A Post Inwhich I Join Legions of Bloggers, and Talk Incessantly About How Great the Kids Are

Lily
Originally uploaded by summerpierre.

Well, it's finally happening: the pictures from the Lost Christmas Vacation are coming off the camera and are hitting the internet world! The previous post on Luke is just the TIP OF THE ICEBERG! I have many MANY pictures that express the rambunctious nature of my little brother. He's kind of, well, ENERGETIC. Playing with him should be categorized as an EXTREME SPORT. Not everyone enjoys it (especially my moody, socially challenged grandfather a.k.a. Grumpus Maximus), but I think he's a total kick. He's probably the best dance partner I will ever have the privelage to dance with. He also has a great sense of humor and thinks I'm HILARIOUS.

One thing that amazed me on this trip was to see how much Lily has grown up and has learned to take her big brother on. She's learned to adapt pretty well, often displaying her CRAFTY BRAINS. For example, when Luke and she run a stretch together, he will easily outrun her. She begins to cry at the despairing unfairness of his speed. When he stops to wait for her, she immediately will cease crying and run PAST him. Genius, I tell you. The best part is that not only does Luke not seem to mind this, he FORGETS INSTANTLY, and so will fall for this ploy over and over again.

One of the unfortunate things that both Luke and Lily inherited from my father is what I call the NAP NASTINESS. They wake up from a nap totally fragile and grumpy as all get out. It subsides after awhile, but BEWARE in the first half hour. They should have a sticker attached to them at naptime that says: DO NOT TOUCH. I experienced Lily's NAP NASTINESS in the San Diego Airport, right when Janae and I were juggling two kids and about an elephant sized load of luggage in the line for tickets. The only person that was able to help Lily make the transition from nap grumpiness to awake sweetness, was Luke. It amazed me how immediately he jumped in and had her giggling and laughing in no time. I think this is one of the beauties of kids. You expect a total meltdown and often they deliver in a way that is so natural and great your heart about falls to pieces.

Before I came out to California, I was on the phone with Luke who told me he had a surprise. He said, "Close your eyes, Summer. I want to surprise you." and so I held the cellphone and closed my eyes. After a few moments he said, "Okay! OPEN THEM!" When I asked him what I was seeing he said, "Everything." That about sums it up--continually, my little bro & sis surprise me--with everything.