Monster trucks in heaven and Dr. Workman

BJ likes to be sung to before bed.  Usually a new "silly song" with or without tickles.  I'm running out of songs- what is a girl to do?  So one night, I sang- "When the saints"  BJ always the observant one, wanted to know where they were marching in- I explained heaven to live with God.  He asked when we would go to heaven to live with God.  "When we die, sweetie, we get to live with God, isn't that cool?"  A very concerned scared boy starts to tear up and shakes his head no.  "I don't want to die"  Then a slightly panicked Mommy starts back pedaling and calling for Daddy to help.  "Oh sweetie, you aren't going to die until you are very old, older than Grandpa"  (Sorry Grandpa, you are the oldest person he knows :))  "Well does God have toys?"  Me (realizing he is calming down) "Absolutely buddy, lots of toys"  BJ: "Does he have monster trucks?' "Yes" "That I can drive?" "Yes, BJ, that you can drive"  "Inside or outside?"  "Outside BJ, and Mommy and Daddy and everyone you love will be there"  "Okay"  The next morning, BJ bounds down the stairs to inform Angie "Guess what Angie, when I get older than Grandpa and die and go to heaven, God gots monster trucks that I get to drive"  :)

BJ also was quite precocious and hysterical playing vet the other night.  Clearly he's been listening to mommy on her on call phone calls.

"Dr. Workman, my horse is sick, can you help him"  "Well what's wrong with him?"  "His tummy hurts"  BJ checks him over- heart, lungs, ears.  "Mommy, you can't feed him so much, if he wants to eat, only three times, not four, and try some breast mik, if that doesn't help, bring him back on Tuesday."

"Dr. Workman, help my glow worm is coughing"  "For how many days is he coughing?"  "3"  "Okay" (checks him over) "You need to clean out his ears"

"Dr. Workman, my elephant can't poop"  (Thinking, and checking his computer)  "Better try some prunes, and what milk is he drinking?"

"Dr. Workman, my Larry is sick, will you help him?"  "Well is he an animal?"  "He's a cucumber" "Mommy, I don't see veggies, try Dr. Seuss, I think he's here on Sunday"

Start them young :)

 There's nothing like a beautiful Colorado day and your kids and husband covered in grease.  Can't even start them too young.

And for your viewing pleasure, like mother like daughter.

Desserts

"Thanks for letting me have 2 desserts tonight, Mom." You are welcome my sweet boy, but in my defense, the first was a baked aaple wrapped in a reduced fat crescent roll with mostly cinnamon on top. "I'm ready for my second snore" "Why do you think you need a second smore after 2 desserts BJ?" "Cause we made 2 [marshmallows]" Good thing he ate his veggies at dinner :)

My caring children

Some days I don't agree with this blog post title. . .but when I really think about it, they are.  Case in point today:  I've been struggling with some nasty tendinitis in my right shoulder since July.  I've done months of physical therapy, a steroid injection, and had to modify my activities  including bicep curling BJ- which breaks my heart.  It has improved, but still limits me some, and has been irritating me.  Today BJ even asked me if we could work out together (Yay!) and if he could climb on my back for push-ups (bummer- since I'm not supposed to be doing push-ups).  I realize that I'm still really active, but there have been some moderate annoyances that have limited some of my activities, and I'm not ready to feel this old :).  So today, I went to see an orthopedic surgeon to get some more help.  He offered another directed injection, and I jumped at the chance given how much the last one helped.  So my sweet wonderful children sat calmly and quitely next to me on the table while a doc put a large needle in my shoulder.  BJ even held my hand and offered that I could squeeze it tight if it hurt.  What wonderful caring kids- so proud.  Here's hoping we'll be back to bicep curls and "weighted" push-ups soon.

Christmas Letter

Our Christmas Letter- picture to come later in the mail (I'm a little behind)

Merry Christmas!  I hope all of you are enjoying the magic of the season this year, in awe of Christ’s humble beginnings.

2012 has been a great year for the Workman household, with only minor life changes compared to years past.  Brandon took a new position with Hoerbiger this last year in technical sales.  He has been working on selling engine upgrades for natural gas pipeline and has been able to combine his engineering degree with his ability to make friends with anyone.  He really enjoys the relationships and the challenge, but doesn’t really enjoy being away from his family 3 weeks a month.  Luckily, every weekend he’s home, so it’s family time J.  He has been getting together monthly with a great group of guys for a book discussion and game night until early morning hours.

