Bye bye Gymboree! Hello Tumbling!

We finished our membership at Gymboree last week. I have chosen not to renew because Jayden was not getting anything out of the classes and it was WAY too expensive. He needs something that is much more physically involved than what Gymboree has to offer. So, we signed up for a parent-toddler gymnastics class. It is not really gymnastics, but there is a little stretching, some tumbling, and some playtime on their meager equipment. I think this round is a good start to tumbling and if he shows an inclination or aptitude for it, we will look into something more structured and involved.

No pictures becuase I still can't find the charger for my camera battery. :( Maybe next time!

One of those days...

Ever have one of those days when you feel superfluous? Like no matter where you are, who you talk to, or what you are doing, that none of it matters? Yep....that's me. I am poor pathetic me today. Of course, I have been poor pathetic me for many many days, but today is the first time I felt like writing about it.

Then, of course, I am watching my son play and holding Eliana and I know that I am loved and needed. I am especially enjoying Jayden who is playing Buzz Lightyear....everything is flying "to infinee and b'yon". Gotta love his imagination! And who can resist Ellie's cute little smiles that light up her whole face?! Yep...my kids are cute. And today, that is a really good thing! (for me)

Maybe tomorrow will be a brighter day!

More about teeth!

Today was a unique experience for me. I got a crown on my back tooth. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but it feels funny now. I have the temporary crown in and I wonder if the permenant one will be as strange feeling as this one is. I don't know...I am supposed to be able to chew properly now though...without the pain. The dentist said the crack in my tooth went on and on. But, the crown should hold what's left of it together so that it is normal.

Clearly, there is nothing to note today in the Stahl family.

Welcome to the world!

Welcome to the world, Ryan Philip Shuman! We got news just this morning that Daniela finally had her baby! Only a week late, but here at last and expected to go home tomorrow.

Can't wait to meet the new Shuman!

Toothy-Teethies!

I had a dental appointment for a cleaning and a check-up last week. I took Jayden with me thinking he would be interested enough to watch and maybe...just maybe...he would let the dentist look in his mouth. Well, not only was I right about his interest, but his excitement and enthusiam overwhelmed the whole office. He was playing with the buttons on the chair, looking in the little tooth mirror, playing with the call buttons, you name it...he did it.

After the dentist looked at my teeth (and Jayden got to see what would happen), he claimed that it was his turn in the big chair. When he got in, I put the bib on him and he opened his mouth for the dentist. She was so good with him,too. She counted his teeth (he has 16) and he was soooo good! It was way cool!

Speaking of teeth...yeppers...it's time for Ellie. She is cutting the 2 bottoms. Way too soon! Everything is just flying by with her! She is going to be all grown up before I know it!

Family and friends

I hope everyone had the holiday season that they hoped for. Personally, I enjoyed visiting with friends and family and spending time locked up in my house hiding out away from the world. I guess you could say I got a taste of it all. We spent Christmas eve and Christmas day with Dave's side of the family. How blessed we are to have so many loved ones nearby. We then had 2 Chanukkah parties with my family--one at my parents' house and one at mine. We invited some non-Jewish friends over to the party at our house so they could get a feel for how we celebrate the holiday. For the rest of Chanukkah, we had a quite celebration at home lighting candles and giving Jayden presents. Yes, I spoiled him and gave him a present every night. I probably won't do that again when Chanukkah lands right near Christmas because he got very present happy! He opened 3 presents that were not his during non-present opening times because he was over-zealous! Well, perhaps when he is older he can show more restraint...heaven knows I never could! :)

I got Dave a magnetic dartboard that Jayden loves, and Dave got me an iPod that Jayden loves. I would love to say that we love our gifts as much as Jayden does, but is there anything a 2 year old boy doesn't like? If so, I haven't found it except perhaps sleeping...and even that he likes when he is pretending!

Someday I may post pictures of Jayden and the candles and the presents and the other holiday things we did, but for now, we lost the charger for my camera battery and the pictures are stuck there for the time being.

Anyway, I mentioned that I got to visit with friends too. I did indeed! First, my sister-in-law came out to visit us. That was really nice. I'm glad she came out. Then, the day I took Michelle back to the airport, I picked up Bridget who came to town for terribly sad reasons, but we got to visit a bit after the funeral and that was nice, too.

Out of the blue, I emailed an old friend just to say hi. She emailed me back and for the first time in 2 years, we got together for a cup of coffee. We probably had lots to talk about and could have spent a great deal more time chatting away, but due to babysitting constraints on my part, we had a very short visit. But it was nice.

Then, my long-time friend Elizabeth got into town and we spent a couple of days hanging out and talking and visiting. I do love visiting with old friends.

Golly, I didn't know I had that much to say! I hope you all had as much enjoyment in wrapping up last year and bringing in this one as I did and may the year be all that you make it and more!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy new year everyone! May you all have a year full of peace, prosperity, and joy. May you find what you seek and what you find make you happy!