On December 29 Drew and Ry’s baby sister turned three. We have all enjoyed every single minute with Karli (well, I guess we could have done without the terrible-two tantrums:) Because Karli’s birthday comes right after Christmas we celebrated it last summer, so we didn’t have a party. However, we did have a photo shoot. We have taken a picture of Karli every single day since she was born. During the last few weeks Karli has decided to spend all of her time in her PJs. Thus, we had to bribe her to put on a dress for her birthday pictures. The minute we were done, she put her pajamas back on.
Enjoy:
Nana Barb
“A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give.” Laurel Athedon
Drew was healthy, Ry was recovered from his procedure, our friends and relatives were here; Christmas 2011 couldn’t have been better.
We began Christmas Eve with the Second Annual Draz Fam program. The children read the story of Jesus’ birth, Mark read “The Night before Christmas”, Jay and John told Christmas jokes and Papa passed out the treat stockings. The program also included a slideshow of family gatherings during the past year and some JibJab videos.
After the program the adults enjoyed dinner while the children participated in holiday activities. They searched for hidden candy canes and tried to guess what holiday objects were sewn in Christmas stockings.
On Christmas Day Jen and I flew to Phoenix to spend some time with Great Gramma and Debbie and Dave. Meanwhile, back in Woodbury Jay fixed an amazing meal and the children enjoyed time with Muumuu and Grandpa.
I’m not sure how we’ll be able to top Christmas in 2012, but we’ll look forward to giving it a try!
Nana Barb
My idea of Christmas is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? ~ Bob Hope
The Draz children are like many other yuppie children; if there is something that they REALLY, REALLY want, they most likely have it. In years past, Christmas gifts were often used and admired for a few hours and then essentially ignored. Thus, a few years ago we began to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas as giving rather than receiving. Each year we choose a specific way to give back. This year the Draz Fam is donating $50 in the name of 20 professionals who are a part of Drew’s team to Sophia’s Cure. The children understand that this Christmas the Draz family is giving the gift of money to help children with SMA.
Several weeks ago Jen asked Drew and Ry how they wanted to celebrate Christmas. They agreed that they wanted treats to eat. They wanted a night of junk food and candy; they didn’t even mention gifts. For the last few days I’ve been reading Christmas books to the children. Every time I read a book that speaks to the true meaning of Christmas Drew proudly reflects, “We don’t get presents for Christmas.”
If you wish to see the list of Drew’s team please visit:
http://www.the200forsma.com/
If you wish to send a donation to Sophia’s Cure they welcome every gift, large and small.
Drew and the entire Draz family are all so blessed. We wish a safe, healthy and happy Christmas to all!
Nana Barb
“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To all, charity.” Oren Arnold
Nothing new to report; both boys continue to recover–Ry from his procedure and Drew from an illness. We pass the days doing school work, treatments, reading Christmas books, playing computer games and watching a little TV.
Since there’s not much going on at the Draz home, I’m taking this opportunity to post a couple of older videos. In the first, shot last summer, Ry is such a good big brother as he fixes Karli’s hair.
In the second video, shot a month ago, Karli is giving Barbie a haircut. Although Karli talks as though she was only THINKING about cutting her own hair, actually I did catch her doing it. And, yes, she knew that she shouldn’t have. She was just unhappy she got caught.
Nana Barb
The quotes today are courtesy of Karli.
“Daddy, don’t do that when I’m in charge.”
Yes, Karli does think there are times when she’s in charge. However, the second quote from just last night is my favorite.
“Mom, everyone is bossy to me. But I just want to be bossy to them.”
I told Jen it’s becoming apparent that Karli will NOT need assertiveness training.
Many of you mentioned how much you enjoyed Jen’s clever post about Karli’s outing with daddy. Unfortunately, she is usually far too busy to post, so you are once again stuck with me.
This has been a busy week for the Draz Fam. On Wednesday Ry had his tonsils and adenoids removed. Ry was a trooper, but recovery from this procedure takes a while. By Friday he felt well enough to help bake a cake for Uncle Matt’s birthday.
Come Saturday, it was Drew’s turn. He has had a fever and a headache for a few days, but no other symptoms. Yesterday he became quite ill, complaining that he felt like he wanted to vomit and coughing up a lot of mucus. Karli stepped in to make Drew feel better. When he complained of being chilled she covered him with her special polka-dot blankie. When mommy told her that blankie had too many germs, she found a clean one and snuggled up with her big brother.
Today Drew is a bit better, but we’re crossing our fingers that he will recover quickly–without a trip to the hospital–since we have big plans for Christmas Eve.
Nana Barb
Be not concerned if it is half full or half empty. Be grateful for the glass. ~ Patrick Busch
Guest blog written by Jen
Hi, Jen here. Guest blogging and giving The Rosa (aka Nana aka Barb aka The Barbarosa) a blog break. Disclaimer: if there is a lot of uncensored poop talk, understand that I have had a few glasses of Chardonnay.
On Sunday, my lovely hubby took our lovely daughter to the American Girl store at the Mall of America. Her 3rd birthday and Christmas are approaching in a couple weeks but the real reason for the special occasion was because she finally decided to drop the kids off at the pool, take a load to the dump, leave a deposit at the porcelain bank, etc. Yes, she finally decided to poop in the toilet.
