Well here we are, holiday season 2015! As usual, please consider this a virtual card from our family to yours wishing you all the best in 2016! We have had a wonderful year filled with a trip to Disney, continued success in karate, Noah in 2nd grade, Sam in Pre-K, and Isaac just being Isaac. Abby continues her 5th year at d181 in Hinsdale. Mike continues his 2nd year at Kraft in Glenview. And Ellie continues her 10th year of being a neurotic, lovable dog. Here are our favorite quotes from the last year:
January 2015 - Noah is playing a new game on the iPad. Mike and I stop for a minute when we hear him yell out what sounds like something a tad inappropriate. Check the game to discovered it's called "Mammot."
January 2015 - Noah is rather confused when he gets a minecraft pick axe key chain. "Mom, this doesn't look anything like a pig or pig axe?"
January 2015 - Sam has had a bad bout of nightmares, fears of the dark, and waking up in the night. I go in one night to see what the problem is, as he is crying. In a very hippy manner, Sam proclaims "the only things that help me sleep are light and love!"
February 2015 - Noah says supportively to Sam, "Try again" and Sam asks "what about a dragon?" Noah patiently repeats "try again." Again Sam says "I don't have a dragon?" This goes on for 2 more minutes.
February 2015 - Sam asks Mike if he wants to see how a transformer works. Mike says yes, and Sam prepares him: "Watch me, and be amazed!"
February 2015 - Our friend Cliff comes for a visit and helps Mike with bedtime as Abby is out with friends. Cliff tells me later he was very confused when Sam asked him to do "slices and pears" (songs and prayers).
March 2015 - After a nasty fall, Bampa shows up with a wrapped hand. He explains to Noah how he fell and dislocated some fingers. Noah looks horrified and asks, "are you going to have a robot hand!?"
March 2015 - Listening to the song "Budapest" on the radio, Noah says, "Mom, I really like this booty pest song!"
April 2015 - Sam, "Mom, I love you more than ANYTHING!" He pauses for a moment to consider this statement. "Well...except Kate and Mere-Mere (his cousins)."
April 2015 - Sam, "I may be tiny, but I can do great things!"
May 2015 - Bampa asks Sam how Captain Hook lost his hand. Sam says, "I think it was a light saber."
June 2015 - Our artist, Noah, is making his own project. He tells me, "Mom, this did NOT come from Pinterest."
June 2015 - Sam and Bampa were looking at a nectarine that have a very pronounced crease in it. Sam said, "It looks like it has a..... booty. That is a much more appropriate word than butt!"
June 2015 - We spent the week in Disney where Sam demonstrated he had no stomach for the big rides. The last day, as his cousins cheered him on, he went on The 7 Dwarf Mine Train (a smaller coaster). He screamed and cried the entire ride. At the end of the day, I asked what his favorite thing was. He said it was that ride. I was incredulous, and reminded him of how he yelled and cried. He replied simply "mom, those were happy tears!"
June 2015 - After another hot, long day at the parks, we went back to the hotel to cool off and rest. Isaac sat in just a diaper watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV. At the beginning, Mickey asks "do you wanna come to the clubhouse?" Isaac looks square at Mickey at says, "Nope."
July 2015 - I was putting the boys to bed the eve of Sam's birthday. As is our tradition we bid the 4 year old Sam goodbye. He comforted us by saying, "Don't worry guys, the 5 year old Sam will be even more lovable!"
September 2015 - As they were leaving Panera one day, a man held the door for Sam and Sam replied, "Thank you very much!" Bamma complimented Sam on his politeness. Sam shrugged his shoulders and said, "that's just the way God made me."
September 2015 - A Halloween commercial with a mummy comes on and Sam asks me "who is that talking toilet paper dude?"
September 2015 - Someone asks what breed of dog Ellie is, and Sam chimes in, "she's a spitball mix." (Pitbull)
October 2015 - Noah was reading aloud a mystery book to me that he had already read once. He assures me, "don't worry mom, I won't spoil the beans!"
October 2015 - We dogsit for our friends Kelly and Ginger and take their dog, Boots, for the weekend. The boys love her, though Isaac gets a bit confused with her name and keeps asking "Where's Slippers?"
November 2015 - Isaac has the best time making his hands disappear into the sleeves of his winter coat. I ask him if it's black magic, he says "No mom, it's purple magic."
November 2015 - Isaac is smack dab in the middle of his terrible twos and seems to have a meltdown several times a day. After a particularly rough day, I tell me he is a hot mess. He looks at me with a furrowed brow and clarifies, "no, I just warm."
December 2015 - Mike has trained the boys to kiss his bicep muscles when he flexes. I ask Sam one time why he does it. He responds, "Because they're famous!" Mike and I start laughing and he adds "Daddy's muscles are as famous as George Washington!"
Not a creature was stirring... except Noah! Hope you all enjoy this season and spend time with those you love!
Love from The Rodriguez Family
