little area, one car seat, one airplane seat. Zach's at a great age where he's so flexible. He can travel long distance, help carry things, he barely eats anything. The only thing is to remember to take him to the bathroom or put him in a pull-up. But beware if he gets bored. Then you have a little kid bouncing off the walls, the floors, the lamp posts.
Then again... I wouldn't want my life without my kids. It's that catch-22 thing. :)
Then again... I wouldn't want my life without my kids. It's that catch-22 thing. :)
July 09, 2004
Carpet - the new toy
Who would of thunk (can I say that without bringing back a whiff of 80's nostalgia?) that buying an area rug for the living room combined with a large tent in the shape of Thomas the Tank Engine would have brought on hours of entertainment?
Evenings these days consist of John and I just sitting on the couch in the living room, maybe reading the paper, but usually watching the show in front of us. The stars - Zach and Asia, the stage - the new carpet, the props - the tent or other toys. The kids just love to be on that carpet.
When the carpet was first delivered, just unrolling it out of its plastic wrapper was an event. Zach, of course, had to help John cut the plastic, while I tried not to look and imagine what could happen if Zach decided to jump around at the wrong second while one of my good kitchen knives was in use for something not related to cooking. Then once the carpet was out of the wrapper and unrolled, oh the fun the kids had with the cardboard tube that was hiding inside that carpet roll. John cut the tube in two (again another non-cooking use for a new kitchen knife), then we had swords, telescopes, phones. The sword play didn't work too well since Zach would swing the cardboard tube really hard as if he were swinging at a baseball. Telescopes didn't last that long either. Asia doesn't get the concept yet. I don't think Zach even gets the concept of closing one eye so that you can focus with the other. Also, sometimes I'd hold my eye up to the tube only to be looking into the little mouth of one of the kids. But playing phone, that was fun. Whispering in one end, while the receiver giggled on the other. Occasionally both ends would be whispering at the same time or trying to listen at the same time.
Now to actually playing on the carpet. One fun game is just falling down. Asia often initiates it by pushing Zach down. Actually, she pushes. He falls down on his own will because he knows it will make her laugh. Once Zach falls down, Asia will also sit down on the carpet. Zach will stand up, Asia will get up and push him down. This can go on for a very long time. Another variation - push Zach down, laugh, push Zach down, laugh, push Zach down, laugh. Get it? Occasionally, Zach will push Asia down but forget that she's a little smaller. She'll end up crying and that's the end of that round.
Another fun game will include the Thomas tent. The kids go into the tent and peek out of the various windows. Sometimes Zach decides Thomas needs to start moving, so he'll be standing up and walking Thomas around while poor Asia, who thought she was going to just sit inside Thomas and play, now finds herself being dragged along for the ride until she is no longer inside Thomas.
Asia has some rendition of hide-and-seek or peekaboo where she moves to the corner of the tent and starts chanting, like she's counting. Then when she's done "counting," she pops her head to the tent window and says something like, "There she is!" Very cute.
Then there's the let's smoosh Thomas game. The Thomas tent can be twisted up so it fits in a little bag, so it's very smooshable. The kids like to fall on it or push it to the ground. Sometimes, Thomas pops back into shape, other times he stays crushed. Another version is smooshing Thomas from inside the tent. Basically, standig up inside the tent and pushing on the wall til you and the tent fall over. Usually the tent is near the couch so you never really fall all the way over. I just wince sometimes when the tent is near the coffee table. Ahh.. the joys and paranoia of being a mom.
Evenings these days consist of John and I just sitting on the couch in the living room, maybe reading the paper, but usually watching the show in front of us. The stars - Zach and Asia, the stage - the new carpet, the props - the tent or other toys. The kids just love to be on that carpet.
