Newly Coined

Reading books before bed with Ani the other night she started telling me the story of one of them. Whenever she turned the page she'd begin, "Nexterday..."

Christmas 2007

Anneke loved Christmas this year. It was the first year she actually understood what she was in for and was looking forward to it. Her biggest hit presents were the tea set from Grandma and Grandpa Spoelma (at the behest of Mom) and the doll house from Nana and Pop (ditto).

It was sad with Anneke how we seemingly had to force her to keep coming back for more presents when she was trying to go off and play with what she'd already opened. It was as if to say: "Stop gratefully enjoying what you already have and come back for more STUFF!"

One of the most hilarious anecdotes was how Anneke ran into Claire's room to wake her. She jumped on her bed, pointed at Claire, and matter of factly stated: "Christmas. Get up. Christmas. Get up. Come with me."

Jonah just mostly got clothes and a couple chew toys but he also got a very cool train from G&G Spoelma he'll be enjoying a bit later.

Decorating the Tree

Ani was so excited to decorate the tree on Sunday. We had snacks and put all of our ornaments on the tree. Dad told her that we needed to give the tree a drink of water. So she ran and got a cup of water -- and carefully poured it on the branches of the tree! Then Ruth handed her a box of candy canes and told her that she could hang them on the tree. Ani took the whole box and tried to balance it on a branch of the tree. "Oh no!" she said, "they won't stay on!" She reminds me of Amelia Bedelia.

Jonah just rolled over for the first time last Saturday. He was happy when he was rolling, but not very happy to find himself on his belly.

Cutting down the Tree

Yesterday I was talking to Ani about getting the Christmas tree. She was very excited about it. She said "I'm going to bring my new scissors!" I'm sure what she has in mind, exactly. . .

Bad Santa

We have been reading Christmas books lately. Yesterday, I read Anneke "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." She said "Hey, another book about Santa!" I said, "Yes! Do you like Santa?" She said, sadly, "No." When I asked her why she didn't lik him, she said "He so baaaaaad."

She is wildly excited about Christmas, though. She's very into the stockings and lights and candles. We haven't gotten our tree yet, but she is already gathering stuff to put on it.

Bookstore Afternoon

The other day, Anneke and I took a few hours to get out of the house and hang out at my old stomping grounds and former employer Schuler Books. We browsed, we read books, we played with toys, we got a big brownie to eat with our hot chocolate and coffee, we had a generally pretty good time.

Then, when we were getting back in the car to leave, Ani asked "Can we go to another bookstore?" I almost cried tears of joy. This daughter of mine. "No" I said, "It's late, we've gotta get home." Then I almost cried again, this time tears of sadness. I wanted to go to another bookstore too.

Santa: Naughty or Nice?

Anneke was just introduced to the concept of Santa Claus this week when our good friend Shelley took her to the ballet "Twas the Night Before Christmas." She loved it -- she is crazy for dancing -- but when she got home she said "My really really hope dat guy no come down MY chim-e-ney"

My first Blog!

First time Blogging on this or any other Blog...A little nervous, but I will be OK. Trying to think of a cute story about Schintzler and Broekman. Hmmm.... I was coloring w/ Schnitz the other night and we were having a fine time...as long as I stayed on my page. (She, of course, felt free to color on her page and mine, as the spirit moved her.) I was looking for applications for Purple crayon and she for Yellow (our favorite colors, as she is quick to tell everyone). Anyhow, the pictures were about Christmas and showed a mantle w/ stockings. I asked if she remembered our stockings from last year. She said she didn't. I said that soon we would hang stockings and on Christmas morning they would be full of presents. She said, "I'm curious what those presents are." Pretty big word for a sub-3-year old.

Also, one of our favorite activities is watching bird videos on YouTube. She is especially big on the Smooth Billed Ani (great sound track - you could check it out) and the Barn Owl. YouTube is full of great stuff and dangerous, though, you bring up a video of kangaroos and they are boxing or some stupid thing. As soon as she catches a glimpse and I shut it down, it becomes the forbidden fruit that is most desirable. "Pop, I want to see the kangaroos boxing!"

Newly Coined

Anneke's new phrase, usually employed while handing a balled up shirt to the nearest tall person, is "Will you inside this out fo me?"

Yeyyow Yeaves

The other day Ani said to my mom: "Yook Nanny! Yeyyow yeaves yike I yike!" Someday she'll learn to pronounce those L's. Jonah is getting so big, it feels like he's gained five pounds in the last week. He was so close to laughing out loud yesterday.

This morning: "When my was a teeeeeny tiny baby, my make a whole lot lot lot of cookies and my eat them ALL!"

Yes, she is sugar-obsessed.

Sharing Love but not Candy

A few days ago, I'm pushing Ani on a swing at the park in our soon-to-be neighborhood. Out of the blue, she says "I love everybody in the whole world!" Then she quickly adds as if to head off an easy misinterpretation "But I don't share my candy with anyone."

We were in no way discussing then nor at anytime that day, so far as I can tell, the topics of love or candy. I just want this to be clear, when I say "out of the blue," I mean it.

Broekman Broekman

Yesterday Jonah is screaming, seemingly inconsolably, when someone starts repeating the (fake?) Dutch word broekman. Soon it's a song with Nana, Pop, Marie and Anneke singing "Broekman broekman. Broekman broekman." And he is instantly, completely contented. The song has since worked for individuals on at least three different occasions. Go figure.

(The 'word' broekman stems from Pop (aka Steve)'s childhood when a neighbor of his inexplicably called him "broekman" which apparently translates roughly as "pants-man.")

God and the Penguins

At dinner this afternoon, Anneke was asked what she learned in Sunday school.

"God" she said.

"What about God?"

"He made the fishes!" She replied. "But not the penguins." This last with the kind of trailing off inflection meant to imply the absolute stupidity of anyone who could possibly think something so absurd as God making penguins.

She then went on to explain to all present that penguins have neither toes nor heels and, as if further detail were needed, don't wear shoes either.