Happy New Year!

2012 came and went seemingly before I even noticed!

Oh sure, that's not 100% true, but it seemed to go really dang fast!  My dad used to say, and I used to mock, "the years go faster and faster as you get older.".  That concept seemed stupid to me at the time, but how do you argue with a know-it-all teenager in the prime of his/her life?

I digress.

In the year when I turned 42 years old, we saw a small Chinese boy of crazy beauty take over our lives and change our perception of "normal". 

Poor Robby... he went from the first born, center of attention to first born of two kiddos, 50% of the parents attention and the "normal" one when it came to education, and the apple of one small Chinese boys' eyes.  That's certainly not a dig on Calebber, but a reality when you consider the learning curve that he has to catch a 4.5 year old (on Got'cha day) up with the peers of a new country.

Robby has made Caleb's transition to American "everything'ish" so much smoother that neither Caleb or Robby will ever know.  That being said, I think there is a "security blanket" relationship that goes both ways there, especially when it becomes bed time.  Caleb will flat out refuse to go to bed without his big brother and Robby will go to bed without his little brother, but will find excuses why they should end up in the same room / bed / couch / blanket on the floor / whatever else.  It's sweet, to say the least!

Calebs teachers have been outstanding in the help they have given him and continue to do so.  He has learned so much and occasionally surprises us with a 5 or 6 word sentence that makes every day exciting, if not mildly frustrating, as we work with him.  The key is to remember that if we are 10% frustrated, he is probably approaching the 80 - 90% frustration level with us.  His whole world is at least on it's side, if not totally upside down!

So as he got a break from school and the pressures he must feel from the current kindergarten curriculum (as well as mom and dad working with him) he seems excited and possibly even a little reluctant to go back to school.

In addition to all of the Christmas celebrations that we had, we had fun sledding in the back yard, playing games of Wii football, Tetris and other stuff.  In fact, we've played three games of Washington-opoly, our new game from our friends, the Gonsalves in... you guessed it, Washington D.C. 

Funny thing happened yesterday.  We had played two games of Washington-opoly as a family of four but Momma has made it clear since about a year after meeting me, that she is not interested in playing a full game of Monopoly ever again.

So Robby, Caleb and Daddy sat down to play the full version of the game, regardless of how long it took.  Caleb was eliminated after roughly 2.5 hours but Robby stayed with daddy (a.k.a.  Tycoon Teddy!) for a full six hours!  Six complete hours!!! 

Craziness!

One other fun thing that has happened over their break from the skoolhaus, is that Momma and their Aunt Dianne, with cousins Samuel and Jonah in tow, went to the Science Center of Iowa for a full morning of fun and discovery.  They seemed to have a good time and Robby especially seemed to learn a few things.

The most fun part of that for Daddy was when Momma called home and told me to turn on the 12pm news for channel 13.   They were broadcasting live from the Science Center that day (for weather) and Sam, Rob and Caleb were on the first time with Robby on the air another 4 times, I believe.  Cute indeed.

Other than that, we've all been sick to various degrees and that's getting a little old.

Daddy went back to work this week while momma and the boys will go back to school next Monday. 

It's probably time to get back to more routine schedule, but when Caleb and I were outside filling the pick-up tires to proper inflation levels (that's a whole 'nother story!), I asked him if he was excited to go back to school next Monday. 

His response was quick and decisive.  "No, Daddy.  No more school.".

2013 should be an adventure!!

Let's get it started!
Ted