Piano!

Yesterday afternoon (after naps) we went to Mike’s parent’s house to see them and Mema. The kids had a blast a completely un-childproofed environment! Two Christmas trees and all sorts of breakables!

We discovered that the kids both love to play the piano! They always fight over the toy ones we have at home…but were clearly in absolute heaven getting to play a real one!

Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra

Yesterday morning we took Ella and Aidan to see the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra in Uptown Charlotte. People have been raving about "The Singing Bears" and how they absolutely captivated their kids for the entire performance.

About the Singing Bears:

Dressed formally in white tie and tails, Leonard Bearstein conducts an 18-piece animatronic Symphony Orchestra of bears. The orchestra sections consist of a string section (3 violins, 2 cellos, and 1 bass), the Brass section (2 trumpets, 1 French horn), the woodwinds (1 clarinet and 1 saxophone), and the percussion section (2 drummers and 1 chime). The vocal selections are performed by the elegantly attired "Not So Bearly Singers" trio, who provide much of the banter during the 43-minute program.

Well, the Parker twins once again proved that they do not do what everyone else's kids do.

When we walked in to the atrium, Aidan rushed to the railing and was captivated - for about two minutes. Then he discovered that the room was huge and had lots of places to run about....and that the atrium echoed!

Ella would not go near the bears. She did sit on a bench for a few minutes and watch them, but quickly decided that the bears must somehow be in cahoots with Santa, and thus they are to be feared in a big way. The tears began to flow and she would not even look at the bears - she just clung to either Mike or myself.

Oh well, just like with our Santa experience, there is always next year!

Attack of the Stomach Bug!

Wednesday morning was our last art class. The kids made little tracings of their hands and colored them in to make a pretty little ornament. Just like most of the classes, Aidan was not really interested and had more fun running around the room. Ella, on the other hand, has managed to learn a few colors from class – yellow and green!

I signed them up for gymnastics starting in January – it is a six month program and I am really excited! Just hoping that I can manage to corral them…and hope that they have a better attention span for gymnastics than they did for art!

Mike came home from work early with nasty stomach bug that has been going around town. We thought maybe, just maybe we may be able to spare the kids, but after we put them to bed, Ella threw up at about 7:30. Poor little thing just kept saying “Uh-oh, Mommy. Uh-oh!” It was a mess – all over her and her crib…..but we got everything cleaned up and she drank some water and played for a while, then went to bed and slept all night long.

Aidan greeted us Thursday morning by vomiting all over himself and his crib. Poor little thing was so scared – it was even coming out of his nose! He was also struck with bad diarrhea and spiked a low grade fever - he was a very sad little boy all morning. All he wanted was his Daddy – so Mike stayed home from work to help take care of everyone (not to mention still take care of himself!).

Ella, on the other hand, woke up like nothing ever happened, and is totally fine – no more vomiting, and never even had any diarrhea.

We kept their diet very bland - no milk, just basically the BRAT diet (bananas, rice (we didn’t feed them rice), applesauce and toast.

By yesterday afternoon (basically after naps) Aidan seemed to be feeling much better. He was his usual happy self, but still hampered by lots of diarrhea.

Today everyone seems to be on the mend. Mike is off all weekend, so hopefully we will be able to do some fun family activities!

Wordless Wednesday

The Wonder of a Christmas Tree

(These were taken the very first time that Ella and Aidan saw our tree - needless to say, they were both in awe!)