A bit of history…both of my usually agreeable boys absolutely REFUSED to be toilet trained. They created a deliberate conspiracy, ganged up on me, and reveled in the fact that they, not me, controlled their own fate. It was one of the few parenting occasions when I conceded that they had won. I was resigned to the fact that they would go to high school untrained and still smirking about the fact that they had outsmarted me. Well, Karli was supposed to be my salvation. After all, everyone says that girls are much more easily trained. Sure enough, she self-trained herself for pee in one weekend last summer. But then continued to poop in her pretty pink princess pull-ups. So, for months Jay has bribed Karli with a trip to the American Girl store if she would poop in the toilet. Last week she finally decided to drop the Browns off at the Super Bowl, and Jay was more than happy to get out of the house (lock-down is in full effect) and take her to the mall for a little $250 reward. So much for not being typical Woodbury yuppies.
She started getting ready to go as soon as she woke up. After trying on a bunch of pink and purple frilly outfits, all of which I delightedly purchased for her because I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE A GIRL (yea, me) and she has never worn because she only likes UGLY OUTFITS THAT CLASH, she finally decided on a pair of brown and purple pajamas. And when I say decided, what I mean is decided. Because the girl could care less what any other person on earth’s opinion is. So of course I smiled and gave her a super-proud hug, because what mom doesn’t want to have a daughter who is headstrong, confident, independent, and opinionated…even if it means that that she wears exceedingly ugly clothes. I obligingly changed Karli’s American Girl doll, Chrissa, into her PJs as well. (Jay declined to change into his PJs).
So my lovely husband and lovely daughter celebrated her crapping by enjoying a wonderful afternoon at the American Girl store, having a dainty lunch together at the American Girl Bistro, and buying a couple twin Bitty Babies complete with new outfits and a wagon. I was thrilled that they had such a good time. I know that despite the fact that Jay declined to wear pajamas to the mall, that Karli absolutely gets her high spiritness, sweet confidence, and independence from her dad, and I love them both so much.
Enjoy the video:
“Any fool can be a Father, but it takes a real man to be a Daddy!”
Philip Whitmore
Saturday was a quiet day. I grabbed the camera to capture a moment in time–not a special moment, but one that represents days at the Draz home.
Ryan was sorting his pencils and markers.
Drew was playing games on the computer.
As usual, Karli was “reading.”
No, it’s not always that calm around here, but we do enjoy those moments when it is!
Nana Barb
“The source of all happiness lies in thinking of others.” ~Shantideva
Both Ry and Karli have had runny noses and sore throats for several days. This morning Ry also had a slight fever. Thus, the day began with a trip for strep tests. Thankfully both children tested negative, but Jen did return with a Karli anecdote. As they left the clinic Jen noticed the parking lot was icy, so she grabbed Karli’s hand. Karli resisted, “No, I can do it myself.” Within seconds she had fallen. As she stood up she told mom, “See, I CAN do it myself!”
Although we no longer have a full time nanny, Nikki returns occasionally to watch the children. She is much loved by all three children, so Ry was happy that he would be home from school on a day she was scheduled to come. Nikki helped the children make snowman decorations from bulbs and they baked cookies. The Draz kids are lucky to have Nikki continue to be a part of their lives.
In the evening the family added ribbon to the tree. As long as the ladder was in the house, dad did a little cleaning up high in the living room. The children brought in snow for playtime and ended the day with story time.
We continue to be thankful for so many things, not the least of which is Drew’s good health and happiness.
Nana Barb
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. ~John Lennon
On Sunday we woke to a snow-covered landscape. The snow doesn’t stay on the trees for long, but while it does it’s beautiful. Sunday is always a busy day. First on the agenda were haircuts for the Draz kids. Then daddy got out the snow blower. In the afternoon the guys watched yet another Viking defeat.
In the evening it was time to set up the tree. The guys worked hard at it while Karli caught a little TV. The tree is 12 feet high, comes in several parts and it takes some doing to set it up. Karli did join the guys to admire it once the work was done.
There was time to play with some snow and to organize some football cards—mainly Vikings cards–before bed. Drew and Ry are remaining loyal Viking fans despite their dismal season.
Nana Barb
The quotes of the day are from Miss Karlyn:
1. Drew’s scoot has four speeds: P1, P2, P3 and P4 with the latter the fastest speed. The other day while running outside Karli yelled, “I’m running on P4!”
2. Yesterday after climbing into an empty box she exclaimed, “Finally… some peace!”
3. Last but not least is my favorite:
“N-O spells yes!”
I swear she said that; I couldn’t make that up!
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” at the Draz home. Yesterday Jen and the children hung the stockings and the boys and I made an advent calendar—it’s the Christmas tree hanging from the mantle with the stockings.
We were starting to wonder whether we would have a white Christmas this year. A couple of weeks ago we received a light snowfall that quickly melted and our lake is still not frozen over. So, the children were thrilled when it began to snow in the afternoon. Ryan took some containers outside and collected snow. The children played with it for the majority of the afternoon (with occasional trips outside to replace the melted snow). We’ll see if it stays on the ground this time.
Nana Barb
He who doesn’t notice whether it is winter or summer is happy. ~ Anton Chekhov