When the carpet was first delivered, just unrolling it out of its plastic wrapper was an event. Zach, of course, had to help John cut the plastic, while I tried not to look and imagine what could happen if Zach decided to jump around at the wrong second while one of my good kitchen knives was in use for something not related to cooking. Then once the carpet was out of the wrapper and unrolled, oh the fun the kids had with the cardboard tube that was hiding inside that carpet roll. John cut the tube in two (again another non-cooking use for a new kitchen knife), then we had swords, telescopes, phones. The sword play didn't work too well since Zach would swing the cardboard tube really hard as if he were swinging at a baseball. Telescopes didn't last that long either. Asia doesn't get the concept yet. I don't think Zach even gets the concept of closing one eye so that you can focus with the other. Also, sometimes I'd hold my eye up to the tube only to be looking into the little mouth of one of the kids. But playing phone, that was fun. Whispering in one end, while the receiver giggled on the other. Occasionally both ends would be whispering at the same time or trying to listen at the same time.
Now to actually playing on the carpet. One fun game is just falling down. Asia often initiates it by pushing Zach down. Actually, she pushes. He falls down on his own will because he knows it will make her laugh. Once Zach falls down, Asia will also sit down on the carpet. Zach will stand up, Asia will get up and push him down. This can go on for a very long time. Another variation - push Zach down, laugh, push Zach down, laugh, push Zach down, laugh. Get it? Occasionally, Zach will push Asia down but forget that she's a little smaller. She'll end up crying and that's the end of that round.
Another fun game will include the Thomas tent. The kids go into the tent and peek out of the various windows. Sometimes Zach decides Thomas needs to start moving, so he'll be standing up and walking Thomas around while poor Asia, who thought she was going to just sit inside Thomas and play, now finds herself being dragged along for the ride until she is no longer inside Thomas.
Asia has some rendition of hide-and-seek or peekaboo where she moves to the corner of the tent and starts chanting, like she's counting. Then when she's done "counting," she pops her head to the tent window and says something like, "There she is!" Very cute.
Then there's the let's smoosh Thomas game. The Thomas tent can be twisted up so it fits in a little bag, so it's very smooshable. The kids like to fall on it or push it to the ground. Sometimes, Thomas pops back into shape, other times he stays crushed. Another version is smooshing Thomas from inside the tent. Basically, standig up inside the tent and pushing on the wall til you and the tent fall over. Usually the tent is near the couch so you never really fall all the way over. I just wince sometimes when the tent is near the coffee table. Ahh.. the joys and paranoia of being a mom.
From Zach and Asia's favorite aunt
This is a note from the favorite aunt out in San Antonio, Texas. I have the pleasure of being the one who introduced Zach to eating globs of peanut butter straight from a spoon. Yummy. You should know that peanut butter has lots of protein and fat, which growing little people need. I think that Zach is a constitution of peanut butter crackers, milk, and bits and pieces of random types of food that everyone is trying to trick him into eating, using psychological techniques and pretending they are airplanes. Well, one of these days The Human Peanut Butter Boy will wake up and discover something like ribeye steak or a really good carne guisada gordita on homemade corn tortillas and watch out world!
The official beginning
Whoah.... Zach and Asia's life is now being officially documented. Though this is free, so is it official? Most of Zach's first year of life was written down on a baby calendar. You know, the kind you get as a baby shower gift for your firstborn. The second child, Asia, didn't get a baby shower. Some childless friends of mine asked about that. Why it's the norm. My usual answer is, because during the first baby shower, you get most of your big purchases that can also be used by the second child - crib, baby bathtub, swing, stuff like that.
(I'm writing this right now from a hotel in Hoffman Estates. Zach is watching Mr. Rogers, a show I never really liked when I was a kid. But it has Zach happy and dancing.)
Anyway, another part of my answer to the baby shower question is that, imagine if a mom had seven kids - that's 7 baby showers. I think eventually the mom's friends are going to be like, "ANOTHER baby shower?"
So I decided to document most of Asia's firsts on a blog. See original blog. It's got some cute pictures, but it's not really a blog that you post to. Thus the need for a real blog web site. Tada!