Cassi continues to work at Aspen Family Care, but has reduced her hours this last year to 3 ½ days, which sounds luxurious, but ends up being 35-40 hours a week, plus being a mom J. She spends the extra time off each week with the kids or running errands.  She competed (but not competitively) in 8 races this last year- mostly 5K’s and 2 triathlons, and has 1 week left of Beach Body’s Insanity J.  Cassi looks forward to girls night out occasionally and her Mom to Mom’s group (parenting discussion group for moms) monthly.

BJ started preschool this year and loves it!!  He’s been working on the alphabet and is constantly working on his letters at the kitchen table.  He loves working with Daddy in the garage on the Nova, baking with Mom, and being the big helper and big brother to Anika.  He also competed in a race this fall with mom, running 1/8^th mile, and then asking why his race was so short J.  BJ’s health continues to be great compared to his previous years, only minor colds, and has outgrown all his allergies, except for peanuts.

Anika continues to grow and has been “our little sweetie.”  She has quite the personality and loves trying to do everything her big brother does.  She loves playing blocks, cars, and recently pushing a stroller around the house.  Although she speaks rarely, she clearly communicates her desires.  And thank the Lord, has not taken after her brother in the health department.  She has been rarely sick, hasn’t needed antibiotics once so far (knock on wood), and has no food allergies!

Angie, our au pair from Mexico, has been such a blessing for us the last year, especially with Brandon’s travel.  The kids adore her, which I think the feeling is mutual.  She plans fun activities at home, takes the kids on play dates and to museums, Monkey Bizness, the zoo, and takes BJ to school and back.  Her mom spent 10 days with us this month, which was a delight, and re-jumpstarted our Spanish learning at home.  Luckily for us, she has signed on to stay with us until August.

We sincerely pray that your year has been filled with blessings and lessons.  Feel free to stop by our house whenever you are in town, for dinner or lodging, we love visitors.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Workmans

Pictures

Pictures, just pictures, it's all you really want (I presume) and I'm too busy this morning to narrate. . .

Anika with some light reading- Gray's Anatomy

 Mommy and BJ date at Veggie Tales Live

BJ and Anika jumping into a pile of pillows, note Anika's "counting"

 Robe time

 Daddy and Anika storytime

 BJ and his monkey costume

 Playing together

 Anika in her costume

The animals and the hippie

The animals and the zookeeper

 

At the Butterfly Pavillion

 In the Butterfly Pavillion

 Pigtails

Love this face!!

 BJ the fireman

Anika's favorite thing- pulling the bags out of the box

 

Fall leaves

 Daddy and BJ dressed for "work"

BJ at 4 years (with personal help from BJ)

Nicknames: Beej, little man, stinker, lovebug, bug, Captain, bud, Stink, Little stink, Bugaboo

Weight & Height: 39.2 lbs "(76%), 40" (46%)

Hair: Blonde, getting darker :(

Favorite foods: "hotdogs, hamburgers, macaroni and cheese (always homemade), pepperoni, cake, all that stuff"- he also likes carrots, hummus, ranch, raisins, chocolate chips, granola, cheese sticks

Favorite toys: "remote control car, monster truck, race track," bike, "all my new stuff"

Favorite stuffed animal: "Husker pillow pet"

Favorite animal: "tigers, husker stuff"Bedtime: 7:30 p.m.

Wake-up time: 6:30 a.m.- as soon as his "Ok to wake" clock turns green

Naps: one nap a day for 2 hours, pretty much every day

Favorite person: "Grandma, Grammy and Papa, my sister, and my Daddy" (Me: is that all?, BJ: no) "my Angie, Garrett, he's one of my favorite people" (Me: "what about your mom?" BJ: yeah, I love you)

Latest Accomplishment: school!  He loves preschool, constantly wants to color and practice his letters, he's asking more and more about how you say that in Spanish, he ran his first race (1/8 mile) with Mommy in September,learning "Papa's song"-1 Peter 5:7
Likes: "play with my new stuff",(Me: where do you like to go) "going to the stadium for football" (not sure where that came from), the zoo, the museum, play outside

Dislikes:"chicken mommy makes" green beans, black beans, not getting to choose, finding self control

What he is saying: everything!  And still working on many words in Spanish.

What gets said about BJ most often: how well mannered he is for everyone else, how much older he sounds when he talks

Fears: lightening (he has asked every night since a big storm if the flashes will come tonight) people leaving him, dogs getting to him without someone else around

Health: only allergy left if peanuts, he's been really healthy, we are so blessed

What he wants to be when he grows up: "drive cars"

How he's like Daddy: he likes Mommy, has a mischievous grin at times, loves to "drive the car", wants to do EVERYTHING Daddy does
How he's like Mommy: his coloring, his hugs, love of cuddling, short fuse for frustration

Funny things he's done lately: pretty much everything lately