A little bit about two of my joys in life.. my kids. Joys, despairs, anxieties. If you're not someone who's very emotional at first, have some kids. You get emotions, emotion swings, hormonal surges.. all that from conception til... eternity. :)
So first you have Zachary Taflin Neill. 3 1/2 yrs old. Born 11/26/2000. Spaz, non-stop talking. That's my boy. Eats mostly peanut butter sandwiches - no crust. Eats most meat if you tell him it's chicken. Drinks like crazy - milk, juice, chocolate (Pediasure). He could go through the day just drinking and not eating if his silly parents would only leave him alone and stop trying to get him to eat other things ("Hey Zach, want to try some fish? Like Nemo.. oh.. umm.. it's chicken, really it is!" or something like this, "Look, Zach! Little white trees! Wouldn't you like to try some little white trees?" The answer being, "No, you can have them, Mom.")
K. Now Asia Bria Neill. 17 months. Born 1/18/2002. Yes, one boy and one girl. Perfect. And I try not to do favorites, but it's tough. John (dad,husband,trashguy,diaper champ emptier) loves to take Zach to baseball games (White Sox! White Sox!), the zoo, parks, swimming. It's hard to do too much right now with a 17month old little girl. So I stay at home with her when I'm off work. Asia loves books, stuffed animals. She loves playing with her brother, til he gets too rough and makes her cry.
Okay. enough for today. Zach's jumping on my chair and wants to see Bob the Builder on the computer. Nickjr.com is awesome! Along with noggin.com. Interactive games, stories, coloring pages. He's just bonked me on the head with his chin. So his patience has reached his limit and my head can only take so much pounding, literally.
(I'm writing this right now from a hotel in Hoffman Estates. Zach is watching Mr. Rogers, a show I never really liked when I was a kid. But it has Zach happy and dancing.)
Anyway, another part of my answer to the baby shower question is that, imagine if a mom had seven kids - that's 7 baby showers. I think eventually the mom's friends are going to be like, "ANOTHER baby shower?"
So I decided to document most of Asia's firsts on a blog. See original blog. It's got some cute pictures, but it's not really a blog that you post to. Thus the need for a real blog web site. Tada!
A little bit about two of my joys in life.. my kids. Joys, despairs, anxieties. If you're not someone who's very emotional at first, have some kids. You get emotions, emotion swings, hormonal surges.. all that from conception til... eternity. :)
So first you have Zachary Taflin Neill. 3 1/2 yrs old. Born 11/26/2000. Spaz, non-stop talking. That's my boy. Eats mostly peanut butter sandwiches - no crust. Eats most meat if you tell him it's chicken. Drinks like crazy - milk, juice, chocolate (Pediasure). He could go through the day just drinking and not eating if his silly parents would only leave him alone and stop trying to get him to eat other things ("Hey Zach, want to try some fish? Like Nemo.. oh.. umm.. it's chicken, really it is!" or something like this, "Look, Zach! Little white trees! Wouldn't you like to try some little white trees?" The answer being, "No, you can have them, Mom.")
K. Now Asia Bria Neill. 17 months. Born 1/18/2002. Yes, one boy and one girl. Perfect. And I try not to do favorites, but it's tough. John (dad,husband,trashguy,diaper champ emptier) loves to take Zach to baseball games (White Sox! White Sox!), the zoo, parks, swimming. It's hard to do too much right now with a 17month old little girl. So I stay at home with her when I'm off work. Asia loves books, stuffed animals. She loves playing with her brother, til he gets too rough and makes her cry.
Okay. enough for today. Zach's jumping on my chair and wants to see Bob the Builder on the computer. Nickjr.com is awesome! Along with noggin.com. Interactive games, stories, coloring pages. He's just bonked me on the head with his chin. So his patience has reached his limit and my head can only take so much pounding, literally.
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